Results tagged “eastriver”

Just months after the city announced a far-reaching proposal to expand ferry service and subsidize boat operators until 2010, it looks like the plan has run aground again. Tom Fox, president of New York Water Taxi, told the Times that he has not been able to reach an agreement with the city about continuing a much-needed $900,000 per year subsidy. Without the government cash, which keeps him afloat during the winter when ridership plummets by 50 percent, he says he might be forced to cancel East River ferry service for the third time in four years.

Some Brooklyn Heights residents say the cacophony from helicopters using the downtown Manhattan heliport is ruining their nice little neighborhood, with eight to ten flights landing every hour at the downtown heliport, just across the East River. Resident Neil Calet tells the Post, "We can no longer sit on our balcony because even nose-to-nose conversation is impossible." (Which means they probably can't hear the tiny violin we're playing, either.) Some fear it's about to get worse, because in April the city will shift sightseeing tours from the West 30th Street heliport to the downtown heliport. You gonna take that, Brooklyn Heights?

Some ledes can't be improved upon, so we have to hand it to the Post for this one: "In a grab for even more 'power,' Mayor Bloomberg is about to harness the sun, the wind and East River tide." But unlike his mayoral rival Montgomery Burns, Bloomberg intends to use the power of the sun for good...or so his Parks Department henchman says. Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe has revealed that the city is moving forward with plans to create an alternative-energy "theme park" on Wards Island, which would include 800 square feet of solar panels, a 140-foot-high wind turbine, and four 100-kilowatt tidal turbines to generate enough electricity to power 100 homes.

Those boats in the water today—it's the Coast Guard! "The U.S. Coast Guard will be conducting exercises in the East River, Hudson River, and New York Harbor between 9 AM and 3 PM on Tuesday 9/15/09. Expect additional Coast Guard vessel activity in these areas." Just be glad for the warning—DC didn't get one and CNN, after overhearing on the radio the words "you will be fired upon" and "bang bang bang," decided that shots were fired on the Potomac, started a Friday kerfuffle when it was just a training exercise the Coast Guard didn't disclose to the public (and apparently the news media).

A 59-year-old man died shortly after beginning the annual Brooklyn Bridge Swim in the East River. Richard Harley, a 59-year-old California resident, apparently started having problems a few minutes into the 1K swim. Newsday reports that the race began 9:45 a.m, "He was pronounced dead at Downtown Beekman Hospital at 10:10 a.m." NYC Swim's Monty Berger said that kayakers, boaters, emergency personnel and even another swimmer were trying to save him. The swimmer, Melody Baglione, told the Daily News she saw him floating near the South Street Seaport, "He was definitely unconscious," and tried to give him CPR. Harley was raising money for a girls' school in Kenya. Berger said Harley had been recently certified with swimming 3.3K in 54 minutes, "This guy wasn't slow. For his age, he had some nice speed... I am saddened this happened. We work really hard to put on these events for people from around the world. This is not how you want to this to end up."

Anyone who strolls along Greenpoint's desolate West Street—just one tantalizing block from the East River—is familiar with the frustration of finding many streets leading to the water gated off. It's not as if there's some waterside idyll waiting on the other end of the block, but there's still something refreshing about being able to stand by the river and watch the sunset or fish (shudder).

      

As the freelancer crowd was just rolling out of bed today and starting to think about where their post-holiday drunch would be coming from, many were hit this morning with a terrifying site: suits taking over their neighborhood! Not to worry though, skinny jeans are still here to stay and the fancy pants come in peace—it's all in the name of leisure.That's because Mayor Bloomberg, Marty Markowitz, Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe and a few other pols came down to the Williamsburg waterfront to break ground on Bushwick Inlet Park.

Who said there were no fireworks on the East River last night? A family who had taken a holiday cruise down to the Statue of Liberty ended up in danger of almost capsizing as dusk approached yesterday evening. The Delorbe family had headed down for lunch on the Jersey side of the Hudson and were making their way back home to City Island when they hit a rough patch and water began entering their 15-foot jetboat near East 34th Street. Luckily for them, their state of peril was quickly spotted by a nearby water taxi named "Frank Sinatra" who put out a mayday call that was promptly responded to by an FDNY rescue boat. The four adults and three young children were pulled out just after 7 p.m. The rescuing captain told the News, "It was the right place at the right time. If we didn't get to them, they would have gone under."

