Historical Context

Over the course of the last 200 years, East River waterfront and the adjacent neighborhoods have undergone four major phases. From the early 19th century to the end of the 19th century, the East River was a focal point for work and recreation. Moreover, the river itself was seen as a cleansing site, serving as a place for New Yorkers to bathe.

This period was followed by a new emphasis on public health, where swimming in the East River was prohibited and construction of dumbbell tenements was banned. The wave of health concerns gave way to the near total redesign of the Lower East Side based on Robert Moses’ modernist design principles, segregating houses from places of work and play, and free-flowing roads from shopping areas. The result was a clear striation, from west to east of public housing, the FDR Drive, East River Park and then the East River, which separated people from the river.

This period has lasted until the end of the 20th century, when de-industrialization, legislation such as the 1977 Clean Water Act and a new demand for recreation space has re-focused the city on the recreational opportunities of the East River Waterfront. The last few decades have revealed a changed understanding of what the waterfront and River can be for New Yorkers. A series of efforts over the last ten years have been aimed at improving
waterfront access and activities along the East River. Currently, the Economic Development Corporation and the Department of City Planning are jointly developing the few remaining piers as public space.