March 12th - March 18th, 2004

Trinity Parish Gets New Rector

Sunday, March 14:  Leaders of Trinity Parish announced that the Rev. Dr. James Cooper will become the parish's 17th rector in May. Rev. Dr. Daniel Paul Matthews, who has presided over the parish since 1987, formally announced his resignation as rector of Lower Manhattan's oldest Episcopal parish after a mass on Sunday, reported the New York Times. 

Rev. Cooper will resign from his position as the Christ Episcopal Church in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL, the third-largest Episcopal church in the country, where he has served since 1979.

Survey Shows City's Artists Face Tough Times

Monday, March 15: According to a new survey released last week, the obstacles faced by New York City's artist community have intensified since the 9/11 attacks, reported the New York Times. The new study, conducted by the arts coalition DowntownNYC, surveyed working artists -- including painters, actors, and musicians -- throughout New York City via email about their current economic standing. 

Of the 175 artists sampled in early February, 42 percent reported that they have been forced to obtain additional jobs to support themselves financially. Additionally, eight percent of respondents reported that they had left New York City since 9/11, and five percent reported having moved from downtown's vibrant artistic enclaves to other sections of the city, said the Times. 

But despite tough times, many of the artists surveyed reported a strong determination to continue living in New York City and developing their career in the arts, according to the Times.

Tenants and Owners of Independence Plaza North Strike a Deal

Monday, March 15: Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced that the owners and tenants of Lower Manhattan's Independence Plaza North have agreed on a plan that will help maintain affordable rents for many residents after the 1,332-unit development's anticipated June buy-out from the Mitchell-Lama housing program, which protects residents from large rent increases.

"This agreement is a win-win because it preserves affordable housing for New Yorkers, especially in neighborhoods where they might otherwise be priced out," stated Bloomberg in a press release.

The agreement will make approximately two-thirds of Independence Plaza North tenants eligible for U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development vouchers that provide federal Section 8 rental subsidies known as "enhanced vouchers."  It will also offer provisions for tenants who do not receive vouchers to remain in the building without having to pay market rents.

Appellate Court Stays NYSE Injunction Pending Appeal

Monday, March 16: An appellate court judge stayed an injunction that would require the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) to remove security blockades at seven downtown intersections and discontinue searching vehicles surrounding its headquarters pending the NYSE's appeal of the earlier decision, Dow Jones News Wires reported.

Justice Walter B. Tolub ruled Friday that the NYSE overstepped its authority by taking over the security enforcement measures from the New York City Police Department (NYPD) after September 11, 2001, and gave the Exchange five days to remove the security blockades, according to the New York Times. But the NYSE appealed the decision, and Justice Tolub's order was stayed by a New York appellate court judge through the court's June term, Dow Jones reported.

The case was brought to court when the owners of the nearby Wall Street Parking Garage Corp. complained that the NYSE's security measures were negatively affecting the garage's business. 

Temporary 1993 WTC Memorial Design Approved

Tuesday, March 16: The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey received final approval on the design for a temporary memorial to commemorate the 1993 WTC bombing, reported the Associated Press.

The memorial design, which was proposed to the families and friends of the victims of the bombing on February 26 -- the 11-year anniversary of the bombing -- will be comprised of a nine-and-a-half-foot-tall stainless-steel pylon and a recovered piece of granite from artist Elyn Zimmerman's original memorial, which was destroyed on 9/11. 

Over the next six months, senior Port Authority architect Jacqueline Hanley, in collaboration with the Pentagram studio, will create the $30,000 memorial, which will be placed in a viewing area at Liberty and Washington Streets, said AP.

The interim memorial will be used until Peter Arad's "Reflecting Absence" is completed.

Federal Hall Takes Part in Downtown Festival, Undergoes Repairs

Thursday, March 18: As part of the Splendor of Florence Festival planned for October, the Federal Hall National Memorial will display 22 paintings, all on loan to the city from Italy's Uffizi Gallery, from October 1 through November 15, the New York Times reported.

The festival itself, founded by Joyce Acciaioli, will begin on October 1 and last for ten days. It will feature a variety of exhibits and events downtown, several of which will be held at the World Financial Center, according to the Times.

While officials continue to plan the event, Federal Hall is currently undergoing a $16 million rehabilitation project to repair both structural and foundational damage to the 162-year-old building resulting from the 9/11 attacks on the nearby World Trade Center. Project leaders estimate that restoration effort will last approximately one year and may cause Federal Hall to be closed intermittently to the public, reported the Times.