What We Heard

This workshop is free and open to all Manhattan stakeholders—residents, community leaders, local organizations, and waterfront enthusiasts of all kinds. This workshop will be hosted via Zoom, an online platform. This workshop focuses on Community Districts 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 9.

We’ll have a presentation to introduce the preliminary goals and issues for the plan to address. We will then break into small group discussions for all to share your ideas for the future of the waterfront. This is part of a series of borough-specific workshops, which are a key opportunity for the public to learn about and engage in key waterfront issues, and to actively inform the next NYC Comprehensive Waterfront Plan.

Don’t live or work in Manhattan? Stay tuned for other borough-based workshops.

Read the notes from the session [PDF] or the slides from the presentation [PDF].

This workshop is free and open to all Queens stakeholders—residents, community leaders, local organizations, and waterfront enthusiasts of all kinds. This workshop will be hosted via Zoom, an online platform. This workshop focuses on Community Districts 1, 2, 5.

We’ll have a presentation to introduce the preliminary goals and issues for the plan to address. We will then break into small group discussions for all to share your ideas for the future of the waterfront. This is part of a series of borough-specific workshops, which are a key opportunity for the public to learn about and engage in key waterfront issues, and to actively inform the next NYC Comprehensive Waterfront Plan.

Don’t live or work in Queens? Stay tuned for other borough-based workshops.

Read the notes from the session [PDF] or the slides from the presentation [PDF].

This workshop is free and open to all Brooklyn stakeholders—residents, community leaders, local organizations, landlubbers, and waterfront enthusiasts of all kinds. This workshop will be hosted via Zoom, an online platform. This workshop focuses on Community Districts 5, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18.

We’ll have an introductory presentation about the Comprehensive Waterfront Plan’s process, then break into small group discussions for all to share your ideas for the future of the waterfront. This is part of a series of borough-specific workshops, which are a key opportunity for the public to learn about and engage in key waterfront issues, and to actively inform the next NYC Comprehensive Waterfront Plan.

Don’t live or work in Brooklyn? Stay tuned for other borough-based workshops.

Read the slides from the presentation [PDF].

This workshop is free and open to all Manhattan stakeholders—residents, community leaders, local organizations, and waterfront enthusiasts of all kinds. This workshop will be hosted via Zoom, an online platform. This workshop focuses on Community Districts 3, 5, 6, 8, 10, 11, 12.

We’ll have a presentation to introduce the preliminary goals and issues for the plan to address. We will then break into small group discussions for all to share your ideas for the future of the waterfront This is part of a series of borough-specific workshops, which are a key opportunity for the public to learn about and engage in key waterfront issues, and to actively inform the next NYC Comprehensive Waterfront Plan.

Don’t live or work in Manhattan? Stay tuned for other borough-based workshops.

Read the notes from the session [PDF] or the slides from the presentation [PDF].

This workshop is free and open to all Brooklyn stakeholders—residents, community leaders, local organizations, and waterfront enthusiasts of all kinds. This workshop will be hosted via Zoom, an online platform. This workshop focuses on Community Districts 1, 2, 3, 4.

We’ll have a presentation to introduce the preliminary goals and issues for the plan to address. We will then break into small group discussions for all to share your ideas for the future of the waterfront This is part of a series of borough-specific workshops, which are a key opportunity for the public to learn about and engage in key waterfront issues, and to actively inform the next NYC Comprehensive Waterfront Plan.

Don’t live or work in Brooklyn? Stay tuned for other borough-based workshops.

Read the notes from the session [PDF] or the slides from the presentation [PDF].

This workshop is free and open to all Queens stakeholders—residents, community leaders, local organizations, and waterfront enthusiasts of all kinds. This workshop will be hosted via Zoom, an online platform. This workshop focuses on Community Districts 9, 10, 12, 13, 14.

We’ll have a presentation to introduce the preliminary goals and issues for the plan to address. We will then break into small group discussions for all to share your ideas for the future of the waterfront. This is part of a series of borough-specific workshops, which are a key opportunity for the public to learn about and engage in key waterfront issues, and to actively inform the next NYC Comprehensive Waterfront Plan.

Don’t live or work in Queens? Stay tuned for other borough-based workshops.

Read the notes from the session [PDF] or the slides from the presentation [PDF].

