
Protesters urge the City Council to vote against a resiliency plan that would force East River Park to close for more than three years. (Photo by Ben Fractenberg/THE CITY)
This story was originally published on November 13, 2019 by THE CITY.
By RACHEL HOLLIDAY SMITH, THE CITY
A transformational plan to fortify the Lower East Side waterfront against rising seas is poised to sail through a key vote this week.
On Thursday, the City Council is expected to OK the $1.45 billion East Side Coastal Resiliency project, or ESCR. The controversial plan already has gotten stamps of approval from a Council committee and subcommittee and has the backing of the three members whose districts touch the 2.4-mile affected zone.
Many locals have been weighing in on concepts for years, making Thursday’s vote a culmination of hard — and, often, frustrating — work. But the Council action will launch a huge, first-of-its-kind project for New York to prepare for rising sea levels and strong storms that climate change will bring.
Here’s a guide to what you should know about ESCR.