City Comptroller Scott Stringer has stopped approval of a major city government project to rebuild East River Park and make it flood-proof.
A few days ago, Stringer sent the contract back to the municipal Department of Design and Construction (DDC, for its acronym in English) requesting more information on two aspects.
This decision was made after opponents of the project demonstrated against it, right in front of Cotralor’s office, located in Manhattan.
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The measure delays the development of a plan, which has a budget of $ 127 billion, to level the 58-acre park and raise it about 8 feet above the water level. Which would make it a barrier to prevent flooding in the neighborhood.
The new park would include a renewed accessibility for visitors with reduced mobility and, according to the demands of its detractors, would preserve the amphitheater and the Lower East Side Ecological Center, which has a compost area.
The municipal government planned to begin raising a portion of the park from the beginning of this summer. Meanwhile, the project should proceed in two phases, which would preserve half of the park during construction work, which was estimated to last 5 years.
For her part, the press secretary of the municipal Comptroller’s Office, Hazel Crampton-Hays, said in a statement: “As is the case with any contract, the Comptroller’s Office has carried out a thorough review and agrees with the community on a series of questions and answers to determine compliance with all applicable rules and regulations regarding this $ 1.2 billion contract. “
According to Crampton-Hays, there are still two relevant issues that remain unresolved, despite a month’s discussion with the DDC: that the construction companies involved in the contract have completed all the transparency forms required by the city; and determine if the city can, through this project, increase its proportional share of allocation to minority and women businesses.
Critics of the project regard Stringer’s decision as a victory; although the Comptroller has not declared his opposition to the reconstruction plan.
Those who oppose this reconstruction plan argue that the project was developed without taking into account the community and that, in addition, it entails the felling of 1,000 trees.
Christoper Marte, who could be the next councilman for Manhattan’s District 1, which borders the park, joined the protests outside Stringer’s office.
Marte himself said in an interview that he is concerned about the municipal lack of transparency in the planning process, which led the East River Park Action organization to legally sue the city to deliver a project report. He also expressed his opposition to said project because it would interrupt access to green areas by residents.
For her part, Councilor Carlina Rivera, who represents the Second District of the city, where the park is located, supports the reconstruction plan.
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