In 2007, Mayor Bloomberg launched plaNYC and set the goal of opening 90% of New York’s waterways for recreation by reducing water pollution, remediating brownfields and expanding our ferry transit system. The unprecedented amount of development planned for the East River shoreline gives New Yorkers the chance to meet that challenge and go further. It’s truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to revitalize the waterfront.

We have an opportunity to create a waterfront that is not only cleaner and more accessible, but also makes our city more livable. Too much waterfront development recently has created privatized places that fail to embrace their waterfront location, natural resources or local communities. To address this, a coalition of over 40 community and civic organizations active along the waterfront has prepared the East River Agenda, principles and recommendations for revitalizing New York’s East River.

To create a vibrant waterfront that incorporates real public access, is ecologically sustainable and addresses local community needs, the Agenda proposes the following principles:

• Access

  

• Place-Making

  

• Environmental Stewardship

  

• Community-Based Planning

  

To implement these principles, the Agenda proposes site-specific recommendations for each of New York’s 15 Council Districts adjacent to the East River, starting on page 12.

You can follow progress on the East River Agenda and submit comments and additional recommendations by visiting eastriveragenda.net. The website contains updated maps of the proposed recommendations, as well as hosting a blog with the latest news and events occurring on the East River.