NYC Street Furnishings, Amenities

It is becoming clear to the wider public now that so many are installed, the new bus shelters are better as advertising platforms than as "shelter"; they do not keep sun, wind, rain away. They often lack schedules but rarely lack an ad or a promo ad for CemUSA if no company takes an ad. The NYC- CemUSA of Spain deal was $999mil cash + $398mil worth of trade to put up and maintain at "No cost" to NYC 3,300 bus shelters, 20 toilets and 281 replacement + 41 "new" newsstands, in a 20-year exclusive contract. The bus shelters started being installed DEC 2006 and by summer 2008 1,538 were installed. The deal took away ownership of [$15,000 to $35,000 cost ea.] existing NEWSTANDS from the vendors or groups of vendors and handed them exclusively to CEMUSA. NO existing stands no matter the age or quality will be allowed. Vendors will get to operate the new ones for similar fees to the city as they pay. CEMUSA keeps the advertising revenue. Newsstand owners' 2003 lawsuit -joined by NYTimes, and appeal against this, fighting the property seizure, loss of 1st amendment rights failed in State Supreme Ct in 2006. They mostly WILL be forced out of business at 64 locations where they are going to be charged to $25,000 ea for new newsstands which 'more than 500 ft. away from original' because tight locations mean they cannot be upgraded to new LOCAL LAW 64 mandate ADA compliance. By JULY 2008 leaks, and other quality problems with the newsstands are apparent and more, as installations put stand operators out of business for 5 to 8 weeks minimum. See Collins, NYTimes 9-2-2008 "Newsstands of Tommorow Get Mixed Reviews Today". 97 were already installed and NYC got $11.4mil.

Public bathroom program in doubt as communities fight them. Getting street toilets has been a f-up process since 1978. The first of the pay self-clean toilets was opened 1-1-2008 - but the catch is this and the others will be open only from 8am-8pm. So why bother? Thanks a lot, Mr. Doctorff and Mr. Mayor! In the early 1990s when it looked like we would finally benefit from new bus shelters and some public toilets, activist politically-correct handicapped advocates [no separate but equal handicapped and non-handicapped toilets they said] and artsy ol farts [oh, we don't like advertising in the kiosks] killed further installation of FRENCH kiosk toilets that were installed successfully at City Hall Park. NYC had to start all over. The current deal was almost derailed again in a 2005 by a competitor claiming just bidding and another lawsuit by 2 losing bidders AUG 24 2006 saying the city changed rules and played favourites by letting CemUSA adjusted its bid 3 times!

NYC Parks. Pay to Play.

At any cost...

When did the Bloomberg Administration know that it was replacing parks lost to the new Yankee Stadium with polluted land? That was the question City Councilwoman Helen Foster asked [6-24] at a hearing on the project's delays." P. Arden amNY 6-25-2008. Looks live NYC cover-up, stonewalling initial environmental review results.

YANKEES and NYC claims about equivalent replacement parks are LIES. NYC parks Advocate groups late OCT 2007 told public 45% of promised "new" park are underutilised/underdeveloped existing park and one schoolyard, and partly more than a mile away- most of the replacement softball fields will be artificial turf top of a new garages! YANKEES seized much of Macombs Dam Park and part of Mullaly Park as private property AUG 13 2006 just ahead of Yankee Stadium groundbreaking AUG 16 2006. The last bit of Macombs Dam Park was closed NOV 12 2007, for construction of Garage A, with artificial turf playfields on top as part of replacement park area, none of which are ready for the Little Leaague, etc. Half-hearted promises to save any of ol Yankee Stadium were lies. The gutted shell will be demolished started the beginning of NOV 2009. We do not know if the Parks Dept will listen to pleas to save ol Gate 2 for an entrance [see links list above] to the new park on site.

The last[?] lawsuit against the parks seizure / Stadium package was AUG 2 2006 by "Save Our Parks" was -de-balled- on legal-bureaucratic technicalities stopping group from using its biggest arguments because they did not bring the issues up at earlier "administrative review process" so all they could claim to stop the whole project was the plan made them cut down mature tress in the park. [See MORE-> on Yankee Stadium.] NOTE: *Central Parking at Yankee Stadium is run with agreement with NYC Parks Dept OCT 2007 playoffs price-gouged cars $50 to $150 reported, city will "investigate, yeah sure.*

Washington Square: Over Their Dead Bodies.

