E-BULLETIN OF THE HISTORIC DISTRICTS COUNCIL
March 2012, Volume 9, Number 4
S.O.S. – SAVE OUR SHIPS!
New York City’s historic structures are not just on land. Historic ships, like the Lilac and the Mary A. Whalen, call the city home, adding history and life to our waterways. Many provide educational, recreational and cultural programs, and, in this hustle-and-bustle city, few things are more relaxing than watching ships in the harbor and on the river. What would New York be without them? We are at risk of finding out that unfortunate answer, as finding usable berths becomes more and more difficult. A uniform landing protocol, as recommended in the Economic Development Corporation’s Waterfront Vision and Enhancement Strategy (WAVES), is needed to save our historic ships.
Sign the Petition To Help Save the Ships Today
The City Council Committee on Waterfronts will be holding a hearing on Friday, March 16th at 1:00 pm in the 14th Floor Committee Room of 250 Broadway, Manhattan. Please lend your voice to remind decision makers of this important part of WAVES by attending the hearing or writing to your councilmember and cc’ing the committee – Chair, CM Michael C. Nelson ([email protected] ), CM Gale A. Brewer ( [email protected] ), CM Brad S. Lander ([email protected] ), CM Eric A. Ulrich ([email protected] ), and CM Peter F. Vallone ( [email protected] ) – and HDC ([email protected] ).
If you need a little inspiration, here is a sample letter (or better yet, go out to the water on this nice day and check out the ships for yourself!):
< < < Date
re: March 16th Council Committee on Waterfronts hearing
I strongly urge you to help improve docking options for historic ships in NYC by creating a uniform landing protocol. Without a clear set of rules and procedures that reflect the needs and operations of vessels, historic ships will continue to have difficulty finding usable berths and will be forced out of our waterfront.
The plight of the non-profit PortSide NewYork and their home, the historic tanker MARY A. WHALEN is of particular concern to me. I want to see the PortSide’s innovative waterfront-themed programs survive and grow and ensure that the MARY A. WHALEN is saved from being scrapped. PortSide NewYork needs to get a homeport secured immediately for these to happen.
I am writing now because there is a City Council Committee on Waterfronts hearing on March 16 to follow-up on the Waterfront Action Agenda (WAVES) of the Economic Development Corporation (EDC). One goal of WAVES is: “Create uniform landing protocol and application for City-owned properties to facilitate docking of historic vessels (Mayor’s Office, 2012).”
NYC’s historic ships offer a diverse range of experiences I value: they teach about the past of this port and waterfront city, they offer great recreational, educational and workforce training opportunities for youth, they run wonderful cultural programs for people of all ages. Ships offer the most exciting and easy staycation options inNew York City; being afloat is like nothing else! Historic ships move around, linking and servicing service communities and boroughs in ways that land-based museums cannot.
Please make piers easier for historic ships to use in NYC and help keep these unique, engaging pieces of maritime life on New York City’s waterfront.
< < < Add Any Additional Comments Here
Sincerely,
NAME
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ADDRESS