A Pier on Java Street: It’s Coming!

Now that a handful of the long-sought after street ends in northern Greenpoint are free of the fences that obscured them, it’s time to make the waterfront even more accessible and the New York City Economic Development Corp (EDC) is doing its best to make sure that happens—in the form of the Java Street pier.

The EDC is now accepting proposals for the sale and development of an approximately 17,880 square foot underwater parcel of land that will eventually be turned into a pier. The Site is situated where Java Street meets the waterfront, and extends approximately 380 feet beyond the bulkhead line into the East River. The original deadline for receipt of proposals was July 23, but has since been extended through August 5.

Eventually, New York City hopes to have two piers in northern Greenpoint—one on Java Street and one on India Street, the latter of which hopefully supporting a North Brooklyn ferry service to Manhattan, though an RFP has yet to be issued for such a plan. The two piers are to be a part of a pilot program on the East River that will eventually connect all existing piers through new blue infrastructure.

The Request for Proposals for the Java Street site requires those interested in purchasing the parcel to submit a comprehensive plan, including a timeline, proof of financial feasibility for the project and a demonstrated public use. Once a developer is selected, construction is set to begin in December 2010 and last no longer than eighteen months.

“Developing a pier at Java Street will rejuvenate an underutilized portion of the Greenpoint waterfront and provide local residents and visitors with access to the waterfront. Revitalizing the City’s waterfronts and providing public access to them is a priority of NYCEDC,” said a representative.

Though ferry service at Shaefer Landing has been in danger of discontinuation due to lack of funding, the Java Street pier will be the an important first step in the overarching revitalization of the Greenpoint waterfront, which is eventually set to include two piers, several waterfront parks and possibly a boathouse, to house the kayaks and boats that would launch from the docks.

Though the RFP is fairly straightforward, developers interested in the Java Street site must understand that there is currently a title dispute over the parcel and must be willing to acquire the title in its as-is condition.
“The dispute is over a portion of the site,” a EDC representative said. “It is the City’s position that it falls within City ownership.”

NYCEDC will be accepting applications through August 5th.