Waterside Plaza

Abutting the eastern edge of Manhattan from 25th to 30th Streets, Waterside Plaza's four towers were built on over 2,000 concrete pilings driven down 80 feet into the bed of the East River, giving the towers the appearance of "floating" on the water.

When Waterside opened in 1974, its 1,470 apartments were part of the Mitchell-Lama program, perhaps the most successful affordable housing program in New York history, providing homes to 150,000 families of moderate income. Most of the units at Waterside are now market rate. Tenants enjoy not only unobstructed riverside views, but also their own supermarket, deli, dry cleaner, and stationery store on the complex's private plaza, almost like a small town.

Not surprisingly, with its location on the river, Waterside would be susceptible to major flooding in the event of a coastal storm. Council Member Garodnick recently hosted a hurricane preparedness forum tailored to residents of Waterside and nearby, low-lying neighborhoods, and he continues to take the lead in preparing residents for the possibility of a hurricane.

The residents of Waterside Plaza will also be affected by the development on the former Con Edison site, located between East 35th and 41st Streets on First Avenue. Traffic, especially, is a concern due to the influx of families and the new businesses that will move into that area. Council Member Garodnick, along with Community Board 6 and other elected officials, are seeking to cap the size of the buildings on that development and bring the consistent, efficient service of Bus Rapid Transit to First and Second Avenues. [View Council Member Garodnick's brochure on the Con Edison development ]

Additionally, Council Member Garodnick is actively pushing for a fully built Second Avenue Subway to ease future transportation shortages and provide additional options to residents of Waterside Plaza and surrounding neighborhoods.