Our relationship to the East River was changed forever when Sandy hit in 2012. In response, an ambitious project called the Big U has been proposed to protect lower Manhattan from another storm surge.

The first phase of the storm barrier, from 23rd Street to Montgomery along the east side, was promised $335 million in federal funds this summer.

A public hearing on this plan is taking place on January 15 at 7:00 p.m. at the Manny Cantor Center, 197 East Broadway, 6th floor.

This project is likely to completely reshape the land between the FDR Drive and the River and directly affect East River cooperators.