Waterside Plaza facts for kids
Waterside Plaza is a group of buildings where people live and work. It is located right next to the East River in the Kips Bay area of Manhattan, New York City. It used to be a special kind of housing that helped people find affordable places to live.
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History of Waterside Plaza
Waterside Plaza was built on land that was created using dirt and rocks. This material came from the city of Bristol in the U.K. It was brought to the U.S. as heavy material in ships, like sandbags, to keep the ships steady. This material was actually rubble from buildings in Bristol that were bombed during World War II.
The apartment buildings and the nearby United Nations International School were built on top of platforms. These platforms are held up by more than 2,000 strong concrete poles. These poles were sunk deep into the East River.
A person named Richard Ravitch developed Waterside Plaza. The first apartment buildings opened in 1973. The whole complex was finished the next year, in 1974. This housing project won an award for its construction in 1974. In the 1980s, there were ideas to build more apartments, offices, and a hotel. However, these plans did not happen because of worries about the environment and people in the community not agreeing.
In 2004, the company that manages Waterside Plaza started a big project. They spent over $35 million to make improvements over three years. This project included making all empty apartments new and modern. They also improved the hallways and the main entrance areas of each building. The large outdoor plaza was also fixed and new plants were added, making it look like a park. The health club, parking areas, and security system were also made better.
What You Can Find at Waterside Plaza
Waterside Plaza has four tall residential towers. It also has a row of two-story townhouses. All these buildings are covered in red bricks. They surround a large open area that looks out over the East River.
There are 1,470 homes in total. The complex also has a health club that anyone can join, not just residents. There is also a parking garage. Waterside Plaza has a few small shops. These include a dry cleaners, a stationery store, a nail and spa salon, a party planning business, a Gristedes supermarket, and a cafe. The British International School of New York also uses some large spaces in the complex. The United Nations International School is right next to Waterside Plaza.
You can only drive into Waterside Plaza from 23rd Street. When leaving, cars and trucks can use 23rd Street or a service road that goes to 34th Street. There is a special footbridge at East 25th Street. This bridge lets people safely walk across the busy FDR Drive highway to the west. Waterside Plaza is also where the M34A Select Bus Service route begins.
Waterside Plaza is the only group of homes in Manhattan located east of the FDR Drive. The East River Greenway, a path along the river, runs between them. South of Waterside Plaza is Stuyvesant Cove Park. This park is part of the Greenway and has a small piece of land built into the East River. This land was made from extra cement that was put into the river.
Why Waterside Plaza is Special
The design of Waterside Plaza was created by an architecture company called Davis, Brody & Associates. In 2001, a famous writer about buildings, Herbert Muschamp, said that Waterside was a "great urban composition." He also said it was "picturesque and historically informed."
In 1975, Waterside Plaza won the Albert S. Bard Award for its excellent design and city planning. The next year, it won another award from the American Institute of Architects. In 2004, the Municipal Art Society put Waterside on a list of 30 important places that could become future landmarks.
Events at Waterside Plaza
Waterside Plaza hosts many events throughout the year. These events are free and open to everyone. Some of the most popular events are the outdoor summer concerts in July. There are also outdoor movie nights on Mondays in August.
In 2008, Waterside Plaza was part of the Make Music New York festival. During this event, 17 bands played music on three different stages. These stages were located by the water, in the gardens, and in the main plaza. Other events include monthly play readings, a short play festival, and a dance festival. There is also a spring flea market and a day to recycle old electronics.
One special event happened on June 28, 2010. The restaurant P. F. Chang's held a charity event on the roof of one of the tall buildings. Professional golfers like Annika Sörenstam and Briny Baird took turns hitting golf balls. They aimed at a target floating in the East River. This event raised $100,000 for different charities, including the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund.
See also
In Spanish: Waterside Plaza para niños