The work area reopened MAY 2009 and was well received, after all. SO far, the Parks Dept rejectd well-heeled locals attempt to put thier own private [off-duty NYPD hired] security [thru their co-op boards] plus NYU [see NYPost 6-22-2009], even though they probably are laying down the law TO the Parks Commish. The new plans also call for new non-profit Washington Sq Park [fund raising care taker for the park] conservancy that will have $1.27Mil [year] salary requirement! Strangest thing about the renovation is the fountain was restored and moved, but NOT all the way to be centered on the arch/ 5 Ave! Plans retain a 4 foot high iron or steel fence and gates all around, reduced size of central "plaza" area. It was though the fountain would be 'prettified' and fenced in, it was not. Ms. Wonderly White, a great granddaughter of Stanford White wrote to NOV 28-DEC 4 3007 "The Villager" to remind all that White's Arch and work on the park feature a view through the arch -a bit to the west- to "his" Judson Mem church and left a graceful path for horse carriages, cars afterwards, to drive through the park as they did until the 1970s. The view was NOT meant to be focused on the fountain and the whole park was not designed to be a formal Euro-style square that Parks Dept-Mayor Bloomberg is fixated on making it!

Work in the rest of the park is still to start. The FULL PLAN stayed SECRET even while preliminary work started late 2007 and removal of the central fountain and cut down of some trees happened until it was observed. A July 2005 "last-ditch" lawsuit aimed to the Washington Sq Park project and force some design concessions was just the beginning of a long, near futile battle. NYC Parks Dept. and the Mayor do what they want. Various State/appeals Courts found that is within their power. The public to has no right to [interfere]! In OCT 2006 West Village Committee found in the construction bid package that 32 trees to be cut that are not mentioned in the SEPT 1 2006 Environmental Assessment, one reason may be more lawn area. Problems kept popping up as the design was further but actually only 1/4[!] revealed July 2007 in response to community anger and lawsuits. 'Litigation' prevents PARKS from showing the whole design, somehow, they said. Full skeletons and bones were unearthed midJAN 2008 in "test spots" and an evening protest was held 2-6-2008 against the desecration of this historic former potter's field [1707-1825]; the presence of which were warned about as part of one of the last lawsuit. Stuff was hauled away, no one knows what, no archeologists or such were to be seen, though Benape, Parks Commissioner says an archeologist is involved. Should we even believe him considering the sorry record of the Bloomberg administration with public access to public space and information? In APR2007 the [have no power over any of it] Community Board 2 voted to withdraw its MAY 2005 approval until they could actually SEE the plan, which they never did. DEC 3 2007 a judge [Joan Madden] tossed out last environmental lawsuit; gave OK to start the re-build.

*GOLF Course at long-partially developed Ferry Point Park New deal will cost at least $43mil spent already + $80mil or more will be borrowed for a 2013 opening.. figures cited in Yost 8-17-2009 are a year after [JUNE 2008-] Bloomberg "talking" with Sanford Gold Design for unconfirmed approx $60 million to build it. [-Daily News 6-17-2008]

Daily News 11-3-2006 reported "Links plan voided after News Reports re "mob" ties. City terminated the contract agreement by NYC with Ferry Point Partners over "lack of construction progress" NOV 2006 but legally it is "without cause" so it HAD to pay $7mil MORE. "The city has lost more than $25 million in overpayments and potential earnings.." audit released by Comptrollor 10-25-2007 showed LAWS, a subcontractor collected $15.3mil in tipping [dumping] fees of which $5 cubic yard unloaded went to org crime. The subcontractor, LAWS Construction, was able to continue to dump [289,000+ cubic yards] fill until MAY 2008 and collect fees until June 2 2008! NYC will take over, and dumb ANOTHER million cubic yards of fill [but save on the fee], says B. Egbert, Daily News July 1 2008! City overpaid the developer $6million on top what should have been $1.2mil for methane gas remediation.[-B. Kates, Daily News 10-26-2007] Original push for the golf course came in 1998 from Guiliani expecting a pro course to open in 2001 for $22.4mil. The ONLY work done was trucking 1.5 million cubic yds of dirt there then the trucking company planned to put 850,000 yds more on top of that!*

*Another BIG load of S-> At future COLLEGE PT [QNS] Sports Park, the owners of Enviro-Fill, contractor for Sports Assoc were defendants in criminal case [some charges still pending in 2009] in 2001 with 734 criminal charges against the Enviro-Fill owners. Enviro-Fill charged subcontractors to dump thousands of tons of illegal dirty fill [waste etc]. By "cooperating", the owners [Casalino bros] pleaded guilty only to a single misdemeanor "knowingly [causing] the release of more than 70 cubic yards of solid waste" and in 2004 required only to pay $250 criminal restitution, NYC went to go to court to be allowed to sue for $16.5 million damages: "Appellate Division, second department, found that an earlier $20,000 criminal award does not collatarlly stop the city from pursuing civil damages." [!] [-NY Law Journal 1-26-2009]. AND SO - how f__ up are the NYC process[es] which got it to this point?

