The Two Towers

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The Two Towers: Goldma Sachs and Freedom Tower, February 4, 2012 By Steven Greer

A shanty shack grows on South End Ave

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Update: February 3, 2012

By Steven Greer, MD

BatteryPark.TV delivers results once again. The despised shanty shack that had sprung up is now transformed back into a small fruit stand. It is still illegal and stealing business from the tax-paying Hudson Produce and Gristedes, and the red gas canisters are still there, but at least the eyesore is partially gone.

The First Precinct was the cause for the results. In contrast, the property manager of the nearby ex-Gate House porch, LeFrak, did not adequately act on the matter. This is the same property manager that allows the unsanitary dog urine to accumulate on the sidewalk in front of the Chase bank on South End Ave and fails to properly spray down the sidewalk.

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Update: February 2, 2012

A viewer informed us that the First Precinct stopped by the shanty shack and gave them a warning that the fruit stand can be no larger than eight feet. They will return later. Stay tuned.

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Update: January 31, 2012

One day after our report on the 27th, the boxes disappeared. The First Precinct replied to BatteryPark.TV that they were investigating and we spoke with the building owner of the old Gate House, upon which the illegal storage is taking place.

Now, four days later, the shanty shack has returned and the boxes are once again sprawled over the old Gate House porch. Neither the Gateway Plaza building property manager nor any official from the BPCA has responded to out requests for comment.

January 27, 201

Uptown BPC has the Shake Shack. Downtown BPC’ers have the Shanty Shack. BatteryPark.TV has received several emails complaining about the growing unsightly sloppy tent at the intersection of South End Avenue and Albany. A fruit vendor is expanding onto the empty porch of the closed down Gate House. He is now storing numerous boxes of fruit on the ground, and has an ugly makeshift tarpaulin over his stand. The merchants even have a 24-hour source of electricity from a gasoline generator with fuel canisters sitting on the sidewalk. The Gateway Plaza real estate group is the nearest property owner, and is allowing the storage of the boxes on their porch.

Also, across the street is a permanent, never moving, “Mobile” pastry and coffee cart. It is a favorite spot for tour buses and trucks that park illegally for hours on Albany using the food cart as their excuse for stopping. Brookfield Properties is the nearest property owner.

The nearby Hudson Produce, a legal establishment that loses money to both sidewalk vendors, was enthusiastic when BatteryPark.TV informed them that many in the community want the fruit shack to leave.

Where is the City Department of Health when they are needed? Do they only harass restaurants and collect fees? We asked Gayle Horwitz, CEO of the BPCA, whether they or some other agency is in charge of regulating this site, and she did not reply. We are awaiting replies from the property owners, City Hall, and the First Precinct.

What do you think? Should these unauthorized food vendors be shut down and evicted or do you value their services? Please post comments in the section below. They will be helpful to the community board and others.

Take our survey here.

Update: January 28, 2012

The First precinct community affairs replied to our story and they told us that they would investigate. We noticed that already the vendor has removed the numerous boxes, and the Gate House porch is empty. However, the ugly tarpaulin remains, as does the fuel canisters. The BPCA has still not replied to our questions.

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The permanent "mobile" pastry and coffee cart on Albany Street and South End Avenue

The people have voted: “Bring quality music to the Conrad Hotel”

The results of our survey are in. Ideally, if the business model made sense, our viewers liked the idea of a high-quality jazz and performing arts venue to go into one of the remaining retail spots of the Conrad Hotel, owned by Goldman Sachs.

Multiple answers per rater are allowed, so the total exceeds 100%. “Joe’s Pub” and “Lincoln Center Jazz” are similar options.

Some “other” suggestions included a children’s retail shop, an Indian restaurant, and a strip club.

We will leave the survey active and see how it changes over time. Although, the results will be very unscientific.

Click here to take the survey

Goldman Sachs transforms BPC from a Staten Island annex vibe into the new Tribeca

January 10, 2012 By Steven Greer, MD

Battery Park City, since its formation in the early 70′s, has always been viewed by most New Yorkers as more of a Staten Island annex rather than a true part of Manhattan, and for good reason. With the West Side Highway as a barrier, the place took on a suburban vibe with a surreal David Lynch or Stephen King twist. All of that might change now as the new Goldman Sachs headquarters takes root.

