New York City's piers have served an important role in the city's history. They historically served industrial purposes and as the main reception area for immigrants to the city, but many remaining ones have been converted into public parks with deindustrialization.[1]
History
editNew York City's piers and wharves were the most valuable assets of the New York City government in the 1860s,[2] worth almost $15.8 million without any repairs in 1867.[3] Nevertheless, by that time they had been in such a poor state of repair as to drive steamboat companies to other nearby cities such as Hoboken and Jersey City.[4] Money to maintain them was appropriated by the New York State Legislature in 1866, but such money failed to receive the approval of the Governor, leaving no money for such repairs.[5] At the beginning of 1867 $100,000 of rent owed to the city from the piers and other port structures was withheld due to the city's negligence in keeping those structures in good repair.[5] A report ordered by the city government subsequent to such development found that several of the piers owned by the city had been claimed to be under private ownership.[4] At some point, the piers in Manhattan along both the North and East rives were renumbered and rebuilt as part of a modernization scheme.
Manhattan's Hudson River waterfront had become deindustrialized and derelict by the 1980s.[6] The Hudson River Park, which would later subsume several of the piers on the Hudson River, was established in 1998.[6]
List of North River Piers Pre-Renumbering
editNumber | Location | Opened | Rebuilt | Closed | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
A | Battery Park | 1886 | |||
1 | West St. and Battery Pl. | ||||
2 | West St. north of Battery Pl.[7] | Redeveloped into Battery Park City | |||
3 | West St. south of Morris St. | Redeveloped into Battery Park City | |||
4 | West St. and Morris St. | Former Pennsylvania Railroad pier. Redeveloped into Battery Park City | |||
5 | West St. north of Morris St. | Former Pennsylvania Railroad pier. Redeveloped into Battery Park City | |||
6 | West St. south of Rector St. | Redeveloped into Battery Park City | |||
7 | West St. south of Rector St. | Redeveloped into Battery Park City | |||
8 | West St. and Rector St. | Redeveloped into Battery Park City | |||
9 | West St. north of Rector St. | Redeveloped into Battery Park City | |||
10 | West St. south of Carlisle St. | Redeveloped into Battery Park City | |||
11 | West St. and Carlisle St | Redeveloped into Battery Park City | |||
12 | West St. south of Albany St. | Redeveloped into Battery Park City | |||
13 | West St. north of Albany St. | Redeveloped into Battery Park City | |||
14 | West St. and Cedar St. | Redeveloped into Battery Park City | |||
15 | West St. north of Cedar St | Rump barge dock pier connected to and to the north of pier 14. Redeveloped into Battery Park City | |||
16 | West St. north of Liberty St | Redeveloped into Battery Park City | |||
17 | West St. south of Cortlandt St. | Rump barge dock pier between and connected to piers 16 and 18. Redeveloped into Battery Park City | |||
18 | West St. and Cortlandt St. | Redeveloped into Battery Park City | |||
19 | West St. south of Dey St. | Redeveloped into Battery Park City | |||
20 | Southwest corner of West Washington Market | Used to serve the West Washington Market. Redeveloped into Battery Park City | |||
21 | West edge of West Washington Market | Used to serve the West Washington Market. Redeveloped into Battery Park City | |||
22 | West side of West Washington Market | Pier designation for the west waterfront side of the West Washington Market between piers 21 and 23. Redeveloped into Battery Park City | |||
