Google to expand footprint at Chelsea’s Pier 57

Earlier this week, Google entered into a contract with Jamestown LP to buy the Chelsea Market building for nearly $2.5 billion, the second largest single sale in New York City’s history. And on Friday, Google reached a tentative deal to expand its footprint at Pier 57, adding another 70,000 square feet of space to its prior 250,000-square-foot agreement. According to Crain’s, the lease will include an additional 50,000 square feet of educational activities and a new ferry landing.

If approved, Google will create a public space on the south side of the pier that will measure 5,000 square feet. A 24,000-square-foot community and education space will sit partially in an underwater caisson at the pier. Part of that space will be dedicated to programs hosted by the trust that teach children about climate change and the Hudson River. The trust is even exploring the possibility of having a virtual reality space “where people could actually look and see what’s in the water.”

Hudson River Park Trust, the group who controls Pier 57, on Thursday presented the deal to Community Board 4. According to the trust’s president and CEO, Madelyn Wils, the board plans to vote on the proposal within 60 days. Wils told Crain’s: “We want to make sure that the community is good with this. We think that they’re getting a lot and we hope they like it.”

RXR Realty and Young Woo & Associates are handling the $350 million transformation of the “SuperPier,” which topped out last June. The 450,000-square-foot development includes Google offices and an elevated two-acre park with a rooftop movie and performance amphitheater. While Anthony Bourdain had said he would open a Singapore-style food hall and market at Pier 57, he officially backed out of the plan in December.

The revised plan would decrease the food market space to about 40,000 square feet, from the initially planned 100,000 square feet. RXR aims to finish the project by the end of 2019.

[Via Crain’s]

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