Pier 40 - Development

Background
Request for Proposals Requirements
Process to Date
Next Steps

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Background
The Hudson River Park Trust is in the midst of a selection process for a master developer for Pier 40. Pier 40 currently contains approximately 1.2 million square feet of space in a two-story rectangular layout on 14 acres. It is the largest pier structure in Hudson River Park. Built on concrete and steel piles extending into the River, Pier 40’s structure is organized as a two-story “square doughnut” around a central open courtyard area that was recently improved with popular community-oriented sports fields. Its building structure has not undergone a comprehensive rehabilitation since its construction nearly 45 years ago and requires substantial improvements for new occupancy.

Reuse of Pier 40 is governed by the Hudson River Park Act. Uses restricted by the Act and therefore not permitted at Pier 40 include: hotels, residential units, office uses not related to permitted park uses, manufacturing, warehousing and gambling vessels. Moreover, the Trust identified “big box” retail development at Pier 40 as incompatible with park uses. The Act also requires that at least 50 percent of the footprint of Pier 40 (approximately 300,000 square feet) must be set aside for non-commercial park open space uses. In addition, the Act specifically permits commercial parking at Pier 40 for passenger vehicles to be primarily used for long term monthly parking.

Request for Proposals Requirements
In August 2006, the Trust issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for Pier 40. The RFP outlined the project's development goals, submission requirements, selection criteria and other information. A copy of the RFP is available for download to the right.

As stated in the RFP, the Trust's objectives for the redevelopment of this pier are to: incorporate park-appropriate revenue generating uses to create an income stream for the overall park; maintain and improve Pier 40; enhance waterfront access opportunities for the surrounding community and region; and reconnect the park to the surrounding neighborhoods. The RFP required that approximately 1,800 public parking spaces be retained primarily for long-term use by area residents, and that the current public access, programming and size of the existing athletic fields be retained. The Trust stated that it would consider alternative locations for the fields on the site provided their accessibility and configuration was equal to or greater than the existing sports fields.

Process to Date
The Trust received four responses to the RFP in November 2006. A committee of Trust Board members, staff and Parks Department (State and City) staff conducted an initial review of the proposals solely to determine whether they were minimally responsive to the RFP's requirements. Two of the proposals were determined to meet the minimum criteria and are being reviewed both by the Trust and the Pier 40 Community Working Group (the “Working Group”) of the Trust's Advisory Council with respect to feasibility and degree of responsiveness to the RFP's objectives. The Working Group has been meeting regularly with Trust staff to review the proposals and identify questions and concerns for the developer candidates. Copies of questions provided to the development teams by the Working Group and Trust along with the developers’ responses are included to the right. In addition, both teams have been interviewed separately by the Working Group and the Trust’s Board of Directors.

As a result of the ongoing review process, both teams have recently modified their proposals.

Please note that these submissions were received subsequent to the question and answer exchange between the Working Group, Trust and the developers.

In view of the importance of Pier 40 to the surrounding community and to comply with the requirements of the Hudson River Park Act, the Hudson River Park Trust, the Advisory Council of the Hudson River Park Trust, and Manhattan Community Board 2 hosted a Public Meeting and Hearing regarding the proposals for the redevelopment of Pier 40.

The Trust also accepted written comments and will give equal consideration to all comments received in that fashion. The Pier 40 Public Hearing was conducted in compliance with the requirements of the Hudson River Park Act with respect to significant actions, in addition to any relevant requirements of Manhattan Community Board 2. In addition to this website, materials regarding the proposals were also displayed in the lobby of Pier 40 for a period of several months.

Subsequent to the Public Hearing and following the July 25th recommendation from the Pier 40 Working Group of the Hudson River Park Advisory Council, a group of local residents called the "Pier 40 Partnership" began considering alternative concepts for redeveloping Pier 40. The Partnership submitted a conceptual study to the Trust describing its thoughts in December 2007 and the Trust has been considering those ideas as well as the two official proposals.

Next Steps
The Trust’s Board of Directors will ultimately determine how it wishes to proceed with the redevelopment of Pier 40. Assuming one proposal is selected and approved by the Trust Board, a public environmental review and land use process would have to be successfully completed before any construction could commence.

The Trust's Board has directed its staff to continue assessing the proposals and Partnership concept.

If you are interested in staying informed about Pier 40, please check the Trust's web page periodically.

Disclaimer: Please note that information contained herein and on any linked sites is provided for informational purposes only. Hudson River Park Trust does not warrant or make any representations as to the quality, content, accuracy, or completeness of the information, text graphics, links or other items contained herein.