Returning to Pier 40 on the Friday after Thanksgiving in my new, used Honda Accord that replaced my beloved Odyssey which had been flooded and destroyed the night of Sandy, I was met at the open gate by Robert Nguyen, the young manager for the Pier 40 Parking, the parking contractor. He explained that as the storm built and they realized they were in Zone A, they had to disassemble the gate so it would not blow off.
Robert tried to call as many owners as he could and went back to discover that my car was not in its usual spot and that my license plate had been changed so I never received a call (I was not the only one). He did send two emails but I and I suspect most of the West Village car owners never saw it because of course, with no power, no internet.
“Who was responsible to call the parkers?” I asked. “The parking company or the Hudson River Park Trust?” The answer came back fast, “both,” and Robert finally went on to say he regretted that he had not been able to call or email all the parkers, “but the Pier belongs to HRPT.” He continued, “I got a call from Europe and a parker wanted me to open his car to see if got damaged and I had to explain I had no way of doing that.”
I asked him how many cars were flooded. Robert replied, “I don’t know” and “not many.” The gates had been open since the night of Sandy and as Robert offered, “to allow cars to be towed out.” Currently, 25 days after the storm, nobody knows and that guy in Europe had better get back to file a claim or it will be a dead loss (you have to file within 60 days).
HRPT argues that is was the responsibility of the parking company to notify car owners of possible flooding. However right now, nobody has even let those who have not visited their vehicle, since the storm, know that it may be ready for the tow truck. So, go down and see. When you open the door, the stench of sewerage will tell you if you have to file a claim.
