On Wednesday, November 3rd, the Community Board Two Waterfront Committee heard and saw its first presentation of the design for a new Pier 55. (The Bromley Map of 1911 shows no Pier 55, the only missing pier on the island). This design is truly extraordinary in many respects. Unfortunately, in none of the many views made available by the British architects, Heatherwick Studio and landscape architect Mathews Nielsen, do we have a view from the shore walker’s perspective, only from the sea gulls (or helicopters} flying over, which brings us to the heart of the matter. How will we promenaders experience this unique garden on the Hudson?
When I think of famous places approached from underneath as this raised island will be, I am reminded of passing through the vaulted aisles of Mont Saint-Michel to reach the roads above, the dramatic music-filled cavernous passageways leading to the light-filled Piazza Vittorio Emanuele in Perugia, or, most of all, the colossal columned understory of the Parc Guell in Barcelona. There, this magical multilayered hillside park designed by Antonio Gaudi in 1900, is supported by sculptured columns bearing the tile-emblazoned promenade and a raised garden. Here, in Hudson River Park, Pier 55 appears as if the hand of Poseidon had lifted this magic paradise from the floor of the Hudson.
This effect is borne out by the approach from the promenade along the southern walkway which passes under the pier and introduces us through a “stairway to heaven.” As described by James Yolles, speaking for the Hudson River Park Trust, this heaven is “a place of discovery, where visitors can wander and wonder, finding something new around every corner, places to lounge, eat lunch or just lie in the grass. The park’s undulating topography – replete with lush lawns and pathways – will offer sweeping views of the Manhattan and northern New Jersey skylines.”
Unfortunately, the designers have not yet given thought to how they will treat the potentially cathedral like spaces under the park which will be visible from all directions, including those on canoes, kayaks and other boats. One can hope that these will be addressed in future presentations to the community. In order to build Pier 55 the designers have decided to demolish the existing historic Pier 54 into which the steamship Carpathia brought survivors from the “unsinkable” Titanic, which sank off the coast of Newfoundland on April 14, 1912 at 11:40 PM on a clear, calm star-filled night. 1000 lives were lost within view of the coast. After landing at Pier 54 the survivors were housed in the Seaman’s Institute at the foot of Jane Street (now the Jane Hotel). The designers decided to reorient the causeways leading to the new pier to view corridors from Little West 12th and Thirteenth Streets which are the first to break 30 degrees away from the street grid to the south. The Trust has also received a grant to build a new striped crosswalk at West 13th Street, a small gesture in the right direction. The east side of West Street in this area is a hideous walking environment. .
A member of the Trust observed that the High Line attracts far more walkers than Hudson River Park. This is probably because West Street itself is such a barrier to the park with its infrequent crossings, excessive number and width of lanes and speeds, traffic noise which doubles in loudness as one approaches the park from inland and generally poor appearance as a gateway to the city. Mayor de Blasio needs to bring his concern for pedestrian safety and convenience to West Street, which could use Park Avenue as a model. Pier 55 is a great move ahead with a brilliant concept. Readers are encouraged to attend Community Board Two meetings in January and stay involved.