Despite a large residential population with an average income well over $100,000,  Battery Park City has long been underserved by low quality shady restaurants barely meeting health inspection minimums, and has been totally devoid of respectable nightlife venues. After the financial collapse that began in 2007, things got even worse. The one bright spot of BPC, the Ritz Carleton hotel rooftop lounge, closed down, as did The Gate House and several shops in the Winter Garden of the World Financial Center.

The closest source for quality restaurants or entertainment has been in Tribeca with its block of restaurants, such as Nobu and The Tribeca Grill. But even Tribeca was seriously lacking in entertainment. With the housing bubble came $2 Million and up apartments, with owners more typically found in New Jersey or West Chester. As a result, the community board frowned upon 4:00 AM closing times or any noise whatsoever.

Some high-end wine or brandy bars have tried to establish in Tribeca but never flourished. The Tribeca Grand hotel lobby space and the Smyth Hotel venue are all struggling. The demand seems to be lacking. Bankers at nearby Citigroup bolt home after work, and poor management plagues the hotel attempts.

Along comes Goldman Sachs. The new headquarters opened in 2010 at the corner of Vesey Street and West Street, in Battery Park City. The adjacent hotel, also owned by Goldman Sachs, was gutted and converted into the new Conrad Hotel, upgrading it from the old Embassy Suites.

Dino Fusco and his Goldman Sachs team quickly evicted the failing Applebee’s, Chevy’s, and other low quality restaurants, and brought in some much improved establishment at the ground level of the hotel. Most of them are now open for business after more than a year of renovation.

Having been opened for just one week, the social scene has immediately changed for the better in Battery Park City. The crowds inside Mark Maynard-Parisi and Danny Meyer’s Blue Smoke southern cuisine restaurant do not remotely resemble the crowds of the old joints on South End Avenue. The place is packed with young executives who work nearby at American Express, Goldman Sachs, etc, or who live nearby in the newly built green apartments.

In addition to the Shake Shack, the other Danny Meyer establishment in the Conrad Hotel space is the North End Grill that is comparable to his midtown well-reviewed Union Square Cafe and Gramercy Tavern. No doubt, there will soon be seen lines of Maybach’s and limos on the street in front waiting for diners.

For the resident of Battery Park City with high standards, no longer will they need to trek over to Tribeca for decent dining. The entertainment situation might improve as well when the Conrad Hotel opens. A variety of lounges and music venues are rumored to be opening, including an outdoor rooftop space overlooking the Hudson River and New York Harbor. This might fill the void left when the Ritz Carlton gave up on this business. Ideally, residents would be getting a Jazz Standard next to the Blue Smoke, but that is not in the cards (despite BatteryPark.TV trying to convince people).

Due to its superior infrastructure, the Goldman Sachs-led reincarnation of Battery Park City actually has much more potential of becoming a premier Manhattan neighborhood than Tribeca ever did. For starters, there is a marina that can accommodate the largest yachts in the world. The area has an Asphalt Green training facility with an Olympic-size swimming pool and outdoor baseball/soccer fields. There are two newly constructed public schools. The BPCA-managed parks and botanical gardens are better than any others in the city. The high-rise housing is mostly all modern and green. It is easier to own a car and access the tunnels from Battery Park City than in Tribeca, and two of the best hotels in the city are in Battery Park (Institutional Investor Magazine ranked the Ritz as the best hotel in the world in 2007).

Good retail clothing shops will follow soon. In 2013, the renovation of the Winter Garden will be completed with numerous new businesses.

Please do not forward this article. A good thing is best kept quiet. We don’t want any riffraff from SoHo coming down here.

The Winter Garden at the WFC: site of new retail stores in 2013

Tunnel from WTC to Winter Garden progressing

January 16, 2012

The tunnel being constructed to go from the World Trade Center, under West Street, to the Brookfield Properties Winter Garden atrium is nearing completion. An inspector on the site said that the new glass structure overtop of the west end of the tunnel, to house new retail shops, will begin construction soon. The total renovation of Winter Garden, he said, will take 18 months, which is on schedule with Brookfield’s “Coming in 2013″ banners.

Of note, the inspector confirmed that construction of the Freedom Tower had slowed down considerably. Prior to the tenth anniversary 9/11 event, one new floor was being added per week. That is no longer the case. The inspector blamed “high winds”. However, other news reports have indicated that the 9/11 memorial construction has slowed down due to bureaucracies squabbling over the tab of the cost overruns.

