Question 1

What is the North/West Battery Park City Resiliency project?

Accepted Answer

The North/West Battery Park City Resiliency (N/WBPCR) Project is a coastal flood protection project designed to reduce flood risk for Battery Park City and other parts of Lower Manhattan that are vulnerable to storm surge and sea level rise. The Project will create an integrated coastal flood risk management system extending from the southern end of Battery Park City, north along the Esplanade, east across West Street/Route 9A, and ultimately tying into higher ground near Greenwich Street in Tribeca.The Project includes a combination of flood protection measures, including flood walls, below-grade flood barrier elements, tide gates, and other infrastructure improvements designed to reduce the risk of coastal flooding while preserving access to the neighborhood’s waterfront, open spaces, and public amenities. In addition to flood protection, the Project includes improvements to public space, landscaping, circulation, accessibility, seating, and drainage throughout the project area.

Question 2

What is the Lower Manhattan Coastal Resiliency (LMCR) project?

Accepted Answer

The Lower Manhattan Coastal Resiliency (LMCR) is a broader citywide initiative to reduce flood risk in Lower Manhattan caused by coastal storms, storm surge, and sea level rise. LMCR is composed of several coordinated resiliency projects across Lower Manhattan that will, once completed, work together to provide long-term protection against climate-related flooding.The North/West Battery Park City Resiliency Project is one of the projects within this broader Lower Manhattan resiliency effort.

Question 3

What other projects are part of LMCR?

Accepted Answer

The Lower Manhattan Coastal Resiliency initiative is composed of six adjacent and connected projects designed to address flood risk in Lower Manhattan. In addition to the North/West Battery Park City Resiliency Project, the other projects are the South Battery Park City Resiliency Project, the Battery Coastal Resilience Project, the Brooklyn Bridge-Montgomery Coastal Resiliency Project, the East Side Coastal Resiliency Project, and planning work related to the Financial District and Seaport area.Together, these projects will eventually connect to form a comprehensive and coordinated flood protection network for Lower Manhattan.

Question 4

Why is the North/West Battery Park City Resiliency Project necessary?

Accepted Answer

The N/WBPCR Project is necessary because Battery Park City and Lower Manhattan face increasing flood risk from coastal storms, storm surge, heavy rainfall, and rising sea levels. Over the past decade, extreme weather events have demonstrated the vulnerability of the neighborhood and surrounding infrastructure to flooding. Superstorm Sandy in 2012, an example of the type of storm that may become more frequent, caused severe flooding and damage throughout Lower Manhattan.Battery Park City experienced flooding and storm-related damage during Sandy, including impacts to public facilities and open spaces. Climate change is expected to increase both the frequency and severity of coastal flooding over time. The N/WBPCR Project is intended to help protect residents, buildings, public spaces, utilities, transportation connections, and other neighborhood assets from these growing risks.

Question 5

What does the North/West Battery Park City Resiliency Project protect us from?

Accepted Answer

The Project is designed to reduce the risk of flooding associated with storm surge, coastal flooding, sea level rise, and heavy rainfall events. It will help protect Battery Park City and nearby areas of Lower Manhattan from coastal flood events that could damage buildings, infrastructure, open space, and critical neighborhood services.The Project is part of a long-term strategy to help Battery Park City adapt to climate change and better withstand future flooding conditions.

Question 6

What other benefits will the Project bring?

Accepted Answer

In addition to reducing flood risk, the N/WBPCR Project is expected to provide a range of benefits to the neighborhood, including:enhanced waterfront and public open spaces designed to integrate resiliency infrastructure into the neighborhood;improved accessibility and circulation along the Esplanade and throughout key public areas, including upgrades that support universal access;improved stormwater infrastructure intended to reduce localized flooding and ponding during significant rain events;resiliency upgrades that help protect neighborhood infrastructure, utilities, and public assets from future flood damage;reconstructed portions of relieving platforms (which support the esplanade) and bulkhead (which connects Battery Park City to the rest of Lower Manhattan), and new in-water habitat enhancements in certain areas;selected materiality and design features intended to help reduce urban heat impacts where practicable; andlong-term economic benefits associated with reducing future flood-related damage and disruption.The Project is also intended to preserve Battery Park City’s role as a waterfront neighborhood by integrating flood protection into the public realm, rather than treating resiliency infrastructure as separate and distinct.

