Two Hour Hidden Harbor(R) "Beyond Sandy" Boat Tour Will Examine The Manhattan, Brooklyn and Staten Island Shoerlines In The Wake Of Superstorm Sandy
New York, NY (PRWEB) August 01, 2013 -- Hurricane Sandy brought high seas to New York’s inner harbor, flooding streets and buildings, engulfing subway tunnels, shorting out power stations and paralyzing waterfront neighborhoods. New York was unprepared. The question everyone has asked since then is: What can we do better?
Three of the city’s top real estate and development professionals will attempt to answer that question during a special “Beyond Sandy” boat tour on August 6.
This tour is part of a series of “Beyond Sandy” Tours that the nonprofit Working Harbor, renowned for its Hidden Harbor tours of the working harbor, added to its 2013 tour schedule. “Our goal is to show people the city’s waterfront firsthand so they can understand the impacts of climate change and learn how we can prepare for rising waters,” said Capt. John Doswell, executive director of the Working Harbor Committee. Hidden Harbor® and Beyond Sandy Tours are presented by the nonprofit Working Harbor Committee in partnership with the New York Water Taxi/Circle Line Downtown.
Points of Interest
The boat will travel from Manhattan’s hard-hit Seaport district to the Brooklyn waterfront and the Verrazano Narrows Bridge (where giant sea gates could be installed) and then to Staten Island’s east and north shores. Views of the Statue of Liberty and the Manhattan skyline will round out the harbor experience.
Speakers
The speakers will describe how the storm damaged their properties and how they are modifying future designs to minimize damage to their own properties and protect adjacent neighborhoods. They will also comment on the practicality of the mayor’s Special Initiative for Rebuilding and Resiliency (SIRR).
Helena Durst is a vice president of The Durst Organization and president of New York Water Taxi/Circle Line Downtown. She will comment on the need for better coordination by waterfront agencies and the joint responsibility of the city and development communities to move utilities to higher ground.
Richard Marin is president and CEO of New York Wheel LLC, the company that is planning to build a 60-story-high Ferris wheel (like the London Eye, only bigger) on the north shore of Staten Island near the St. George Ferry Terminal. He will talk about how the big wheel project has been redesigned since Sandy, adding features that will provide a flood buffer for the immediate neighborhood.
Win Wharton is a representative of Empire Outlets and BFC Partners, a real estate development company that is planning to build a designer-outlet mall and hotel complex near the proposed New York Wheel and the Richmond Bank Ballpark (home of the Staten Island Yankees). He will talk about design features that will make the development resilient and provide flood protections for upland areas.
Capt John. Doswell will moderate the discussion and act as tour guide, pointing out places of interest as the boat passes by them.
Boat and Ticket Information
Tickets: $39 adults; $32 for seniors and Working Harbor Committee members; $25 children (3-12). A portion of the ticket price goes to the Working Harbor Committee to support its programming.
Advance ticket purchase is recommended. Visit http://www.workingharbor.org or https://www.circlelinedowntown.com/tours/hidden-harbors. To purchase by phone call 212-742-1969. If the cruise is not sold out, tickets can also be purchased on the day of the tour at the Circle Line Downtown booth on Pier 16.
Zephyr, which will depart Pier 16 promptly at 6:30, features two fully enclosed air-conditioned decks, plus an open-air roof deck – all with panoramic views. Snacks and beverages, including wine and beer, will be available for purchase. Note: The tour boat is subject to change to a New York Water Taxi pending day-of conditions.
Directions to Pier 16: Subway: 2,3,4,5, E, J, Z or M trains to Fulton Street, or A and C trains to Broadway - Nassau. Walk east on Fulton Street to the pier.
About the Working Harbor Committee: The Working Harbor Committee is a nonprofit organization dedicated to spreading the word about the rich history, current vitality and future potential of the New York/New Jersey Harbor. The organization also runs an extensive youth education program. Full information is available at http://www.workingharbor.org.
About New York Water Taxi and Circle Line Downtown: New York Water Taxi (NYWT), an affiliate company of The Durst Organization, Inc., has been a New York fixture since 2002. The fleet also includes the vessels of NYWT’s sister organization Circle Line Downtown—the speedboat-thrill ride Shark, and the luxury yacht Zephyr. NYWT’s mission is to provide entertaining, stimulating, and enlightening ways to see New York ‘s waterways.
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Betsy Haggerty, New York Water Taxi and Working Harbor Committee, http://www.nywatertaxi.com, 646-734-4288, [email protected]
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