April 5th - April 9th, 2010

Vehicle Security Center Delayed

April 5 – The agency told Governor Paterson the completion date for the VSC will be pushed back to 2013 because of delays in the demolition of the Deutsche Bank. The New York Post reports the PA has redesigned its construction plans for the VSC, including building a wall that allows contractors to being work on the VSC as the demolition continues.

Search Renewed for 9-11 Victims

April 5 – Nearly 844 cubic yards of debris, now at the Fresh Kills landfill, will be hand-sifted through over the next three months. The City erected a forensic mobile sifting platform at the landfill to go through material excavated over the past two years from various locations and roofs around the WTC site, according to The Staten Island Advance. The City’s chief medical examiner said that new methodologies are being used for unidentified remains from the original recovery and remains covered during the subsequent search.

Rents Remain Low in Fidi

April 6 - In a report released by First Service Williams, there are indications that Midtown is recovering from the downturn quicker than Lower Manhattan. Average rents in Midtown and Midtown South were up about 52 cents a square foot in the first quarter, while rents Downtown fell about the same amount. Also, the amount of sublease space fell substantially uptown, as much as 16.8%, while Lower Manhattan saw an increase in sublet space of about 32.7%. Another report from Cushman & Wakefield shows leasing activity Downtown fell to 755,000 square feet, down 18% from a year ago, according to Crain’s.

Former Goldman Sachs Space Available

April 7 – The vacancy rate in Lower Manhattan jumped a full percentage point when the building at 85 Broad Street was added to the leasing market. The Real Deal reports the 1.1 million square foot tower caused the vacancy rate to move up to 12.2 percent.

September 11 Museum Reveals Exhibits Images

 April 8 – Re-creations of the emotional vigils and makeshift memorials that sprang up around the City after 9-11 will be a centerpiece of the Museum, according to Director Alice Greenwald. She and Museum President Joe Daniels gave a presentation to the LMDC Board, which approved close to $2.3 million to help fund the exhibits. The museum will also focus on the eight-month cleanup at the WTC site. The museum is scheduled to open in 2012.

Concrete Executive Attempts Suicide Before Sentencing

April 8 – The owner of Testwell Laboratories, V. Reddy Kancharla, tried to take his own life, just a day before he was scheduled to be sentenced after being convicted of falsifying concrete tests; he was unconscious and hospitalized at the time of the sentencing. The company’s vice president, Vincent Barone was sentenced to 5 to 16 years. Both men were found guilty of falsifying inspection and concrete mix reports at major construction sites in the City, including the Freedom Tower, according to The New York Times.

Potential Human Remains Recovered

April 8 – Twenty potential human remains were discovered as crews began sifting through newly discovered debris. Newsday reports anthropologists will assess whether the fragments are human; if so, further DNA testing will take place. The City is currently sifting through 844 cubic yards of debris taken from in and around the WTC site.

9-11 Rescue Workers Study Released

April 8 – A study of 13,000 workers has found that more than 91% have abnormal lung function, many years after being exposed to thick clouds of dust at the WTC site. The New York Times says there’s no proof that any of these works improved their lung function; firefighters had greater declines than medical workers. A spokesman for the City’s Medical Examiner said the study demonstrates the need for aggressive treatment and continued monitoring.

Former Tribute Center Employee Faces Charges

April 8 – 25 year old Emmanuel Reyes pleaded not guilty to charges he stole $12,000 from the charity. He did, however, admit to taking the cash to pay a neighbor who threatened his family after he failed to pay back money he borrowed to pay for his mother’s funeral. Reyes faces up to seven years if convicted.

LMDC Allocates Funds for West Street Crossing Guards

April 9 –  The money from LMDC will be used to hire Sam Schwartz Engineering, a traffic consulting firm, to provide crossing guards at W. Thames, Chambers, Warren, Murray and Albany Streets, according to The Downtown Express. Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver requested the grant, saying it’s a hazard for children, residents and workers to cross West Street.

Seaport Redevelopment may be Resurrected

April 9 – General Growth Properties (GGP) told The Downtown Express it is hoping to resurrect their plans to revitalize the Seaport. GGP is emerging from bankruptcy and is creating a new company, General Growth Opportunities, with board members from Brookfield and Pershing Square Capital Management. The plan is to demolish Pier 17, restore the historic Tin Building, add retail and open space to the pier and build a hotel/condo north of the pier.

Newsweek Leaves Downtown

April 9 – The magazine is going back uptown, according to The Downtown Express.  Less than a year after Newsweek moved to Hudson Square, profits at the weekly news magazine fell and its owner, The Washington Post, decided to move it back to 888 7^th Avenue and move its more lucrative Kaplan Educational Services down to 395 Hudson Street. The move takes place in August.