The BroadsheetDAILY – 4/19/22 – Hudson River Park Trust Debuts Rooftop Park at Pier 57

The Broadsheet – Lower Manhattan’s Local Newspaper

Elevated Acres

Downtowners Have a New Place to Get High on Grass

Above: Governor Kathy Hochul and Mayor Eric Adams preside over the ceremonial ribbon cutting, officially opening the new rooftop park on Pier 57. Below: The park contains almost two acres of open green space.

The Lower West Side of Manhattan has another stunning public space: On Monday morning, the Hudson River Park Trust debuted the rooftop park at Pier 57, located near 15th and West Streets. The new park offers almost two acres of lawns, gardens and open space, all more than 30 feet above the surface of the Hudson River, affording spectacular views in all directions.

The largest rooftop open space anywhere in New York is now open daily throughout the year from 7:00 am to 10:00 pm. Expanded hours will be announced later this year. Among upcoming plans are an outdoor screening facility for use during the TriBeCa Film Festival.

On hand for the debut was Governor Kathy Hochul, who said, “This is a win-win for New York and a testament to the innovative, sustainable, and inclusive future we’re working to build, and I thank Google, Hudson River Park Trust, the women and men of labor, and our partners in government for making this day possible.” (Google is the anchor tenant for the interior portions of Pier 57.)

Also present was Mayor Eric Adams, who said, “by bringing workers back to the office and creating new green space all New Yorkers can enjoy, this project is helping revitalize our City. We are reimagining our communities, so everyone benefits from our prosperity.”

Congressman Jerry Nadler observed that, “the rooftop at Pier 57 is a spectacular new public park, and evidence of what is possible when New Yorkers work together. And I’m proud that federal historic tax credits were able to help make it happen.”

Pier 57 (shown here with Little Island in the foreground) is also home to City Winery, Google offices, and an upcoming food hall that will curated by the James Beard Foundation.

Pier 57 is located amid what has become a recreation hub on the Hudson River shoreline, with the 2021 debut of nearby Little Island, which offers more than two acres of gardens, glades, lawns, performance spaces and picnic grounds, hoisted above the water by 280 slender concrete columns, and perched atop 132 flower-shaped masonry “tulips”—pods that appear to be separate platforms from outside Little Island, but form a continuous, undulating surface when seen from the inside.

Also coming to the same area (next year) will be Gansevoort Peninsula, a five-acre-plus chersonese between Gansevoort and West 13th Streets featuring a scenic beach (more for viewing the water than public bathing, owing to concerns about hygiene and safety), along with a 56,000-square-foot ballfield for use by local youth leagues, a playground, an outdoor “river gym” (consisting of rust-proof calisthenics equipment), a dog run, and public restrooms.

Pier 57 was built in the early 1950s as the New York terminal for the Grace Line cruise ships. In 1969, Grace decided to exit the passenger shipping business, and the pier became a bus depot for the New York City Transit Authority. In 2003, the bus depot was emptied, in anticipation of folding Pier 57 into the plan for the Hudson River Park, which had begun to take shape in the late 1990s.

Before any park uses could be implemented, however, Pier 57 gained brief notoriety as “Guantanamo on the Hudson,” after more than 1,000 protestors arrested at the 2004 Republic Convention were herded into the building and detained for more than 24 hours. A decade later, the City paid $18 million to settle claims that it had violated the civil rights of everyone who had been arrested.

In the years since, Pier 57 has become home to Google offices, and the latest incarnation of City Winery, the legendary music venue-cum-enoteca. And later this year, the James Beard Foundation (a national culinary nonprofit organization) will debut within Pier 57 a new food hall, featuring a showcase kitchen, dining and demonstration space, and vendor kiosk featuring artisanal chef-driven vendors.

