All posts by Seth Werkheiser

Battery Park City Ice Rink


Ice Skating Nixed in Battery Park City

News,

Battery Park City Ice Rink
(Photo courtesy: BatteryParkCityIce.com)

Ice skating in Battery Park City this winter has been put on ice. Unfortunately, the Battery Park City Authority was unable to locate a new contractor to operate the seasonal, outdoor rink. The removable rink was fraught with troubles when it debuted last winter on the ball fields at Warren and West Streets.

“It was a fabulous community amenity last winter, and it’s one that we’re committed to providing in the future,” Authority president Gail Horowitz said.  While Lower Manhattan dwellers and school groups enjoyed the rink’s icy goodness, revenues were low due to brutal weather conditions and construction accidents that occurred nearby. The rink’s November 2009 opening was delayed when a piece of a broken window toppled from the Goldman Sachs Tower across the street; it was subsequently closed twice due to concerns over falling debris. In January of this year, plywood from the under-construction  Liberty Luxe condo towers fell into the rink while it was operational.

The Authority and the previous contractor agreed to terminate their contract over the summer. Only one proposal from a new contractor was received in the wake of the termination, but it fell through because the vendor wanted to wait a year to open the rink.

While this winter is a lost cause, the Authority does hope to hire a new contractor in  time to open the rink for the fall 2011 season. The Authority actually plans to renovate the Battery Park City ball fields with artificial turf next fall and permanent underpinnings will be installed. Translation: A larger rink to be enjoyed by even more skating enthusiasts.

Despite that fact, a re-opened rink is not a lock, though. A task force is currently determining whether or not the rink is a viable option and if it is the community’s first choice on how to use the ball fields in winter.

Would you like to see the ice rink reopened next year? Or are there better winter usages for the Battery Park City ball fields?

Ground Zero Mosque

Pastor Who Wanted to Burn the Koran Visits Ground Zero

News, ,
Ground Zero Mosque
The planned location of the Park51 Community Center

Terry Jones, the Pastor from Florida who threatend to burn the Koran during the height of the Ground Zero Mosque controversy, paid a visit to Ground Zero today and held a press conference. As reported by the New York Post, the press conference took place at Park 51, “to bring awareness to his new organization Stand Up America and how radical Islam needs to be combated.” His organization hopes to go before the UN to “adopt normal human rights” in the Middle East.

When the New York Post asked Pastor Terry Jones if his visit at the start of the Muslim holiday Eid al-Adha was of significance,  he replied that he didn’t know of any such holiday, adding, “Our methods are not meant to offend.”

Do you think the visit by Pastor Terry Jones to Ground Zero was offensive?

Battery Place Market

Battery Park City Gets a New Market

Food, , ,
Battery Place Market
The new Battery Place Market (Photo: Battery Place Market)

The new Battery Place Market has opened inside the Visionaire condominium , located at 3rd Street and Battery Place. The 4,500-square-foot market is run by general manager / head buyer Ken Jackson, who says the market “is an interpretation of what ‘gourmet’ is today.” The facility, owned by Sung Kim, has a large prepared food section where most of the ingredients are “either organic, locally grown or both.”

The market will carry Portland, Maines’ Coffee By Design, a New York City exclusive and fresh mozzarella daily from Narragansett Creamery, among many other local and national  goods. There’s even a bar area for anyone wishing to hang around and chat with their coffee and tea.

Is this new market in Battery Park City a place you’ll visit?

18th Century Ship Found At World Trade Center Site

Section of Ground Zero Construction Pit Still Flooded

News, ,
One Week Later and Water Remains

It’s been one week since water leaked into a section of the Ground Zero construction pit which is owned by Brookfield Properties. While the leak is under control, the water has yet to be drained.

As reported by DNAinfo, a Brookfield Properties spokesperson said, “the situation remains well under control.” There is no timeframe for when the water might be removed from the Ground Zero contraction pit.

The section that flooded with water from the Hudson River was part of pedestrian tunnel, currently being built under West Street.

Do setbacks like this dampen your hopes for progress at Ground Zero?

Delury Square

Green Space Opens in Lower Manhattan

News, What's Happening, ,
Delury Square
Delury Square opens up on Fulton Street

At the corner of Fulton and Gold Streets is a brand new green space. The park, named DeLury Square and covering almost 9,000 square feet, was “built with nearly $2.3 million from the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation.” More green spaces are in the works to go along with all the other construction in the area.

Says Community Board 1 Chair Julie Menin, “it’s great to have this area of tranquility and calm and a place where people can really relax and enjoy.”