23 | Northwest corner of West Washington Market | Used to serve the West Washington Market. Redeveloped into Battery Park City | |||
24 | West St. between Vesey and Barclay St. | Used to serve the West Washington Market. Redeveloped into Battery Park City | |||
25 | West St. and Barclay St. | Redeveloped into Battery Park City | |||
26 | West St. north of Barclay St. | Rump pier between piers 25 and 27. Redeveloped into Battery Park City | |||
27 | West St. and Park Pl. | Redeveloped into Battery Park City | |||
28 | West St. and Murray St. | Redeveloped into Battery Park City | |||
29 | West St. and Warren St. | Redeveloped into Battery Park City | |||
31 | West St. between Reade and Duane Sts.[8] | Redeveloped into Battery Park City | |||
32 | West St. North of Duane St. | Demolished | |||
33 | West St. and Jay St. | ||||
34 | West St. and Harrison St. | ||||
35 | West St. and Franklin St. | ||||
36 | West St. and N. Moore St. | ||||
37 | West St. and Beach St. | ||||
38 | West St. and Hubert St. | ||||
39 | West St. and Vestry St. | ||||
40 | West St. and Watts St. | ||||
41 | West St. south of Canal St. | ||||
42 | West St. south of Spring St. | ||||
43 | West St. north of Spring St. | ||||
44 | West St. south of Charlton St. | ||||
45 | West St. and Charlton St. | ||||
46 | West St. and King St. | ||||
47 | West St. and Houston St.[9] | ||||
48 | West St. and Clarkson St. | ||||
49 | West St. and Leroy St. | ||||
50 | West St. and Morton St. | ||||
51 | West St. and Barrow St. | ||||
52 | West St. and Christopher St. | ||||
53 | West St. and W. 10th St. | Used by the White Star Line at one point | |||
54 | West St. and Charles St. |
List of North River Piers Post-Renumbering
editNumber | Location | Opened | Rebuilt | Closed | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
A | Battery Park | 1886 | |||
1 | West St. and Battery Pl. | ||||
2 | West St. north of Battery Pl. | Between 1923 and 1930 | Rebuilt into new PRR pier complex | ||
3 | West St. north of Battery Pl. | Between 1923 and 1930 | Rebuilt into new PRR pier complex | ||
4 | West St. south of Morris St. | Between 1923 and 1930 | Rebuilt into new PRR pier complex | ||
5 | West St. and Morris St. | Between 1923 and 1930 | Rebuilt into new PRR pier complex | ||
6 | West St. north of Morris St. | Between 1923 and 1930 | Rebuilt into new PRR pier complex | ||
7 | West St. south of Rector St. | ||||
8 | West St. and Rector St. | ||||
9 | West St. south of Carlisle St. | ||||
10 | West St. and Albany St. | ||||
11 | West St. and Cedar St. | ||||
13 | West St. south of Dey St. | ||||
14 | West St. and Fulton St. | ||||
15 | West St. north of Vesey St. | ||||
16 | West St. and Barclay St. | ||||
17 | West St. and Park Pl. | ||||
18 | West St. and Murray St. | ||||
19 | West St. and Warren St. | ||||
20 | West St. and Chambers St. | ||||
21 | West St. and Duane St. | ||||
22 | West St. north of Jay St. | ||||
23 | West St. north of Harrison St. | ||||
24 | West St. and Franklin St. | ||||
25 | West St. and N. Moore St. | Currently part of Hudson River Park | |||
26 | West St. and N. Moore St. | Currently part of Hudson River Park[1] | |||
27 | West St. and Hubert St. | ||||
28 | West St. and Laight St. | ||||
29 | West St. and Vestry St. | ||||
31 | West St. and Watts St. | ||||
32 | West St. and Hubert St. | ||||
33 | West St. and Canal St. | ||||
34 | West St. and Spring St. | 1927[10] | Part of Hudson River Park, connects to Holland Tunnel ventilation shaft.[10] | ||
35 | West St. north of Spring St. | ||||
36 | West St. south of Charlton St. | ||||
