New, massive cruise ships are set to take up residence on Manhattan's West Side under a plan to upgrade the aging cruise terminal. The city Economic Development Corporation is moving forward with plans to revamp the terminal, which spans along the Hudson River between 47th and 54th Streets.
The proposed overhaul would involve building new structures and replacing century-old timbers at the terminal, allowing it to handle three ships simultaneously carrying up to 24,000 passengers - a significant increase from its current capacity of two vessels each capable of accommodating 8,000 people. Supporters claim this upgrade will boost the city's tourism industry, generating tax revenue and economic growth.
The plan also includes new electrical infrastructure aimed at reducing pollution caused by idling ships in the river, as well as pedestrian walkways to help manage the surge of tourists marching from the waterfront into Midtown.
However, no timeline has been provided for completion, with officials citing the need for approval from multiple government agencies, including federal authorities. The agency also refused to disclose a cost estimate, stating that taxpayers will be responsible for covering a portion of the bill.
Community groups have long advocated for improvements such as shore power and funding community initiatives to address traffic congestion in the area. The local Hudson River Greenway can become congested when large cruise ships dock at the port.
EDC President Andrew Kimball hailed the plan as an opportunity to "meet urgent industry demands, grow economic impact and tax revenue" and deliver a safer, more sustainable terminal with public access to the waterfront.
The proposed overhaul would involve building new structures and replacing century-old timbers at the terminal, allowing it to handle three ships simultaneously carrying up to 24,000 passengers - a significant increase from its current capacity of two vessels each capable of accommodating 8,000 people. Supporters claim this upgrade will boost the city's tourism industry, generating tax revenue and economic growth.
The plan also includes new electrical infrastructure aimed at reducing pollution caused by idling ships in the river, as well as pedestrian walkways to help manage the surge of tourists marching from the waterfront into Midtown.
However, no timeline has been provided for completion, with officials citing the need for approval from multiple government agencies, including federal authorities. The agency also refused to disclose a cost estimate, stating that taxpayers will be responsible for covering a portion of the bill.
Community groups have long advocated for improvements such as shore power and funding community initiatives to address traffic congestion in the area. The local Hudson River Greenway can become congested when large cruise ships dock at the port.
EDC President Andrew Kimball hailed the plan as an opportunity to "meet urgent industry demands, grow economic impact and tax revenue" and deliver a safer, more sustainable terminal with public access to the waterfront.
. These massive cruise ships are gonna be everywhere and flood the streets of Manhattan with thousands of tourists. Its gonna ruin the vibe of the city. And what about the environment? The harbor is already polluted, now we're gonna add more pollution from these huge ships and then tell us its all sustainable 
I'm low-key worried about these new massive cruise ships taking up residence on Manhattan's West Side... like, what's next? 
We're already talking about revamping the terminal to handle three times its original capacity - that's a lot of tourists pouring into Midtown! The benefits of boosting tourism and economic growth are definitely there, but have we considered the strain it might put on our infrastructure and community spaces?
We're trying to reduce pollution by using shore power, but then we're just going to make more noise with all those extra foot traffic... I guess I'm just wondering if some of that "tourist revenue" is actually getting funneled back into the community in meaningful ways. It's not all sunshine and rainbows, you know? 
pedestrian walkways sound nice tho, but idk how they gonna deal with all those people spilling outta the ships. and no cost estimate?! thats shady 
hope edc gets it together and makes this work without breaking the bank 
What about the environment, tho? All this pollution from idling ships? We need to find a way to make it more sustainable, you know? And what about the community groups who've been fightin' for shore power and other initiatives to address these issues? It's like they're not gettin' heard. 
i'm actually kinda stoked about this new cruise ship deal! like, yeah it's gonna bring in some serious cash for the city and create jobs 
but also think about all the cool amenities they can build along the hudson river... pedestrian walkways? shore power? community initiatives? that sounds amazing 
. i mean we need to upgrade our terminal anyway, so this is a win-win! plus who doesn't love seeing those massive ships docked on the west side of manhattan? it's gonna be huge for tourism and economic growth 
. I mean, what about the noise pollution? All those ships gonna disturb our peace and quiet 
. And don't even get me started on the costs 
. I think we should be focusing on improving our public transportation system instead of coddling the cruise industry 
. And what about all those commuters trying to get into Midtown? It's gonna be a nightmare! 
it was so much fun but honestly I'm still trying to figure out how I'm gonna afford this season's designer clothes 
I mean I know tourism is important for the economy and all but shouldn't we try to find a balance or something?
as long as they're gonna put some cash into community initiatives too, i'm cool with it. let's hope they get this done quickly, we don't wanna be stuck in traffic for years 