MANHATTAN — A plan to bring expanded waterfront access to the East Side of Manhattan got one step closer to being realized Friday when Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed a bill allowing the UN to buy a portion of the nearby Robert Moses playground.
The measure, which was passed by the state legislature last month, is intended to help fund the development of new park space on the water.
While the plan to sell the lot, east of First Avenue, near 42nd Street, has now been authorized by the state, it cannot go forward without a "memorandum of understanding" from the city, which must be issued before Oct. 10.
"The horse is not out of the barn here," warned Assemblyman Brian Kavanagh, who sponsored the legislation. "It's gonna take a lot of creativity and a lot of thoughtful participation to get this done."
Kavanagh said the governor's signature marked the "official start" to a 12-week process of ironing out the details of the land swap.
Among the proposals being considered are a plan turn the former Con Edison pier at East 38th Street into an open space and to convert what is currently Asser Levy Place into a green space.
Even with the long road ahead, Kavanagh said he's encouraged by the governor's decision to sign the bill on Friday.
"It's something people have been trying to get done for a decade now so we think it’s a significant step," he said.
