Pier 55 Finishes Construction Allowed Before Court Hearing

CHELSEA, NY — Developers of the Pier 55 project were allowed some construction on their pending project on the Hudson, and they are extremely excited to say it's been finished. The first nine piles have been installed on the Pier 55 project on the Hudson River, the developers and the Hudson River Park Trust (HRPT) announced Wednesday.

The developers were given permission by a New York State appeals court judge in July to continue a small portion of the construction of the park, which will jut out into the Hudson at West 14th Street, before the court hears the case against the project by a civic group in September.

"We're thrilled to be taking the first steps in what will become a transformative public park for the community," said Celine Armstrong, project manager for Pier 55 Inc., in a press release. "We look forward to continuing construction this fall and making Pier 55 a reality for all New Yorkers."

The July court ruling said the injunction on construction of the planned 2.7-acre park funded by media mogul Barry Diller was "modified solely to the extent of permitting respondents to drive the first nine piles to support the platform for the 'balcony' part of the project which extends over the river, and otherwise denied."

Back in July when the court issued its injunction, Robert Emery, attorney for the City Club of New York, who's suing the park, said the nine piles were "much ado about nothing" because it was just nine piles out of an eventual 550.

Civic group the City Club sued Pier 55 in June 2015 claiming the park would harm the environment and for a lack of transparency in planning. A lower court ruled against City Club in April 2016, and the group appealed. Justices in the appellate court ruled at the end of June that Pier 55 needed to halt construction until the case is heard on Sept. 6.

Pier 55 Inc. released photos Wednesday of construction on the first nine piles:

Photos courtesy of Pier 55 Inc.