Rutgers professor Jason Barr has proposed adding 1,760-acres of reclaimed land, named New Mannahatta, to the tip of Manhattan island to provide housing and combat climate change.
Called New Mannahatta in reference to the indigenous name for the island in New York, the plan would extend Manhattan island into New York Harbor beyond the Statue of Liberty.
Barr, a professor of economics at Rutgers University, outlined his plan in an opinion piece directed at the city's mayor Eric Adams, which was recently published in the New York Times.
New Mannahatta can "help solve two major crises in New York"
Barr argues that the extension to Manhattan, which would incorporate Governors Island, would help build resiliency to the threat of rising sea levels. The 1,760-acres of new land bounded by the Hudson and East rivers would also provide 180,000 new homes that could house 247,000 people.
"The goal of New Mannahatta is to help solve two major crises in New York City," Barr told Dezeen.
"First is the ever-looming problem of storm surges and flooding due to climate change. Second is that New York needs more housing. There is a major housing affordability issue in the city and any boost to supply can help alleviate the problem."
"The city can't tinker its way out of its problems"
Although the proposal is dramatic, Barr believes that large-scale initiatives are needed to help solve the growing issues facing the city.
"Drastic action is needed b...