Gov. Cuomo Steps In To Revive 'Diller Island,' Fund Hudson River Park Completion
Billionaire Barry Diller's $250M plan to build a massive performing arts pier on the Hudson River is back online.
A month after Diller pulled the plug on the Pier 55 project, citing growing costs and the headache of a protracted legal battle, Gov. Andrew Cuomo has stepped in to persuade the project's opponents to drop the lawsuit and to convince Diller to restart his efforts, the New York Times reports.
In return for both sides' commitments, Cuomo promised to provide all the funding necessary to complete the entirety of Hudson River Park, which is planned to stretch 4.5 miles from Battery Park City to West 59th Street. That includes Pier 55, also known as Diller Island, which sits across from 14th Street.
Cuomo likened his efforts to revive the project to the story of Lazarus when speaking with the Times, saying, "Sometimes you just have to believe."
Diller, the chairman of media conglomerate IAC, noted that in addition to Cuomo, an outpouring of emails and calls from friends also convinced him to try again with Pier 55. No total funding estimate was given for the completion of Hudson River Park or the protection of its estuaries.