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West side of tunnel from September 11 Memorial to Winter Garden

Winter Garden

Goldman Sachs delivers with Shake Shack

June 4, 2011

By Steven Greer, MD

Goldman Sachs might be on the road to redemption. After taking away the neighborhood gym, there is finally evidence of betterment to the local community. One of Danny Meyer’s high-end, ultra healthy and natural, Shake Shacks has opened in Battery Park City. It is the first of several new Danny Meyer eateries to open at the ground level of the Goldman-owned hotel by their headquarters on Vesey Street.

Upon first glance, one might be confused at all of the fuss over Shake Shack. It just serves junk food like hot dogs, hamburgers, fries, and custard shakes. But after further inspection, one realizes that the ground beef patties are prepared fresh, on site, and come from famed butcher Pat LaFrieda. The meat is antibiotic-free and steroid-free beef. The 100% beef sausages for the Chicago-style hot dogs come from Vienna Beef in Chicago.

The French fries are fried in soy oil, free of trans-fat and animal lard. They are made of Yukon Gold potatoes.

The ice cream is, according to the company, “Made in real custard machines- which spins the custard at ridiculous speeds, into a dense, soft, intensely rich consistency”

Shake Shack also offers its own line of beer and wine. Frog’s Leap collaborates for the wine, and Brooklyn Brewery makes the ShakeMeister Ale.

The Shake Shack staff are American, polite, and competent. This might be the biggest secret to Shake Shack. Restaurants are all about the employees. This one store alone has hired more than 80 American employees, doing their part to reduce the high unemployment in the city and country.

The end result is a noticeably different Classic American cuisine. The fries are uniquely crispy and not greasy. The hamburgers and hotdogs are also not too greasy and heavy. Try the ice cream and drinks for yourself.

If the rest of the Goldman-Sachs-Danny-Meyer restaurants, to open in the Fall, are equally as good, BatteryPark.TV will start a petition to make Lloyd Blankfein the next Treasury Secretary and Danny Meyer the head of the USDA.

Why is Pier A delayed? Follow the money

January 5, 2012  By Steven Greer, MD

We had an interesting conversation with The New York Times reporter, Patrick McGeehan, who has covered Pier A and the Maritime Building for years. Unbeknownst to many, the BPCA is seeking a bizarre new source of additional funding for the stalled Pier A project.

A controversial federal plan allows foreigners with wealth to invest in developmental projects in exchange for green cards. According to the WSJ, “The so-called EB-5 visa is awarded to foreigners who invest $500,000 to $1 million in U.S. businesses; $500,000 is required if the investment is made in a high-unemployment or rural area. The investors must document that their investment created at least 10 jobs before they are granted green cards, which allow permanent residence in the U.S.”

The Maritime Building in the Battery Park and the Pier A, now under the BPCA jurisdiction, are both part of this new green-card-for-investing EB-5 visa program. Documents related to the proposed funding of the Roosevelt Island college campus also revealed other programs trying to capture funding, such as Pier A, according to testimony by Senator Schumer (courtesy of Mr. McGeehan of the NYT). The BPCA applied for the program in 2011. It is unknown whether any of these funding developments have led to the construction delays.

These latest financial developments are just part of a long convoluted and embarrassing history of this stalled project and eyesore to our community. In 2007, the BPCA assumed control after deputy Mayor Doctoroff brokered a deal to rid the city of the headache. A cap of $30 Million dollars was established for renovation, mostly funded by the city EDC.

It is unknown whether this $30 Million figure thrown about so often in reports is really in the bank accounts of the BPCA available for spending, whether it was delivered and squandered, or any of the details of how this amount was or was not spent. BPCA Chairman Bill Thompson and CEO Gayle Horwitz did not reply to our questions.

A source close to the BPCA told BatteryPark.TV, ” BPCA has gotten some of the money. What happened was that EDC authorized the $30 million, then reimburses BPCA on a periodic basis as the work is done. So BPCA has gotten some of the money, though I could not tell you how much. Nor do I know if EDC has officially raised the threshold to $36 million.”

Prior to the BPCA assuming control, decades of unsuccessful plans had come and gone. A Staten Island development firm called Wings Point had been in charge and failed miserably. Of note, the managing partner of Wings Point also created the BillyBey ferry company when it bought the New York Waterway routes.

