November 30th - December 4th, 2009

Cortlandt Street Subway Station Reopens

November 30 – The northbound R and W trains are stopping again at the Cortlandt Street station on Church Street; it had been closed for the past four years. The project cost $7.25 million, mostly from federal funds and included a widening of the platform and stairways and retiling the walls. The southbound platform is scheduled to reopen on the 10^th anniversary of the 9-11 attacks on September 11, 2011.   

Beekman Tower Tops Out

November 30 – A ceremony was held to mark the milestone- Beekman Tower has reached 76 stories, making it the tallest residential building in the City designed by Frank Gehry. The mixed use tower between Nassau and William Streets will have approximately 900 apartments, an ambulatory care center for New York Downtown Hospital and a pre k through 8^th grade school. Residents are expected to begin moving in in the summer of 2011.

BPCA To Revitalize Pier A

November 30 –.  The BPCA issued a RFQ – Request for Qualifications- in an attempt to find an individual or company interested in leasing and operating Pier A. According to The Battery Park City Broadsheet Daily, the hope is to make the Pier a ‘first class destination in Lower Manhattan.” Pier A has been vacant for decades; it was slated for destruction when Battery Park was created, but was then designated a landmark. The BPCA is repairing the Pier’s foundation and deck. It expects a tenant to be selected by March of 2011.

Glass Falls from New Goldman Building

December 1 –  A north facing window on the 38^th floor shattered, sending glass falling to the street below. Surrounding streets were closed, no one was injured and traffic was diverted. The incident delayed the opening of the new ice skating rink. Residents were upset because Notify NYC did not send out an email notifying the community. Tishman Construction issued a statement saying, ‘due to a high wind condition, a piece of a previously cracked glass panel blew off the building.”

Trading Company Signs on at 7 WTC

December 1 –  FXDD will be taking over the entire 32^nd floor of Silverstein’s tower. The currency trader signed a lease for more than 40 thousand square feet, with a company spokesman saying the firm seized upon this opportunity to lock down highly economic rates.

Ground Breaking at New Fiterman Hall

December 2 – At a ceremony Tuesday, Mayor Bloomberg said the reconstruction of Fiterman Hall will be ‘the latest milestone in Lower Manhattan’s remarkable comeback and its transformation into a vibrant, 24/7 family-friendly community. The new building will be 14 stories and contain classrooms and office space for the Borough of Manhattan Community College. It’s expected to be completed in 2012.

Demolition Safety Bill Passes City Council

December 2- The Council voted unanimously to ban simultaneous demolition and asbestos abatement at buildings, unless the City DOB, FDNY and DEP approve the plan. NY1 reports the legislation was in response to the deadly Deutsche bank building fire in August of 2007; the building at the time was under demolition.

WTC Liberty Bonds to be Available

December 3 – The Liberty Development Corporation announced $2.59 billion worth of tax-exempt bonds will be sold in the last two weeks of December to finance some of the construction of the three office towers at the WTC site. The proceeds will be put into escrow until they can be used for construction according to The Bond Buyer.

Tishman Meets CB1 to Discuss Glass Incident

December 3 – Construction executives told CB 1 they deeply regret the incident, which occurred on Saturday and was blamed on high winds. A spokesman said they knew the window on the 38^th floor was cracked, but they didn’t think it was a safety hazard. Tishman promised to remove any windows that have cracks in them, according to a report in The Battery Park City Broadsheet Daily.

PBA Signs Lease at 125 Broad Street

December 3 – GlobeSt.com reports the Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association of the City of New York has signed a lease for approximately 39,000 square feet under a 15 year lease. Terms were not disclosed, but asking rents at comparable properties nearby are averaging in the mid $30’s per square foot. The PBA’s current office is at 40 Fulton Street.