Congressman Dan Goldman Announces $7.5 Million to Protect South Street Seaport from Climate Change

Federal Funds Secured to Improve Climate Resiliency in Lower Manhattan and Protect the Area from Flooding and Coastal Storms

New York, NY – Congressman Dan Goldman (NY-10) today announced a $7,511,862.40 Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grant to reduce flood risk to the Historic South Street Seaport. This project will directly mitigate coastal flooding risk, extreme precipitation, and the urban heat island effect, protecting one of the lowest lying parts of Manhattan.  
 
“Climate change poses some of the most urgent threats to the future of our communities,” Congressman Dan Goldman said. “This initial grant is an exciting first step for the Seaport Coastal Resilience Project to preserve the future of lower Manhattan. New York City’s coastline neighborhoods are on the front lines of the climate crisis, and I will continue to push for federal climate resiliency investments in downtown Manhattan and north and west Brooklyn.”
 
This grant will fund the New York City Department of Small Business Services Seaport Coastal Resilience Project to reduce flood risk to the Historic South Street Seaport. The Seaport Coastal Resilience Project will mitigate impacts from multiple hazards – addressing coastal flooding, sea level rise, extreme precipitation, and urban heat island effect. The scope of work aims to elevate bulkhead along the waterfront, construct a tide gate, while implementing innovative green infrastructure.
 
This initial installment is required to fund Phase I. The total project cost for Phase I will be $32,698,000 which will consist of engineering and design, permitting, and outreach. Total project cost (Phase I and Phase II) will be $219,910,828.00.
   
Congressman Goldman is focused on addressing the immediate issues that climate change presents to New York’s 10th Congressional District. The Congressman is a member of the U.S. House of Representatives Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition to advocate for clean energy innovation and environmental protection.  
 
Earlier this month, Congressman Goldman hosted a Town Hall with the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to hear from coastal communities that will be directly impacted by planned USACE climate resiliency projects.  
 
Congressman Goldman also secured a commitment from USACE to extend the deadline for public comment on climate resiliency engineering proposals to allow for robust community input in the future of these projects and their dramatic impact on the coastal communities of NY-10.

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