Create Public Access at Vernon Blvd Shoreline
New York City Department of Transportation
The NYC Department of Transportation (DOT) and Economic Development Corporation (EDC) are currently pursuing plans to reconstruct the Vernon Blvd Street End at Newtown Creek.
In the past 20 years, numerous community driven plans for this location have been developed in an effort to reconnect Long Island City to their waterfront (see links below). While the Brooklyn side of this former bridge crossing received city investment in the form of a pocket park and boat launch (Manhattan Avenue Street End Park, completed 2009) the end of Vernon has been left in a state of disrepair and neglect until a major bulkhead collapse in early 2016 forced the City’s hand to consider an investment that will prevent further erosion and protect infrastructure running beneath the street. After 4 years of a fenced off and crumbling shoreline, the DOT and EDC presented their plans to Queens Community Board 2 in April 2020 (see above).
Building upon previous community led planning projects, there is significant interest in a shoreline redesign that provides real access to the water, as well as upland accommodations for both the public and wildlife (in the form of seating, trees, pollinator garden, etc), while protecting against future flooding. The current plan does not offer any of these benefits. The DOT’s offer of “continuing discussions about options to enhance the spaces and access to the waterfront following this essential construction” does not go far enough and all but closes the door to real opportunities to rebuild with the community and resiliency at the core of this important project.. The options to incorporate shoreline access post construction will be more complicated, more expensive and thus practically impossible. Additionally, an offer to continue discussions is not an actual commitment towards achieving community benefits. As such we are asking that DOT/EDC:
- Reconfigure the current plan to provide true access to Newtown Creek
- Make a binding commitment to add upland amenities (including seating and ecologically beneficial greenery) following construction.
(Vernon Blvd street-end circa 2016)
NCA’s ask of DOT and EDC is supported by the following stakeholders:
CAC Industries
Community Board 2, Queens
Council Member Jimmy Van Bramer
HarborLAB
Hunters Point Civic Association
Hunters Point Parks Conservancy
Riverkeeper
TF Cornerstone
Waterfront Alliance
Background Materials:
March 31, 2021 SCAPE / NCA proposal for minor modifications to current design
January 20, 2021 Waterfront Alliance letter to DOT/EDC
January 15, 2021 NYCDOT response letter to NCA
December 3, 2020 Greenpoint Star: Advocates Share Concern with Newtown Creek Bulkhead Project
November 11, 2020 NCA letter to DOT/EDC
October 28, 2020 DOT letter to Queens Community Board 2
April 9, 2020 NCA letter to DOT/EDC
April 6, 2020 DOT/EDC presentation to Queens Community Board 2
2018: The Newtown Creek Vision Plan: Riverkeeper, Newtown Creek Alliance and Perkins+Will
Petition by
To:
New York City Department of Transportation
From:
[Your Name]
The proposed shoreline redesign of the Vernon Blvd street end on Newtown Creek is unacceptable. Despite the lack of substantial public access along the entire Queens side of the Creek and numerous community led visions to transform this unique city-owned shoreline, the proposed plan fails to incorporate critical elements. It is a major lost opportunity to rebuild this shoreline without providing environmental benefits or creating a connection to the Creek for local residents, workers, and students. We deserve better.
DOT/EDC must reconfigure the current plan to provide true access to Newtown Creek; and establish a binding commitment to add upland amenities (including seating and ecologically beneficial greenery) following construction.