About North/West Battery Park City Resiliency

Project Description

"The North/West Battery Park City Resiliency Project is an investment in Lower Manhattan’s future. When complete, it will provide more than a mile of vital, state-of-the-art coastal flood protection, from the Historic Battery, up along Battery Park City’s waterfront, and over into western Tribeca. A critical part of New York City’s overall Lower Manhattan Coastal Resiliency Initiative, this urgent work bolsters our resiliency, preserves access to the waterfront, and integrates with public space all along the way."

Raju Mann
President & CEO, Battery Park City Authority

The North/West Battery Park City Resiliency (N/WBPCR) Project is creating an integrated coastal flood risk management system, designed to protect residents, property, and assets within the neighborhood from the rising threats of storm surge and sea level rise. The N/WBPCR is part of the Lower Manhattan Coastal Resiliency (LMCR) Project, a New York City initiative which aims to protect and reduce flood risk due to coastal storms and sea level rise in Lower Manhattan.

Numerous storms over the last decade have already exposed Lower Manhattan’s vulnerabilities to the impacts of extreme weather, which are only expected to get worse due to the rapidly changing climate. In 2012, Hurricane Sandy claimed 44 lives and caused $19 billion in damages and lost economic activity throughout the city. While Battery Park City fared better than many other affected areas of New York City, it nevertheless sustained millions of dollars of damage to Pier A Harbor House on its southern end, as well as to the BPC Ball Fields and Asphalt Green Community Center as storm surge waters poured in from West Street on its eastern boundary.

In 2019, the City released the Lower Manhattan Climate Resilience Study, a comprehensive multi-hazard climate risk assessment, highlighting the vulnerabilities of the area. Based on this study, New York City has identified a set of strategies to build resilience in Lower Manhattan. The City, State, and Federal government have committed over $1.7 billion in capital investments for the coastal protection projects in Lower Manhattan. Today, the Battery Park City Authority (BPCA) is implementing the N/WBPCR as part of the LMCR Project to protect Battery Park City and Lower Manhattan.

Map of the N/WBPCR project.

Goals and Objectives

Why is N/WBPCR needed?

By the 2050s, 37% of buildings in Lower Manhattan and supporting infrastructure will be at risk from storm surge, with the frequency and intensity of storms only increasing.

By the 2050’s, heat waves projected to be 250% more frequent and 50% longer.

More frequent heavy rain and cloudburst events in recent years have highlighted the urgent need to improve interior drainage in Lower Manhattan.

BPC floodplain includes 120 buildings, 25,000 residents, 61,000 jobs, critical infrastructure and cultural institutions.

BPCA has a responsibility to do our part to protect Lower Manhattan and create a stronger, more resilient community.

Objectives of N/WBPCR:

Provide a reliable and adaptable coastal flood barrier system that minimizes risk and the need for operational interventions by relying on passive flood control rather than mechanical “deployable” flood barrier systems to the extent practicable.

Minimize urban heat island effect and enhance outdoor occupant thermal safety to the extent practicable.

Construct and operate the project in an environmentally responsible manner.

Utilize cost-effective low-impact solutions to maximize capital investment over the lifespan of the N/WBPCR Project.

Goals of N/WBPCR:

Provide a reliable coastal flood barrier system to reduce risk to properties, residents, and assets within the vicinity of Battery Park City that addresses generational storms and flooding events that will become more frequent due to the effects of climate change.

Preserve, enhance, and protect the open space and waterfront cultural resources of Battery Park City to the maximum extent practicable.

Preserve and enhance the character, accessibility, including universal access, and design aesthetic of the community and its interface with the Battery Park City waterfront and access to coastal view sheds, particularly views of the Hudson River, the New York Harbor, and the Statue of Liberty.

Minimize the urban heat island effects and improve the solar reflectance index (SRI) by using specially selected paving materials.

Project Benefits

In addition to providing risk reduction from coastal flooding, stormwater runoff, and heavy rains, N/WBPCR will also bring the following benefits:

Improved In-Water Habitats with approximately 1,200 linear feet of reconstructed bulkhead designed to provide environments that support marine life.

Avoided or minimized disruption to existing below and above-ground infrastructure (i.e., water and sewer infrastructure, subways, tunnels, utilities, etc.) from flood events

Enhanced Public Space with universal accessibility, remediated circulation pinch points, and increased and improved seating

Reduced Homeownership Cost: FEMA’s removal of Battery Park City from the current flood zone will eliminate homeowners’ need to purchase flood insurance for federally-backed mortgagees.

Protection from 2.5 feet of projected sea level rise, help cool neighborhood during heat events, and prevent ponding of more than 1’ depth during rain events

The BPCA published The Case for Resiliency: A Benefit-Cost Analysis for Battery Park City Resiliency Projects in 02/24/25 for its coastal resiliency work to demonstrate that the, showing that the benefits of the Battery Park City resiliency projects far outweigh the costs. When considering the total avoided impact on human health and well-being, economic productivity, parks, traffic, building and infrastructural damage, property value losses, and debris removal, the benefit-cost analysis (BCA) demonstrates that for each dollar invested, these projects generate more than $2 billion in project benefit.

Read the full report.

The BPCR Project is made up of three adjacent projects that, when completed, will work together to comprehensively protect the neighborhood from flooding and sea level rise:

Battery Park City Resiliency on a faded water mark with the white being the prominent colo

North/West Battery Park City Resiliency Project (N/WBPCR)

NWBPCR will construct an integrated coastal flood risk management system from First Place, north along the Battery Park City Esplanade, across to the east side of West Street/Route 9A, and end above Chambers Street at a high point on Greenwich Street. Work will proceed through a progressive design-build effort.

South Battery Park City Resiliency Project (SBPCR)

The South Battery Park City Resiliency Project (SBPCR) will protect the park and the adjacent community against more severe and more frequent storms. The project will create an integrated coastal flood risk management system from the Museum of Jewish Heritage, through Wagner Park, across Pier A Plaza, and along the northern border of the Historic Battery. When re-opened this summer, the new Wagner Park will include expansive lawns and gardens; education, community, dining, and programming spaces; public restrooms; beautiful views; and access for all.

BPC Ball Fields & Community Center Resiliency Project

The BPC Ball Fields & Community Center Resiliency Project, which is now complete, entailed construction of an independent flood barrier system along the eastern, northern, and southern boundaries of the BPC Ball Fields. The approximately 800-linear foot barrier system protects the 80,000 square foot playing surface – used by some 50,000 local youth annually – and adjacent community center from the risks associated with storm surge and sea level rise.