“Battery Park City and the Authority are not just about the buildings – it’s about the character of the community that has developed over time. Public space has had a new renaissance in New York City, but here in Battery Park City is where it started.”
B.J. JONES
President & CEO
Overview
Timeline
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.
Battery Park City Authority
Established in 1968, the Battery Park City Authority was charged with developing and maintaining a well-balanced community on the Lower West Side of Manhattan, in place of where deteriorating piers once stood in the Hudson River. Battery Park City has achieved worldwide acclaim as a model for community renewal. Through a public/private partnership between the Battery Park City Authority and private developers, this planned community has become a blueprint for successful urban development.
In October 2018, BPCA released its first-ever, scientific study of the use of Battery Park City’s 36 acres of parks and public spaces, an effort aimed at helping BPCA meet the challenges of maintaining the high level of satisfaction that its park users enjoy. The study’s findings confirmed that Battery Park City parks are extremely successful in providing an attractive and safe environment for a varied array of user populations.
Mission Statement
The Hugh L. Carey Battery Park City Authority is a New York State public benefit corporation whose mission is to plan, create, coordinate, and sustain a balanced community of commercial, residential, retail, and park space within its designated 92-acre site on the lower west side of Manhattan. There is a recognition that, as development of new parcels is completed, the importance of maintenance within the mission will become more significant.
Resilience Action Plan
In 2019, the Authority embarked on a strategic planning process with 100 Resilient Cities, a not- for-profit organization that has led similar efforts in dozens of cities worldwide. Drawing on 100 Resilient Cities’ experience, as well as significant public engagement conducted by Authority leadership prior to and throughout the strategic planning process, the Battery Park City Resilience Action Plan sets forth a vision consisting of 14 goals and 30 total actions designed to achieve those goals.
This Action Plan is intended to ensure that Battery Park City will:
1. Be an inclusive community, one which supports housing affordability as a part of a diverse and livable community, ensures that a vibrant business community meets the needs of its residents, and provides an enjoyable public realm that is accessible to all.
2. Create a safe and climate resilient place with a built environment and natural systems that adapt to the changing climate, an implementable strategy to achieve carbon neutrality, robust infrastructure to support daily life and prepare for future weather events, and a suite of safety and security services that support resident needs.
3. Remain a vibrant public space featuring dynamic and diverse programming, world-class community amenities, and public art that inspires residents and visitors alike.
4. Demonstrate leadership for the future, dedicating the entire Authority team to improving service and project delivery, embracing diversity in culture and operations, integrating climate resilience and sustainability policies, strengthening collaboration on innovative governance practices, and continuing its responsible stewardship of public resources.
