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Battery Park City related news, events and items for the residents and community of Battery Park City, BPC, Batteryparkcity.com, BatteryParkCity

Tribute in Light in Battery Park

10th Anniversary Tribute in Light

Tribute in Light in Battery Park
Tribute in Light atop the Battery Garage on Morris Street.

Tribute In Light will shine from Dusk to Dawn to honor all those who lost their lives on September 11, 2001 and to serve as a symbol of hope for the city of New York. An iconic gesture of remembrance is officially deemed a public artwork installation supported by Governor Cuomo, Mayor Bloomberg, the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation, Battery park City Authority, The Municipal Art Society, and all the public, corporate, and private sponsors.

According to the Tribute in Light website:
“Conceived in the aftermath of the September 11th tragedies, Tribute in Light is a temporary artistic gesture bringing together the vision and talent of numerous individuals who, shortly after the attacks, independently envisioned two beams of light rising from downtown New York. Finding support for their ideas, they joined forces in the spirit of the rescue and recovery effort downtown. The creative team consists of architects John Bennett and Gustavo Bonevardi of PROUN Space Studio, artists Julian LaVerdiere and Paul Myoda, architect Richard Nash Gould, and lighting designer Paul Marantz. Production support was provided by two non-profit cultural institutions The Municipal Art Society and Creative Time, with the assistance of Battery Park City Authority.”

When not in use, the entire installation is stored within the Battery Park City Garage until their annual commemorative use.

The blue beams, which are reported to be visible for 60 miles, are comprised of 88 separate 7,000-watt searchlights, which are powered by a gas-run generator housed in a tractor trailer just outside of the parking garage.

Although internationally renowned as a symbol of the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center, The New York City Audubon Society notes warnings on their deadly effects on migrating birds. This year, the Municipal Society has promised to monitor the art installation for this concern and will shut off the lights to mitigate the danger the beams cause to the migratory patterns.

Battery Park City South Skyline

BatteryParkCity.com version 2.0: Commitment to Community

Battery Park City South Skyline
Battery Park City South Skyline

When we first opened our digital doors to the community as Battery-Park.com, we knew that we wanted to help give a platform to our community by the time of the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. With very little money, but a lot of passion, we’ve worked hard to build the site and bring information to our neighborhood.

The core reason we launched BatteryParkCity.com was to create a digital community to connect the neighborhood that we love. In the past year, we’ve gotten to know our neighbors better through this site, Facebook, and Twitter.

Behind the scenes, we’ve been hard at work to make sure we offer better access to the growing online community at BatteryParkCity.com. Interestingly, we’ve watched a few things happen both inside and out:

  • A growing percentage of our readers are viewing the site through iPads and iPhones.
  • We’ve watched engagement grow from our Twitter (http://twitter.com/batterypark) and Facebook page (http://facebook.com/batterypark)
  • Our contributors and writers have experienced some speed bumps in terms of publishing posts.
  • Some of our favorite areas of the sites were virtual crickets — despite the personal attachment, love, and attention we gave those areas

So we went back to the lab and tried to accommodate for the growing pains and learnings. Today, as our way of honoring the community on the 10th Anniversary of September 11th, we mark the official relaunch of BatteryParkCity.com.

Some new features launched today:

  • BatteryParkCity.com is optimized for mobile viewing and commenting: Our site is now optimized for the growing lot of you that are viewing from tablets and mobile phones. (It’s a lot of you.)
  • Facebook Connect: We love all the Facebook comments we receive, and its become a huge part of what makes our site great. So we’ve enabled a way to offer seamless commenting for our FB friends.
  • Redesign of our Newsletter: We’ve redesigned and updated our newsletter to offer more news/alerts/events/promotions for those who want the information as fast as we get it. Please sign up if you aren’t already receiving it.

Last but not least — as our way of honoring the community at large and as our way of paying tribute to the last 10 years we have lived through together — we would like to make an announcement:

BatteryParkCity.com will be offering free advertising support for selected businesses who have served our community since September 11th, 2001.

As a community we rely on you to help serve our neighborhood. Several great and beloved businesses within our community have lost their fight to stay here. This year alone we’ve watched more than a handful of our favorite businesses shut their doors for good. We always envisioned BatteryParkCity.com as a means to help our community — residents and businesses alike — to stay committed to the resurgence of the neighborhood.

We hope to be able to lend a hand and provide support for those small business owners who share our unending commitment to Battery Park City. Interested businesses should contact us.

