CB2 members urge DOT coordination as Route 9A study meets Gansevoort Square housing plans

Community Board 2 members reported on a Route 9A (West Side Highway) study walkthrough and raised concerns that New York State Department of Transportation staff present appeared not to know about a proposed housing development at Gansevoort Square that will affect design decisions.

Committee members said the walkthrough covered the district from 14th Street to Canal Street and identified a strong need for more pedestrian crossings across Route 9A. Participants said the state DOT representatives were focused on roadway geometry and turning radiuses; board members urged inclusion of broader land-use and resiliency considerations tied to the Gansevoort Square housing proposal.

Eugene (Community Board member) reported the State DOT was not aware of the housing development and of the informal expectation that a small triangle of state property would be handed over to make the project feasible. Board members warned that study outcomes could differ significantly depending on whether the study integrates planned housing, park connections and resilience measures.

Members recalled earlier resilient-infrastructure ideas, including a previously considered underground stormwater holding tank for Route 9A, and noted that work around Sandy showed how construction sites and excavations can mitigate flooding locally. The committee encouraged community participation in the study's public workshops and said it would press DOT to include resiliency and land-use coordination in its work.

No formal board action was recorded at the executive committee meeting.