March 3rd - March 7th, 2008

Survivors Staircase Prepares to Move

March 7 - Workers at the WTC are preparing to move the Vesey Street Staircase. The NY Times reports the bulkhead that was under the steps has been cut away and each individual step can be seen clearly. The next step is to encase the Staircase in plywood and move it to a storage area close to Vesey Street so construction of Tower 2 can proceed. Eventually the staircase will be reinstalled in the National September 11 Memorial and Museum at the WTC site. The Staircase, which is 37 steps, is the last above- ground remnant of the Trade Center. It played a vital role in the evacuation of hundreds of people on 9-11. 

MTA Developing Fulton Street Transit Plans

March 7- The MTA told the Downtown Express, it will put up a building on the site that was supposed to house the glass-domed Fulton Street Transit Center. Earlier this year, the MTA nixed plans for the oculus because of escalating costs and said the site would be a plaza. But MTA spokesman Aaron Donovan said this week, “It’ll be something more than a plaza, but less than the oculus.” The news didn’t satisfy community leaders who have lobbied hard for the oculus. Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver told the Downtown Express, “We have to hold their feet to a fire and make sure what was promised is delivered.” He believes there are ways to find more funding for the transit hub.

Hudson River Park is being tied to the Javits Center

March 7 – It appears that work on the Tribeca and Chelsea sections of Hudson River Park is being tied to the Javits Center. The Downtown Express reports Governor Spitzer has linked the sale of land near the Javits Center to funding for the park. The Governor was planning to use $20 million from the sale of the land for the park, but last week, pressure from Mayor Bloomberg and City Council Speaker Quinn forced the Governor to change his mind. That decision puts $40 in park funding in jeopardy because of matching commitments from the City. Community Board 1 told the paper that the squabble over financing could delay work on the park for the year or longer.

Pier 13 Proposal Heard

March 7 – Pier 13 could be rebuilt into a place where people could actually get their feet wet in the East River. A landscape architect and a sculptor presented their unique proposal for the Pier to Community Board 1 last week. According to the Downtown Express, the pair envisions a wet boardwalk for the Pier, allowing people to go knee-deep into the East River. The dry boardwalk could have an aquarium and a dramatic 80 foot tall replica of the Brooklyn Bridge. The team said they would need about $25 million dollars to build it. As of now, the City has no plans to overhaul Pier 13, which was demolished last fall.

Pier 6 Heliport Proposals Under Review

March 7 – Some changes may be on the way for Pier 6 heliport. The City’s Economic Development Corporation (EDC) is looking at proposals for a new operator at the Pier. An EDC spokeswoman said they may store fuel on the pier so helicopters which land there can refuel as opposed to flying to another heliport to do that. Also among the new ideas for the Pier are a snack shop or a bar and an amphibious vehicle ramp to allow tour buses to go out into the water and circle Governors Island. Community Board 1 gave its approval to the idea of an amphibious ramp. The EDC said no final decisions have been made.