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Let’s cut to the chase, MANHATTAN NEEDS A BEACH. We’ve got everything else, its clearly time and I need YOU to help get there.
WHY AM I DOING THIS?
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I have been going to the beach since I was a little kid in Florida, weekends with family and friends, surfing, picnics and relaxing in the sun next to the surf is what summer is all about. I want to share that experience with NYC and create a public park for everyone to enjoy and take a break from the concrete jungle we exist in everyday.
I’m a creative entrepreneur, experience designer and producer whose mission is to create experiences, environments and content that sparks meaningful connections. The moment this idea popped into mind, I knew I had to do it, it’s a perfect fit for what I’m all about.
My career has been a blend of all these elements. I’ve been in the design and construction world since 2006 having supervised and renovated over 50,000 square feet of luxury residential and commercial space in NYC, and now I’m developing turnkey luxury properties around the country. Creating fun, dynamic and unique physical environments that have an impact is what I do.
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THE BIG IDEA
The best ideas are derived from necessity.
New York City is an island surrounded by water with no sand, it’s going to take a little vision to make it happen and I’ve got a plan. I want to make your summer time experience awesome and and here’s how I’m going to do it.
My concept was created with my friends at workshop/apd andCraft Engineering Studio to emulate a relaxed seaside atmosphere and maximize the footprint of the barge we are building on top of. Challenged with the need for restaurants and entertainment space, without sacrificing the relaxed beauty of the dunes, Workshop/APD created what we like to call the “potato chip.” With an elevation of almost 16 feet at the ends of the structure, a natural amphitheater occurs and allows us to provide services underneath the beach without obstructing the amazing views, creating a 360 degree experience of the city and waterway surrounding us.
City Beach NYC is a community project, a social space, a creative achievement in design, and a platform to create possibility.
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CROWDFUNDING AND YOU
The purpose of this campaign is to raise awareness in our community, showing public support of the project to our city officials, investors and brand partners that we have your support.
The first milestone of the project develops the operational plan and begins the process with the local municipalities. The $35,000 raised during this phase allows us to hire the team we need to move the project to the next level. We’ve started off with donations as low as $10, but you can enter any amount you’d like, even $1. The goal here is showing your support.
The second milestone builds a scaled 3D model that allows the architects to explore the design in three dimensions. It will also be used to help illustrate to the community and city boards the functionality with the site and interaction the public will have once the barge is in place and costs $35,000.
The third milestone of the project invests in design development for architecture and structural engineering. Focusing more on the technical aspects and building materials, this phase allows us to understand the functions and systems further and is estimated at $150,000.
The next milestone moves into construction drawings, documentation, permitting applications, renderings and community outreach $185,000
It’s important for to us to work through each of these stages to get our build costs accurate so we know where we are headed and we reduce the surprises along the way. We’ve broken this down to help you understand that you are driving how fast the project can move, if you get behind us this project can be a reality by the summer of 2016. Now the question is how badly do you want it?
WANT TO GO REALLY BIG?
We’ve been looking high and low, new and old, but we anticipate the purchase to be roughly $1.4M, which includes tugging it from wherever its current home may be back to NY. If you guys get us this far, I will be blown away.
New Yorkers like a challenge, so I'm putting it out there, ANYTHING is possible.
Now on to the fun stuff...
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On the main deck, at the east end of the beach, a food court with two different, local restaurants greets beach goers before they head below to the changing rooms and the guest services desk. Complete with sunscreen, luxury lounge chair and towel rentals, we make it easy to travel light and spend the afternoon. Forget your suit? Not a problem, stop by our surf shop and head upstairs without missing a beat.
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The lower deck is also home to our kids history & marine science lab that are great for the whole family. Complete with marine touch tank and interactive kiosks, kids can learn about the history of the Hudson River, water quality and resident marine life in the park. Just around the corner our anchor restaurant, a double height dining room with light flooding in from the west, is the perfect place to enjoy a leisurely lunch or dinner. And their’s no rush, we’re open late, so order a glass of wine at the sunset bar and watch the sun fade into the horizon.
NUTS, BOLTS & DETAILS
Barge Dimensions 260’ x 72’
Beach Dimensions 220’ x 72’
Cubic Yards of Sand 1,200
Beach Chairs 200
Restaurants 3
Surf Shop
Kids Science Lab
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LOCATIONThe barge will be located on the west side of Manhattan in the Hudson River, there's lots of options and we are working to find the best spot. It will moored during the summer and will have access to get on an off anytime you like. It won't be leaving pier it's attached to.
CAN WE SWIM?
We’d love to let you, but that’s a decision made by the DEC and we have more to explore around this area for your health and safety. You’ll be able to learn more about the water quality in the Hudson in our Marine Science exhibit downstairs and learn what we can do to help keep our river clean and improve the water quality.
