October 18th - October 22nd, 2010

North TriBeCa is Rezoned

October 18 – The unanimous vote by the City Council will strictly limit the size of new hotels in the area. Crain’s New York Business. The 25 block area is bounded by Canal Street on the north, West Street on the west and North Moore, Beach and Walker Streets on the south. Under the new zoning, hotels will be limited to 100 rooms and ground-floor retails will be restricted to 5,000 square feet. A City spokesman said the changes will help preserve the neighborhood’s character.

Morgan Stanley Possibly Moving into 85 Broad Street

October 19 – The New York Post says talks are going on to have the big bank take all of the 1 million square feet that Goldman vacated at 85 Broad Street; however, there’s no confirmation of the report. Morgan Stanley’s lease at 1 New York Plaza runs out in 2013; another report says the bank would prefer to stay in its current location.

“Secret Gardens” Opens along Chambers Street

October 20 – There’s a lot of greenery now along Chamber and Greenwich Streets. The Alliance’s Re:Construction  program, which works with artists to create art around construction sites, unveiled a 1,000 foot long ivy-themed mural fence. The project is called “Secret Gardens.”

Anonymous Donor Supports 9-11 Memorial

October 21 – Officials have no idea who left $10,000 in the donation box at the 9-11 Preview Site on Vesey Street, according to The New York Post. Joe Daniels, President of the 9-11 Memorial and Museum said, “We’d love to know who it was so we can say thank you.” The donation is unprecedented; the fundraising effort for the Museum has raised $370 million so far.

9-11 Memorial and Museum Releases a Preview Video

October 21 – The video walks viewers through the museum, showing the faces of all 2,982 victims of the terror attacks.  The audio portion of the video, according to Newsday, has remembrances of family members. Joe Daniels, President of the 9-11 Memorial and Museum said, “It’s to show a total picture of victims as they died, the lives they lived.” The video can be seen at www.national911memorial.org.

Emergency Construction Work on a Landmark Building

October 21 – The 13 story Tribeca court building at 346 Broadway is undergoing emergency construction work, because according to DNAINFO.com, the stone eagles are crumbling along with portions of the parapet and clock tower. The City plans to spend the next six weeks removing the deteriorating brick and terra cotta chimney, using steel and fabric to keep the eagles and clock tower supported during the work.  

New Park Opens in FiDi

October 21- DeLury Square Park at the intersection of Fulton and Gold Streets, opened this week, providing more than 8,000 square feet of greenery and park benches. The park also has a waterfall cascading down large boulders, a curving path and trees, according to DNAINFO.com. The LMDC provided the $2.6 million needed to build the park.