- Christopher Street Pier
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Coordinates: 40°43′59″N 74°00′40″W / 40.733113°N 74.01103°W
View from Christopher Street Pier, looking south (2008)
The Christopher Street Pier is a group of piers on the Hudson River waterfront of Manhattan, New York City -- Pier 42, 45, 46, and 51. The piers are at the foot of Greenwich Village's Christopher Street.
In common usage, "Christopher Street Pier" usually refers specifically to Pier 45 opposite W. 10th St., accessible by nearby highway crosswalks at the ends of both Charles St. and Christopher St. As of March 2009, the M8 bus still serves 9th St., West 10th St. and Christopher St.
Once a working part of the New York waterfront, the Pier had physically decayed by the 1980s and had developed a vibrant gay social scene for "cruising". Since renovations and opening of the Hudson River Park's new Greenwich Village segment in 2003, it has retained its role as a gathering place for gay youth from New York City and New Jersey who have been congragating at the pier since the 1970s. This has led to increased friction between the predominantly Latino and African-American young LGBT subculture and residents of the regentrified, redeveloped areas adjoining the piers.
Renovation
The piers are undergoing renovation as of 2008, as part of the construction of a large park. The areas of pier 45 and 46 and everything in between are under renovation. Pier 51 is being renovated; so far a water park, a children's park, and a ship are in the location. Pier 42 is undergoing major renovation for a future skating rink, and a new park. Next to pier 42 is also the proposed location of Hudson Place Plaza, a proposed development complex of seven buildings. The 7 Subway Extension is also expected to run below the area.
Current pier issues
Residents of Christopher Street have complained about noisy teenagers leaving the park after its 1 a.m. curfew. Neighborhood leaders and speculators in the area's townhouse market make frequent use of the term "unruly" to describe the pier's users, many of whom are African American or Latino gay youth. Opponents of plans to displace the pier's users have sometimes accused neighborhood leaders and speculators of employing racist code to solicit support for their planned changes.
Community residents have created a new plan in 2005 to have the Park Enforcement Patrol escort the teens to the 14th and Hudson Street exits. According to an article in The Villager, "The park users would be blocked by metal barriers and PEP officers from leaving at other exit points in between Christopher Street and the two designated exits."
The teen users of the park responded angrily to the proposed restrictions on the Christopher Street exit. They asked instead for the curfew to be moved to 4 a.m., arguing that there will be less of a crowd leaving the park at that time.
A group called FIERCE (Fabulous Independent Educated Radicals for Community Empowerment) has been helping LGBT youth fight for later curfews at Christopher Street Pier. A film produced in 2001 showcased the group's campaign to save the pier.
References
- Notes
Categories:- Buildings and structures in Manhattan
- Piers in New York
- Christopher Street (Manhattan)
- Redeveloped ports and waterfronts
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