The New York City Economic Development Corp. on Thursday picked the Lowline team to create the world's first
The project will use solar technology to transform the abandoned Williamsburg Bridge Trolley Terminal under Delancey Street into a one-acre cultural space set to be opened to the public in 2021.
"This conditional designation serves as the first major step in making this project a reality, resulting in a community-oriented public and cultural space that will serve as both a resource for local residents and an attraction for visitors from around the world," Deputy Mayor for Housing and Economic Development Alicia Glen and NYCEDC President Maria Torres-Springer announced in a press release.
Last Autumn, the NYCEDC and the N.Y. Metropolitan Transit Authority put out a request for expressions of interest for plans involving the long-term lease and development of the terminal, which is owned by the city and leased to the MTA. Based on the responses received, NYCEDC picked the Lowline team and requires them to meet a number of conditions before they can move ahead with the project.
Lowline is required to reach a fundraising target of $10 million in the next 12 months; implement a community engagement plan, including five to 10 public design planning sessions and quarterly community engagement committee meetings; and complete schematic design documents and present them for approval within the next 12 months.
"The Lowline represents an incredible fusion of technology and public space. For 80 years, this underground space has sat idle," Glen said. "Now we're putting it to use for the people of the Lower East Side and for all New Yorkers to enjoy. We can't wait to see this experiment unfold." The terminal is about 60,000 square feet and runs under Delancey Street between Clinton and Norfolk Streets.
"The transformation of an old, forgotten trolley terminal into a dynamic cultural space designed for a 21st century city is truly a New York story," Dan Barasch, Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Lowline, said in the release. "We know with input from the community and the city, we can make the Lowline a unique, inspiring space that everyone can enjoy."
Last October, the Lowline team opened the Lowline Lab, a live experiment to showcase and test its solar technology and subterranean horticulture, and also to test the cultural value of a year-round public space. Since its opening, it has attracted nearly 70,000 visitors and has hosted youth education visits for nearly 2,000 children across New York City. It will remain open through March 2017, and is free and open to the public on weekends.
"New York City is the place where visionary ideas get turned into tangible realities," Torres-Springer said in the release. "Today we move one step closer to making the Lowline a reality, which will serve as a cultural and educational hub for this vibrant community and pioneer cutting-edge technology."
In an effort to revitalize the neighborhood, the NYCEDC and the Department of Housing Preservation and Development have also partnered with Delancey Street Associates to transform a number of vacant sites into Essex Crossing, a 1.65-million-square-foot development anchored by 500 units of affordable housing. The project also includes 15,000 square feet of open space, a new Essex Street Market, senior housing and community facilities, a rooftop urban farm, 250,000 square feet of office space, and retail business space.