We were never here to make money: We’re here to make a difference. We hope that together we can do that.

–Elizabeth
Publisher of BatteryParkCity.com

Former World Trade Center Site

9/11 10th Anniversary Commemorative Events: Saturday, September 10

Former World Trade Center Site
Former World Trade Center Site

SATURDAY 9/10/11
 


8:46 a.m.: Hand in Hand/Remembering 9/11 event along Manhattan’s West Side waterfront (Greenwich Street and Battery Place, Manhattan)

1 p.m.: National Lighthouse Museum hosts multimedia exhibit commemorating the 9/11 tenth anniversary (Staten Island)

1 p.m.: Peace of Heart choir sings at 9/11 anniversary event (278 Spring Street, Manhattan)

2 p.m.: FDNY holds 9/11 memorial service at for firefighters and their families (St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Manhattan)

3:30 p.m.: Trinity Church holds reunion BBQ for 9/11 first responders, recovery workers and volunteers (St. Paul’s Chapel, Lower Manhattan)

6 p.m.: St. Paul’s Chapel remains open for all-night vigil, prayer, meditation and labyrinth (St. Paul’s Chapel, Lower Manhattan)

7:30 p.m.: Lincoln Center holds concert for 9/11 (Lincoln Center, Manhattan)

Click here to view the full list for the week’s events around our area.

Pedestrian and traffic changes during week of 9/11 anniversary.

9/11 Commemoration – Public Transportation Changes & Access Detours

Pedestrian and traffic changes during week of 9/11 anniversary.
Pedestrian and traffic changes during week of 9/11 anniversary.

The City is preparing for the annual September 11th commemoration ceremony at the National September 11 Memorial at the World Trade Center site. At this time, we would like to share with you detailed information regarding the upcoming ceremony, including street closures, traffic, parking and pedestrian impacts.

The commemoration for family members will take place on Sunday, September 11th from 6:30 AM until 4:00 PM. Following a moment of silence at 8:46 AM, the names of the victims will be read with music as a backdrop throughout the program. Additionally there will be a total of five moments of silence: 9:03 AM, 9:36 AM (Pentagon), 9:59 AM, 10:03 AM (Flight 93), and 10:28 AM. During the ceremony, families will be allowed to visit the 9/11 Memorial for the first time. The Tribute in Light will begin at sundown.

Given the limited vehicle and pedestrian access in the immediate area of the World Trade Center site and Lower Manhattan vicinity on September 11th, we encourage you and your fellow residents, tenants, employees and outside guests to do the following in preparation:

  • Avoid scheduling deliveries on Sunday, September 11th until after 8:00 PM.
  • Residents and employees should carry verification of home or business address at all times.
  • Minimize car service pickups on September 11th. Traffic along Broadway is expected to be heavy.

Use public transportation whenever possible to stations outside of the event area. Please note:

  • MTA passengers should plan for the Cortlandt Street R station to be bypassed from 7:00 AMto early afternoon and check the MTA website at www.mta.info for updates on bus routes and service.
  • PATH passengers should plan for suspended service to and from the World Trade Center and restricted access to the WTC Path Station from approximately 7:00 AM to 11:00 AM.

Please note below significant routes that will affect your vehicular travels:

  • Northbound West Street between Battery Place and Murray Streets will be closed to traffic from Friday, September 9, 11:59 PM through Monday, September 12, 5:00 AM.
  • Southbound West Street between Battery Place and Chambers Street will be closed to traffic from Sunday, September 11, 5:00 AM through Monday, September 12, 5:00
  • Church Street/Trinity Place between Rector and Barclay Streets will be closed Sunday, September 11, 5:00 a.m. through 5:00 p.m.
  • Broadway will remain open to vehicles.
Asphalt Green Battery Park City

Asphalt Green Battery Park City Offers Special Charter Rates

Asphalt Green Battery Park City
Asphalt Green Battery Park City

Asphalt Green’s, the iconic Upper East Side community center is set to open the doors to its Lower West Side location – right here in Battery Park City. To prepare for its long awaited opening, the facility is offering neighborhood residents special charter membership rates in the brand new 52,000 square foot facility. Although the exact costs of charter membership are not well publicized, residents are encouraged to take advantage of the limited time only charter membership costs.

