Here's a look at the proposed designs for the new East River Park amphitheater

The first preliminary design review is set for this month for the new East River Park amphitheater. (You can find the 25-page PDF with all the design elements here.) 

The new design embraces "a classic arch shape." 

Per the document at the Department of Design and Construction: 

An arch shape pays homage to both the original structure and classic bandshells while creating opportunities for physical access and sight lines to the waterfront.

Other design points include: 

• Clearly Address the Main Seating Area:

The front arch is on the axis with the main seating area and is scaled to provide a sense of arrival as one enters from the Corlears Hook bridge. 

• Engage the Waterfront: 

Views to the waterfront are framed by an arch parallel to the esplanade. This arch is lower than the front, creating a more intimate experience near the water. An accessible path and stairs connect the stage to the esplanade and reinforce this design as a multi-purpose bandshell and waterfront pavilion. 

• Create a Sense of Lightness and Openness: 

An open-arch scheme allows for greater visibility and connectivity at the stage level. This approach also creates separation between the overlapping arches above, allowing light and air to enter while keeping the rain out. 

• Perform Acoustically: 

 The structure is designed to direct sound toward the seating and landscape. This will improve the sound quality for small, un-amplified events while mitigating sound projections toward the upland neighborhood.

The proposal includes potential amphitheater usage, from a "hangout spot" to "take a break and sit in the shade" to "larger events and performances for 1000+ spectators." 

There's a Public Design Commission hearing on Monday at 11:30 a.m. about the proposed new amphitheater. The commission is accepting public comments. Find info on attending in person or via Zoom at this link.

Workers finished demolishing the previous amphitheater, which dated to 1941, in late December. (Meanwhile, asbestos abatement continues at the site near Corlears Hook.)

In June 2021, the city came up with $4.83 million to include a roof over the new amphitheater. (Previous renderings did not have a roof.)

The new amphitheater is part of the $1.45 billion East Side Coastal Resiliency project in East River Park. Workers will bury the 57.5-acre land under fill and elevate it by 8-to-10 feet above sea level to protect the area from future storm surges. The city has said they will maintain public access to a minimum of 42 percent of the park throughout construction, which is expected to be complete by the end of 2026.  

H/T @tfine & @ChrisRyanAction 

Asbestos abatement to begin at the former East River Park amphitheater — 9 months after it was demolished

Nine months after workers demolished the East River Park amphitheater, asbestos abatement is starting this week at the site near Corlears Hook, the New York City Department of Design and Construction (DDC) announced.

The work is expected to take place for the next four to six weeks during daytime hours, according to the weekly construction bulletin.

The abatement raised concern among some local residents and activists. From an Instagram post last week by 1000 People 1000 Trees: 

A little late, the amp was demolished by ESCR last year in December 2021 when, after we raised concerns, the DDC told us there was no asbestos at the amphitheater. 

For months the earth & foundation have been exposed. Video from March 2022 show no signs of protection against asbestos. @NYCDDC previously claimed there was no asbestos at the amp, yet now they announce asbestos abatement? 

For months the path used to access the Corlears Hook Ferry went through this area and is adjacent to the small patch of land, "passive lawn," that was set up as a replacement park which is currently open to the public. 

We asked Ian Michaels, a spokesperson for the DDC, about the abatement. 

"We had studied that structure and believed it to be asbestos-free. The Parks Department had also worked there in 2001 and said the same," Michaels said. "Then after the demolition of the above-ground structure, a new underground area was found. Work stopped, testing was done and asbestos was found on some pipe insulation in the new area. As a result, the job was stopped and a licensed asbestos abatement contractor has been hired to clean the site." 

Michaels shared a diagram showing where the new underground area was found, in a spot behind the amphitheater.

Here's more from the weekly construction bulletin about the asbestos work: 

[T]he public's safety is a priority and our team will ensure abatement work will be done in accordance with all local, state, and federal guidelines, and safely contain and dispose of material. In addition to the continued use of air monitors in the work area. 

The removal of materials containing asbestos will be completed by a subcontractor certified in asbestos removal, with environmental oversight performed by an independent consultant. The public may see workers in Tyvek suits as it is necessary for these individuals to wear protective gear because they will be in close proximity with the asbestos-containing materials on a daily basis. 

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is also mandatory for their work. All asbestos materials will be isolated and contained in a fully enclosed Containment Zone, and within this zone, materials will be placed in sealed containers and trucked offsite. 

Meanwhile, this past Thursday, activists gathered outside local City Councilmember Carlina Rivera's East Village office calling for her resignation — and for her to drop out of the race for New York's open 10th Congressional District seat. 

To date, work on the $1.45 billion East Side Coastal Resiliency project in East River Park has focused on cutting down trees and demolishing the amenities, mostly below Stanton Street. Workers will bury the 57.5-acre land under fill and elevate it by 8-to-10 feet above sea level to protect the area from future storm surges. 