       

Gantry Plaza State Park: you had us at hammocks. Seriously, the people in charge of the Williamsburg waterfront park need to take a cue from the Queens West waterfront, which Curbed reports took a big step today from "casually-accepted planned community to, dare we say, desired urban oasis." Alongside the aforementioned hammocks are lounge chairs, a promenade, the Pepsi sign, and sweet lush green grass. Now if only the fireworks were on the East River this year, we'd suggest staking a spot out now.

Seven police officers had to be treated for injuries after a home invasion robbery led to cops on a chase throughout the Lower East Side that would land three of them in the East River (yet again) while trying to apprehend a fleeing suspect. Three gunmen held up a group of residents inside an elevator of the Smith Houses, a housing project in between the Manhattan and Brooklyn Bridges, not far from the East River. After forcing the group (one of whom was a pregnant woman) into one of their apartments, the thugs duct taped them together and robbed them of guns, cash and cell phones. When one of the victims broke free and got out of the building, the chase quickly became an affair of cops versus robbers. One of the suspects tried to get away by jumping in the East River, as one witness describes it, "All I saw was a dude in the water. He was all nervous, scared. He was just trying to get away from the police." At one point, two housing officers tried to become part of the nautical apprehension late in the game as another witness tells the News, "He jumped in and the guy was already surrendering." Four other offices were injured when two squad cars crashed during the mayhem.

The New York State Department of Health recently started drawing attention to their Hudson River Fish Advisory Outreach Project, according to FreeWilliamsburg. The site has a photo of a Parks Department sign, taken at the North 5th Street pier behind the Northside Piers development, which actually alludes to the fact that one can eat what they catch from the East River without a trip to the ER. Well, there are some caveats, the sign reads: "Pregnant women, women of childbearing age, and children under 15 years old should not eat fish or eels caught in these waters." Reassuring, no? So what goodies can be hooked in the river? According to NYC Fishing: bass, blues, stripers, snappers and flounder. Well, it's probably better than whatever you'd find in the Gowanus, but maybe not at Prospect Park.

Advocates have been pushing for years to make swimming in the Hudson River a reality for New Yorkers, but one career thief has been doing his part to get the NYPD to explore the possibilities of entering into other local waters that would normally be avoided. Yesterday a police diver went into the 50-degree water of Meadow Lake in Fresh Meadows Park for four hours to fish out four ATMs that were allegedly dumped there by Valentin Garcia, who had been arrested for grand larceny after getting caught lifting the ATMs right into a van, seen in the clip below.

As if Macy's could move the 4th of July fireworks from the East to the Hudson River and not hear about it from Brooklyn. Council Member David Yassky issued the following statement yesterday regarding the huge dis to the borough: “The annual Fourth of July fireworks show on the East River and over the internationally-recognized Brooklyn Bridge is one of our City’s greatest spectacles. Moving the show to New Jersey would negatively impact thousands of tourists and residents who come to Manhattan and Brooklyn to enjoy the show, and the countless local business that stand to benefit from the event. I urge Macy’s to split the show so that Brooklyn residents are not robbed of this important tradition and influx of economic activity during this moment of economic uncertainty.” The Brooklyn Paper seconds that emotion today with a number of quotes from disappointed residents, including Marty Markowitz himself, who reminds the retailer that the borough is also linked to Henry Hudson's journeys. The paper notes that "the change will hinder views from the Columbia Street Waterfront District all the way to Greenpoint — and inland to Fort Greene, Park Slope and beyond."

There's nothing like a post-robbery attempt dip in the East River! The Post reports that a man suspected of trying to steal an ATM—by knocking it over with his van— on the Lower East Side early Tuesday morning had managed to put the ATM into his vehicle, but then the cops came. Valentin Garcia "ran out of room as he sprinted two blocks down Rutgers Street, running smack into the river... But that didn't stop him -- he jumped into the cold, dark waters and tried to swim for it." He was fished out and apparently told cops, "I was not in the van. I don't know anything about ATM machines." Garcia was also allegedly overheard using his alloted phone call to tell someone, "911! Get all of the cash out from my mattress!" Garcia is being held on $50,000 bail; he is suspected in a number of knocked-over ATM robberies.

