New York City is defined by its ribbons of waterways. In a cityscape crawling with traffic, residents seeking moments of calm can escape to the waterfront, or navigate their daily commute by boarding a ferry. The Hudson River and its many tributaries bring freight ships and cruise liners to the city shores. The water keeps the city moving. Until it doesn’t.
Hurricanes and rising sea levels threaten the city’s waterfront communities now more than ever. In the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy, homes, businesses, and lives floated among the flotsam of a city desperate for climate resilience.
The News and Documentary Class of 2027 presents New York Tides: a series documenting New York City’s complicated relationship with its waterfront. From elevating flood walls and working waterfronts, to river pollution and bankside housing development, we chart efforts to live alongside a changing shoreline across the five boroughs.