Matthew Fenton

MOCA Ascendant

A New Home for a Culture ‘Not Really Allowed to Call This Place Home’

Lower Manhattan’s roster of world-class cultural institutions is poised to grow by one. The Museum of Chinese in America (MOCA), located on a mid-block parcel between Lafayette and Centre Streets (just north of Canal Street) is undertaking a $100 million-plus expansion that will grow its space more than five-fold, to 68,000 square feet. The centerpiece of thise buildout is a design by acclaimed architect Maya Lin, best known for her groundbreaking 1982 plan for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, in Washington, D.C. Ms. Lin says her design for the new MOCA building drew inspiration from “the 4,000-year history of the Chinese puzzle, the tangram,” an ancient geometric dissection game that contains thousands of possible combinations and solutions.

The Chinatown Ten

Phalanx of Local Leaders Arrested Protesting Start of Demolition at Lower Manhattan Jail Complex

Ten Lower Manhattan community leaders, including two candidates for public office, were arrested Wednesday morning as they protested the start of demolition at the Manhattan Detention Complex, in a preliminary move by the administration of Mayor Eric Adams to replace that facility with the world’s tallest jail.

Church Street School Fundraiser

Sees Biggest Turnout Ever

Supporters of Church Street School for Music and Art gathered at City Winery on April 8 to honor Dr. Lisa Ecklund-Flores (above), co-founder of the school more than 30 years ago, who is retiring, and the late Tom Goodkind, a champion of the arts and of social justice, who often worked with and at the Church Street School in his exuberant musical endeavors. The record-breaking crowd celebrated the legacy of these two leaders of the arts, and raised money to support Church Street School’s mission to expand access to high-quality music and art programs and experiences. Below, Tom’s widow, Jill Goodkind, addresses the crowd as her daughter Nicole stands by.

Photo above by Michael Scott. Photo below by Robert Simko.

A Remnant Remembered

America’s First Synagogue Celebrates Anniversary at Site Where, Centuries Before Liberty’s Lamp, Lower Manhattan Offered Refuge to Persecuted Jews

On April 8, 1730, the seventh day of that year’s Passover, the fledgling Jewish community of New York City consecrated the Mill Street Synagogue, located on what is now South William Street. They called their new temple “Shearith Israel,” which translates literally as, “remnant of Israel.” It was the first Jewish house of worship in North America.

Taking the ‘Our’ Out of ‘Arcade’

CB1 Opposes Deal to Hand Developer 4,000-Plus Square Feet of Public Space

Community Board 1 (CB1) is reiterating its opposition to a plan that will allow a real estate developer to privatize more than 4,000 square feet of public space, in exchange for a promise to enliven an adjacent plaza. At issue are the arcades—columned porticos that adorn the ground-floor facade of 200 Water Street—which the building owner hopes to enclose, thus creating additional retail space, which can be monetized. The same owner plans to create three new market-rate rental apartments at the second floor level, and to use several hundred square feet of outdoor space on the plaza in front of 200 Water Street, for a cafe.

THIS WEEK’S CALENDAR

Tuesday, April 19

5:30pm

The fourth session of the Skyscraper Museum’s Construction History series will examine the various dimensions in which the threat of fire affected skyscraper development. Claims of “fireproof building” were regularly disproved, often in cataclysmic fashion. Iron promised improvements over timber, but Chicago’s Great Fire in 1871 revealed its vulnerability to collapse. Brick remained the only truly fireproof material, but owners and designers remained frustrated by its weight and inefficiency. The advent of lightweight terra cotta allowed architects to combine ceramic’s resistance to fire with iron’s efficient strength, leading to hybrid structures that allowed the safe exploitation of the skeletal frame. Fire also reshaped building codes, but new regulations reflected the competing desires of owners, tenants, architects, and skilled tradespersons that, in turn, influenced skyscraper massing and composition. Differing approaches in New York and Chicago forged subtly different solutions. Free.