Union Square Park

This rebuild looks like its being done to primarily for nicer surroundings for a new restaurant in the old -N- end pavilion which was built/ used for recreation space for children. Mar 2008-new building permits were issued, the pavilion was closed off to ready that area for consruction. but APR 21 2008 the opposition got the construction halted for meanwhile and in MAY Court says go on with park renovation, but hold the pavillion restaurant conversion, for now... In years [since mid 1980s] of upgrades /rehab of the park, they were finally going to get to the North end pavillon and playground - years after the area became "hot" gentrified, approaching high-end. The Mayor funded a $1.8mil playground upgrade 2002, then NOTHING happened; by two years later it became more clear why. Donations make up $7.85mil of $19.6Mil cost [early 2007] of a massive expanded playround-Greenmarket improvement, restaurant plan. Private donations for the project included an "anonymous" $5Mil 'contingent on there being a restaurant in the park'; reasonable speculation was it could be from DANNY MEYER, or other local restauranteurs who could have a stake in running the restaurant! Dannny Meyer is co-chair of the Union Square partnership which is backing it and hired a law firm with former parks Commissioner Gordon J. Davis as a partner. The Mayor says how do you expect us to pay for parks! The extent of these plans stayed secret, even to the Community Board [see same for Washington Sq, too!] with a bit more known at 'last minute'. UNION SQ area is restaurant-ified to death 150 places within 2 blocks from MCds to Union Sq cafe, so HOT that The Union Sq Community Coalition and [some] nearby restaurant owners were not happy after they found out about the planned park restaurant!

Hudson River Park NY State and city project, underfunded in 2007 and after 9 years of work was only 40% complete. Politicians especially the late [oop..] last Governor made much hay over, never failed to show up for photos each time a new part started or was opened. They are trying to ram over development of PIER 40 is otherwise the primary source of funding upkeep..but note something HAS to be done $125+ [no, $168mil] repairs needed to the Pier oh by 2010-2011 or else the thing might start to fall into the river...MAR 2008 sections of the parking were CLOSED because of decay found at engineer's inspection. [then there are the changing plans for Pier 57/ at 15 st, the 'Cipriani Leondardo' plans gone. Three new proposals were received bymid OCT 2008 deadline.]

The Mayor backs proposal by The Related Companies to turn 14-acre former working pier with parking [and now sports fields] now owned by the Hudson River Park Trust into a major tourist and retail draw with aims to generate more revenue for the Trust. This proposal was rejected by the Park Trust in MAR 2008. Any "Pier 40 Performing Arts Center" with cinemas, a home for Cirque du Soleil, and events halls that will probably draw more people from NJ than locals. I would not want to schlep over there from the subway to see anything! Even as NYC sent cruise ships packing off to Brooklyn and Bayonne NJ there was NO thought to using Pier 40- for ships, which could still be compatible with the recreation uses! By the way, the TRUST is at least $120+mil short of funds to finish its grand plans for the riverside park, after they tore down existing facilities off Tribeca that no one knows when they will be replaced and boy is the community pissed! Another finalist developer was more favored by the community than the Park Trust favored more conventional community-recreation facilities. The problem is this is -like the ol cruiseship piers [used as exhibition spaces], JAVITS Ctr and Chelsea [rec] Piers are this would create ANOTHER major west side facility on the river with NO transit access besides any bus services provided. F_ the developers for once, leave the greed and added traffic mess behind!

