October 12th - October 16th, 2009

Mayor Bloomberg discusses WTC

October 13 –  In an exclusive interview with Downtown Express, the mayor said that ‘the things that I’m responsible are moving well”, meaning the Memorial. He also told the paper, officials have no choice but to offer a good deal to Larry Silverstein. Bloomberg said the city has looked carefully at the agreement between Larry Silverstein and the Port Authority and there is no way for the developer to get out of the agreement. The Mayor added the WTC is ‘politically one of the most convoluted situations’ in that there are many elected officials involved.

Silverstein says work on Tower 4 may stop

October 13 – Developer Larry Silverstein says he may have to stop construction of Tower 4 or else the building will be completed two years before the infrastructure that the building needs is in place. The New York Times reports Silverstein said the site could be finished by 2016 if the site is built according to his plan; he said if it’s built according to the Port Authority’s plan, it won’t get built until 2037.  Arbitration between the two began this week. The hearings are expected to take up to three weeks, with a ruling sometime in November or December.

USS New York to arrive November 7th

October 13 –  The 684 foot USS New York, whose bow is made from seven and half tons of steel from Ground Zero, is on its way to NYC from New Orleans, according to The New York Post.  It’ll arrive in the city on November 7^th, at which time a commissioning ceremony will be held. The main passageway on the ship has been named Broadway and the ship’s insignia includes the FDNY and NYPD. The ship holds 700- nearly 10% of the crew is from New York.

Construction jobs and projects saved

October 13 – The cost saving deal reached between the city’s builders and labor unions has saved approximately 25,000 jobs and helped revive $7.4 billion in projects, according to a study by the New York Building Congress. The New York Post reports 43 projects that were stalled were again underway after the deal was reached in May.

The Rector Street bridge reopens

October 13 –  Improved with steps that are less steep, updated railings and lighting, the Rector Street bridge reopened on October 9^th.  The NYS Department of Transportation said the elevator on the east side of the bridge is not operating now, but should be this week.

Construction begins on West Thames Park

October 13 – After four years of heated debate and countless design changes, construction crews will descend on the park. The lawn, playground and community gardens have been shutdown until May of next year while the work takes place. According to The Battery Park City Broadsheet Daily, the new park will have a longer soccer and softball lawn and there will be new equipment in the playground, as well as 23 new trees. The dog run will remain partially opened during the construction.

There are more victims of the cleanup of Ground Zero

October 13 –  Three more people, a firefighter and two police officers, died in the past week, all of cancer their families believe was the result of their work on ‘the pile’ after 9-11. Funeral services were held for the men this week. Mayor Bloomberg called on the federal government to pass the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act which would provide $10 billion to help pay for medical care for first responders.

DTCC office leaves Lower Manhattan

October 13 – New Jersey has lured the Depository Trust and Clearing Corporation to Jersey City. The New York Times reports 1,600 jobs will be leaving 55 Water Street in early 2013. New Jersey offered the company $74.6 million in incentives over the next decade. The Bloomberg administration did not put forth a counter offer.

NYU Medical Center doubles its space in FiDi

October 14 – NYU is now leasing 35,000 feet on the 9^th floor at 14 Wall Street, nearly doubling its current space, according to The New York Post. The Medical Center has occupied the 10^th floor since 2007; asking rent for the new space was in the high $30s a foot.

More names are added to the Police Memorial Wall

October 14 –  The names of 10 police officers, who likely died from 9-11 related illnesses, were added to the wall in a ceremony in Battery Park. More than 100 family members and friends attended; the wall contains the names of more than 700 police officers who have died in the line of duty since 1849.

Miniature Golf Course planned at Pier 25

October 14 – Golfers, rejoice! There’s another place in NYC to practice your swing. A new miniature golf course is going to be built at Pier 25 in Hudson River Park and possibly open next year. Curbed.com is reporting that the only possible problem is the funding is still in question.

Broken glass at the new Goldman Sachs building

October 15 – There’s a mystery at the new Goldman headquarters- two windows that have shattered, above the canopy above the pedestrian passage between Vesey and Murray Streets. The Battery Park City Broadsheet Daily reports several construction workers speculate a small tool, such as a hammer or bolt, may have fallen, causing the glass to shatter. A Tishman spokesman told the paper, some of the glass panels cracked and are in the process of being replaced.

Downtown Express endorses Mayor Bloomberg for reelection

October 16 – The newspaper announced it is supporting Mayor Bloomberg for another term. Its editorial board acknowledged the Mayor has limited power when it comes to the WTC Site, but it feels he has been a positive force in the dispute.

Thompson would reopen Park Row

October 16 –  Bill Thompson told Community Board 1, if he becomes Mayor, he would reopen Park Row, which was shutdown after 9-11 by the NYPD for security concerns about One Police Plaza. Residents have long complained that the major thoroughfare between Chinatown and Lower Manhattan should be open. Mayor Bloomberg says he has deferred decisions on the street to Police Commissioner Kelly.

The Mayor stands by new Sanitation garage

October 16 –  Bloomberg defended his plan to build a garbage depot in Hudson Square, saying the opposition is guilty of NIMBY. Bloomberg told The Downtown Express, “Not in my backyard is something that everybody feels, including me. It has to go someplace.” He said there will be a sanitation marine transfer station near his house on East 91st street. Thompson said he will look at revising the project.

Fiterman Hall Down to Fifth Floor

October 16 –  The demolition of Fiterman is moving along rapidly. The Dormitory Authority announced the building could be gone by the end of November and a new Fiterman Hall will begin to rise in December, with the opening of the new classroom building slated for 2012.

Workers sue for past wages and overtime pay

October 16 – ECM Construction is being sued on charges it shortchanged hundreds of Irish, African American and Latino employees and forced them work 70 hours a week. The lawsuit, according to The New York Times, is seeking $4 million. ECM works on 10 hotel and condominium sites in the City, several of them owned by developer Sam Chang.