Making WAVES

The Waterfront Vision and Enhancement Strategy (WAVES) is an interagency initiative that will create a new sustainable blueprint for the City’s more than 500 miles of shoreline.

WATERFRONT VISION AND ENHANCEMENT STRATEGY

The New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) is leading the effort to create a Waterfront Action Agenda, which will complement the Department of City Planning’s Vision 2020: New York City Comprehensive Waterfront Plan by identifying new approaches to key waterfront issues and establishing a set of high-priority initiatives that can be implemented over the next three years.

PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS

3-year Action Agenda for implementing waterfront initiatives
Creation of a Waterfront Management Advisory Board
20+ year comprehensive vision for New York City's waterfront

Together, the two initiatives will provide a blueprint for the future of the City's waterfront and will cover the following categories: natural waterfront habitats, the working waterfront, open space and recreation, housing and economic development, climate change adaptation, and waterborne transportation.

WAVES will be consistent with the sustainable vision of PlaNYC 2030, with the shared goals of protecting the City's wetlands, expanding ferry service, and strengthening climate resilience.

NEW YORK CITY WATERFRONT ACTION AGENDA

The Waterfront Action Agenda is an interagency, multi-stakeholder exercise that will be shaped by the cooperation and expertise of city, state and federal agencies, as well as members of the Waterfront Management Advisory Board.

The Action Agenda is a working document that will continue to be an implementation mechanism for addressing the complexity of waterfront issues and finding balance among the different uses of the City’s waterfront and waterways.

For each initiative, the Action Agenda will identify current conditions and desired outcomes, specific steps to achieve goals, benchmarks to measure its success, agency responsibilities, and financial investment.

WATERFRONT MANAGEMENT ADVISORY BOARD

Established under local law 20 of 2009, the Waterfront Management Advisory Board will provide an important forum for cooperation among city, state, federal, and civic partners to advance shared goals and initiatives for the optimal balance of waterfront and waterway uses.

In addition to shaping the Waterfront Action Agenda, the Waterfront Management Advisory Board will advise the Department of City Planning on its Vision 2020 Comprehensive Waterfront Plan Update.

The Board, which will consist of 12 mayoral appointees representing the maritime industry, labor unions, transportation companies, and real estate and hospitality businesses, will be chaired by Deputy Mayor for Economic Development Bob Lieber. NYCEDC President Seth Pinsky will serve as Vice-Chair. Department of City Planning Director Amanda Burden and Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Cas Holloway will serve as board members.

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