Seward Park is not only one of the Lower East Side’s most heavily used public spaces, but as this country’s oldest municipal playground, it also has historical significance. Mayor de Blasio recognized this fact last spring when he used the park as a backdrop to announce Mitchell Silver would be his Parks Commissioner. But in recent months, neighborhood activists say, the park has suffered from neglect and is on a downward slide.
We recently got a detailed look at some of the maintenance issues with Amy Robinson and Linda Jones of the Friends of Seward Park. During our walk-through, it was obvious that weeds were crowding out plant beds, trash was strewn throughout the pathways, mosaic tiles and sculptures were chipped and mice and rats had overtaken an area along Essex Street (see the video below).
Essex Crossing’s new web site.
First off, Delancey Street Associates, the entity created as an umbrella organization for the developers, now has a website. The home page calls the project an “unprecedented development comprised of 1.9 million square feet of residential, commercial, and community space.” There’s not much information available as of yet that wasn’t released when Mayor Bloomberg announced the deal in September but there is an email signup for people interested in information about retail/office spaces and affordable apartments (there will be 500 residential units set aside for low and middle income New Yorkers). Leasing, the site notes, is expected to begin in the year 2017.
Rendering: Essex Crossing open space.
First off, Community Board 3 has been asked by Delancey Street Associates, the development team, to appoint a group to provide input regarding a park-like space on Broome Street. The community-driven process is part of the agreement signed by the builders earlier this year. Last week, CB3 announced that its parks committee would be the venue for envisioning the 15,000 square foot park. Public meetings will take place in the first part of 2014 to solicit feedback from the neighborhood. Also, CB3 has appointed a point-person to work with the developers with the overall design of Essex Crossing. Gigi Li, the community board’s chairperson, has given the job to Ricky Leung, who served on the committee that has spent much of the past four years developing guidelines for the Seward Park project. In addition to his role as a tenant activist in the Two Bridges Neighborhood, Leung is an architect. He’ll work in tandem with a community ta
Essex Crossing site 5, June 2015.
Here’s the latest update from Essex Crossing, the large residential and commercial project just breaking ground in the Former Seward Park urban renewal area.
The project manager, Isaac Henderson, provided a regular progress report for Community Board 3’s land use committee earlier this week. The first phase of construction covers sites 1,2, 5 and 6 (see map). Crews are working on clearing away the rubble from the old Broome Street firehouse on Site 5. Some preliminary foundation work will occur in the next couple of weeks for a building that will include 211 apartments and commercial space. Two tenements on the site, 400-402 Grand St., will likely be demolished starting in July.
Here’s a look at some of the the items that caught our eye this week:
–On Friday evening, local State Assemblywoman Yuh-Line Niou joined other progressive elected officials in rescinding support for Scott Stringer, whose mayoral campaign has been rocked by sexual assault allegations. [Politico New York]
–City Councilwoman Carlina Rivera is among a group of lawmakers seeking to push through bills to protect the rights of delivery workers. [The City]
–A large hardcore concert in Tompkins Square Park was passed off as a 9/11 memorial in a city permit application. [Gothamist]
–The East Village bar, The Cock, is hoping to make a move to Rivington Street, in the old Fat Baby space. [EV Grieve]