Putting The San Diego in Williamsburg
Last week, the city put forth its latest plan for the Northern Brooklyn waterfront and, reports New York Magazine, the reception from local community groups was generally pretty warm and fuzzy. “I believe they are making a true effort to tune the plan into a community vision,” said Laura Hoffman of the Greenpoint Waterfront Association…
Last week, the city put forth its latest plan for the Northern Brooklyn waterfront and, reports New York Magazine, the reception from local community groups was generally pretty warm and fuzzy. “I believe they are making a true effort to tune the plan into a community vision,” said Laura Hoffman of the Greenpoint Waterfront Association for Parks and Planning. The new plans call for boat launches, wetland preserves and picnic grounds. Not everyone’s letting down his guard just yet though. The Municipal Art Society’s Jasper Goldman points out that earlier renderings made the area, until now known for its gritiness, “look like San Diego.” Is there anyway to do this without Williamsburg ending up looking, if not like San Diego, at least like Battery Park City? Doubtful.
Beware of Riprap in Greenpoint and Williamsburg [Daily Intel]
More Greenpoint-Williamsburg Waterfront Fun [Curbed]
Image from Donna Walcavage Landscape Architecture + Urban Design, Weisz + Yoes Studio Architecture + Urban Design
I suspect access to the waterfront will be restricted to non-residents of the huge yuppie-towers going up, as is currently the case with the recently erected Schaefer Landing.
The best combo of grittiness and greenery is the park in LIC on the waterfront: Gantry Park, incorporating the old LIRR train ferry termianals complete with tracks. Very charming. hopefully something like that can be done here.
I saw an article on this awhile ago, which I cannot now find. Something like this on the East River would be amazing, the possibilities are enless on our eastern shore
http://www.metropolismag.com/html/content_1000/lat.htm#6
it would be great if they were able to properly mix and incorporate the gritty industrial aspects of the area with a new promenade … i would love to see a green path that cuts through the domino factory as you jog along the water…
I love the industrial landscape of waterfront Greenpoint/Williamsburg, but bring on the parks. The more growing green stuff in this city the better.
Most major cities play up their waterfronts as attractions for tourists, parks for communities and treat the waterfront as a resource. But in NYC, where we have waterfront like crazy, it’s under utilized and much of it is grim and gritty industrial areas. I’m all for ribbons of green around every part of the waterfront in NYC that it’s feasible to have parks and public spaces.
Personally, I think it would be great if waterfront Williamsburg looked a little more like San Diego than, well, Williamsburg. Some kind of nice promenade for walking, jogging, and not mugging (meaning well-lit), with plants, benches, etc., a la the promenade in Brooklyn Heights or next to Gracie Mansion–why would you prefer abandoned factories to that?