*"SOUTH BRONX GREENWAY" at Hunts Point with paths reaching towards proposed water park -next item- was announced by Bloomberg NOV 20 2006..local politicians that have been hostile to Bloomberg gushed about how it shows that **GEE, Bloomberg actually does care about the Bronx. City tax breaks and funding still not settled.*

Randall's Island

PAY TO PLAY BALL FIELDs and TENNIS STADIUM [-further below]. 20-year agreement is a done, private deal between NYC [Mayor->Parks Dept] and new Randalls Island Sports Foundation. The City agreed to pay 2/3 of the cost now estimated to be $120Mil [up from original $70mil] OOPS MAY 2007 is now est to be $127.1Mil- and collect $2.85mil a year for ball fields maint from private schools who will get afternoon use of 80% of the 65 planned fields [expansion from original 37] for the next 30 years. The private schools will pay their newly formed [JAN 2007] Randalls Island Fields Group LLC $2.63mil a year to pay to the Randalls Island Sports Foundation to pay the city. Though it was supposedly put on hold - construction started, clearing of land went full ahead FEB 2008. NYC Parks allowed contractors to cut down "hundreds" of trees [but Croft, NYC Parks Advocates group now estimates "thousands"] for added fields after groundbreaking AUG 2 2007 for the planned 2009 completion after it looked last lawsuit apparently failed June 2007 that contended project ilegally bypassed the Councils Land Use Review laws, contracts-agreements between NYC-as sorta private development deals.

NYC said the ruling applied to what is done AFTER fields are built - but if that stands, they [we] still will need the money from that deal with the Sports Foundation! The project due for fall 2009 was about 32 percent complete in MAY 2008 as another State judge ruled that NYC would have granted Land Use approval [as normally required] if it had been pursued anyway NA NA NA NA! No matter that a state judge JAN 2008 said the city had a false "substantial completion" argument which NYC said negated a ULURP review required of any concessions of this type. This is a big lie by NYC about the scope of the work, classifying it as a renovation to bolster its arguments that NO mandated and customary environmental, and Council plus Community Board reviews of the project were required. after the fact that NONE was done. NYC probably will appeal and it is soon back to court over lack of prior Environmental Impact Statement [EIS].

Bloomberg said [in PlaNYC] "plant a million trees"! Gonna need because of Parks projects where they are ripping down mature trees, besides on Randall's. There are 20 acres of naturally re-forested abandoned Ridgewood Reservoir about to be cut for new plasti-turf ballfields. NYC Parks DEPT refused press request for forestry permit for the Randall's Island tree cutdown. It stonewalled a judge on this, too. Park tree cutting is illegal without a permit- but so far it looks none were issued (or requested) [-METRO, 4-14-2008].

R I Sports Foundation and Sportstime [mfg of existing courts] just starting construction [APR 2008] 25,000+ sq ft facility w 20 tennis courts and 1,000 permanent - 3,000 temp seat tennis stadium is? ULURP is MANDATORY for "major facilities" and those of 15,000 sq ft of concession on PARK land. The public will get to play, but it is PRIMARILY a production for use of Sportstime World Team Tennis. This is another no-bid no-land review concession Mayor-Parks Dept awarded; because of this it may shortly be bitterly fought. IS this land that was for a new 26 acre water theme park the Mayor cancelled [SEPT 21 2007] at the [north part of] Randall's. It was 6 months behind schedule, developer did not get financing so it was defaulted with agreement of early 2007. Comptroller said the Mayor broke the rules with his PARKS DEPT giving them an extension, keeping Aquatic Leisure/ Aquatic Development Group of Cohoes [Hudson Valley, a Pataki "friend?"] more time instead of issuing a new RFP... Their agreement with NYC was a 35 years concession to operate it. This Theme park would have destroyed the ball fields there. The last water park scheme doubled in size and went up in cost by 400 percent since the water park was 12 acres proposed in 1999.

amNewYork 2-13-2007 reminded us that 64 playing fields in 64 parks [about 10% of all parks playing fields] ALREADY locked and maintained under private control. They are better than what Dennis Hamil [-see DailyNews borough ed. 6-16-2009 "Parks Department is a disgrace to the city"] found from experience with his son in Little League found universally poor condition of Parks Dept [NON-]maintained ball fields in much of Queens )(especially huge problem of closed restrooms). Other playing fields on city-owned land [not parks] were taken from use for development - like site on e122 st taken away summer 2006 from East Harlem Little League by HPD for some future sale for housing [condos?] The existing fields are in poor condition and private schools are already chief long term users and have permits for 34 of the 36 fields from 3-6pm [2-10-2007 NYTimes]. JAN 31 2007 ## Geoffrey Croft, President of New York City Park Advocates" "Our elected officials shouldn't be allowed to sell off our public parks to the highest bidder simply because they refuse to allocate the funds to maintain them."

