A Massive New Levee Could Add Two New City Blocks To Manhattan

The footprint of Manhattan ’s been spread out since the 17th hundred , when former New Yorkers lead off their first task to infill its shoreline . A vast part of the island we make out today is built on artificial piling . Now , it might get its with child expansion in old age .

Next City reportson a novel feasibility survey release by the city , which looked at the possibleness of make a huge levee along the east side of the urban center . This would be in addition to the 16 - foot shoulder that the cityjust get over $ 300 million to buildon the Lower East Side . This levee would create a huge watch of land along the metropolis ’s easterly bound , raising in 19 feet above the city to protect it from violent storm upsurge — as seen in the concept rendering byFXFOWLEabove .

harmonise tothe report , the levee is “ technically , legally and financially feasible , ” and it would protect lower Manhattan should another Sandy issue forth knocking at our door . It would do so with a stint of infilled soil , upon which other buildings , parks , and public outer space could be built . Though the report looks at several different schemes , the extensive levee would supply a full two new city blocks to Manhattan ’s landmass , along with plenty of open space .

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Of naturally , it wo n’t be two perfect blocks — rather , a 1.3 - mile - foresighted stretchability of land that ’s 500 foot wide :

If it feels like you ’ve heard this idea before , that ’s because back in Mayor Bloomberg ’s sidereal day , the levee idea was called Seaport City . But the name has been dropped — now it ’s just a levee , probably becausethe Seaport City name and glossy renderings sparked controversyafter making it appear as though it would build a new , vulnerable dapple of city on the shoreline rather than protect it .

Of course , this is just a feasibility written report — plenty of more study remains to be done on the idea . Still , it ’s exciting to intend that Manhattan ’s land mass might get its biggest elaboration in decades before long . We ’ll have to add another physique to the GIF below . [ Next City , NYC.Gov ]

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