Republican gubernatorial nominee Rep. Lee Zeldin is backing lower Manhattan residents blasting a proposed resiliency project approved by the Battery Park City Authority — which is controlled by Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul.
“Residents have pointed out that Wagner Park didn’t experience severe flooding during Superstorm Sandy. Others have raised concerns about the exorbitant cost,” Zeldin said Wednesday.
“Until these concerns and much more are addressed, the project should not move forward,” he said.
Construction is expected to begin in upcoming weeks, according to the Battery Park City Authority.
The construction project is expected to begin in the coming weeks. Helayne Seidman for NY PostOfficials say the overhaul is key to the $221 million South Battery Park City Resiliency Project aimed at protecting Manhattan from rising sea levels and natural disasters, especially given the growing dangers of storms fueled by climate change.
The project would do this by transforming the current relatively flat park into a hilly flood barrier adjacent to the existing esplanade, an approach similar to efforts on the East Side of Manhattan that have also faced pushback from locals protective of existing 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 through changes announced last month.
A rendering comparing the current look versus what the new look what be. ny.gov“After more than three dozen public meetings on the project held over nearly six years, we’re proud to move forward with a plan that prioritizes science, has broad local support, and is shaped directly by this community feedback – including the recent addition of 74 percent more lawn space to Wagner Park,” Nick Sbordone, a spokesman for the Battery Park City Authority, said in a statement.
But some local residents remain opposed to the plan — and they are hoping that Zeldin’s involvement might help them spur Hochul to take action to put the breaks on construction ahead of the Nov. 8 election.
NYS Republican gubernatorial candidate Lee Zeldin is standing with the locals against the project. Robert Miller for NY Post“We are very pleased that our efforts have raised the support of Congressman Lee Zeldin. We also hope to get the support — and intervention — from his opponent in the Governor’s race. Gov. Hochul should realize this is a big election issue for people across Lower Manhattan,” the Battery Park City Neighborhood Association Board Member Britni Erez said in a statement.
“She should stop this ill-conceived plan before it ruins our park and help us get a better, science-based resiliency plan,” the statement adds.
The park is expected to be closed for two years. Helayne Seidman for NY PostHochul representatives did not respond to a requests for comment by publication time.
