KIPS BAY — The final public forum to debate the proposed East River Greenway project drew a hefty crowd of more than 300 people on Tuesday night with residents still divided over the best fate for the project.
Most of those present testified in favor of the deal, which could bring to life a project that has been decades in the making: filling in the gaping hole in the East River esplanade from East 38th to 60th streets.
The UN tower would be built as part of a complicated land swap in which the international organization would purchase the western portion of Robert Moses Playground from the city for their new building. It could then move employees from two city-owned buildings across the street, freeing up the city to sell those structures and use part of the proceeds from the sale to fund the East River greenway.