37 | West St. and Charlton St. | ||||
38 | West St. and King St. | ||||
39 | West St. and W Houston St. | ||||
40 | West St. and Houston Street | 1962 | Parking garage and sports facility. Original Pier 40 located at Clarkson St. | ||
41 | West St. and Leroy St. | ||||
42 | West St. and Morton St. | ||||
43 | West St. and Barrow St. | ||||
44 | West St. and Christopher St. | ||||
45 | West St. and W. 10th St. | ||||
46 | West St. and Charles St. | ||||
51 | West St. and Jane St. | ||||
52 | West St. and Gansevoort St. | Deteriorated and demolished. Site now location of Gansevoort Peninsula beach | |||
53 | Bloomfield St. | Now forms northern bound of Gansevoort Peninsula. Home of FDNY Marine Company 1. | |||
54 | Deteriorated and demolished. Site now part of Little Island at Pier 55 | ||||
55 | Deteriorated and demolished. Now site of Little Island at Pier 55 | ||||
57 | West 15th Street | 1907[11] | 1954 | Replaced a wooden pier #57 that stood from 1907 to 1947. Current structure built in 1954 for Grace Line, converted to a bus garage in 1969. Currently part of the Hudson River Park | |
59 | Currently part of Chelsea Piers | ||||
60 | West 20th Street | Currently part of Chelsea Piers | |||
61 | Currently part of Chelsea Piers | ||||
63 | West St. and W. 23rd St. | ||||
64 | West St. and W. 24th St. | ||||
65 | West St. north of W. 25th St. | ||||
66 | West St. north of W. 26th St. | ||||
67 | West St. north of W. 27th St. | ||||
68 | West St. north of W. 28th St. | ||||
69 | West St. and W. 29th St. | ||||
70 | West St. and W. 30th St. | ||||
71 | West St. and W. 31st St. | ||||
72 | West St. and W. 32nd St. | Wooden posts remain in the river | |||
73 | West St. and W. 33rd St. | ||||
74 | 12th Ave and W. 34th St. | Demolished. Former mixed-use pier for France & Canada Steamship Corporation[12] | |||
75 | 12th Ave and W. 35th St. | Demolished | |||
76 | 12th Ave and W. 36th St. | Original rail-ship transloading pier for the New York Central Railroad demolished. Current pier formerly industrial space and then used as an NYPD tow pound; now part of Hudson River Park.[13] | |||
77 | 12th Ave and W. 37th St. | Demolished. Former Pennsylvania Railroad freight pier | |||
78 | 12th Ave and W. 38th St. | Partially demolished. Former Pennsylvania Railroad freight pier | |||
79 | 12th Ave and W. 39th St. | Demolished | |||
80 | 12th Ave and W. 40th St. | Demolished | |||
81 | 12th Ave and W. 41st St. | ||||
83 | 12th Ave and W. 43rd St. | Former New York Central Railroad freight pier. Currently hosts Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises | |||
84 | 12th Ave and W. 44th St. | Former Cunard Line pier. Currently part of Hudson River Park | |||
86 | 12th Ave and W. 46th St. | 2006 | Former freight pier demolished in 2006. New pier hosts the Intrepid Museum | ||
87 | 12th Ave and W. 47th St. | Demolished | |||
88 | 12th Ave and W. 48th St. | 1937 | Original pier demolished for New York Passenger Ship Terminal expansion in the 1930s. Currently one of two remaining operational Manhattan Cruise Terminal piers. | ||
89 | 12th Ave and W. 49th St. | 1930s | Demolished for New York Passenger Ship Terminal expansion | ||
90 | 12th Ave and W. 50th St. | 1937 | Original pier demolished for New York Passenger Ship Terminal expansion. Currently part of Manhattan Cruise Terminal | ||
91 | 12th Ave and W. 51st St. | 1930s | Demolished for New York Passenger Ship Terminal expansion | ||
92 | 12th Ave and W. 52nd St. | 1937 | Original pier demolished for New York Passenger Ship Terminal expansion. Currently exhibition space | ||
93 | 12th Ave and W. 53rd St. | ||||
