Officials with the city’s Economic Development Corp. last night told members of Community Board 3 that a new construction manager has been hired to complete the troubled Pier 35 project.
The pier, located near Rutgers Slip, was envisioned as an “eco park” and recreational area. Its completion has been delayed numerous times during the past few years, most recently due to complications in building a screenwall separating the park from a sanitation facility at Pier 36. A contract with Trocom Construction was closed out and a new Request for Proposals issued last summer.
Now Hunter Roberts Construction has been brought on to oversee Pier 35, as well as other remaining portions of the East River Esplanade project. In a briefing for CB3’s Parks Committee, the city officials said the firm is hiring a sub-contractor for the screenwall. They hope construction will resume sometime this summer, with completion taking about one year. The work was also delayed because the Department of Environmental Protection had not signed off on the upgrade of a water main running along the East River. The EDC team said their sister agency has now approved the location of the new water main, and they’re now working out final design details.
Another part of the contract involves the construction of a pavilion at Rutgers Slip. According to the EDC officials, the agency is still working to understand new design requirements put in place after Hurricane Sandy. The facility will include some type of community space as well as Parks Department storage. While the community had wanted a food concession at the pavilion, a Request for Proposals did not generate much interest. It’s unclear whether the city will renew its efforts to find a food vendor for the space.
One other related note. Last night, local residents renewed longstanding complaints about the sorry state of exercise equipment on a portion of Pier 35 that opened in 2014. Some of the broken-down equipment was removed. Other sections of the pier were damaged by skateboarders. Last night, Parks Department officials say they’re working on repairing the area and replacing the equipment. There was no exact timetable for the completion of those repairs.
