Maloney asks when EDC last reviewed seaplane operating area
Fredrickson says seaplanes date to the 1930s and volumes are 30% below pre-pandemic; EDC regularly reviews their role and will follow up on the Community Board 6 plan.
And how long have seaplanes been operating out of the 23rd Street?
Yeah, they have a long history in the East River, so as far back as the 1930s, even prior.
But this particular seaplane base was built in 1939, I believe, when LaGuardia was made.
The East River has changed quite substantially from that time, from a more industrial maritime neighborhood to heavily congested residential with waterfront buildings,
schools, parks, and the ferry activity that we spent the first half of the hearing talking about.
When did EDC last evaluate whether or not the operating area is appropriate for seaplanes?
Say we're regularly reviewing whether it's a, you know, how seaplanes play a role in the diverse kind of transportation ecosystem of New York.
I will say that when we compare it to historical volumes, we're still operating below pre-pandemic levels, so approximately 30% below, yeah, pre-pandemics.
Community Board 6 had passed resolutions dating back from 1996 all the way to just last year calling for EDC to develop a plan with community input on community-centered use cases.
What is the status of that plan?
I'd have to get back to you on that specific plan.