94 | 12th Ave and W. 54th St. | ||||
95 | 12th Ave and W. 55th St. | ||||
96 | 12th Ave and W. 56th St. | ||||
97 | 12th Ave and W. 57th St. | 1921-1934 | Former Swedish American Line, now part of Hudson River Park | ||
98 | 12th Ave and W. 58th St. | Currently a Consolidated Edison fuel transfer facility | |||
99 | 12th Ave and W. 59th St. | Currently a DSNY freight pier | |||
B | West 63rd Street | Formerly a car float pier for the New York Central Railroad | |||
D | West 64th Street | 1880s[14] | 2011[14] | Formerly a car float pier for the New York Central Railroad,[14] dismantled in 2011[15] | |
E | West 65th Street | Formerly a car float pier for the New York Central Railroad | |||
F | West 66th Street | Formerly a car float pier for the New York Central Railroad | |||
G | West 67th Street | Formerly a car float pier for the New York Central Railroad | |||
I | West 70th Street | 2001 | Formerly a car float pier for the New York Central Railroad. Currently part of Riverside Park[16] |
List of East River Piers in Manhattan Pre-Renumbering
editNumber | Location | Opened | Rebuilt | Closed | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Battery Park | Ferries to Staten Island operated by the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad | |||
2 | South St. and Whitehall St. | ||||
3 | South St. and Moore St. | ||||
4 | South St. west of Broad St. | ||||
5 | South St. east of Broad St. | ||||
6 | South St. and Coenties Slip E. | ||||
7 | South St. and Coenties Slip | ||||
8 | South St. and Coenties Slip W. | ||||
9 | South St. east of Coenties Slip | ||||
10 | South St. west of Old Slip | ||||
11 | South St. and Old Slip | ||||
12 | South St. east of Old Slip | ||||
13 | South St. east of Gouveneur Ln. | ||||
14 | South St. west of Wall St. | ||||
15 | South St. and Wall St. | ||||
16 | South St. east of Wall St. | ||||
17 | South St. and Pine St. | ||||
18 | South St. west of Maiden Ln. | ||||
19 | South St. east of Maiden Ln. | ||||
20 | South St. east of John St. | ||||
21 | South St. west of John St. | ||||
22 | South St. west of Fulton St. | ||||
23 | South St. and Beekman St. | ||||
24 | South St. west of Peck Slip | ||||
25 | South St. and Peck Slip | ||||
26 | South St. east of Peck Slip | ||||
27 | South St. west of Dover St. | ||||
28 | South St. east of Dover St. | ||||
29 | South St. and Robert Wagner Pl. | ||||
30 | South St. west of James Slip | ||||
31 | South St. west of James Slip | ||||
32 | South St. east of James Slip | ||||
33 | South St. and Oliver St | ||||
34 | South St. west of Catherine Slip | ||||
35 | South St. east of Catherine Slip | ||||
36 | South St. west of Market Slip | ||||
37 | South St. west of Market Slip | ||||
38 | South St. east of Market Slip | ||||
39 | South St. east of Market Slip | ||||
40 | South St. west of Pike Slip | ||||
41 | South St. east of Pike Slip | ||||
42 | South St. east of Pike Slip | ||||
43 | South St. west of Rutgers Slip | ||||
44 | South St. east of Rutgers Slip | ||||
45 | South St. west of Jefferson St. | ||||
46 | South St. and Jefferson St. | ||||
47 | South St. west of Clinton St. | ||||
48 | South St. and Clinton St. | ||||
49 | South St. east of Clinton St. | ||||
50 | South St. and Montgomery St. | ||||
51 | South St. west of Gouverneur Slip | ||||
52 | South St. east of Gouverneur Slip | ||||
53 | South St. west of Jackson St. | ||||
54 | South St. and Jackson St. | ||||
55 | East St. and Grand St | ||||
56 | East St. south of Broome Slip | ||||
57 | East St. north of Broome Slip | ||||
58 | East St. south of Delancey Slip | ||||
60 | East St. and Rivington St. | ||||
61 | Tompkins St. north of Rivington St. | ||||