Various reports say that State Senate Democrats are dropping the plan to toll East River and Harlem River bridge crossings, which has split their party. The Daily News reports that they "are expected to unveil a watered-down MTA bailout that would keep the city's bridges free but leave less money for transit, sources said Monday night." The NY Times calls the new proposal a "short-term alternative" that still leaves unanswered questions for the MTA.

           

The Lieb House took a trip up the East River this morning, en route to its new home on Long Island. Architecture nerds, curious early risers, news crews, the new home owners, and architects Robert Venturi and Denise Scott Brown were all on hand to witness the journey, which began in New Jersey. The NY Times even talked to a woman who took residence there for two summers in the 1970s. It's difficult to track down any interior shots of the 1,500-square-footer, but one onlooker today told us Venturi created a home for his mother as well, which he said was filled with very ornate detail.

A small piece of architectural history will float down the East River this Friday the 13th. Robert Venturi's 1969 Lieb House was nearly demolished until a plan to relocate it from New Jersey to Long Island came through. Now the move to Glen Cove is being celebrated with drawings, photographs, movies, and interviews, as well as a celebratory sail past the Seaport. The Storefront for Art and Architecture says "to gather at South Street Seaport to watch Robert Venturi and Denise Scott Brown's Lieb House carried via barge under the Brooklyn Bridge and on into Long Island Sound. The passage of the house and the assembled onlookers will be filmed by 13 cameras, including a heli-cam, to become part of Jim Venturi's documentary Robert Venturi and Denise Scott Brown." In the early 70s Mrs. Lieb told the NY Times, "It's a real dumb house, just a box, but it's gorgeous." [via Brooklyn Heights Blog]

So much for the State Legislature moving forward on a plan to introduce $2 tolls on currently free East River and Harlem River bridges—opposition from State Senators (from even within his own Democratic party as well as other Democratic state and city officials) has forced State Senate Majority Leader Malcolm Smith's hand into delaying any sort of decision by demanding an audit of the MTA's finances. Wait, there was no audit of the MTA's finances before a deal would be made?

NY State Senate Majority Leader Malcolm Smith voiced his support for $2 tolls on East River and Harlem River bridges, a proposal from Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver. However Smith did add, "If reducing the proposed East River Bridges toll results in higher fare increases, fewer service add-ons and layoffs, then it may not achieve the intended goals any toll would have to meet for it to be a prudent option."

Following Swoon's fleet of artistic boats sailing down the East River last summer, another troupe of local artists plans to up the ante later this year. The Brooklyn Paper reports that they're currently planning on living aboard an eco-friendly barge for the summer months in a colony they’re calling the Waterpod. On board there will be solar and wind-generated electricity, a "greenhouse made from recycled materials" and not much else. Whatever they can grow in there, or catch off the boat, will be all they're allowed to consume from May through October. During those months there will also be on-board lectures, screenings and art events. The paper reports that "when they aren’t farming, fishing, or tending to their proposed chicken coop, the artists aim to educate New Yorkers about global warming, the risks of rising sea levels, and the concept of self-sufficient, nomadic sea cities." The route hasn't yet been determined, but if you're wondering how much this endeavor is costing, the figure is around $800,000.

Bad idea snow pants! That giant, steep slope you see being erected on the Manhattan side of the East River will host professional riders this week...but Curbed (via Fast Company) is reporting they may leave it open for amateurs, too: "My sources at Red Bull tell me it might stay up and be open to city rippers throughout the winter!" Upon completion this thing is going to be 90 feet high with a "specially constructed kicker toward an immense 80-foot long hip" and a "massive 45-degree spine," according to the experts. We contacted the company to see if this was true, and to remind them of the litigious society we live in, but they only told us "no comment." Which isn't a denial! Get ready to sign one gnarly release form, New York!

