NEW YORK (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) – A stretch of the FDR Drive in the Financial District would be torn down and replaced with a pedestrian-friendly green space and boulevard under a plan unveiled Wednesday by Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine.
At a news conference with Lower Manhattan leaders, Levine said the plan would reshape the southern end of the FDR Drive, a half-century-old viaduct stretching from the Brooklyn Bridge to the Battery.
Officials said the elevated stretch obstructs the river view and the enjoyment of the South Street Seaport and Pier 17.
“We are here today to say it is time to tear that viaduct down,” Levine said.
The vision includes recreational space for pedestrians as well as lanes for motorists and cyclists, not unlike the transformation of the West Side Highway and the creation of Hudson River Park.
Jonathan Boulware, president of the South Street Seaport Museum, said the area used to be an industrial neighborhood but that’s all changed.
“We live here now, people live here in this community, and the ability to connect with our waterways is a new idea,” Boulware said.
The project would coincide with a major flood resilience project to shore up Lower Manhattan more than a decade after Sandy.
“To do these two projects together makes so much sense,” Levine said.
State Sen. Brian Kavanagh called the roadway a relic of a very different time, dating back to the 1950s.
“People are kayaking, they’re doing watersports,” the senator said. “We’re trying to get people to the water.”
While the plan would hinge on the necessary approvals and financing, Levine said it’s time to get the ball rolling, as it will likely be a costly and lengthy project.