This workshop is free and open to all Staten Island stakeholders—residents, community leaders, local organizations, landlubbers, and waterfront enthusiasts of all kinds. This workshop will be hosted via Zoom, an online platform. This workshop focuses on Community Districts 2 and 3.

We’ll have an introductory presentation about the Comprehensive Waterfront Plan’s process, then break into small group discussions for all to share your ideas for the future of the waterfront. This is part of a series of borough-specific workshops, which are a key opportunity for the public to learn about and engage in key waterfront issues, and to actively inform the next NYC Comprehensive Waterfront Plan.

Don’t live or work in Staten Island? Stay tuned for other borough-based workshops.

Read the notes from the session [PDF] or the slides from the presentation [PDF].

This workshop is free and open to all Bronx stakeholders—residents, community leaders, local organizations, and waterfront enthusiasts of all kinds. This workshop will be hosted via Zoom, an online platform. This workshop focuses on Community Districts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8.

We’ll have a presentation to introduce the preliminary goals and issues for the plan to address. We will then break into small group discussions for all to share your ideas for the future of the waterfront. This is part of a series of borough-specific workshops, which are a key opportunity for the public to learn about and engage in key waterfront issues, and to actively inform the next NYC Comprehensive Waterfront Plan.

Don’t live or work in the Bronx? Stay tuned for other borough-based workshops.

Read the notes from the session [PDF] or the slides from the presentation [PDF].

This workshop is free and open to all Brooklyn stakeholders—residents, community leaders, local organizations, and waterfront enthusiasts of all kinds. This workshop will be hosted via Zoom, an online platform. This workshop focuses on Community Districts 6, 7, 8, and 9.

We’ll have a presentation to introduce the preliminary goals and issues for the plan to address. We will then break into small group discussions for all to share your ideas for the future of the waterfront. This is part of a series of borough-specific workshops, which are a key opportunity for the public to learn about and engage in key waterfront issues, and to actively inform the next NYC Comprehensive Waterfront Plan.

Don’t live or work in Brooklyn? Stay tuned for other borough-based workshops.

Read the notes from the session [PDF] or the slides from the presentation [PDF].

This workshop is free and open to all Staten Island stakeholders—residents, community leaders, local organizations, and waterfront enthusiasts of all kinds. This workshop will be hosted via Zoom, an online platform. This workshop focuses on Community Districts 1 and 2.

We’ll have a presentation to introduce the preliminary goals and issues for the plan to address. We will then break into small group discussions for all to share your ideas for the future of the waterfront. This is part of a series of borough-specific workshops, which are a key opportunity for the public to learn about and engage in key waterfront issues, and to actively inform the next NYC Comprehensive Waterfront Plan.

Don’t live or work in Staten Island? Stay tuned for other borough-based workshops.

Read the notes from the session [PDF] or the slides from the presentation [PDF].

This workshop is free and open to all Queens stakeholders—residents, community leaders, local organizations, land waterfront enthusiasts of all kinds. This workshop will be hosted via Zoom, an online platform. This workshop focuses on Community Districts 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 11.

We’ll have a presentation to introduce the preliminary goals and issues for the plan to address. We will then break into small group discussions for all to share your ideas for the future of the waterfront. This is part of a series of borough-specific workshops, which are a key opportunity for the public to learn about and engage in key waterfront issues, and to actively inform the next NYC Comprehensive Waterfront Plan.

Don’t live or work in Queens? Stay tuned for other borough-based workshops.

Read the notes from the session [PDF] or the slides from the presentation [PDF].

This workshop is free and open to all Bronx stakeholders—residents, community leaders, local organizations, and waterfront enthusiasts of all kinds. This workshop will be hosted via Zoom, an online platform. This workshop focuses on Community Districts 9, 10, 11, 12.

We’ll have a presentation to introduce the preliminary goals and issues for the plan to address. We will then break into small group discussions for all to share your ideas for the future of the waterfront. This is the first in a series of borough-specific workshops, which are a key opportunity for the public to learn about and engage in key waterfront issues, and to actively inform the next NYC Comprehensive Waterfront Plan.

Don’t live or work in the Bronx? Stay tuned for other borough-based workshops.

Read the notes from the session [PDF] or the slides from the presentation [PDF].