Don’t fret! there will be water features aboard to cool down! Outdoor showers to rinse off and water misters for that quick cool down will be integrated into the plan. Depending on where we moor, small personal watercraft such as kayaks and paddle boards may be possible and we’ll keep you posted as things develop.
WHAT DOES THE WATERFALL DO?
The waterfall is there to help create create that relaxing sound of rushing water and help drown out city noise while you are on the beach. It will circulate the river water and help to aerate and boost the oxygen levels in the surrounding marine habitat.
HOW DOES IT GET POWER?
We’re in the early phases of development and we’d like this to be as green as possible, exploring ways to take this off the grid are top of our list. Through the use of solar and light tubes we may be able to greatly reduce our reliance on shore power. If you have suggestions about new technologies to help keep us green we'd love to hear about them. Please email us at info@citybeachnyc.com
CAN WE REALLY DO THIS???
The first phase of the project has been underway for quite some time. We've had meetings regarding the mooring location to sitting down with agencies like the Coast Guard, Army Corp and Department of Environmental Conservation, Department of Buildings, FDNY and others involved to make this happen.
Yes, City Beach is a viable project for our waterway. It is possible and like any project of this size we have more to learn along the way.
ONWARD AND UPWARD
After completing the numbers phase it’s time for us to hit the streets again and raise money to complete our drawings and get ready for construction. With the success of the High Line and the +pool as awesome inspirations, we know the community will help us reach our financial goal and we won’t stop until we get there.
REWARDS
$10 - Thanks for giving us a shout out! Now it's our turn, we'll put your name on our website 'Thank You' page and let everyone know you made a difference in making this happen
$25 - We'll invite you to our exclusive prelaunch party and we'll put your name in the special thanks section of our website and let everyone know you made a difference in making this happen
$49 - Get your name engraved into our boardwalk forever, showing off you were one of the people that made this happen, plus the above package
$79 - You'll receive and exclusive early pass for opening day, get your toes in the sand before all of New York does, plus the above package
$99 - You'll receive priority access for the first month of operation! That means no lines people! That's some serious clout if you ask us, plus your name on the boardwalk and invite to the prelaunch party
$125 - You'll receive two months priority access to the beach! Yea no line! Plus a guest, have your name engraved on the boardwalk and get invite to the prelaunch party!
$250 - You'll get the full summer priority access plus you can bring a guest, have your name engraved on the glass walls, and get an invite to the prelaunch party and a special thank you letter from Blayne
$500 You'll get the full summer priority access plus you can bring two guests, have your name engraved on the glass walls, invite to the prelaunch party and a special thank you letter from Blayne
$1000 - You'll receive two invitations to our opening night gala, special acknowledgement as one of our LIFEGUARDS on our website, full summer priority access for three guests, have your name engraved on the glass walls and a special thank you letter from Blayne
$2,500 You'll receive private catered picnic for you and five others with the Blayne and the City Beach Team, two invitations to our opening night gala, special acknowledgement as one of our LIFEGUARDS on our website, full summer priority access for three guests, have your name engraved on the glass walls and a special thank you letter from Blayne
$5,000 You'll receive a private cocktail reception for you and five others during sunset with Blayne and the City Beach Team, plus two invitations to our opening night gala, special acknowledgement as one of our LIFEGUARDS on our website, full summer priority access for three guests, have your name engraved on the glass walls and a special thank you letter from Blayne
CITY BEACH DESIGN TEAM
workshop/apd
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Matthew Berman
Matthew is fascinated by
the implications of design at every scale, from the micro to the urban. His
passion for good design, through a core belief, goes well beyond the making of
things. “Great architecture takes my breath away,” says Matt. “ I believe so
fundamentally that design, both interior and exterior, is inextricably linked
to our well-being.” Matthew received a Bachelor of Arts from Leigh University
and a Master’s of Architecture from Columbia University.
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Andrew Kotchen
Early in his career,
Andrew discovered his passion for the crafting of things: researching new
materials and innovative fabrication methods, all with an eye towards solid
modern design. “My love of architecture is found in the act of building,” says
Andrew. “I love nothing more than seeing our work realized.” Andrew earned a
Bachelor of Arts from Leigh University and a Master’s of Architecture from the
University of Michigan.
Craft Engineering Studio
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Nathaniel Stanton
Nathaniel Stanton founded CRAFT in the spring of 2010 to more effectively address the desire among architects for an engineering consultant that is progressive and forward thinking but operates on a scale that engenders creativity and collaboration between disciplines. This pursuit builds on 17 years of experience in non-standard structural engineering consulting for projects with geometrical, analytical and material complexity.
Are you still reading? Awesome!
Donations aren't the only way you can help, lending us your voice is important too. Take the link http://www.igg.me/at/citybeachnyc and post it to your Facebook page, tweet it out or even email your friends about what we're doing. Your contribution of time and effort means as much to me as the dollars in the door, because you are actively participating in making this project successful. Already I've had over 100 people take action and post to web for us, will you join them?