Pier A

Exclusive: BPCA Pier A renovation delayed a year with cost overruns

January 4, 2012 by Steven Greer, MD

Battery Park City Authority (BPCA) CEO Gayle Horwitz made a surprise appearance at the Community Board 1 (CB1) last night to deliver an update on the various BPCA construction projects underway. Recall, CB1 member George Calderaro had informed the community that Pier A renovations seemed to be going slowly and that no updates had been delivered from the BPCA.

In what was described as “overkill” by one CB1 member, the BPCA brought in a team of at least 12 people, comprised of architects and other officials involved in the Pier A project. What we learned was:

• The previous completion date estimates for Pier A were for “The season of 2012″. That has now been revised to “Late 2013″.
• The original $30 Million amount allotted to the project will be inadequate. The project is running over budget.
• The design team claimed that “natural drying” of the historic pier wooden architecture was the reason that the project was left windowless and to the elements.
• Despite the team of architects, no drawings of the proposed final project were presented. Recall, the project is supposed to have ample free access to the public and not be a space that requires fees or purchase of food to enjoy. In fact, John Fratta of the Seaport CB division wanted the location to entirely be an Italian heritage museum.
• CEO Horwitz claimed that not all of the architect and construction-experienced staff of the BPCA were fired when the 19 staff were abruptly fired late last year.
• The Poulakakos restaurant family and business partners claim that they now have an architect in place to design the proposed restaurant space of Pier A. However, as mentioned, no drawings were presented. There was a change in the design team.
• The stalled project of Harry’s Italian in the Conrad hotel/Goldman Sachs alley, another restaurant proposed by the Poulakakos group, was not discussed.

The Chairman of BPCA, Bill Thompson, was not present. Mr. Thompson is a 2013 New York City candidate for Mayor.

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Pier A

Sidewalk scaffolding properly handled by Milford Management

December 27, 2011

By Liz Conner

BatteryPark.TV previously reported on the scourge of the proliferation of unsightly sidewalk scaffolding popping up everywhere, and how long they stay in place. The building owners seem to have financial incentives for keeping the rental scaffolding in place longer than necessary (tax write-offs perhaps?).

A notable exception to this New York real estate blight was the handing by Milford Management (management company for Milstein Properties) of its mandatory “Local Law 11″ five-year inspection at 200 Rector Place. The scaffolding on West Thames was erected and dismantled within approximately a month.

This is in stark contrast to the nearby on-again-off-again stalled project of bankrupt, then un-bankrupt, 225 Rector Place, now owned by Related Companies. The management claims that the reason for those scaffolding is that new windows are being installed.

Recall, the 225 rector Place building was an eyesore with scaffolding up for years during the bankruptcy stages of the project. The scaffolds were briefly removed, then reinstalled this year.

If you live in a residential building or have a ground floor business being harmed by these scaffolding scams, we encourage you to speak up. Also, feel free to send us a letter.

Pier A plans are “A slap in the face to Italian Americans”

Update: June 25, 2011 The oyster bar wins

It appears as if the BPCA is not backing down on it’s subversive plans to turn Pier A into a for-profit bar (see below). John Fratta, leading opponent to the bar plan and champion of the idea to make Pier A an Italian Heritage museum, was rebuffed by the BPCA. His group had requested via Freedom of Information Act the details of how it came to be that the Poulakakos family was awarded the plan to make the pier a restaurant and bar. He organized a small press conference event today at the pier in protest. Based on our sources within the CB1, there seems to be little resistance to the oyster bar plan.

March 29, 2011

John Fratta, CB1 Chairman of the Seaport/Civic Center Committee explain why the CB1 opposes the current BPCA plans to turn over the Pier A to a private restaurant group led by the Poulakakos family. He is leading a drive to convert the Pier A into an Italian American heritage museum to compliment nearby Jewish and Irish museums. Mr. Fratta calls the current plans, “A slap in the face to Italian Americans”.

Niether the BPCA nor the Poulakakos family accepted our offer to be interviewed.

(The video can be viewed in 1080i HD by clicking the YouTube settings)

The Irish Hunger Memorial Mr. Fratta mentioned

The scaffolding scourge

(In full screen 1080iHD)

October 13, 2011

By Steven Greer, MD

In case you have not noticed because it is so common that you have become desensitized to it, there is an epidemic of unsightly sidewalk scaffoldings that have sprouted up in Battery Park City recently. Throughout New York City, since the real estate bust of 2007 that still lingers on, more and more buildings seem to have permanent scaffolding. Why?

