1960s — REVITALIZATION PLANS PRESENTED

The earliest ideas for Battery Park City were precipitated by the collapsing status of 20 piers in the Hudson River, which, through the 1950s, had handled produce for the Washington Market in the area now known as Tribeca. Many plans for Battery Park City were proposed at the time, all with three common goals: to expand the area of Lower Manhattan, attract residents to live Downtown, and to develop additional parks & open spaces.

1968 — BPCA IS CREATED

As various development plans were under review, Governor Nelson Rockefeller understood the importance of establishing an entity to oversee & maintain the project as the site matured. In 1968, he convinced the New York State Legislature to create the Battery Park City Authority as a New York State Public Benefit Corporation.

1970s — BATTERY PARK CITY TAKES SHAPE

The first task of the Authority was to create the 92 acres of land for the community to be built upon. This was done by extending the Manhattan shoreline beyond the old wharves and into the Hudson River. The abundant fill from the nearby excavation of the World Trade Center was used in addition to fill dredged from the Hudson River bed.

1979 — MASTER PLAN ADOPTED

The 1979 Master Plan designed by Cooper-Eckstut, saw Battery Park City as an extension of the existing NYC grid. The plan balanced commercial, residential, and retail space, while designating a third of the project site to be developed as public parks.

Downloadable PDF : 1979 Master Plan

1983 — GATEWAY PLAZA

Gateway Plaza, Battery Park City’s first residential complex is built.

1988 — WORLD FINANCIAL CENTER

The World Financial Center complex (currently Brookfield Place) was completed. This commercial complex complemented the existing World Trade Center and solidified Lower Manhattan as a premier business hub.

1990s — ROADS AND INFASTRUCTURE

Battery Park City’s roads and infrastructure are built-out to support the increased development on the project site.

2000 — SETTING STANDARDS

BPCA publishes the “Residential Environmental Guidelines” to establish a process for the creation of environmentally responsible residential buildings, appreciably ahead of current standards and practices for development. These guidelines were responsible for the construction of The Solaire, the first “green” residential tower in the United States, the first in a succession of healthier, ecologically responsible buildings.

2002 — BPCA ISSUES GUIDELINES

Responding to increased public awareness of environmental conservation & increased demand for healthier working environments, BPCA issues Commercial/Institutional Environmental Guidelines, providing both direction & metrics for design strategies. The resultant buildings are outstanding examples of environmental responsibility, thereby educating & influencing the real estate market & construction industry as a whole.

2004 — THE SOLAIRE

The Solaire becomes the first high-rise residential building in the nation to receive the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED Gold status.

2008 — THE VERDESIAN

Battery Park City continues to set the bar for “green” development, as the Verdesian becomes the first condominium in New York City to earn LEED Platinum certification by the U.S. Green Building Council.

TODAY — MODERN BATTERY PARK CITY

The flexibility of Battery Park City’s Master Plan and its clearly defined design guidelines put it squarely on track to become one of the most successful urban renewal projects in the world. The neighborhood has grown into a well-rounded community home to more than 13,000 residents and a thriving commercial presence, encompassed by 36 acres of world class parks and open spaces.