Membership includes:
•    Access to fitness center and member lap swim
•    Open recreation hours in pool and gymnasium
•    Preferred rates and priority registration on fee-based programs
•    Complimentary group and water exercise classes
•    Steam room
•    Full service locker rooms
•    Drop-in babysitting services

A far cry from our beloved and quickly shuttered New York Sports Club. Some other of the facility features include:
•    25-yard lap pool
•    Warm water teaching and exercise pool
•    Cardio and strength equipment
•    Gymnasium equipped for basketball, indoor soccer, and other sports
•    6 multi-purpose studios and classrooms
•    Culinary center
•    156-seat theater for lectures, film screenings and other activities

Yup, you read that second to last bullet right – the Asphalt Green facilities brings a Culinary Arts center in which family friendly classes will be offered to establish healthy eating habits along with all the healthy fitness activities the neighborhood will be partaking in. Cultural Arts will also be a core programming offering in collaboration with the Battery Park City Parks Conservancy. Cultural Arts classes will be held which include art, music, dance, science, nature and other family friendly activities.

For more information call 212.586.8779 or email [email protected].

 

The End of Manhattan by Jay Fine

‘The End of Manhattan’ & ’10’ Exhibits Open on September 8th

The End of Manhattan by Jay Fine
'The End of Manhattan,' exhibits the work of Jay Fine

Jay Fine, BatteryParkCity.com’s favorite and often featured photographer, is showcasing his Fine photography in an exhibit entitled, “The End of Manhattan.”

With Lower Manhattan as his muse, Jay Fine will be exhibiting his work which includes his iconic shot of the Statue of Liberty struck by lightning, an image that had received critical praise in media outlets internationally.

Along with Antonio Petracca’s “10”, Fine’s “The End of Manhattan” opens at the Kim Foster Gallery on September 8th from 6pm-8pm. Both exhibits will be displayed through October 15th.

Antonio Petracca’s new exhibition “10” is a journey that started with 9/11. Petracca a Battery Park City resident, who was displaced and living in a hotel, felt compelled to begin a new series of paintings that responded to the tragedy of 9/11. The mission of Petracca’s exhibit is to depict the destruction, the sense of great loss and, more importantly, the can-do spirit of rebuilding and renewal that most New Yorkers felt at the time.

On the flip side, Jay Fine’s exhibit “The End of Manhattan” might have a dire name, but is more meditative view on the photographer’s life in Battery Park City than a 9/11 commemoration.  Included in the show is 60×40 inch version of the aforementioned Statue of Liberty and Lightning photo, which was more recently featured in the August 2011 National Geographic Magazine.

According to Fine, “The exhibits compliment each other and should generate, we hope, a lot of interest, not just from the people who liver here but from folks around the world.  Some of the greatest responses to my work are from France, Italy and South East Asia based on the feedback from my Facebook page and Flickr site.”

The exhibit itself is pegged to be a Downtown family affair,  with the framing of the prints done by Battery Park City residents and owners of the World Trade Art Gallery, Jane and Doug Smith. The large scale prints were made by Joseph Ng, whose wife works in the Financial District.

The Kim Foster Gallery is located at 529 W 20th Street, New York.
For more information please check the gallery’s website: www.kimfostergallery.com/

9/10/10 Downtown 7:47 PM Thursday
9/10/10 Downtown 7:47 PM Thursday (Credit: Jay Fine)
Tunnel to Towers by Jay Fine
Tunnel to Towers by Jay Fine
Battery Park City landfill beach at the foot of the Twin Towers

4 Decades Later: Battery Park City is Complete

Battery Park City landfill beach at the foot of the Twin Towers
Battery Park City Landfill (Credit: Flickr - StevenSiegel260)

There is a certain poeticism when you think about the ground that Battery Park City is built on. Nearly four decades ago – Battery Park City was merely a concept born from the construction of the World Trade Center. Troublesome to remove landfill from the World Trade Center was more of a nuisance than a deliberate urban plan. Either way, the gaping holes from the World Trade Center site  gave rise to an urban planning precedence of a self encompassed city development. It is also poignant to note hat a city born to live within the shadows and the rise of the Twin Towers will forever live in the shadows of those same buildings tragedy.

Past, present and future aside – Nearly forty years later, the vision of Battery Park City is complete, and a final milestone in our community is overshadowed by the 10 year anniversary of September 11th.

The last two parcels of land, now have a name – Liberty Luxe and Liberty Green. The final twin-like installations of residential complexes have finished construction and will officially round out our population to nearly 13,000 in Battery Park City limits proper.