6:30pm-7:30pm

Tuesday Talk: Local Honey

In celebration of Earth Week, enjoy this cooking demonstration and talk on the wonders of locally sourced honey. In partnership with the Institute of Culinary Education, a small taste and tips on how to incorporate this natural sweetener into everyday meals will be offered by Chef Ann Ziata . A sample jar of BPC Honey will be distributed to participants in attendance, first come, first served, while supplies last. 6 River Terrace.

Wednesday, April 20

11am

Officially called the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, travel south with us to this stately, historic capital city. Learn about the first colonies in Argentina, along with the formation of the first Jewish community in Buenos Aires. We will walk through the Jewish Quarter, which still has a strong Jewish presence. Mezuzot are affixed to most textile storefronts, along with Kosher butcher shops, small synagogues, yeshivas, and Jewish schools, of course. Along our route, we will visit Paso Synagogue and the Jewish Synagogue of Libertad St., a Romanesque and Byzantine-style building and the oldest Jewish institution in Argentina. Join the Museum of Jewish Heritage and Our Travel Circle for a tour of the beautiful city of Buenos Aires, which has the largest Jewish population in Latin America. $36.

Thursday, April 21

1:30pm-2:30pm

Meet at the Chamber Street Planters for a demonstration and talk led by Alveole on our beehive in Rockefeller Park. Learn about the importance of urban beekeeping and its benefit to sustainability efforts in BPC and throughout the city.

2pm

Germany entered World War I on August 1, 1914 when the country declared war on Russia. 11 million German soldiers were mobilized, 100,000 of whom were Jewish. A number of these Jewish soldiers were honored for their service with the Iron Cross. In addition, many German Jews supported the war effort at home along with their neighbors. This service and dedication were soon disregarded, but World War I efforts are an essential part of the German Jewish story. Showcasing artifacts from the Museum’s collection, we will explore these efforts and experiences. Free; suggested $10 donation.

6pm

Today: Iron Buddha. Reservations are released at 10am every Monday the week before class.

7:30pm

Dream of the Red Chamber (紅樓夢), one of China’s four great classic novels, tells the story of the rise and decline a wealthy imperial Chinese family, and by extension, the rise and decline of the Qing dynasty itself. The novel was adapted as an English-language Opera composed by Bright Sheng with libretto by Sheng and David Henry Hwang, which premiered at the San Francisco Opera in 2016. Tonight, online, join composer Bright Sheng and Tony Award winner David Henry Hwang to explore the world of their Dream of the Red Chamber which returns to the San Francisco Opera House this June. Sheng and Hwang, in conversation with Ann Chih Lin, Director of the Lieberthal-Rogel Center for Chinese Studies at the University of Michigan, will share what it takes to adapt this rich and complex world to a different medium, and why this story still resonates with readers and viewers alike more than two centuries after it was first written.

FRIDAY APRIL 22

11am – 5pm

South Street Seaport Museum

On Saturdays and Sundays, visit the exhibitions and the ships of the South Street Seaport Museum for free. At 12 Fulton Street, see “South Street and the Rise of New York” and “Millions: Migrants and Millionaires aboard the Great Liners, 1900-1914,” and at Pier 16, explore the tall ship Wavertree and lightship Ambrose. Free.

5pm-7pm

Experience Bird’s Eye View, an augmented reality artwork by technology innovator and artist Shuli Sadé. The piece is inspired by relocation and movement along the lower Hudson River through fascinating studies of bird migration and human immigration. The event will feature live music from Maestro Pedro Cortes Flamenco Duo. Technology guides will be on-site to assist visitors in using their smartphones to view the new artwork.

Morose Metric

Local Rates of Infection with BA.2 Version of COVID Among Highest in City

In a sharp reversal of previous trends, four Lower Manhattan neighborhoods are ranking among the top five anywhere in the City for rates of infection with the new BA.2 subvariant of the Omicron mutation of COVID-19.