The city has said they will maintain public access to a minimum of 42 percent of the park throughout construction, which is expected to be complete by the end of 2026.  

Friday's parting shots

Earth Day scenes from the former amphitheater at East River Park (above) ... and the former cherry tree grove in Corlears Hook Park...

Activists at the scene today said that workers yelled "Happy Earth Day" to them between cutting down more trees.

The trees are coming down as part of the ongoing $1.45 billion East Side Coastal Resiliency project.

The latest at East River Park: night work at Delancey; passive lawn set to debut

According to the weekly construction bulletin, night work begins in East River Park at Delancey. 

The work is scheduled to take place between 3 p.m. and midnight for the next four weeks: "Construction operations necessitate extended work hours to dismantle the park-side ramp of the Delancey Street Pedestrian Bridge. Noise and air monitors will be in place prior to the start of these activities," the bulletin states.

The Delancey Street pedestrian has been closed since early December. The arrow in this photo shows where the demolition will be taking place... 

This won't be the first time for nighttime construction/demolition in East River Park as part of the $1.45 billion East Side Coastal Resiliency project. Work went around the clock on a weekend in December — also in defiance of a Temporary Restraining Order. (There wasn't any mention of late-night work in that week's construction bulletin for residents.)

Meanwhile, weather permitting, the "passive lawn" south of the now-gutted amphitheater is expected to open this week in the former compost area. Residents will access this section via the Corlears Hook Pedestrian Bridge, where passengers access the ferry.

Here are two views of the passive lawn, as seen on Saturday...

... the city even left a few trees for this space...

Updated: A reader said the passive lawn opened last week. (There doesn't appear to be any signage for it — at least I didn't see any.) And there are puddles of water on the lawn because there isn't any drainage...

Also, from Saturday ... here's the scorched-earth site of the former amphitheater... (click on the images for a bigger view)... 

The city is to replace the now-demolished structure, which dated to 1941, with a smaller one at the exact location. In June, the city came up with $4.83 million to include a roof over the new amphitheater. (This post has more details.)

Since early December, work has focused on cutting down dozens of mature trees and taking out amenities such as the tennis courts in Project Area 1 below Stanton Street.

The current plans call for gutting East River Park — burying the existing 57.5-acre land under fill and elevating it by 8-to-10 feet above sea level. The new park is expected to protect the Lower East Side from storm surges until at least 2050. 

Park entry remains at Houston, Sixth Street and 10th Street. The city has said they will maintain public access to a minimum of 42 percent of the park throughout construction, expected to be complete by the end of 2026.

Community members opposed to the current version of the city's floodproofing plan for East River Park continue to gather daily at 1 p.m. at the Houston Street entrance.

Workers have demolished the East River Park amphitheater

Workers have finished demolishing the East River Park amphitheater. 

EVG regular Daniel Efram shared these photos yesterday... 

The city is to replace the existing structure, which dates to 1941, with a smaller one at the exact location. In June, the city came up with $4.83 million to include a roof over the new amphitheater. (Our last post has more details.)

Meanwhile, workers continue to cut down the trees in East River Park below Stanton Street as part of the $1.45-billion East Side Coastal Resiliency Project. Up to 1,000 mature trees are expected to come down in total.

The city has said that some 2,000 new trees will be planted in the reconstructed park, per a previously published statement.

Activists opposed to this version of the city's floodproofing plan continue to gather daily at 1 p.m. just south of the Houston Street entrance...

The end of the East River amphitheater

The demolition of East River Park below Stanton Street continues as part of the $1.45-billion East Side Coastal Resiliency Project (ESCR).

Social media posts show that workers have been focusing on the amphitheater in recent days.

"I saw some photos online of the amphitheater tragically getting gutted earlier this week, and I wanted to say goodbye before it was completely gone," EVG reader Shane Fleming told me in an email.

So yesterday around sunset, Shane went in for a closer look and shared the following photos. As you can see, the trees surrounding the amphitheater have been cut down, and the seats have also been removed. Only the bandshell remains for now.

"I spent many wonderful afternoons growing up at this amphitheater, and it's crushing to see it go like this," he said.

Here's some history of the amphitheater via the Parks Department website:

In 1941, an amphitheater was built in the park, along with an adjacent limestone recreational building, as part of an urban renewal project for the Lower East Side. During the 1950s, the amphitheater was the site of frequent free Evening-in-the-Park concerts. Joseph Papp (1921-1991), founder of Shakespeare in the Park and the Public Theater, staged Julius Caesar there in 1956. Local schools held their graduation ceremonies there, and the Group of Ancient Drama staged free-of-charge performances of classic Greek plays...

The city is to replace the existing structure with a smaller one at the exact location. (The currently gutted space could seat an estimated 2,500; based on the renderings, the new one looks to hold 400.) In June, the city came up with $4.83 million to include a roof over the new amphitheater. 

The city has previously estimated that all work will be completed in East River Park by the end of 2026.

Our previous post has more about what's been happening with ESCR to date.