Tomorrow, October 29, marks 13 years since Superstorm Sandy flooded Lower Manhattan. The hurricane cost the city more than $70 billion in damage (equivalent to $95 billion today) and was a clear warning that our infrastructure is inadequate to cope with the growing threat of climate change. While we have made great strides in restoring and protecting our coastline since 2012, the need to continue to adapt remains.
This vulnerability reflects a broader national crisis. In 2024, the United States experienced 27 catastrophic climate disasters, resulting in hundreds of deaths and billions in damage. These events have now become commonplace. Every summer, relatively mild storms flood our subways and streets. On the West Side of Manhattan, high tides alone can flood some areas during a full moon.
That's why Battery Park City Authority (BPCA) is leading two resiliency projects as part of the Lower Manhattan Coastal Resilience Initiative. These are not theoretical solutions – they are being built right now, based on many years of negotiations, and are already bringing results.
Too often, government gets bogged down in bureaucratic red tape and ideas die in bureaucracy. In Battery Park City, we're proving we can implement bold ideas before delay leads to disaster.
Wagner Parkone of the area's most beloved green spaces, reopened this summer and is once again filled with New Yorkers enjoying its lawns, walkways and views. Elevated above a 100-year floodplain, it now conceals a flood wall, a modern storm drainage system, and a 63,000-gallon reservoir for reusing rainwater.
The benefits extend beyond Battery Park City—they help protect lower Manhattan from a 100-year storm caused by projected sea level rise. The project was built for Strong Waterfront Edge Design Guidelines from the Waterfront Alliance. standards that push projects to go beyond standard sustainability and environmental requirements.
Later this year Northwest Battery Park City Resiliency Project will contribute to the establishment of a critically needed coastal flood risk management system. This engineering marvel will create a reliable passive control barrier that does not require human intervention in the event of a severe storm. It will also preserve the waterfront, maintain open space and ensure universal access, while minimizing disruption to existing infrastructure.
This is not the first time that aspirations and collaborations have come together for public benefit. After the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, plans to restore Port Authority-owned land fell through due to conflicting submissions, delays and budget problems. Ultimately, strong leadership built the new World Trade Center and the 9/11 Memorial on the 10th anniversary. It remains one of the city's shining examples of sustainability and architectural ambition.
It is not easy to overhaul major public assets in a densely populated area, but when a plan is methodically developed, based on science, and shaped by community input, it is poised for success.
Over the years, the BPCA has worked with residents and businesses to lay the groundwork to gather feedback and ensure final designs reflect local priorities. Coastal communities planning their own large-scale resiliency projects should look to Battery Park City as a model.
Although complex in design, the south and north/west portions will bring numerous benefits to Battery Park City and lower Manhattan. Together, they will protect the homes of tens of thousands of New Yorkers, the office buildings that drive the city's economy, and critical infrastructure such as the World Trade Center.
The improved coastline will protect against flooding, projected sea level rise and help cool the area from extreme heat. Removing Battery Park City from the floodplain will provide relief to homeowners by eliminating the need to purchase flood insurance for federally backed mortgages, and the reconstruction of approximately 1,200 feet of bulkhead will improve the environment that supports marine life, a vital part of our ecosystem. In addition, the project is financially sustainable and generates more than $2 in profit for every dollar invested.
The work being done in Battery Park City complements the East Manhattan resiliency effort to strengthen low-lying perimeter areas against the risk of flooding and sea level rise. This is a monumental undertaking, but the new Wagner Park and completed construction phases East Side Coastal Resiliency Project show that this can be done by transforming our public spaces.
As we reflect on Superstorm Sandy and its wake-up call for the city, we have learned lessons that we must now focus on seeing through. As neighborhoods and cities across the country search for inspiration amid the bureaucratic quagmire and federal inaction, Battery Park City has a plan to do just that.
Mann is president and CEO of the City of Battery Park. Ward is interim president and CEO of the Waterfront Alliance.
