PUBLIC COMMENTS ARE NOW BEING ACCEPTED NOW THROUGH DECEMBER 17

The Mott Haven-Port Morris Waterfront Plan was voted by overwhelming majority for inclusion on the draft list
of priority projects of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Open Space Plan! Never before has our community had a priority project in the plan! The Open Space Plan serves as a blueprint for the state’s land conservation efforts, identifying priority open space projects for protection and guiding State Environmental Protection Fund investments. From now through December 17th, the public is being asked to provide comments on the plan via email (see below for draft text).  On October 22, a public hearing will also be held from 2:30-4:30 and from 7:00-9:00 at 47-40 21st Street, Long Island City.  After the public comment period is closed, DEC will review all comments on the proposed plan and issue a final plan of priority projects.

A: Bronx Kill Waterfront Park – site of Native American settlement and burial ground; last significant open green space on the Mott Haven-Port Morris waterfront; lines the Bronx Kill waterway; directly connects to the “Randall’s Island Connector”

B: Park Avenue Boat Launch and Waterfront Park – already green space; one of the few areas with actual water access not blocked by Oak Point Link rail; already being used as an ad hoc fishing and boat launch site

C: Lincoln Avenue Waterfront Park – easily accessible by pedestrians; already being used as an ad hoc fishing site; provides direct access to the waterfront; renderings have already been prepared by local architects; MIT produced a plan for this site in 2011

D: Alexander Avenue Extension of Lincoln Avenue Waterfront Park – easily accessible by pedestrians; vacant and unused site; community blocked by fence and guard; directly connected to Mott Haven antique district

E: East 132nd Street Pier – previously a pier here (and even a floating pool in 1902); in the 1980s, a ConEd explosion destroyed the pier, and the company never replaced it; currently residents crawling through holes in the fence to fish along the banks of the shore

F: Historic Port Morris Gantries -stands as a reminder of NYC’s rich nautical heritage; in 1902, the gantries fostered the development of a market, hotels and restaurants; recognized by the Historic Districts Council during its “Six to Celebrate” program on the basis of architectural and historic merit of the area; full reviatlization renderings have already been completed

G: Mott Haven-Port Morris Waterfront Connecting Path – connecting West to East – Melrose to Hunts Point – the waterfront connecting path would weave through and around existing uses on the waterfront to connect the six interrelated projects, and also connecting to the “Randall’s Island Connector” near completion now

WE NEED YOUR HELP TO MAKE THIS PERMANENT!

(1) REGISTER FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING HERE

(2) SEND YOUR COMMENTS VIA EMAIL BY PASTING THE BELOW DRAFT TEXT INTO AN EMAIL MESSAGE

TO: LF.OpenSpacePlan@dec.ny.gov

CC: southbronxunite@gmail.com

SUBJECT: I support the Mott Haven-Port Morris Waterfront Plan as a Priority Project for Region 2!

MESSAGE (draft): To Whom It May Concern:

I support inclusion of the Mott Haven-Port Morris Waterfront Plan as a priority project for the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Open Space Plan.  This community-developed plan would provide underserved residents access to a public waterfront that, for decades, has been inaccessible. The plan is consistent with three rezonings on adjacent land, provides a logical solution to climate change effects on significant maritime industrial areas (SMIAs) and gives the community open space to counteract severe health consequences caused by an oversaturation of highways and truck-intensive businesses
in the South Bronx. These vacant coastal sites are located within a
flood zone, and if properly designated as protected open space, could significantly mitigate dangerous effects on the community of storm surge flooding of existing power plants and waste transfer stations along the South Bronx waterfront.  Each site has also been included as an area of significance in the Vision 2020 NYC Comprehensive Waterfront Plan, and several sites are currently proposed for elimination from SMIA designation.  These sites, all of which are government owned, are easily accessible by pedestrians, have recognized historical significance, are already being used as ad hoc fishing and canoeing sites and connect to bigger capital projects already funded and under development (like the Randall’s Island Connector).

Sincerely,