According to the Architectural Record, who has noted this small milestone, “After weathering several recessions, leadership changes, and September 11, BPC now covers roughly two dozen city blocks and contains more than 13,000 residents, 9 million square feet of commercial space, and several civic and cultural venues. “The buildings have a much more interesting program than we planned,” Eckstut says, citing Stuyvesant High School (Cooper, Robertson & Partners, 1992) and the Museum of Jewish Heritage (Kevin Roche John Dinkeloo and Associates, 1997). “These departures have made it more of a real city.”

BPC’s showpiece is the 1.5-mile-long waterfront esplanade, which features a plaza, marina, and views of the Statue of Liberty. Another vital community amenity: the Cesar Pelli–designed Winter Garden (1988), where free public events are presented year-round.

BPC’s success is attributable to its sustainable aspects. A dozen projects have received or are expected to receive LEED certification, but as Cooper notes, the neighborhood’s most important “green” features — open space, density, and proximity to transit — prefigured the sustainability discourse by decades.

Officially, Battery Park City’s official 30th birthday is still up in the air.  For those who consider the 1982 Battery Park City’s birthday when it opened its doors to commercial businesses, Battery Park City’s anniversary will be next year. However, if you consider the first residential move-ins as the mark of the  neighborhood, then 2015 is your celebratory year.

A far cry from the beachfront property that Lower Manhattan seemed to enjoy that hardly resemble the city we know and love now.

Former World Trade Center Site

9/11 10th Anniversary Commemorative Events

Former World Trade Center Site
Former World Trade Center Site

MONDAY 9/5/11

12:05 p.m.: Trinity Church offers a homily, congregational singing and organ music along with prayers for healing (Trinity Church, Lower Manhattan)


12:30 p.m.: St. Paul’s Chapel offers daily prayers for peace which date back to the relief ministry following 9/11 (St. Paul’s Chapel, Lower Manhattan)

TUESDAY 9/6/11
 


8 a.m.: Mayor Michael Bloomberg delivers address on rebirth of Lower Manhattan since 9/11 [LIVE ON NY1]

10 a.m.: Trinity Wall Street holds public art event, including the tying of the first “Ribbons of Remembrance” onto St. Paul’s fence. (St. Paul’s Chapel. Lower Manhattan)

1 p.m: Interactive art installation and live performances celebrating 9/11 volunteerism and featuring short film on 9/11 community (Irondale Center, Ft. Greene, Brooklyn)

7:30 p.m .: National September 11 Memorial and Museum and Soulcycle co-host a tribute ride to commemorate the 9/11 tenth anniversary (103 Warren Street, Manhattan)


WEDNESDAY 9/7/11
 


10:15 a.m.: WTC developer Larry Silverstein hosts WTC rebuilding update including presentations by Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver

THURSDAY 9/8/11


8 a.m.: Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver delivers address on resilience and growth of Lower Manhattan over last decade

8:30 a.m.: Natural Centers for Disaster Preparedness holds public health conference looks at the next ten years (Columbia University. Manhattan)

9 a.m.: Police Commissioner Ray Kelly holds ceremony to honor NYPD families who were victims of 9/11

7:30 p.m.: Port Authority and United Community Civic Association hold 9/11 memorial candlelight vigil at McManus Memorial Park (81st Street and Grand Central Service Road, Qneens)

7:30 p.m.: The Public Theater Explores “The 9/11 Decade: New York and America After the Towers,” hosted by Alec Baldwin with a discussion to follow

7:30 p.m: Performance of Richard Nelson’s “Sweet and Sad” (425 Lafayette Street, Manhattan)

8 p.m.: 9/11 conference on “A Decade Later: Lessons Learned and Future Challenges” (Kaufmann Concert Hall, Lexington Avenue at 92nd Street, Manhattan)


FRIDAY 9/9/11
 


8:30 a.m.: Unified Court Systems Officials hold 9/11 memorial mass

9:30 a.m – Court Officers holds salute for the three court officers who died on 9/11

3:30 p.m.: Manhattan College holds “We Remember” service to commemorate 9/11 attacks, featuring former mayor Rudolph Giuliani (Riverdale, Bronx)

4 p.m.: Young People’s Chorus of NY gives free performances to commemorate 9/11 tenth anniversary (St. Paul’s, Manhattan)

4 p.m.: Broadway community holds tribute to mark the 9/11 tenth anniversary (Times Square)

5 p.m.: Young People’s Chorus of NY gives free performances to commemorate 9/11 tenth anniversary (Columbus Circle, Manhattan)

5:30 p.m.: Peace of Heart Choir sings at 9/11 anniversary event (Central Park South and West 59th Street, Manhattan)

