August 2nd - August 6th, 2010

Mosque Clears Hurdle

August 3 – The City’s Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) voted unanimously not to landmark 45 Park Place. The decision means the mosque can be built and the building may be demolished. Supporters of the mosque claim the cultural center will be built to promote religious understanding; opponents question where the funding for the mosque originates.

Winter Garden Staircase Headed

August 3 – The Tribeca Trib is reporting that Brookfield Properties are planning to knock down the grand marble staircase to accommodate the pedestrian tunnel connecting the WTC with Battery Park City. The story says new escalators would be installed on the east end of the atrium for access to the second level.

WTC Ship is Being Reassembled

August 3 – The Maryland Archaeological Conservation Laboratory, known for its work on shipwrecks, is piecing together the carefully packed timbers as their team of archaeologists study the 18^th century ship. The lab will determine its exact age; historians believe it was used as landfill to extend Manhattan’s shoreline.

Major Publisher is Moving to 1 WTC

August 3 – All the speculation became fact today when Conde Nast confirmed it will sign a lease for up to a million square feet in the iconic tower. The publisher of Vanity Fair, The New Yorker and Vogue among other titles, will move in 2014 from its current location in Times Square, according to The New York Observer.

Lower Manhattan Prices Soar

August 3 – If you’re looking to move Downtown, be prepared to pay more than last year. The Wall Street Journal reports prices in FiDi jumped 35.7% in May to about $868 a square foot, according to statistics from Radar Logic.

9/11 Museum Marks Millionth Visitor

August 3 – A major milestone for the National September 11 Memorial and Museum- one million people have visited the temporary exhibit on Vesey Street. The museum opened last fall, allowing people to see the progress at Ground Zero and record personal memories.

Major Healthcare Company Moving

August 5 – Healthfirst, a not-for-profit managed care company, announced it will be leasing approximately 172,500 square feet, taking four floors in the 21 story building. SL Green Realty Corp told Real Estate Weekly improvements made to the building to attract tenants include a new lobby, entrance, windows and a mechanical upgrade.