[chris08876]

Summer Construction Complete at Barry Diller-Funded Island Park

The planned summer construction for the Barry Diller-funded island park on the Hudson River is complete, a spokesman for the project said.

Diller is putting forward $130 million for a new pier off Hudson River Park just below 14th Street, known as Pier55. Over the past few weeks, Hunter Robert Construction Group drove in the first nine piles that will support the new pier between the dilapidated pilings of the former Piers 54 and 56.

The nine piles mark the initial work of the first phase of construction and had to be driven in this summer in order to meet the pier's construction timeline of completion in 2019.

The construction almost didn't happen, however, thanks to three lawsuits pending against the project in various state courts.

The lawsuits were brought by a civic organization, the City Club of New York, and a local environmentalist, Rob Buchanan, who believe the review of the environmental impacts of the construction was not thorough enough and take issue with the fact that the Hudson River Park Trust may charge money for some performances in Pier55's eventual 700-person amphitheater.

The amphitheater will host arts performances amid 2.7 acres of walking paths, open lawns, seating areas and undulating hills designed by Thomas Heatherwick and landscape architect Signe Nielsen.

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https://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/201...rs-island-park