6 p.m.: Imam Feisal Rauf hosts Muslim event honoring years of interfaith work to recognize various groups and individuals since 9/11 (Interchurch Center, 475 Riverside Drive, Manhattan)

8 p.m.: Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation holds “A Tribute to Our Heroes” fundraising concert (St. George Theater, Staten Island)

8:30 p.m.: Young People’s Chorus of NY gives free performances to commemorate 9/11 tenth anniversary (Trinity Church, Manhattan)

SATURDAY 9/10/11
 


8:46 a.m.: Hand in Hand/Remembering 9/11 event along Manhattan’s West Side waterfront (Greenwich Street and Battery Place, Manhattan)

1 p.m.: National Lighthouse Museum hosts multimedia exhibit commemorating the 9/11 tenth anniversary (Staten Island)

1 p.m.: Peace of Heart choir sings at 9/11 anniversary event (278 Spring Street, Manhattan)

2 p.m.: FDNY holds 9/11 memorial service at for firefighters and their families (St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Manhattan)

3:30 p.m.: Trinity Church holds reunion BBQ for 9/11 first responders, recovery workers and volunteers (St. Paul’s Chapel, Lower Manhattan)

6 p.m.: St. Paul’s Chapel remains open for all-night vigil, prayer, meditation and labyrinth (St. Paul’s Chapel, Lower Manhattan)

7:30 p.m.: Lincoln Center holds concert for 9/11 (Lincoln Center, Manhattan)

Flooded Battery Park (Credit: Michael Appleton for The New York Times)

Top 5 Things BPC Residents Learned from Hurricane Irene

Flooded Battery Park (Credit: Michael Appleton for The New York Times)
Flooded Battery Park (Credit: Michael Appleton for The New York Times)

With a collective sigh of relief, our neighborhood is safe. For the hours we lost in our homes, Battery Park City gained a few things in return. We’ve got our…

“Top 5 Things Battery Park Residents Learned from Hurricane Irene.”

(No. 5) So that’s what happens to Battery Park City in a Hurricane!
Battery Park City has only been existence shy of celebrating its dirty 30. We’ve lived through some pretty tremendously historical times.  Yet, most of us before this weekend hardly knew of the dangers we faced should our lovely esplanade meet its nemesis Hurricane.  How many of us knew what happened in 1821? Thank goodness for historical records and those crazy people that keep them!

(No. 4) Irene in Battery Park City will have more eyes than Lady Gaga at the VMA’s
Our neighborhood didn’t need to wear a meat dress, but we sure didn’t win the wet T-shirt contest either.

(No. 3) If the apocalypse ever dawns on Battery Park City — Hudson Produce will still stay open.
Cause someone’s gotta sell the RedBull, and someone’s gonna buy it for 3x the MSRP!

(No. 2) Rain, Sleet or Snow — when a dog’s gotta go, a dog’s gotta go.
Was this Zone A or Zone Pee? The pooper scoopers  may have fled but that didn’t stop dogs from evacuating all over the evacuation zone.

(No. 1) Battery Park City has no parking problems when we all evacuate.
Like a scene out of a zombie movie, Sunday was every Battery Park City car owners dream. Too bad no one was here to experience it!

🙂

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BATTERY PARK CITY SAFE: RESIDENTS RETURN

Residents free to return to Battery Park City

Evacuations were called amidst concerns of major storm surges that would cause massive flooding, forcing power outages in our area – on top of a lack of public transportation to our largely isolated neighborhood. However, all restrictions were lifted today at 3pm.

• Power and steam pipes have not been shut off as initially planned by Con Ed.
• Elevators at some buildings have been restored including the Liberty Buildings, 1 Rector Park; Gateway Plaza elevators still off.
• Residents of all buildings in Battery Park City should return to their homes.
• 6-8 Inches of flooding reported across areas of Battery Park City
•  West Side Highway and FDR is reopened.
• Brooklyn/Battery Tunnel is open for those who want to re-enter Battery Park from the Brooklyn/Queens area.
• MTA is still shut down according to Aaron Donovan Wont’ reallly be able to start the process until it is completely safe. Still outstanding concerns of flooding/sea water effecting underground tunnels. Too early to pronounce whether public transportation will be restored in time for Monday’s rush hour.
• Area is still very windy, but not unusually windy for Battery Park City, flooding not seen on both ends of South End Avenue and on areas closest to West Side Highway for those who want to return.