Work on the Barry Diller-funded Pier55 park is advancing nicely, even after being slapped with a lawsuit and a stop work order in June. As the Hudson River Park Trust (HRPT) and Pier55 Inc. announced this afternoon, the first nine piles propping up the 2.7-acre undulating park have been installed. Per the pair’s press release, the milestone marks the completion of summer work and is part of the initial work of the first phase of construction.
“We’re thrilled to be taking the first steps in what will become a transformative public park for the community,” said Celine Armstrong, Pier55’s project manager, in a statement. “We look forward to continuing construction this fall and making Pier55 a reality for all New Yorkers.”
The futuristic park will cost $130 million to construct, and Pier55 Inc., the nonprofit established by billionaire Diller and wife Diane Von Furstenberg, will foot the bill. The organization is also working in partnership with the HRPT on the project.
Pier55 has been designed by Thomas Heatherwick and landscape architect Signe Nielsen and will include walking paths, rolling hills, seating areas, open lawns for recreation, and environmental, arts and educational programming. The park is expected to open in 2019; although the lawsuit against Pier55 Inc. remains open with a court date for appeal scheduled in September.
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Tags : Barry Diller, Pier 55
Neighborhoods : Meatpacking District
