November 3rd - November 7th, 2008

Crane Rules Create Difficulties for Contractors

November 5 – Contractors in the City say the new rules to operate and dismantle cranes are difficult to enforce and cause costly delays. Reports in Newsday and AM NY quote Lou Coletti, the president of the Building Trades Employers Association. “In some respects, it’s already overkill. You’ve got new rules and regulations coming out every day.” The City Department of Buildings defends the new inspection protocols saying they worked closely with industry officials to develop checks and balances that are making construction sites safer.

Tobacco-sniffing Dogs to Monitor 130 Liberty

November 7 - The Lower Manhattan Development Corporation (LMDC) is taking steps to make sure workers are not bringing cigarettes into 130 Liberty Street. The Downtown Express reports a tobacco-sniffing dog is screening workers as they enter the building and so far, the dog has not found any workers smuggling in cigarettes. The LMDC took action after it discovered workers smoking in the building months after last year’s fatal fire which was caused by a cigarette.

Progress Made on 130 Liberty Decontamination

November 7 – Workers at the Deutsche Bank building continue the decontamination process. A report in The Downtown Express says floors 12 and above have been cleaned and approved. The LMDC says it hopes to have all but the bottom three floors cleaned by the end of the year. The agency plans to start removing the façade of the 26 story building on the floors that were cleaned and says it hopes to present its deconstruction plan to regulators by mid November. That plan will be presented to the public in December or January.

Liberty Street Bridge Relocation Scheduled for Mid-2009

November 7 – The Port Authority now says it will move the Liberty Street bridge once block south to West and Cedar Streets sometime in the middle of 2009. The Downtown Express also reported a Port Authority spokesman said there is still no timetable to close Vesey Street.

PA Executive Director to Answer Questions Online

November 7 – Port Authority Executive Director Christopher Ward will be answering questions about the rebuilding of the WTC site online. Newsday says the agency set up a website last month to show the public the progress on the site. Ward will answer the public’s questions until November 11 at www.wtcprogress.com

Fiterman Hall Funding Agreement Expected Soon

November 7 – There would be an announcement soon about a funding agreement between the State and CUNY for Fiterman Hall. The Downtown Express quotes Councilman Alan Gerson as saying he has assurances from Mayor Bloomberg that an agreement has been reached on the disputed $70 million needed to rebuild.