Speaking of Randalls Island Park, Juan Gonzales [Daily News 2-9-2007] wrote that BLOOMBERG LLP sealed off the southern portion of it for nearly 2 weeks early JULY 2006 to make an amusement park for its company picnic. NOT a word of this in the press til now, otherwise! They do it annually now..a large fee went direclty from the Bloomberg company to the Randall's I. Sports Foundation, [not the Parks Dept.] nor NYC General Fund which per City Charter ruels for special events fees.

YANKEE Stadium "Final" JUNE 15 2005 scheme aroused a great deal of community opposition, but they could not stop the YANKEES taking 22.4 acres of adjacent local parks-made official by State Govt June 30, without public hearings-from the city. ->JUN 2006-CRAINs Business notes FED [National Parks Svc!] approval was ALSO needed because FED FUNDS were used to repair the park site PLUS a NYC sanitation discharge permit is also needed. Replacement parks cost increased from est. $128mil to $190mil in 2008! [SEE more on Yankee Stadium further below->]

"Muddied Waters"

The Delaware Aqueduct water tunnel leaking since 1988 is now max 36mil gallons a day = 1+ billion gallons a month. The city paid consultants $28mil since 1998, have not followed their recommendations and do not have an emergency plan if the tunnel fails - the DEP says findings are the tunnel is stable and they recently awarded contract[s] for repairs along the 7,000 foot [1 1/3 mile!] cracking section, refuting the Comptroller audit this report is based on. A $240+ million 5-year repair project fall 2008 is in its early stages and subject to some change in scope on how to build a bypass tunnel by a partial shut down time in 2011 and whether to further add to the aqueduct system. Still, guess they are counting on nothing bad happening until the 3rd water tunnel is finished in 2021![-press 8-17-2007] Locally up in that area, town of Wawarsing homes basements were flooding. Their wells were being polluted; NYC had to start remedying that. Also hardly in public eye is that strategic portions of Catskill NYC water system such as GILBOA Dam [1927] at our largest - Schoharie reservoir are in VERY bad shape. [-see NYTimes 7-20-2006 re the muck and NYSun 8-22-2006 "Muddied Waters" Gerard Koeppel author of "Water for Gotham"].

Newspapers printed JULY 31 2007 the FED EPA gave NYC a 10-year waiver from filtering Catskill-Delaware water because it is [still] so "clean". So, its not all mixed together by the time it gets to NYC? NYC will start up worlds largest UV-treatment plant of it and NYC will buy more watershed etc. because of eroded soil around the rural Catskill reservoirs are getting them mucked up. 1998 announced, started in 2004, cost of Federally required water filtration plant under Van Cortlandt Park more than doubled to $2.1 Billion OOPS Sept 2007 the Independent Budget office estimate $2.8 billion and a 2012 completion date - DEC 18 outside audit was called for [a strong recommendation] by a Monitoring Committee of Community Board 12. OOPs-NOV 2008 the cost is estimated to be $3.1 billion. NY missed last FED deadline of SEPT 2006, JUL/AUG 2007 FEDS fined NYC $30,000 - A DAY accumulating to $4.78mil until project was re-started late AUG 2007 - over completion delay from lack of a primary contractor. Perini Corp/Perini Civil - lead contractor, winning bidder withdrew APR 2 2007. was under Fed investigation since 2001 then grand jury inquest since 2001- oh BUT NYC had NOT signed a contract with them! Daily News - [5-8-07] says if 2nd lowest bidder can't do the job, the contract is out and has to be rebidded. What the f__ ??

David Ferguson [Letter to NY Sun 9-5-2006] of CWCWC (Croton Watershed Clean Water Coalition) wrote the NYC Dept of Environmental Protection [over the Water Board] made deals with BRONX politicians $200mil for Bronx PARKS fix-ups etc to smooth the way for construction of the $1.5Bil filtration plant, even though laws forbid water rate money from funding NON-water supply projects, while it does not do the right thing by using such monies to buy watershed property to long-term protect the water supply, even as it claims poverty.