62 | Tompkins St. and Stanton St. | ||||
63 | Tompkins St. and E 3rd St. | ||||
64 | Lewis St. and E 5th St. | ||||
65 | Lewis St. and E 6th St. | ||||
66 | Lewis St. and E 7th St. | ||||
67 | Lewis St. and E 8th St. | ||||
68 | Avenue D and E 9th St. | ||||
69 | Avenue D and E 10th St. | ||||
70 | Avenue D and E 11th St. | ||||
71 | Avenue D and E 12th St. | ||||
72 | Avenue D and E 13th St. |
List of East River Piers in Manhattan Post-Renumbering
editNumber | Location | Opened | Rebuilt | Closed | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | South St. west of Whitehall St. | 1903 | 2005 | Current building built 1903, completely rebuilt in 2005. Currently hosts ferry service to Staten Island | |
2 | South St. east of Whitehall St. | Current building built 1909, renovated multiple times since. Currently hosts ferry service to Governors Island | |||
4 | South St. and Broad St. | ||||
5 | South St. west of Coenties Slip | ||||
6 | South St. and Coenties Slip | 1960 | Former industrial pier rebuilt into heliport in the 1950s | ||
7 | South St. east of Coenties Slip | ||||
8 | South St. between Coenties Slip and Old Slip | ||||
9 | South St. west of Old Slip | Dismantled | |||
10 | South St. east of Old Slip | ||||
11 | South St. west of Wall St. | East River Ferry | |||
12 | South St. and Wall St. | ||||
13 | South St. east of Wall St. | ||||
14 | South St. west of Maiden Ln. | ||||
15 | South St. east of Fletcher St. | Part of the East River Greenway[17] | |||
16 | South St. between John and Fulton Sts. | Part of the East River Greenway | |||
17 | South St. east of Fulton St. | Part of the South Street Seaport[1] | |||
18 | South St. and Beekman St. | Site consumed by Pier 17 complex | |||
19 | South St. west of Peck Slip | ||||
20 | South St. east of Peck Slip | ||||
21 | South St. and Dover St. | ||||
25 | South St. and Oliver St. | ||||
26 | South St. west of Catharine Slip | ||||
27 | South St. east of Catharine Slip | ||||
28 | South St. between Catharine Slip and Market Slip | ||||
29 | South St. and Market Slip | ||||
30 | South St. east of Market Slip | ||||
31 | South St. west of Pike Slip | ||||
32 | South St. east of Pike Slip | ||||
33 | South St. west of Rutgers Slip | ||||
34 | South St. and Rutgers Slip | ||||
35 | South and Jefferson Sts. | Part of East River Park,[18] home to “Mussel Beach” conservation project | |||
36 | 299 South St. | Event Space | |||
37 | South and Clinton Sts. | ||||
38 | South St. west of Montgomery St. | ||||
39 | South St. and Montgomery St. | ||||
40 | South St. and Gouverneur Slip W. | ||||
41 | South St. and Gouverneur Slip E. | ||||
42 | South St. east of Gouverneur Slip | ||||
43 | South St. east of Gouverneur Slip | ||||
44 | South St. west of Jackson St. | ||||
45 | South and Jackson Sts. | ||||
45 | South and Jackson Sts. | ||||
46 | East and Broome Sts. | ||||
47 | East St. south of Delancey St. | ||||
48 | East and Delancey Sts. | ||||
50 | East and Rivington Sts. | ||||
51 | Tompkins St. north of Rivington St. | ||||
52 | Tompkins and Stanton Sts. | ||||
53 | Tompkins St. south of E. Houston St. | ||||
54 | Tompkins and E. Houston Sts. | ||||
55 | Tompkins and E 3rd Sts. | ||||
56 | Tompkins and E 4th Sts. | ||||
57 | Lewis and E 5th Sts. | ||||
58 | Lewis and E 6th Sts. | ||||
59 | Lewis and E 7th Sts. | ||||
60 | Lewis and E 8th Sts. | ||||
61 | Avenue D and E 9th Sts. | ||||
62 | Avenue D and E 10th Sts. | ||||
63 | Avenue D and E 11th Sts. | ||||
64 | Avenue D and E 12th Sts. | ||||
65 | Avenue D and E 13th Sts. | ||||
66 | Avenue C and E 18th Sts. | ||||
67 | Avenue C and E 19th Sts. | ||||
