February 8th - February 12th, 2010

130 Liberty Violations Continue

February 8 – The Daily News detailed a number of safety problems at the site, including a wrench that fell 225 feet after being dropped by a worker; a diesel fuel spill on Greenwich Street and a blowtorch being used next to a fuel tank. The LMDC said it has warned Bovis, the contractor, that it needs to overhaul it safety operations immediately. In the month of January, the project has been hit with a dozen safety violations. The LMDC says it sent Bovis a letter, demanding the company replace several senior managers on the job.

Federal Plaza Redesign Presented to CB1

February 8 – The new design for the public space outside the Jacob K. Javits office building includes magnolia trees and evergreens, a fountain and new seating. The Tribeca Trib says the plan was presented to Community Board 1 last week. Engineers say the plaza is settling, leaking and affecting the building, so it needs to be reconstructed. Security on the plaza will also be upgraded.  

Lower Manhattan Rents Mixed

February 8 – The latest statistics show the market hasn’t bottomed out yet. The Real Estate Group New York says Soho was hit with a 3.82 percent decreased in the average rental for the first month of 2010. However, apartments in the Financial District rose 2.18 percent and doorman units jumped about 6.28 percent. Battery Park City saw an increase of between 1 percent and 3.77 percent. The same report says rents in FiDi fell last year by about 10 percent.

The City Council Will Hold Terrorist Trial Meeting

February 10 – Margaret Chin, Chair of the Council’s Committee on Lower Manhattan Redevelopment, announced the Council will hold a hearing Friday on moving the trials out of NYC. Chin told The Battery Park City Broadsheet Daily, “The President has to listen to the people. We are going to have this hearing and build the momentum, build the pressure, so he can finally do the right thing and move the trial.”

Collapsing North Tower Images Released by Media

February 11- ABC News released photos taken by an NYPD detective flying in a chopper above the Twin Towers on 9-11. The pictures were obtained under the Freedom of Information Act from the National Institute of Standards and Technology, which had been investigating the collapse, according to Newsday.  The 245 dramatic images show the cascading building and billowing debris as well as the smoke and ash descending on neighboring buildings, vehicles and people. The helicopter had been sent to the site in the hope of rescuing people.

Chairman of BPCA Announces Resignation

February 11 – The news came suddenly that Gill was stepping down, according to The Battery Park City Broadsheet. Gill had been chairman since 1995 and his resignation was effective immediately. Several sources told the paper his exit comes amid an investigation by the NYS Inspector General of the BPCA; the report is imminent and is expected to be critical.