What these politicians do keep in the public eye is the slow but ongoing project water tunnel no. 3. One hardly realises the water tunnels run in branches under the boroughs only up to Hillview Reservior in Yonkers just across the Bronx line and to the Jerome Park Reservoir. A Shaft as Deep as Residents Opposition to It" [-NYTimes, the City 2-29-04] One of the access shafts needed is planned for 54st on the E Side of Manhattan for the *Manhattan* leg of the 3rd NYC water tunnel in 2006 or so. $6bil project under const since 70s. 1,000 signatures collected, even the NYC Council speaker opposes it. "People are ready to lie down in the street. This is like civil disobediance. I'm serious, we're not going to let it happen." Charles Sturcken, activist opposition leader and neighbor to prop site*..*NEW city garbage plan inches ahead -Upper E Side E End Ave area residents must haved been pissed, but the suit was brought by activists for low income housing ACORN, sued to have city not build waste transfer station at river at 91st., so far lost, SEPT 19 2006 and recycling [...I thought it was a transfer station] station planned for Dept of Sanitation Gansevoort St property on the Hudson and marine transfer station at 91st-E River are being strongly fought. 2008-09 ongoing there is similar well-heeled celeb laden group "Tribeca Community Association is fighting planned new Dept ofd Santation huge truck garage and salt shed at Washington St. B.C. [before multi-million$$ condos] this was strictly a warehousing/trucking no mans sorta area and STILL is partly!

Government-Private Mutant Projects:

GOVERNORs Island

Sprin 2009->NYState so far will not pay its share of summer season 2009 operating expenses [NYC pays about 1/1] so it may not open to the public Development funding which ran out, Local government is in danger of losing the land after a dozen+ year initiatve and hundreds of millions in expenses which which chiefly produced demolition of the newer utilitarian structures and a few seasons of letting vistors in. 5 parkland finalist schemes were shown MAY 31 2007 and the firm chosen -West 8 of NETH - was announced DEC 19 2007. The Mayor and Gov. Spitzer showed a plan that is naturalist with faux restoration of landscape to create picturesque hills perfect for the views; a bit of marsh is inclided too. All to be created by 2013 [sure maybe]..if the State and City can pay the $200mil+ required. At the news conference, they de-emphasised commercial/ cultural aspects that are going to be integrated into the landscape of the newer south part of the island and some new construction in the historic north island.

in the hands of NYC, all bids of 2006 thrown out SEPT 2006 by GIPEC [Governors Island Education and Preservation and Education Corp.] NYC and NY State did not want to or not permitted by FEDS make some $$$ by selling the site. NOV 14 2006-Harbor High School was invited by whom?? [damn tabloid article was not explicit] to move there from its current home deep in the heart of Brooklyn has to be approved by Dept of Education and GIPEC but looks like any High School or college use on the island was discarded from finalist plans.

The New [mid-]West Side:

Centrepiece of it was to be the Olympic2012-Jets stadium. NYC bombed in finals round of picks in Singapore. The US Olympic Committee will NOT consider a bid from NYC for its US bid for 2016 - plus they want a city that has built or is committed to build the major stadium.Of the finalists for July 2005 selection overall NYC placed just ahead of MOSCOW but *4th* behind PARIS, MADRID and LONDON. Its"X-Plan" [facilities] *didn't* impress, the main plus factor was the big hotel room supply. [OUT were Istanbul, Rio, Havan, Leipzig] Feb 2005-half a million dollars spent in fees to plan to bring on-board women and minority special interests with jobs promises. "..it's 2012 or never, once the Jet's take possession [of that proposed W. Side stadium].

Private properties near the HIGH LINE are going mostly hi rise condo, thanks especially to rezoning deals. But ALL government-tied office-commercial development deals are on hold or dead for now, but the people are gonna pay up. We are on the hook because of BONDS already sold. New JAVITS Center expansion is dead for now, Hudson Yards agreement are falling apart for now, Moynihan Station was [is, will be?] dead, #7 subway extension is cut back/crippled, Madison Square Garden move is dead, but it will be renovated, area transit expansion plan are uncertain; 34 st NJTransit rail station and new Hudson rail tunnel pay as you go depending on NJ and FED money it is hard to say. But a makeover of Vornado's bldgs all the way to 6av is in private control, so that is going ahead. The new West Side also includes Battery Park City North and Pier 40 further southup!

MOYNIHAN STATION

Of the Hudson Yards, "The plan isn't dead by any means..." said Mayor Bloomberg, in LONDON 5-9-2008. Musta been thinking about $2Bil bonds WE OWE already for it...This Moynihan-Hudson Yards whole shebang is f_up nearly beyond description! Latest is that the whole multi billion$ plan for Penn-Moynihan deal sunk because it became tied to a the larger area real estate dealings and a Madison Sq Garden-DOLANS move but late MAR 2008 DOLANs decided not to move and will renovate MSG instead.

