City pumping $110M into climate change
resiliency project for Seaport District
BY MARK HALLUM
The de Blasio administration is allocating
$110 million protect the
South Street Seaport District from
the effects of climate change by increasing
the height of the bulkhead, pending public
review.
The city Economic Development Corporation
will oversee the project which, like
the East Side Coastal Resiliency project,
will protect vulnerable neighborhoods from
sea level rise – which the government says
could be subject to fl ooding every month
in the next 25 years.
“As we approach the nine year anniversary
of Superstorm Sandy we must ensure
that families, businesses, and communities
in Lower Manhattan, one of the most
densely populated parts of our city, are
protected from the accelerating effects of
climate change,” Mayor Bill de Blasio said.
“This project does just that, guaranteeing
that some of the most vulnerable areas can
continue to thrive for generations to come.”
Not only will the bulkhead be raised to
fend off higher tides in the low elevation
section of waterfront, it will run from
Brooklyn Bridge to Pier 17 and protect
about 15 acres of historic Lower Manhattan
A jogger near the South Street Seaport.
before sea levels rise an estimated 2.5 feet
by the year 2050, according to the city.
“This investment by the Administration
is a good start, but Hurricane Ida reminded
us that we must act boldly and quickly to
protect our city from the effects of climate
PHOTO BY DEAN MOSES
change,” said Manhattan Borough President
Gale A. Brewer. “Lower Manhattan
is home to hundreds of thousands of New
Yorkers and is a critical economic engine,
and the Seaport District is a historic and
cultural treasure. We need action from all
levels of government to keep our city safe
from storm surge and sea level rise.”
The city expects this to save $400 million
in damages from chronic fl ooding in
the future, improve drainage and give New
Yorkers better access to the waterfront.
“Climate Change is causing stronger and
more devastating storms, and we must take
action to protect our coastline and lessen
severe impact,” said NYCEDC President
& CEO Rachel Loeb. “This project to safeguard
one of the most low-lying, vulnerable
areas, the Seaport District, is a fi rst step
in better protecting residents, business
owners, and infrastructure from fl ooding.
NYCEDC is focused on this work with
Mayor’s Offi ce of Climate Resiliency, and
we thank the Mayor for his support of this
critical project and our efforts to unlock
federal funding to support our long-term
coastal resiliency efforts.”
But this will be only one facet in the
city’s larger plan, yet to be released by
NYCEDC and Mayor’s Offi ce of Climate
Resiliency, called the Financial District and
Seaport Climate Resilience Master Plan.
The scope of the Lower Manhattan Coastal
Resiliency (LMCR) will cover over a mile
with $800 million and should be released
by the end of the year.
Annual Village Halloween Parade ready
to scare the yell out of you this Sunday
BY EMILY DAVENPORT
A time-honored Halloween tradition is back and ready
for New York City to embrace the spirit of the holiday.
The 48th Annual Village Halloween Parade is returning
to the city on Oct. 31 for a night of spooky fun. The
parade, which will be led by Grand Marshal Randy Rainbow,
is dedicated to the children of New York City who were unable
to celebrate Halloween last year due to the pandemic.
The parade will kick off at 7 p.m. and will run up 6th Avenue
from Spring Street to 16th Street. The most crowded spot is
anticipated to be between Bleecker Street and 14th Street, so
you should head over early if you want a good spot to watch
the parade. The parade will be televised on NY1 from 8 to
9:30 p.m.
As usual, the parade is free to the public. However, there are
VIP tickets available for those who want a great vantage point
while watching the parade. If you are looking to join the parade,
there are ticket options available to join different sections of the
parade, or you can show up at the parade entrance. Those who
are participating in the parade must wear a costume.
For more information or to fi nd out how to join the parade,
visit halloween-nyc.com. FILE PHOTO
4 October 28, 2021 Schneps Media
/halloween-nyc.com
