February 22, 2016

The Honorable Bill de Blasio

Mayor of New York City
City Hall
New York, NY 10007
Dear Mayor de Blasio,
We applaud your dedication of $100 million of city money for flood protection along Lower Manhattans
East River waterfront. This plan makes the work of the South Street Initiative (SSI) ever more relevant and
urgent. SSI is a coalition of diverse stakeholders that has conceived a wider, more inclusive, vision for the
waterfront from Montgomery St. to Battery Park and the surrounding upland areas.
Flood protection measures are an absolute necessity, and they represent an opportunity to address many
other needs at the same time. SSI advocates for the transformation of this area into a vibrant, resilient space
that bridges diverse neighboring communities and offers opportunities for waterfront access, recreation,
and social, cultural and educational engagement that are equitable. To achieve this goal, we have
incorporated the South Street East River Community Development Corporation (SSER-CDC) to help guide
the equitable infrastructural and economic development of Lower Manhattans East River Waterfront and
the adjacent neighborhoods.
The major goals of the SSER-CDC are:
Create a single, comprehensive, and fair plan that coordinates land use, planning and development,
using the best ideas out of a plethora of pre-existing plans, many of which have never been
actualized;
Pilot and implement resilient design, including green infrastructure and coastal resiliency plans, to
effect infrastructural, economic, social, and cultural resiliency;
Foster small business incubation, and provide job and educational opportunities for waterfront
communities;
Establish open space and built environment equity for the east side of Manhattan to achieve higher
quality of life and better public health outcomes;
Steward and maintain publicly-owned facilities to ensure maximum usage and sustainability to the
benefit of the total community;
Preserve historic character of the area with special attention to the South Street Seaport Historic
District;
Promote the viability and sustainability of critical cultural institutions including the South Street
Seaport Museum;
Encourage maritime use of and access to the East River shoreline for historic and educational ships,
ferry transit and excursions; and
Support growth and economic development that meets the needs of diverse community members.
Much time, money, and effort have been expended over the past two decades to develop numerous plans,
but implementation has been sporadic at best. We believe that the East River Waterfront has great potential
to not only be an attractive destination, but to also be an extraordinary community resource and strong
economic driver for all neighborhoods and populations in Lower Manhattan. The establishment of the SSER-

The South Street Initiative c/o Two Bridges Neighborhood Council 275 Cherry Street New York, NY 100002

CDC to fulfill all the above-described responsibilities is critical to the health of the neighboring waterfront
communities, and we urge you all, our elected officials, to support SSI and participate in SSER-CDC to the
benefit of their constituents.
Signed By (listed alphabetically by organization):
Aixa Torres, President, Alfred E. Smith Houses Resident Association
Michael S. Gruen, President, The City Club of New York
Anthony Borelli, Vice President of Development, Edison Properties, LLC.
Friends of South Street Seaport
Mark Handelman, Executive Director, Hamilton Madison House
Betsy Maclean, Executive Director, Hester Street Collaborative
Simeon Bankoff, Executive Director, Historic Districts Council
Christine Datz-Romero, Executive Director, Lower East Side Ecology Center
Tanya Castro, Co-President, Lands End II Resident Association
Nancy Ortiz, President, Vladeck Houses I & II Resident Association
Peg Breen, President, New York Landmarks Conservancy
Wally Dimson, President, Southbridge Towers, Inc.
Kate Slevin, Vice President of Planning and Policy, Municipal Arts Society of New York
Victor Papa, President/Director, Two Bridges Neighborhood Council
Ken Mok, President, Two Bridges Townhouses Condominium
Roland Lewis, Executive Director, Waterfront Alliance
CC:

Deputy Mayor Alicia Glen

U.S. Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez
U.S. Congressman Jerrold Nadler
New York State Senator Daniel Squadron
Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer
New York City Speaker of the Council Melissa Mark-Viverito
New York City Councilmember Margaret Chin
New York City Councilmember Rosie Mendez
Mayors Office of Recovery and Resiliency Director Daniel Zarrilli
New York City Department of City Planning Director Carl Weisbrod
NYC Economic Development Corporation President Maria Torres-Springer
Community Board 1 Chair Catherine McVay Hughes
Community Board 3 Chair Gigi Li

The South Street Initiative c/o Two Bridges Neighborhood Council 275 Cherry Street New York, NY 100002