   

A helicopter and police boat rushed to the East River near the Main Street section of Brooklyn Bridge Park this afternoon, where a man miraculously survived after jumping from the Manhattan Bridge. A firefighter at the scene in DUMBO told us it was believed to be a suicide attempt, but it was unclear how the man had survived the fall into the icy waters and was still able to walk to a waiting ambulance.

   

The Lower East Side is about to get cool again, at least for a couple of days. On February 4th snowboarders will start taking practice runs down the ramp that's being built on the side of the East River (you can get a nice view from the Williamsburg Bridge right now). Then on February 5th they'll compete in an hour long contest, followed by a 7 p.m. Anthrax concert, followed by another hour of riding for the finalists. Here's a look at how the ramp (and snow making) are coming along—would you take a ride down this?

Snowboarding in Manhattan? Whatever! It's really happening though (it's actually happened before), thanks to the caffeine-pushers at Red Bull who will debut their "Snowscrapers" on the banks of the East RIver next month.

A woman who is believed to have possibly been chasing after her purse had to be pulled out of the East River after jumping in around 10 p.m. last night. The emotionally disturbed 23-year-old was stuck under a dock near East 30th Street after spending around twenty minutes in the water, the temperature of which hovers around 40 degrees this time of year. After struggling with police trying to pull her out, cops had to tie a rope around the woman in order to force her back onto land. She was brought to Bellevue and is in stable condition while being treated for hypothermia. She may not have made it that far had she not been spotted by a valet at the nearby Water Club restaurant. Dan Sweeney told the Post, "She didn't seem to be drunk or anything. But I really don't know what happened to her." Just earlier this week, we found a non-profit group imagining a swimmable East River, but even Kramer needed a little Hollywood magic in order to take his famous plunge in it a decade ago.

Solar One, the non-profit Community Environmental Center here in New York, is raising some funds for the new year. Their latest $100 donation plan is dubbed Environmental Health on a Half Shell. It's simple...if you donate 100 bucks, they'll plant 100 oysters in the East River for you. They explain: "The lowly oyster provides a natural filtering system - they eat algae, and well, raw sewage. They purify our waters. When the Dutch arrived, the lower Hudson River Estuary contained 350 square miles of oyster beds. These many millions of bi-valve beauties cleaned the lower Estuary in a single day. They contributed mightily to the wealth of New York as well - pickled oysters became important trade with the British West Indies. Oysters were produced in all 5 boroughs...sold on every corner. Sadly, sewage and pollution exhausted the last beds in 1927." Last year they planted 3,000 oysters, and this year they have a goal of 10,000 (you can help). Just imagine a swimmable East River! And quick, someone dump some oysters in the Gowanus.

Some more details about rumors that the MTA is considering tolls for the Brooklyn, Manhattan, 59th Street and Williamsburg Bridges. Apparently this proposal will be included in the Ravtich Commission's recommendation for ways for the MTA to raise revenue. Governor Paterson convened the commission after countless warnings from the agency about its dire financial situation.

     

Back in September land-dwellers were on high alert as a submarine passed through the waters of the East River. It turned out that the sub was the U.S.S. Growler, heading to the GMD Shipyard Corp. facilities at the Brooklyn Navy Yard for some repairs. Now (really, right this second) it's making its way back to the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum. From the press release:

The refurbished Growler Submarine (SSG-577) will return to its home at the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum at the Hudson River Park's Pier 86, located at 12th Avenue and 46th Street in Manhattan on Thursday, November 6, at 1:00 p.m. The Growler, which received an exterior refurbishment while in dry dock, will be towed by tugboat to Manhattan's West Side, in advance of the Intrepid Museum's reopening on Saturday, November 8th.

A reader sent in this photo of the imminent dismantling of artist Olafur Eliasson's Lower East Side waterfall at Pier 35. Within weeks, the scaffolding at all four locations will be but a distant memory, and in spring the leaves will (hopefully!) return to the trees without that salty East River mist to turn them freakishly brown for the sake of conceptual art.

Perhaps submarines are always in the East River, just, you know, submerged--but we've never seen one. Until now! This one just floated through DUMBO headed in the direction of Williamsburg. So if you're a hipster wearing your "Defend Brooklyn" T-shirt, the day has come to back it up!