Have you ever felt the pulse of a city’s hidden heart? Anable Basin in Long Island City is just that. It’s a 500-foot-long artificial inlet of the East River. Carved in 1868 it served the many industrial firms. This wasn’t just some random digging project. Henry Sheldon Anable a prominent local businessman financed it. His family were early Puritan settlers of Massachusetts arriving in 1623. Anable’s connection to this land runs deep.
Anable Basin wasn’t just a waterway it was a witness to history. During its creation workers unearthed a mastodon bone. Can you imagine that? A prehistoric relic unearthed to make way for industry. For much of the 20th century Pepsi-Cola’s bottling plant dominated the basin. Its iconic ruby-red neon sign a landmark visible from Manhattan. The sign stood tall until 1999 when the plant was demolished. Fortunately it was saved and now resides in Gantry Plaza State Park.
The basin wasn’t always just industry. In 1980 Water’s Edge a popular waterfront restaurant opened. It was a wedding venue for over 30 years. Unfortunately it closed after its owner faced bribery and fraud charges. A new eatery Anable Basin Sailing Bar & Grill now welcomes visitors. It offers moorings for boats and serves American and ethnic dishes.
Anable Basin is also a canvas for art and innovation. In 2007 artist Chico MacMurtrie installed A Tree for Anable Basin. It’s a 24-foot-high aluminum tree on a floating island. In 2012 a hydroponic garden Waterpod floated in the basin. It grew sunflowers kale corn and even a nectarine tree. It showcased sustainable agriculture.
The area surrounding Anable Basin has seen many plans. Amazon planned a huge HQ2 campus. Community opposition led to the plan’s cancellation. Now developers are proposing new projects with community input. The future of Anable Basin is still being written. One thing is certain. It’s a place where industry art and history intertwine. Its story is one of transformation a testament to the ever-evolving nature of New York City.