68 | Avenue C and E 20th Sts. | ||||
69 | Avenue C and E 21st Sts. | ||||
70 | Avenue C and E 22nd Sts. | ||||
71 | Avenue C and E 23rd Sts. | ||||
72 | Avenue A and E 24th Sts. | ||||
73 | First Ave. and E 25th Sts. | ||||
76 | First Ave. and E 27th Sts. | ||||
77 | First Ave. and E 28th Sts. | ||||
78 | First Ave. and E 29th Sts. | ||||
79 | First Ave. and E 30th Sts. | ||||
80 | First Ave. and E 31st Sts. | ||||
81 | First Ave. and E 32nd Sts. | ||||
85 | First Ave. and E 35th Sts. | ||||
86 | First Ave. and E 36th Sts. | ||||
87 | First Ave. and E 37th Sts. | ||||
89 | First Ave. and E 39th Sts. |
List of piers in Brooklyn
editNumber | Location | Opened | Rebuilt | Closed | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Currently part of Brooklyn Bridge Park[19] | ||||
2 | Brooklyn Bridge Park Roller Rink | ||||
3 | Brooklyn Bridge Park Green Space Plaza | ||||
4 | Brooklyn Bridge Park Beach and Boathouse | ||||
5 | Brooklyn Bridge Park Sports fields, Picnicking, & Promenade | ||||
6 | Brooklyn Bridge Park Liberty Lawn | ||||
7 | Part of Red Hook Container Terminal, operating as warehouse for beer distribution company | ||||
8 | Part of Red Hook Container Terminal, Pier for D&M Lumber | ||||
9A | Kane St | Part of Red Hook Container Terminal, hosts a set of container cranes for the terminal[20] | |||
9B | Degraw St. | Part of Red Hook Container Terminal[20] | |||
10 | North edge of Atlantic Basin | Part of Red Hook Container Terminal, hosts a set of container cranes for the terminal | |||
11 | East edge of Atlantic Basin | Part of Red Hook Container Terminal | |||
12 | South edge of Atlantic Basin | 2006 | Part of Red Hook Container Terminal, hosts Brooklyn Cruise Terminal | ||
C | Currently part of Brooklyn Navy Yard |
References
edit- ^ a b c Warerkar, Tanay (July 17, 2018). "How NYC's abandoned piers are being transformed into public spaces". Curbed New York. Curbed. Retrieved October 11, 2020.
- ^ 1868 Report, p. 3
- ^ 1868 Report, p. 15
- ^ a b 1868 Report, p. 2
- ^ a b 1868 Report, p. i
- ^ a b "Waterfront Transformation". Hudson River Park. Retrieved October 11, 2020.
- ^ https://iiif-prod.nypl.org/index.php?id=5188150&t=g
- ^ https://iiif-prod.nypl.org/index.php?id=5188152&t=g
- ^ https://iiif-prod.nypl.org/index.php?id=5188159&t=g
- ^ a b "Tunneling Into Pier 34's History". Hudson River Park. Retrieved June 30, 2023.
- ^ Doswell, John (September 24, 2003). "Pier 57's construction was an engineering marvel". The Villager. No. 21. Archived from the original on November 29, 2009. Retrieved October 11, 2020.
- ^ "Sanborn Fire Insurance Map - Manhattan: W. 34th St. to W. 52nd St., Pier 74 to Pier 93". New York Public Library. Retrieved April 25, 2024.
- ^ chang, Sophia (January 2, 2021). "NYPD Tow Pound Leaving Manhattan's Pier 76 By End Of January, City Promises". Gothamist. Retrieved September 23, 2024.
- ^ a b c Dunlap, David. "Pier D Stands Out in the West Side's Industrial Past". New York Times. New York Times. Retrieved June 29, 2023.
- ^ LaFarge, Annik. "Farewell Pier D". LivintheHighLine. Retrieved June 29, 2023.
- ^ https://riversideparknyc.org/venue/pier-i/
- ^ "Pier 15, South Street Seaport". NYC Tourism. Retrieved June 30, 2023.
- ^ Lehrer, Jeremy. "Why You Should Visit Pier 35 on the East River". NYC Tourism.
- ^ "Pier 1". Brooklyn Bridge Park. Retrieved October 11, 2020.
- ^ a b "Brooklyn Port Authority Marine Terminal" (PDF).
Works cited
edit- The Commissioners of the Sinking Fund of the City of New York (1867). Wharves, piers and slips, belonging to the corporation of the city of New York, 1868. The New York Printing Company. Retrieved October 15, 2020.