November 8th - November 12th, 2010

State Inspector General faults Battery Park City Authority (BPCA) for excessive spending

November 8 - A highly-anticipated 31 page report on the BPCA details three years of excessive and frivolous spending. Crain’s New York Business says the report shows BPCA squandered thousands of dollars on employee parties, gifts, travel and entertainment for the 60 person staff. BPCA Chairman William Thompson issued a statement. “While this investigation predates my appointment as chairman, I have taken seriously the Inspector General’s preliminary findings and recommendations and have taken several steps to institute appropriate changes at the Authority since my appointment.”

The value of commercial buildings drop dramatically, but there’s also positive news

November 8 – Over the past year, according to a report from Integra Realty Resources, office properties fell 12%, as investors shied away from paying large amounts for buildings as rents slipped. However, the same report sees a rise in valuations of about 8% through March of 2011.

A left turn lane at West Street and Albany is still a year away

November 8 –  Due to ongoing construction work on 9A, the City DOT said it will not be able to reopen a turn lane at Albany Street, which is the only direct access into Lower Manhattan's west side south of the World Trade Center site. Officials said they would reassess the situation next summer.

There was a leak in the slurry wall at the WTC

November 8 - Last Thursday evening, the FDNY reported that water from the Hudson River had breached the slurry wall. About three feet of water accumulated in one of the excavation sites, but the Port Authority told Gothamist.com that no water entered the WTC site. Crews pumped out the water near the area on the west side of West Street near Vesey.

The Pop-Up Café between Broad Street and Coenties Slip will return next year

November 8 – Residents and workers on Pearl Street can expect to see the wooden deck and red seating of Pearl Street's pop-up café again next May.  The pilot got a thumbs-up from the Financial District Committee of Community Board 1 (CB1) last week and will come before the full board for approval at the end of this month, according to The Battery Park City Broadsheet Daily. 

LMDC announces another delay at the Deutsche Bank building

November 8 – At a Community Board 1 meeting, LMDC officials said a tower crane malfunction took several days off the deconstruction schedule. DNAINFO.com reported the building is now set to be down by about January 15, 2011.

The Blue School is coming to Lower Manhattan

November 8 – The unique nursery and innovative school is buying 241 Water Street, a six-story, 33,000 square foot building, according to Crain’s New York Business. The school was started by the three founders of the Blue Man Group theater troupe and currently as 150 students at its East Village location. The school hopes to expand to 320 students and add third, fourth and fifth grades over the next few years.

One of the City’s top newspapers is moving Downtown

November 10 – The Daily News will likely move to 4 New York Plaza, at the southeast corner of Water and Broad Streets, as early as Spring 2011, according to a report in The Battery Park City Broadsheet Daily.   Final approval will come before the full board later this month.

The September 11 Memorial waterfalls are coming to life

November 10 – Engineers began testing one of the twin waterfalls on Tuesday, circulating hundreds of thousands of gallons of water into the north reflecting pool. The largest manmade waterfalls in North America mark spots where the World Trade Center towers once stood. The tests, which began about 11 a.m. and continued throughout the day, focused largely on eight pumps that will circulate 52,000 gallons of water a minute. During the testing, more than 350,000 gallons of water streamed into the north pool.

A special exhibit pays tribute to police officers

November 10 – The shields of 29 police officers who have died from 9/11-related illnesses are now on display at the NYC Police Museum. DNAINFO.com reports the exhibit will run until later this year and then move to Washington D.C. “This is a reminder for friends and the rest of the country that there's an obligation that comes with the dedication of their service," Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly said.