Construction and development go on in lower Manhattan as the area continues to recover from the September 11th attacks. As reported by NY1, Parks and Recreation Commissioner Adrian Benepe says green space projects such as DeLury Square “helps to complete the recovery. The complete recovery of Lower Manhattan.”

Do you see these green space projects as part of the recovery in your area, or do you think the funds might be better spent on other needs?

Battery Park City Spent Big on “Frivolous and Superfluous Items”

News, Politics, , ,
If the Battery Park City Authority is closed down, Mayor Bloomberg could take over.

Chairwoman of Community Board 1, Julie Menin, has called for the Battery Park City Authority to be “sunsetted,” according to DNAInfo.  Control of the neighborhood could be handed to Mayor Bloomberg. A state-led shut down of the organization was also suggested.

New York State Inspector General Joseph Fisch issued a press release last friday, saying the Battery Park City Authority “spent more than $300,000 on parties, lunches and gifts from 2005 to 2008, including $30,000 on employee meals, $13,000 for annual catered summer picnics and $14,000 for annual holiday parties for a 60-person staff and guests.” The release, available for download here, also notes questionable charitable donations. Between 2004 and 2008, over $4 billion was given to the Yonkers Puerto Rican Day Parade and the Queens Botanical Gardens, which “had little or no connection to BPCA’s mission.”

With such lavish spending practices in the past, and the planned rise of ground rent, should the Battery Park City Authority be closed down and the neighborhood handed over to Mayor Bloomberg?

Future renditions of the World Trade Center

Companies Seeking High Tech, Green Office Space Downtown

Real Estate, , ,
Future renditions of the World Trade Center
The Future World Trade Center Site (Courtesy: Silverstein Properties)

As companies are looking for newer office that can accomdate their high-tech needs and growing environmental efforts, Larry A. Silverstein, chief executive officer of Silverstein Properties Inc., sees two of his new office buildings at Ground Zero the logical choice.

According to Bloomberg Business Week, “some 235 tenants have moved from midtown to downtown” since 2005. As newer buildings are constructed with high-tech and green accomdations in mind, it seems many more tenants might be moving into the neighborhood.

Conde Nast is one of those potential tenants, looking to lease a sizable amount of office space at 1 World Trade.

Battery Park City Annual Pet Parade

Still No Off-Leash Dogs in Battery Park

News, What's Happening, , , , , , , , ,
Battery Park City Annual Pet Parade
Dog Owners Request for Off-Leash Trial Period Denied (Credit: BPC Dogs)

The cold weather is rolling in, but don’t expect your dog to work up a sweat running free in Battery Park. Off-leash dogs can still net you a hefty fine.

Last friday Manhattan Parks Commissioner Bill Castro denied a request for an off-leash trial in Battery Park. According to reports from DNAinfo, Castro said “more discussions were needed,” which will no doubt  take place in December when the parties are scheduled to meet again. The Tribeca Trib has also reported that the installation of a dog run was offered as a compromise to the off-leash dilemma.

In was July when we reported that parks officals began handing out tickets for off-leash dogs, enforcing a law that had otherwise been forgotten (or ignored). Local dog owners were expectedly upset at this sudden enforcement; the fine for an off-leash dog can be $100. Since this summer, dog owners have banded together, collecting over 800 signatures in support of an off-leash area for pets to run free.

Do you think a dog run is an acceptable compromise?

Native American Museum

Downtown Culture Pass Offers Free Admission to Museums and More

News, What's Happening, ,
Native American Museum
The Downtown Alliance is Hoping to Bring Visitors to Cultural Attractions (Courtesy: Seth Werkheiser)

Just in time for the holiday tourism season, the Downtown Alliance is offering considerable savings to many downtown institutions. Launched yesterday, the Downtown Culture Pass gives you three days of free entry and other discounts to some of downtowns’ cultural attractions.

The Downtown Culture Pass starts at $25 for adults, with discounts for teens and children, and is valid through February, 2011.

David Cowen, president of the Museum of American Finance, told DNAinfo.com, “While some of those institutions already offer free admission, it would still cost over $70 to visit all of them.”

Six museums in all are offering discounts on admission through the Downtown Culture Pass, including the Fraunces Tavern Museum, the Museum of American Finance, the Museum of Jewish Heritage, the National Museum of the American Indian, the New York City Police Museum, the 9/11 Memorial Preview Site, the Skyscraper Museum, the Tribute WTC Visitor Center, as well as the 9/11 Memorial Preview Site. Also featured are the Tribute WTC Visitor Center, the 9/11 Memorial Preview Site and a discount on Wall Street Walks.

Have you visited any of these museums? Do you think this is a good deal?