October 10th - October 14th, 2011

Silverstein still hopes private firm can force city out of 4 WTC

October 11- The previously reported deal for the city's Human Resources Administration to take more than half of a million square feet at 4 World Trade Center could be upended by a private-sector tenant, according to the New York Post.

The developer of the 2.2 million-square-foot building, Silverstein Properties President Larry Silverstein, had previously said that if a private tenant takes the space the city's commitment "may not be necessary." He and the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey, which owns the site, would prefer private tenants to fill the space, in part because they would pay more. The HRA lease starts at $56.50 per foot for its 582,000-square-foot space, about $10 to $15 less than tenants have paid in recent deals for space in nearby 7 World Trade Center.

Downtown Homes Now Most Expensive

October 12 – AM New York reports, New York City’s priciest homes are now in SoHo and Tribeca – ranking 6^th and 7^th according to Forbe’s annual list of the country’s richest zip codes. Those neighborhoods went against the national trend of declining home sale prices.

NYPD Officers Remembered

September 13 -- Nine NYPD officers who became ill after working at the World Trade Center site in the Sept. 11 recovery effort and then died were honored yesterday at the city’s Police Memorial Wall, reported the New York Post.

Mayor Bloomberg and Police Commissioner Ray Kelly attended the ceremony at Battery Park City.

Bloomberg praised the officers’ bravery, devotion and unselfish sacrifice.

Kelly noted that those lost also were sons, husbands and fathers.

Those honored were Inspector Donald G. Feser, Lt. Carlos J. Ocasio, Sgt. Alex W. Baez, Detective Corey J. Diaz, Officer Frank M. Bolusi, Officer Robert C. Grossman, Officer Richard Jakubowsky, Officer Robert Oswain and Officer Robert Zane.

Privately Owned Park, Open to the Public, May Make Its Own Rules

October 13 –  The New York Times reports, Zucotti Park was established in a wave of development that spurred corporate plazas after changes were made to the city’s zoning laws in the early 1960s. The laws generally give real estate developers zoning concessions in exchange for public space. There are now at least 520 such parks, arcades and plazas in New York City. Unlike city-owned parks, it is open 24 hours a day. 

 “The city had a policy for encouraging commercial developers to create open space in exchange for more height,” said Mitchell L. Moss, a professor of urban policy and planning at New York University. “But until now, no one has thought about the issue of what the rules are. This has highlighted one of the gaps in New York’s planning system.”

Even those privately owned public spaces that do not have curfews may still impose “reasonable” rules regarding behavior, however.

Brookfield Office Properties, the owner of Zuccotti Park, recently posted new rules against camping, lying on the ground or benches, and using sleeping bags, but up until now those rules have not been enforced.

Enforcement would fall to the building’s management company, Professor Kayden said, but if park users refuse to comply, the management may call on the Police Department for help, as it has in an effort to clean out the park.

Port Authority and Greek Orthodox Church Reach Agreement

October 14 -- The Washington Post reported, the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey said they have resolved their long dispute over where to rebuild St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church. The 85-year old chapel which sat at 155 Cedar Street was destroyed on September 11, 2001.  The settlement will end a lawsuit filed by the archdiocese earlier this year. Under the deal, the Port Authority will pay for site-work and below-ground infrastructure. The cost of that work is estimated to be about $25 million, according to the Governor Cuomo’s office. The archdiocese will pay for the construction of the chapel. The new church and bereavement center will be build on the east end of Liberty Park, at 130 Liberty Street.

Zucotti Park Cleaning Postponed

October 14 -- Roughly a dozen "Occupy Wall Street" protestors were reportedly arrested this morning as news of a decision to postpone the cleanup of Zuccotti Park sparked several marches in and around Lower Manhattan, reported NY1.

In a statement announcing the decision, Deputy Mayor Cass Holloway said the city's position has been consistent throughout to protect public health and safety, to enforce the law and guarantee the rights of all New Yorkers. The park's owners, Brookfield Properties, had asked the police department to clear the park so crews could come in and do a thorough cleaning. Protestors last night took it upon themselves to clean the park and could be seen scrubbing the ground and clearing away trash.