At least [some of..] the new "WTC" is slowly rising. The convoluted, delayed station plans are barely on track as D P Moynihan's original vision of rail station project. The original "Pataki plan" of station 1999 designed by David Childs [est. cost was $900mil] was morphing into a $14billion monster real estate deal at hands of TOO many govt-private-public interests. The last deal that seemed certain enough "unveiled" APR 28 2006 even as it was falling apart thru 2007 seems to thankfully mostly died in the 2008-09 'crisis'.

Sheldon Silver, a constant obstacle, twice delayed NYState approval and mid OCT 2006 voted NO on 4th revised "PATAKi" plans [did not include a new MSG]. A second great obstacle was AMTRAK! After FEDs said no to a deal in 2004 forcing scale down to suburban NJTransit rail needs, a share of concessions sweetened the deal, announced 9-13-2009 AMTRAK is BACK 'after 6months of negociations', just before a SEPT deadline to get US DOT "TIGER" stim-related grants. It does mean redesign, again! SPR-SUMMER 2007 in "recent meetings with the developers and other transportation agencies that it has veto power over plans to build a new station because it owns Penn Station and the property below Madison Square Garden." and they may move operations there anyway. "Complications Hindering Moynihan Station Plans"] I am not sure there is a lease yet with the POST OFFICE [they had a deadline of DEC 31 2006!] Back to Silver, who is one of the big 3 on the Public Authorities Control Board that approved the NY funding which may also jeopardise fed funding and sale of the site from US Postal Service. He is aligned with DOLANs [Cablevision-MSG owner] and VORNADO. JUNE 2006-just TALK about these new projects gave landlords reason to significantly boost local office rents. I only agree with killing the current plans because it is a huge amount of money for a bastardised plan the was a redesign as AMTRAK pulled out, and we need a better gateway to NY, though "Plan B" *IF* the funds are there and they DO NOT CUT the scope of the project-as common elsewhere in public projects - would upgrade the existing PENN STA! Is the massive scaffolding going up OCT 2007 at Hotel Pennsylvania really for "improvements"? Sorry, Maura Moynihan, Gov Pataki and Bloomberg are still jerking YOU and US. GOV PATAKI wanted ground broken BEFORE he left office [end of 2006 oy vey]. It is as much of mixed-use development project [by VORNADO and THE RELATED COMPANIES] as a railroad project.

As for MSG, so strange to me that State does not make a deal to build a new MSG ON the state owned land next to JAVITS that Governor wants to SELL to make a few quick bucks. Why wouldn't JAVITS-MSG combo help rescue the aborted Javits expansion? They are supposed to have the #7 subway run here, right? Why was SPITZER and the MSG owner so short-sighted? Plans included a NEW Madison Sq Garden at the rear of the ol Farley Post Office bldg complex, removing ol MSG for new development plus rebuild of existing PENN Station. This Madison Sq Garden relocation would have made the public areas of the new train station sort of a lobby addition to new MSG, and potentially cut out $250million FED [preservation] tax credits NY ESDEC counted toward the cost. The relocated MSG aspect would completely displace the rest of Post Office Operations in the GPO bldg but also said to eliminate planned "intermodal" transfer hall from Moynihan Sta. The Municipal Art Society President said "Madison Square Garden has already eaten one Penn Station."-see NYTimes 2-15-06. That is a big reason for developers fighting -and already spent past $50mil just jaggin off on 'stuff'- to have the mega project not be cancelled. Discussions have been ongoing since Aug 2005. Mayor has to approve[!], at stake also is an electricity discount to Madison Sq Garden and property tax exemption of the last 25 years, courtesy Ed Koch and Gov. Carey, and the current pols!]*

The current MSG - PENN STA site would be redeveloped, but NOT all the hirises expected due to difficulty of building over the active station - do not worry about the developer - they will use an air rights transfer to their other properties nearby! Their private understanding with elected officials, [payoffs] contributions and public lobbying paved the 2005 REZONING [MSG] , then development rights purchases on the cheap boosted their existing nearby property values by billion$ and gave them enough EXTRA to re-sell 3.5 million of 7.5 million square feet of the development rights at huge profits. These deals our pols made obligated taxpayer for $550 mil for new Moynihan and $2billion for Penn Station re-construction. The developers [were?] are on hook for only toward $450mil towards the cost of renovation of Penn Station and they rights to build proposed [2] 90-fl towers or a huge shopping mall at Penn Sta[!] and send the extra development rights to their other [specifically further east to Hotel Pennsylvania-Manhattan Mall full block] nearby properties, or re-sell them.CAN you say still not enough $$$? - even with more funds thru "upcoming" BOND sale that MUST be closed by DEC 31 2006, deal can be cancelled by the MTA. [Umm, not clear reporting in the press fi that happened.]

