Lee Zeldin joins locals fighting Battery Park City waterfront project

Republican gubernatorial nominee Rep. Lee Zeldin is backing decrease Manhattan residents blasting a proposed resiliency project permitted by the Battery Park Metropolis Authority — which is managed by Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul.

“Residents have identified that Wagner Park didn’t expertise extreme flooding throughout Superstorm Sandy. Others have raised considerations concerning the exorbitant value,” Zeldin mentioned Wednesday.

“Till these considerations and far more are addressed, the undertaking shouldn’t transfer ahead,” he mentioned.

Development is anticipated to start in upcoming weeks, in line with the Battery Park Metropolis Authority.

Officers say the overhaul is essential to the $221 million South Battery Park City Resiliency Project geared toward defending Manhattan from rising sea ranges and pure disasters, particularly given the rising risks of storms fueled by local weather change.

The undertaking would do that by reworking the present comparatively flat park right into a hilly flood barrier adjoining to the present esplanade, an strategy just like efforts on the East Aspect of Manhattan which have additionally confronted pushback from locals protecting of present parks.

And the authority has dampened criticism from some critics like Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine, Assemblywoman Yuh-Line Niou and state Sen. Brian Kavanagh by means of changes announced last month.

“After greater than three dozen public conferences on the undertaking held over practically six years, we’re proud to maneuver ahead with a plan that prioritizes science, has broad native help, and is formed straight by this neighborhood suggestions – together with the latest addition of 74 % extra garden area to Wagner Park,” Nick Sbordone, a spokesman for the Battery Park Metropolis Authority, mentioned in a press release.

However some native residents stay against the plan — and they’re hoping that Zeldin’s involvement would possibly assist them spur Hochul to take motion to place the breaks on development forward of the Nov. 8 election.

“We’re very happy that our efforts have raised the help of Congressman Lee Zeldin. We additionally hope to get the help — and intervention — from his opponent within the Governor’s race. Gov. Hochul ought to notice it is a huge election subject for individuals throughout Decrease Manhattan,” the Battery Park Metropolis Neighborhood Affiliation Board Member Britni Erez mentioned in a press release.

“She ought to cease this ill-conceived plan earlier than it ruins our park and assist us get a greater, science-based resiliency plan,” the assertion provides.

Hochul representatives didn’t reply to a requests for remark by publication time.