March 29th - April 2nd, 2010

Stakeholders Announce Deal to Continue WTC Rebuilding

March 29 – The tentative agreement calls for construction of two new towers with up to $1.6 billion in public financing and subsidies. The first tower, a 64 story building on Church Street, would be completed in 2013. The second building, also on Church Street, is also expected to be finished in 2013. The third tower in the northeast corner of the site would be delayed indefinitely. The deal comes after 16 months of negotiations. The final document will be hammered out over the next three months.

National September 9-11 Museum Construction Soon to Begin

March 29 – More than 90% of the contracts have been awarded for construction of the museum building, according to an article in Crain’s. Ninety-nine percent of the steel is up and 60% of the concrete has been poured. The stone that lines the pools at the base of the fountains is being installed now and the construction on the museum building begins in the next few months. Trees will begin arriving in September and the fountains will get a test-run next summer.

No Injuries at Maiden Lane Crane Incident

March 29 – A 250 foot tall crane struck the top of a 25 story building on Maiden Lane and Gold Street, causing bricks and stones to fall to the street. It happened around 7 pm and no injuries were reported. People inside the damaged building at 80 Maiden Lane and four other buildings were evacuated. NYC DOB suspended the license of the crane operator, Christopher Cosban who works for Skylift Contractors Corporation. Investigators say the crane was left in a dangerously extended position before it was secured at the end of the work day.

Worker Sift through WTC remains

March 29 – Over the next three months, 844 cubic yards of WTC material, which was excavated over the past two years, will be sifted in an attempt to identify more human remains. The Staten Island Advance reports the city will be using a forensic mobile sifting platform to search the material at a cost of approximately $1.4 million. Since 2006, 25 new victim identifications have been made.

NYU Eyes Governor’s Island

March 29 –  The university has plans to expand and build a satellite campus on Governor’s, according to The Tribeca Trib. The paper reports that NYU released renderings of concept dorms and academic buildings totaling about 1 million square feet. NYU would need the city’s help with infrastructure such as ferry service; negotiations are underway for the City to take over Governor’s Island for development.

Dismal Numbers for the Construction Industry

March 29 – The City’s construction industry hit a new low in January. Figures from the NY Building Congress show the industry produced 106,500 jobs-a five year low. That statistic also represents a 12% decline from 2009 and a 16% drop from January ’08. Employment in the construction field peaked at 136,900 jobs in August 2008 as the building boom ebbed, according to GlobeSt.com

2020 Possible Start Date for 3 WTC

March 30 – The New York Post reports that the tentative deal between developer Larry Silverstein and the Port Authority means construction on Tower 3 won’t begin until 2020. The report says financing for that building won’t begin until Silverstein can meet certain equity and pre-leasing targets and until the WTC Transportation Hub is finished in 2014. The report says Silverstein will have six years after that to meet the milestones.

Deloitte Expected to Remain at WFC

March 30 – Sources told Crain’s that Deloitte is leaning toward remaining in its current digs because of the reasonable rents and the high costs of moving. Deloitte is looking for up to 600,000 square feet; right now, the accounting firm leases 645,000 square feet at the WFC, 130,00 square feet at 25 Broadway and 208,000 square feet at 1133 Broadway. There were reports the company was looking at 825 Eighth Avenue. The Crain’s report says Brookfield is offering space in the mid to upper $40’s a square foot and that Deloitte will consolidate all of its employees into one location.

Extension Approved for the FiDi Tax Break

March 30 –  The measure, sponsored by Assembly Speaker Silver and Senator Squadron, was approved by the Legislature Monday. According to GlobeSt.com, it provides property tax abatements to commercial tenants who take space in pre-1975 buildings below Canal Street.

Thompson Elected New Chairman of the BPCA

March 30 – The former NYC Comptroller was elected to the position by a unanimous vote from the Board, according to The Battery Park City Broadsheet Daily. Thompson replaces Charles Urstadt, who retired recently. Thompson said one of his goals is ‘to keep Battery Park City affordable.”

‘Listening Station’ Opens at 9-11 Preview Site

March 31 –  Visitors are now able to hear almost 600 recordings from families and friends of the victims of the WTC attacks. The September 11^th National Memorial Museum Preview Site at 20 Vesey Street has opened a listening station and many of the recordings will become part of the museum’s permanent archives, according to NY1. Memorial President Joe Daniels said the exhibit serves as an educational resource to people who want to learn more about the attacks.

BPCA Calls for Bridge at West Thames Street

April 1 –  The Battery Park City Authority Board voted to return to the City’s Office of Management and Budget to request a bridge across West Street at West Thames. BPCA President James Cavanaugh told the Battery Park City Broadsheet Daily, “It’s a very unsafe situation. The only crossing south of Liberty Street is the temporary Rector Street bridge. That was never meant to last more than a few years.”

Downtown Continues to Grow

April 1 – Statistics from Crain’s show that between 2009 and 2014, the number of people moving to Battery Park City was up as much as 3.58%. More people moved into FiDi; the increase in population there is about 4.9%