As the smallest district of New York, Manhattan has one of the world’s highest population densities. Most of its land is occupied by financial and commercial districts. The Central Park in New York serves as a good location for citizens of all ages to spend their leisure time at.

However, being home to so many world-renowned universities and colleges, there is no district in New York City that is designed to satisfy the relaxation and entertainment needs of the younger crowd. The planning for such an area can be difficult due to the scarcity of land resources in New York. Since water covers around a third of the total area of Manhattan, the pier areas along the Hudson River in midtown Manhattan can be planned as a new place for the young crowd in New York City to hangout.

The location of the project is at Pier 97 to 99 next to 12th Avenue, Midtown Manhattan (Figure 1). The initial step of the project is small-scale land reclamation and soil work. The area along the shore of the Hudson River is planned as a pedestrian street.

The Hudson River Park at Pier 96 is expanded to connect with the green area above Pier 99. The three piers themselves serve as natural separators for different zones with different functions, catering to the needs of all types of young crowds. Connectivity and accessibility of the place aren’t much of an issue, since it is located right next to 12th Avenue and Henry Hudson Parkways. The space of an underground parking lot can be preserved under the green areas for future development.

Figure 1: Project Location

After the initial construction, restaurants, pubs, and other entertainment facilities are introduced into the area. The purpose of the project is not only to satisfy those who are after fun and thrills, but also the young graduates who need a place to socialize and relax.

The detailed zoning of the area is introduced in the next section. With an estimated floor area of 10,000 m2 and a total leasing area of 8,000 m2, the expected size of the stream of visitors is around three to five million annually. The main target crowd includes college students and fresh graduates, young professionals, businessmen, and tourists. More free and cheap facilities can be built to make the area more accessible and attractive for the young crowd.

The three piers in the area serve different purposes (Figure 2). Block A at Pier 99 is designed to be a place for young graduates to relax and socialize. Most of the shops here are Cafés and restaurants with a view of the Hudson River. A waterfront park is also a possibility on one half of the pier. During the day, it will be a place for fresh graduates to meet friends and make career plans.

Block B at Pier 98 is mostly a pub area for music and drinks. There can also be live performances at the center stage that can be enjoyed by the entire area. Amusement facilities can be placed in Block C at Pier 97, for example, G-Max Reverse Bungee and GX5 Extreme Swing, which would be popular among college students and tourists.

Figure 2: Detailed Zoning

To preserve the local landscape, proper land use and avoidance of over-planning are necessary for the project. The height of the structures, the lighting, and greens arrangement should be designed so that they blend into the view of the Hudson River.

In addition to pubs and restaurants, the area should also be imprinted with the local culture of Manhattan and New York, to create its unique identity to attract not only the students but also young tourists and even the working crowd. With cultural elements added, the vibrancy of the young crowd, a great view of the river, proper amusement facilities, and a location far from the town center, the area has the potential to become a new tourist attraction in New York City.