We first reported on  the new structures at 225 Rector Place. To explain why these expensive structures seem to be embraced by building owners, and indeed kept up long after any work to the building is accomplished, we interviewed real estate lawyer Luigi Rosabianca. In this video, he takes us on a walking tour of the more egregious scaffoldings and explains “Local Law 11″ that mandates scaffolding be erected every five years.

We also interview two local business owner who have been impacted by scaffoldings over their business for five years: Bobby Van’s steak house on Broad Street and Downtown Cellars on Liberty and Nassau.

Let there be light

The new buildings at the World Trade Center are sending blinding reflections southward down Washington Street lighting up shaded canyons that have not seen light in decades

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Below, the shadows are going the wrong way. They point south when the sun is low on the horizon in the south. The huge reflecting mirror is creating a false sunset.

Port authority and City Spar Over Escalating World Trade Center Expenses

The planned 2012 opening of the Sept. 11 museum at the World Trade Center is in jeopardy amid a dispute over hundreds of millions of dollars in unexpected costs related to redeveloping the site, people familiar with the matter said.

Construction on the sprawling museum has slowed considerably since September, when the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey stopped approving new contracts and extensions of existing contracts, people familiar with the matter said. Its planned September 2012 opening will likely be pushed back, the people said.

Rob Bennett for The Wall Street Journal

The $800-million-plus project is the latest pressure point in a series of funding disputes at the World Trade Center site, where the redevelopment tab has reached more than $11 billion.

The fight puts the Port Authority—controlled jointly by New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie—at odds with the administration of Mayor Michael Bloomberg, the chairman of the National September 11 Memorial & Museum foundation.

Fueling the battle is $156 million that the Port Authority—which is building the museum—says the foundation owes for construction costs. Port Authority officials have said privately they are concerned about the museum having enough money to finish the job, people familiar with the dispute said.

The foundation denies it is responsible for the cost overruns, and for its part believes it is owed more than $100 million on account of delays, a person familiar with the matter said.

The two sides are negotiating a set of conditions for arbitrating the dispute outside of court.

Representatives for all sides on Sunday said the issues would ultimately be resolved.

“The Port Authority, the city and the museum are working collaboratively to resolve these matters,” said Patrick Foye, the Port Authority’s executive director.

Julie Wood, a spokeswoman for Mr. Bloomberg, said in a statement that funding disputes have been overcome before. “We’re confident we will work them out again,” she said.

The World Trade Center redevelopment has been plagued by near-constant disputes among public agencies as well as with private developer Larry Silverstein, who has the rights to develop three towers.

Most of the billions in added costs over the years have been absorbed by the Port Authority, which owns the site and is in charge of the rebuilding.

The overruns at the museum have been in dispute for months, but those and other problems were left unresolved until now, in part because officials wanted to avoid a public fight before the 10th anniversary of the 2001 terrorist attacks, people familiar with the discussions said.

The city and the Port Authority also have recently been fighting over who will pay for up to $300 million in security costs related to the site, people familiar with the discussions said.

Mr. Cuomo has begun to take a more active approach with the Port Authority, a typically cash-rich agency that has been weighed down by the costs of rebuilding. He recently installed Mr. Foye, a former economic development aide, as its new executive director, and put four new appointees on the agency’s board.

The agency appears to have taken a more aggressive approach with funding issues lately, and it has added pressure on the memorial foundation by not approving the contracts for the museum.

The dispute is partially over whether the $156 million in overruns are the responsibility of the museum, or whether they are broader infrastructure that the Port Authority should pay for. Generally, the foundation is responsible for the museum’s cost. The Port Authority is paying for site-wide infrastructure.

The Port Authority claims the foundation is responsible for such unexpected costs. But the foundation denies it is responsible and is preparing a claim of more than $100 million against the Port Authority, for additional costs caused by construction delays and the operational complications of opening the memorial when the surrounding streets and sidewalks weren’t yet open, one person familiar with the situation said. Talks have been active. Mr. Foye met Friday with city officials including Deputy Mayor Robert Steel.

The Port Authority has raised broader concerns about the foundation’s ability to pay for the full cost of the museum. Mr. Foye told members of the agency’s board earlier this month that Joseph Daniels, the foundation president, said he expected a “cash squeeze” early next year, a person familiar with the board meeting said.

Michael Frazier, a foundation spokesman, said it “has reached its funding commitments and will continue to do so.”