Question 7

How is the Project financed?

Accepted Answer

Battery Park City Authority (BPCA) funds its operations and capital work through revenue it receives from sources such as ground rent through existing leases in Battery Park City.  All excess revenue is provided to New York City in the form of Payment In Lieu of Taxes (PILOT).BPCA has the capacity to issue state bonds to finance major capital improvements like the North/West Battery Park City Resiliency (NWBPCR) Project.  With permission from NYC Office of Management and Budget (OMB), debt service on the bonds issued for NWBPCR will be paid from the PILOT which otherwise would have been paid to the City.

Question 8

Will the Project’s financing impact taxes and common charges?

Accepted Answer

The Project does not necessitate any new taxes nor common charges, nor does it change the way ground rents are assessed. PILOT amounts are set by the City of New York, and ground rent obligations are governed by existing lease arrangements.BPCA does not set or control how individual property owners, boards, or landlords manage their own budgets. The NWBPCR Project is being financed by bonds issued by BPCA, and not through any project-specific tax imposed on Battery Park City residents.

Question 9

What are the next steps in the Project?

Accepted Answer

The Project has transitioned from planning and design into active construction. Site readiness work began in late 2025, and major flood barrier system construction began in 2026. Construction is expected to continue in phases across multiple work areas through approximately 2030, subject to agency approvals, field conditions, and construction logistics.Different portions of the Project area will have different construction timelines. Current and upcoming work areas include South Cove, South Esplanade, North Cove / Belvedere Plaza, the North Esplanade, Rockefeller Park, the Ferry Terminal area, and the West Street Crossing / Tribeca connection. The Project team will continue to provide updates on construction sequencing, schedules, and anticipated impacts as work progresses.

Question 10

How is the community involved in the Project?

Accepted Answer

Community engagement is an ongoing part of the N/WBPCR Project. The Project team regularly shares information and gathers feedback through a variety of channels, including public meetings, building briefings, community drop-in sessions, tabling events, printed and digital outreach materials, Community Board 1 meetings, and Construction Advisory Committee meetings.The team also conducts direct outreach to residents, tenant and condominium associations, local stakeholders, and neighborhood institutions to share construction information, answer questions, and hear community concerns. Project updates, notices, presentations, and other resources are posted on the project website so residents can stay informed throughout construction.

Question 11

What are the short-term impacts of the Project?

Accepted Answer

As with any large-scale infrastructure project, construction of the N/WBPCR Project will create temporary impacts in and around the project area. These impacts will vary by construction reach and phase, but may include:temporary closures or rerouting of portions of the Esplanade, adjacent walkways, and bike access points;changes to pedestrian circulation and access near construction zones;construction fencing, barriers, staging areas, and visible work activity in public spaces;construction noise, vibration, truck activity, and other short-term disruptions associated with excavation, drilling, pile work, utility work, and flood barrier installation;temporary impacts to landscaping, seating areas, and certain public amenities;temporary closure of some waterfront access points or adjacent spaces depending on the active work zone; andtemporary relocation, protection, or storage of select site features, furnishings, or public elements as needed during construction.Because construction is occurring in phases across multiple areas of Battery Park City, impacts are not the same everywhere at the same time. The most current information on work hours, access changes, construction milestones, and area-specific impacts is available on the project website, through project notices and newsletters, and in Construction Advisory Committee materials.

Please be advised that crews have begun micropile installation in the North Cove Marina (Reach 5) and sheet pile installation in the South Cove (Reach 7). Visit the Construction Updates page to learn more.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)