CLASSIFIEDS & PERSONALS

Swaps & Trades, Respectable Employment, Lost and Found

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Lower Manhattan Greenmarkets

Tribeca Greenmarket

Greenwich Street & Chambers Street

Every Wednesday & Saturday, 8am-3pm

Food Scrap Collection: Saturdays, 8am-1pm

Open Saturdays and Wednesdays year round

Bowling Green Greenmarket

Green Greenmarket at Bowling Green

Broadway & Whitehall St

Open Tuesday and Thursdays, year-round

Market Hours: 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Compost Program: 8 a.m. – 11 a.m.

The Bowling Green Greenmarket brings fresh offerings from local farms to Lower Manhattan’s historic Bowling Green plaza. Twice a week year-round stop by to load up on the season’s freshest fruit, crisp vegetables, beautiful plants, and freshly baked loaves of bread, quiches, and pot pies.

The Outdoor Fulton Stall Market

91 South St., bet. Fulton & John Sts.

212-349-1380 info@fultonstallmarket.org

Fulton Street cobblestones between South and Front Sts. across from McNally Jackson Bookstore.

Locally grown produce from Rogowski Farm, Breezy Hill Orchard, and other farmers and small-batch specialty food products, sold directly by their producers. Producers vary from week to week.

SNAP/EBT/P-EBT, Debit/Credit, and Farmers Market Nutrition Program checks accepted at all farmers markets.

Today in History

April 19

Cast of the Simpons.

1713 – With no living male heirs, Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor, issues the Pragmatic Sanction of 1713 to ensure that Habsburg lands and the Austrian throne would be inherited by his daughter, Maria Theresa, who was not actually born until 1717.

1770 – Marie Antoinette marries Louis XVI of France in a proxy wedding.

1775 – The American Revolutionary War begins with an American victory in Concord during the battles of Lexington and Concord.

1782 – John Adams secures the Dutch Republic’s recognition of the United States as an independent government. The house he purchased in The Hague, Netherlands, becomes the first American embassy.

1861 – In the American Civil War, a pro-secession mob in Baltimore attacks United States Army troops marching through the city.

1927 – Mae West is sentenced to ten days in jail for obscenity for her play Sex.

1943 – Albert Hofmann deliberately doses himself with LSD for the first time, three days after having discovered its effects on April 16.

1971 – Launch of Salyut 1, the first space station.

1987 – The Simpsons first appear as a series of shorts on The Tracey Ullman Show.

1993 – The 51-day FBI siege of the Branch Davidian building in Waco, Texas, ends when a fire breaks out. 76 Davidians, including 18 children, die in the fire.

1995 – The Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, USA, is bombed. 168 people are killed, including 19 children under the age of 6.

2013 – Boston Marathon bombing suspect Tamerlan Tsarnaev is killed in a shootout with police. His brother Dzhokhar is captured hiding in a backyard in the suburb of Watertown.

Births

1877 – Ole Evinrude, Norwegian-American engineer who invented the outboard motor (d. 1934)

1903 – Eliot Ness, American law enforcement agent (d. 1957)

1912 – Glenn T. Seaborg, American chemist, Nobel Prize laureate (d. 1999)

1949 – Paloma Picasso, French-Spanish fashion designer

1962 – Al Unser Jr., American race car driver

1967 – Dar Williams, American singer-songwriter and guitarist

Deaths

1054 – Pope Leo IX (b. 1002)

1689 – Christina, Queen of Sweden (b. 1626)

1824 – Lord Byron, English-Scottish poet and playwright (b. 1788)

1881 – Benjamin Disraeli, English journalist and politician, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (b. 1804)

1882 – Charles Darwin, English biologist and theorist (b. 1809)

2004 – John Maynard Smith, English biologist and geneticist (b. 1920)

2013 – Allan Arbus, American actor and photographer (b. 1918)

2013 – Al Neuharth, American journalist, author, and publisher, founded USA Today (b. 1924)

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