The West Thames grass field is closed for the season

November 7, 2011

After numerous stories in the local press observing that the expensive newly sodded West Thames Tire Swing Park grass field was becoming trampled to death once again, the Parks Conservancy headed by Tess Huxley finally closed the field for the season. Why 50% of the field was not alternated and closed for root regrowth earlier in the season, allowing for usage of the field and preventing the grass damage we see now, is a mystery. Hopefully, the field will regenerate this time and not require re-sodding.

West Thames Park lawn looking mangy

October 19, 2011

(An excerpt from Downtown Express By Terese Loeb Kreuzer)

After months of negotiations between the Battery Park City Authority, the Hudson River Park Trust and the New York State Department of Transportation over who should pay to resod the West Thames Park lawn and who should police and maintain it, the lawn already is looking mangy.

“Kids come there from high schools on the other side of the West Side highway and play pick-up sports after school,” said Mark Costello, a Community Board 1 member who is also on the board of the Downtown Little League. “There’s no rule against it. The problem is that that’s not what that lawn is built for. Last year, we also had adults coming over from Wall Street after work, and they would play and were very aggressive. I think the emphasis [for that lawn] should be on passive use and family play.”

The guidelines for the park say, “No cleats, no using more than half the field per group and no aggressive play that may result in harm,” said Anne Fenton, a B.P.C.A. spokesperson. But, she added, “There’s only so much you can control in nature.”

The B.P.C. Conservancy has been entrusted with caring for the lawn, and as of a few weeks ago, the H.R.P.T. and Battery Park City Parks Enforcement Patrols (P.E.P.) assumed joint jurisdiction for policing it.

For full BatteryPark.TV coverage, click here

Also, please note how BatteryPark.TV is the only local New York news source with the journalism ethics to cite other sources, even if they could be viewed as competition

BPCA CEO Gayle Horwitz responsible for the field control and feud with HRPT and DOT

Another “Authority” bungles a construction project in Battery Park City

September 24, 2011

By Steven Greer, MD

The much anticipated opening of the new artificial turf ball fields north of Goldman Sachs on Murray Street finally happened, more than two weeks behind schedule. Heavy rain was cited by the BPCA as the reason, even though “Hurricane” Irene was only a tropical storm when it hit Manhattan leaving only sprinkles.

The Downtown Soccer League (DSL) will be the first group to use the new field. On September 15, the delay was announced in a blast email by DSL President Bill Bialosky, “concerns over the quality of the installation and the weather sensitive process involved in adhering the turf to the foam underlayment triggered the BPCA decision given today’s rain…it is the BPCA’s desire to provide a lasting, state of the art turf field for the community that led to delaying our activities at the ball field until next week.” A parent of a DSL child told BatteryPark.TV that the scheduled games for the league will be pushed into December now.

Upon closer inspection of the fields, The installation clearly seems “out of spec”. Obvious open seams and creases protrude in the field creating tripping hazards and sources for the field to be torn up over time.

The fields are owned and operated by The Battery Park City Authority and the project was overseen by the CEO of the BPCA, Gayle Horwitz. The BPCA refused to reply to our emails and calls. It is unknown how much was paid to the construction company, how the contract was won, etc.

Other recent construction projects in or adjacent to Battery Park City that were bungled with major cost overruns include the Port Authority’s 9/11 Memorial that triggered near-100% increases in bridge and tunnel tolls, the West Thames Park and the re-sodding of the grass field, and the dog park by North Cove Marina.

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Diagonal folds and creases from improper installation

Wide creases between rolls of turf

BPCA CEO Gayle Horwitz

Grass field well on its way to becoming a mud field again

September 6, 2011

The CB1 Battery Park City committee met last night to discuss the protection and upkeep of the luxurious expensive West Thames “Tire Swing” Park grass field. Recall, the BPCA refused to care for the field in 2010 when it was opened, not using the BPC Park Enforcement Patrol (PEPs) to enforce rules. As a result, overuse by adults in soccer cleats turned the field into a mud wrestling pit. This time around, after spending hundreds of thousands more of taxpayer dollars to re-sod the field, the BPCA claimed that it had resolved the dispute with the DOT and would be tending to this field as it does with the other grass spots within Battery Park City. However, that is clearly not happening.

