At the northernmost edge of Manhattan, where 200-year-old trees in the city's last natural forest bend toward the Harlem River, a beautiful waterfront is seen by very few people. Access to part of this secluded shoreline, which has been controlled by Columbia University for decades, is in hot debate.

The university plans to expand its sports complex here, but to proceed by law it must provide public access to the waterfront. So, in its Boathouse Marsh Plan, Columbia says it will "gift" a university dock to the City, create new public waterfront access near its boathouses and restore one of NYC's rare salt marshes.

This aerial view above shows the Harlem River emptying in the Hudson River as it flows by Inwood Hill Park at upper left. The dock and proposed waterfront access is at "A," next to the white rectangle that marks Columbia facilities and the university's Baker Field. The buff-colored area to the left  of "A" is the marsh that Columbia proposes to restore.

   

A close-up of the marsh area.

Thanks very much, say some of the neighbors, but there's one big problem with this proposal. The so-called "public waterfront access" trumpeted by Columbia won't be truly accessible to the public. Infuriating critics further, the dock in question is on public land and has been used by the university for decades without compensation to the City.

 

Even if the university were to transfer the dock to the City, "water access [would be] actually highly restricted by an array of circumstances established by the university," said David Brodherson of the group Advocates for Inwood, Manhattan. "First, if a boater arrives by car with a craft, there is no parking. Second, if a boater does manage to get a craft to the edge of the property, he or she has a long carry to the dock for a relatively heavy and awkward object. Third, there is no boat storage available to help assure repeat use. Finally, the university will be using the dock also."

Other waterfront groups are chiming in. "We've been advocating for affordable access to rowing and other kinds of boating on the Harlem River, and we saw this as an interesting opportunity," said Katie Wheeler of Harlem River Community Rowing. Roger Meyer, founder of New York Outrigger Canoe Club, was more blunt. "The proposal is impractical and offers the public little more than what already exists," he said.

The dock in question is just outside the frame of this photo, on the right.

A Community Board 12 resolution urged that the dock be available for "direct waterfront and waterway access, not just for visual access, but so that people may use the waterway for fishing, boating and other forms of passive and active waterfront recreation." CB12 Chair Pamela Palanque-North said, "We need to make sure this little bit of land can be utilized by the greatest number of people." She added that she's a member of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, Flotilla 11. "They want to put boats there, too!" she said.

Despite concerns expressed by the boating community, the Department of Parks & Recreation accepted Columbia's proposal and on September 30, 2010 signed a Memorandum of Understanding, "without ever making a counter offer that reflected community benefits and, in particular, water access," said Mr. Meyer, adding, "Since the MOU was released, there has been no opportunity for park users with extensive boating experience to discuss the requirements of public water access with Columbia."

The Department of City Planning voted 11-1 in favor of the proposal on February 17. At a March 15 City Council hearing on the matter, Columbia's Joseph Ienuso agreed to accept the formation of an oversight committee on the project.

A Columbia spokesperson told WaterWire that the issue of access to the waterways would be the responsibility of the Department of Parks and Recreation once the dock has been "gifted" to the City. Mr. Meyer says this places an unfair burden on the taxpayer. "Columbia should pay for any infrastructure in the Boathouse Marsh project," he said firmly.

Recreational boating on the Harlem River, 1902.

He and other advocates will meet with Council Member Robert Jackson on Friday to talk about their views of Columbia's responsibilities. "The way it is now, the project has marginal benefits to the community," said Mr. Meyer, who hopes to eventually see a Harlem River boating renaissance. "Given that Columbia has sat on public land for 90 years without compensation to the public, and given that the City is currently budget-strapped, Columbia needs to step up and be part of a public/private partnership that will benefit the city and the public."                                           

Waterfront advocates around the City are calling for Columbia and the City to listen to the residents' concerns and ideas. "Upland access is critical," said Roland Lewis, president of the Metropolitan Waterfront Alliance. "The MWA hopes that Columbia University addresses the needs of the community as it goes forward with this proposal." (back to top)

Looking north on the empty East River. Photo by Robert Simko.

The study discussed NYHarborWay, an initiative of NYC & Co. (the tourism arm of NYC government) that promotes Governors Island, Brooklyn Bridge Park, the Battery, Liberty State Park in New Jersey, East River waterfront and South Street Seaport, Liberty and Ellis Islands, and Hudson River Park as must-see destinations. EDC's study investigated synergies between commuter ferry service and recreational service associated with these locations.

This map, showing existing commuter ferry routes, is from the Port Authority's web site.

The study tackles governance and funding with detail, pointing out on page 91 that "many agencies control pieces of [ferry service in New York Harbor] but no one agency is responsible for governance and funding." The study suggests that the Port Authority -- the only agency whose authority spans New York and New Jersey -- could become the governing entity with centralized control over ferry service. Other governance options are discussed, as are ways to fund ferry service.

Click here to download the study (skip straight to page 108 for the EDC's recommendations). Policy-makers will be closely reviewing this information as planning and budget decision are made about the future of waterborne transportation. (back to top)

  

Expanding every week, the Metropolitan Waterfront Alliance is more than a coalition; it's a force. We are ferry captains, shipping executives, park directors, scientists, sailors, paddlers, swimmers, teachers, urban planners, architects and more. Together, we advocate for the best possible waterfront in the best possible city, a waterfront that is clean and accessible to all, with a robust maritime workforce and efficient, affordable waterborne transportation. Join us! Contact Louis Kleinman at lkleinman@waterfrontalliance.org.

Meet some Partners of the Metropolitan Waterfront Alliance:

Michael O'Keeffe, owner of Brooklyn's River Cafe, owner expands into Red Hook's Liberty Warehouse
Daily News, March 17, 2011

Tides of Change for Queens Waterfront?
Queens Chronicle, March 17, 2011

Polluted Gowanus Canal Could Be Revolutionary War Treasure Trove
NBC, March 17, 2011

City's ferry service subsidy comes up short
Crain's, March 16, 2011

Will rising seas put cities such as New York and London under water?
The Guardian, March 14, 2011

 A Bit About Shooter's Island
SI Live, March 3, 2011

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