Over the last year, AIANY’s Waterfront Initiative has organized three public dialogues as part of the Future of the NYC Waterfront series, developed in collaboration with the NYC Department of City Planning. Since then, New York City has changed in many ways, as it faces the realities of a global pandemic that disproportionately affects communities of color and a movement for racial equality. In response, we revisited the first three events in a virtual format to discuss what an equitable waterfront could look like, if we focused more holistically on racial justice and social inclusion. A panel of designers, public officials, developers, and environmental justice advocates presented their experiences working to transform the waterfront in New York City.

Read the notes from the session [PDF].

As part of our listening session series for the next Comprehensive Waterfront Plan, several stakeholder organizations came together to discuss their priorities for the northern Queens waterfront (East River to the north and west to Little Neck Bay to the east). The group discussed ways of fostering a ‘waterfront identity’, including year-round programming that would encourage people to visit their nearest waterfront (Flushing Bay and Creek, for example). These could be cleanups or fishing clinics, for example, and should be free to attend. In order to host these events, various coalitions would need to be developed between nonprofits and other community organizations. Additional signage that leads to the waterfront from Flushing Meadows Corona Park and the Queens Museum was also mentioned as a way to increase visibility and community engagement between the major cultural and recreational resources in the area.

As part of the Public Forums series on the NYC Comprehensive Waterfront Plan, NYC Planning and the Waterfront Alliance hosted a meeting on Waterfront Development, Public Access and In-Water Access. There were more than 90 attendees from nonprofit and community groups in NY and NJ, including a number of boathouses and recreational groups; advocacy organizations in the environment and open space sectors; government representatives; urban planners, architects and engineers; and citizens with a general interest in the waterfront. Attendees discussed a range of topics, including barriers to directly accessing the water, water quality and the desire for softer shorelines and wetland restoration, and the importance of community engagement, programming and stewardship. Attendees noted the range and improvement of environmental conditions, and the active community of professionals and volunteers supporting this diverse work. Participants also noted limitations of current physical access, equity and engagement concerns, and the threat of increased development and changing shoreline due to climate change.

View the presentation on Waterfront Access for All [PDF].

Read the notes from the session [PDF].

Let us know what you think about the topic on the Share Your Thoughts page.

The Hudson River: Collaboration + Connections was the third program in a series of forums on The Future of the NYC Waterfront planned through a partnership by NYC Planning and the American Institute of Architects (AIA) to conduct outreach, intending to inform the NYC Comprehensive Waterfront Plan through the Waterfront Management Advisory Board. This diverse panel of “Hudson River experts” included planners, community advocates, and developers from across the region who presented their experiences in collaborating and establishing connections across the Hudson River. After the short panel, attendees held round table discussions, where they had the opportunity to voice their own experiences and views about the future of the Hudson River to contribute to NYC’s Comprehensive Waterfront Plan for 2020-2030. The Hudson River is one of the defining waterways of the region, flowing 315 miles through New York State, separating New York City from its western neighbor: New Jersey. The river is unique from other New York City waterways because of the division it creates between the city and surrounding municipalities, which requires collaboration and connections across jurisdictional bounds. Positioned at the center of the Greater New York City region, the Hudson River is home to a developing transportation network supported by bridges and tunnels, light and commuter rail, open space networks, ecologies, as well as growing NYC and regional ferry systems which serve to unite the region by way of its shores. Attendees discussed how the Hudson River represents a great opportunity to further cooperation between the governments of New York City, New York State, the State of New Jersey, and the municipalities in New Jersey and the Hudson River Valley flanking the river. Panelists also spoke about the tradeoffs and decisions that must be made due to limited space along the Hudson River in NYC.

As part of the Public Forums series on the NYC Comprehensive Waterfront Plan, NYC Planning and the Waterfront Alliance hosted a meeting on Resilience and Climate Change Adaptation. There were close to 80 attendees from nonprofit and community groups in NY and NJ, government representatives, and residents with a general interest in the waterfront and concern about climate change. Throughout the event, there was a focus on competing interests at the water’s edge, for example, development along the waterfront and the need for infrastructure and/or living shorelines to better adapt the city to sea level rise and coastal storms. The notion of having robust public access coupled with resilience measures came up as both a challenge and opportunity. Increasing public education and awareness and the different pathways to do so was also highlighted by many participants. Empowering individuals in the planning process has been a recurring theme through all five public forums.

View the presentations on NYC Waterfront Resiliency [PDF] and Rising to the Challenge [PDF].

Read the notes from the session [PDF].

Let us know what you think about the topic on the Share Your Thoughts page.