Since opening on August 15, the West Thames field has not been patrolled by the local and numerous BPCA PEPs, of which there are more in number than any other region of the city. This has been intentional as the BPCA claims the land is owned by an obscure entity called the Hudson River Park Trust (HRPT). More than a mile away at Pier 40, the HRPT has a smaller PEP force responsible for a larger area. The BPCA claims that these PEPs, rarely ever seen down in Battery Park, will be the ones responsible for patrolling the field and making sure that gangs of soccer players, etc. do not ruin the field again.

Astonishingly, at the CB1 meeting, BPCA spokesperson Leticia Remauro, and BPCA executive Anne Fenton sitting behind her, displayed very little concern for the rapid abuse and vandalism that the West Thames Park has already endured. When asked where the HRPT PEPs were physically based, Remauro replied, “I couldn’t tell you.”

In the short time since the grass field was re-opened, the field now has numerous dead spots caused by dogs urinating and defecating on the field, and the grass is 40% killed in areas due to overuse. The BPC Parks Conservancy, run by Tess Huxley, has failed to fence off areas periodically, as they effectively do the other grass spots. In short, the grass field, costing well more than $100,000 for the sod alone, is well on its way to becoming a mud field yet again.

To express your opinions on this, contact BPCA CEO Gayle Horwitz at gayle.horwitz@batteryparkcity.org or (212) 417-2000, and Parks Conservancy Director Tess Huxley at thuxley@bpcparks.org (212) 267-9700.

No sex in the Champagne room: Pussycat Lounge and sex shops by Ground Zero closed

September 3, 2011

Very quietly and without fanfare or much press coverage, the controversial “strip club” within site of Ground Zero was shut down months ago. The Pussycat Lounge and neighboring sex shop, establishments in the area for more than 40 years (opened in 1969), were both seemingly forced out by the city.

We spoke with the Community Board offices and they had no information on the matter. It was not related to any liquor license problem a spokesman said. Employees at the neighboring deli Cordato’s had no knowledge of the reason for the closure saying, “We do not know (why they closed). One day they were just not there.”

Recall, these strip clubs and sex shops near Ground Zero were used by the supporters of the proposed Park 51 Muslim mosque and community center to be built near ground Zero. Comedy Central’s Jon Stewart pointed to the hypocrisy of allowing a sex shop next to the sacred ground yet prohibiting a mosque. We argued that that was an illogical point in this Op-Ed.

We have no evidence to support that the Pussycat Lounge or next door sex shop were pushed out for reasons relating to the Muslim center controversies. However, for commercial tenants, the landlords can raise rents to any level they choose and can essentially force out a tenant if they desire. We have seen numerous restaurants essentially evicted from the World Financial Center by Brookfield Properties, for examples.

A local blog reported that the City’s Building Department claimed the Pussycat Lounge was performing construction without a permit, and was a stalled construction site (which it seems to be from outward appearances) and used that violation as the tool to shut them down. The owner of the building had also wanted to tear down the building to construct a hotel, according to the blog.

There will be no more sex in the Champagne room at The Pussycat Lounge.

More unsightly scaffolding eyesores from 225 Rector

August 11, 2011

Residents of Battery Park have had to endure the unsightly scaffolding around the bankrupt 225 Rector Park apartment building for years as the owners went bankrupt and ownership transferred to the Related Companies. Now, the new owners are setting up, once again, scaffolding around three sides of the building, creating a blight to the community.

Related Companies told BatteryPark.TV that the purpose of the scaffolding was for protection related to “window replacements” to begin once the scaffolding is built. The work is expected to last for “four to five months”.

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West Thames Park grass field not opened, committee decides usage rules

Update: August 2, 2011

In what exemplifies the disconnect between the bureaucrats governing lower Manhattan and the what best serves the citizens, the still-squabbling DOT and BPCA delayed the opening of the coveted grass field for a full week to allow for small areas to regrow after crabgrass was removed. The new opening date is set for August 8th.

August 1, 2011

Despite signs promising an August 1 opening of the West Thames Park grass field, the BPCA, managed by Gayle Horwitz and Tess Huxley, failed to take down the chain link fence. No explanation was given or any new dates set for the opening.

On the same day, the Battery Park City division of Community Board 1 convened the “West Thames Park Task Force”, led by Jeff Galloway and Anthony Notaro, to decide what activities to recommend to the BPC CB1 meeting in September. The Task Force decided:

• No more than 50% of the field should be used by any organized team
• No cleated shows allowed
• Activities should be as safe as possible

These guidelines are somewhat consistent with the opinions of the local residents expressed in our online survey.