FIERCE

No Mega-Development on Pier 40!

This past summer, the West Village community saw a renewed focus on the redevelopment of Pier 40 as the Hudson River Park Trust pushed to open the legislative act that governs the park and piers to allow for commercial development projects like housing and hotels.

The situation for Pier 40 is a critical, as the Pier currently remains in danger of shutting down due to neglected structural damage.  While commercial development is necessary to help ensure the Pier’s survival and promote revenue for the ongoing maintenance of Hudson River Park, it is imperative that the Hudson River Park Trust, elected officials and community leaders keep community needs and voices at the heart of all decision-making processes regarding the pier.

Whatever happens on Pier 40 will undoubtedly impact surrounding communities and park users, making the need for open, transparent conversations and meaningful engagement of community stakeholder groups essential. 

As LGBTQ youth of color who access the piers, especially the nearby Christopher St. pier, we don’t want solutions that will result in the displacement of LGBTQ youth, low-income youth, homeless youth or other community groups.  Instead, we want sustainable solutions that foster community growth and building, and help ensure that the West Village remain a safe place for our community!  We want to see more open space, affordable food options and more designated areas for community uses. 

FIERCE remains committed to working with community groups to support community voices and needs, and through process of saving Pier 40, working together to create a stronger, safer West Village for everyone.

Related Posts:

• Turning Back the Clock: Private Development is Still Not an Acceptable Solution for Pier 40 — reflections from Krystal Portalatin, FIERCE Co-Director and Founding Member

• Sustainable Community Solutions to Save a Pier in Peril — a letter to the New York Times in response to their September 17, 2012 editorial “A Pier to Pay for a Park”
  
  
• FIERCE Mobilizes and Testifies against Mega-Development on Pier 40, June 2012 Community Board 2 Meeting—testimony by Karen Hall and Tiph Browne, FIERCE Members
  
  

click here for transcript of Karen’s Testimony.


click here for transcript of Tiph’s Testimony.

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