Unseen renderings of Plan "B" new Station-MSG-office towers-retail plan were announced as "backed by" SPITZER. VORNADO, Related Cos., Cablevision got billion$ in sweetheart deals from the State city. Further, OCT 27 2005 the city council gave BLOOMBERG $$ goodies in approving PILOTs [payment in lieu of taxes] supposed to be deposited in the general fund, it has been shown the MAYOR dips in and awards money to the favoured, on new westside development by private developers of their projects in the yards land, all removing this govt-subsidised-private development from the democratic process.

LIRR-MTA and West Side Rail Yards

Project received five -estimated- $1billion+ offers OCT 2007. Presentations were on view to public NOV 18 - DEC 3 2007 in a pre-pick comment period. Each contained 30 million sq ft of office space and 15,000 apartments. Tishman-Speyer winning bid and package fell apart and next stage of agreement was never signed, in what they say is MTA change of terms re: who's on first and rezoning, early MAY. Question is if they can pick another, or start over!

Lest we all be seduced by shiny models and renderings, there is a LOT of room for fudge [goodies to the well-connected?] in the complex "revenue sharing" portions of the different packages of each. The site was more widely up for grabs after failure of NYC Olympics 2012bid and political pressure forced move of the MTA away -but apparently not completely- from sweetheart/backroom below market deal as the MTA is cried they are sooo short of money s they gotta hike fares. Of the new schemes, the Vornado-Durst one was notable because included a huge new tower for CONDE NAST meaning they would move from their famous TIMES SQ building and one from Related Companies is centered around a move of NEWS CORP from Rock. Center! SNAG OVER HUDSON YARDS - J. Satow, Crain's NY Business Jun4-10 2007 Christine Quinn [City Council Speaker, her district does include the site] "wants a request for proposals to require developers to build a cultural center and school. She also wants guarantees that 20% of residential units be affordable and remain that way, permanently..[she] is also insisting that the 13-acre site have only 400 parking spots, which would have to service the 4,500 apartments that can be built there. "$10bil development, 12.4 mil sq ft of retail, office, residential. Yeah, she knows best. Under required rezoning, a "ULURP" must be filed and approved by City Council so this awful power-brokering and mixed up, f__ up private - public development goes on.. Besides TISHMAN-SPEYER, other bidders were Brookfield Properties, Extell, The Related Companies, and Durst with Vornado.

Javits Center

...rebuild plans "crashed and burned." Governor Spitzer [late FEB 2008] threw in the towel and started up another task force of govt reps + hotel/tourism, business and union [!] reps on it -with 6 months -after- they start, to issue a report. After months of quiet on the issue from NY State _it hit the fan SEPT 2007 that costs of expansion was too much. They held some more hearings over all the various rebuild schemes, but the pols/GOV leaked out that rebuild and 'phase 2' even more construction are dead. JAN 2008-it was clear there will only be a fix-up of the ol centre and [maybe] only an added 100,000 sq ft. -STILL all for about OLD original budgeted $1.6Bil!. A vote on a $500mil repair plan was expected early 2009, as a possible 1st phase of expansion that might include property that extends to 40st which almost got sold off by NYC State by GOV SPITZER for a quick budget $$$ fix but finally he backed off selling the only land the centre can now expand onto.

__ 2009, an expensice shed-like addition to be built along with a rehab of the exiositing center are the new palns, at the cost of hundreds of millions. JUNE 6 2008 - hotel plans shot to hell and all back to square one- deposits refunded and RFP was withdrawn for announced hotel with meeting faciilties that is sorely lacking in the existing centre. It was even to partially funded by taxpayers $250Mil and originally to be at 42-11Av, then on 11 Av opposite the Centre, eliminating the existing "concrete" park there because LARRY SILVERSTEIN, OWNER of the site isbuilt HIS long planned apartment towers at 11av-42st [supposed to be but is not a] twin of River Place at 12Av. Silversteins 's price for the land was too high for NY to consider. NY State did not intervene to acquire that site, no matter the political alignments or resolution of WTC site development issues. The only possible other expansion spot left next to Javits besides N and S is OVER 12 Ave. Too big a security problem? To distract from the State's f-up, they tried to make the Hotel industry etc the bad guys, State had claimed there was not enough money because Hotel industry refused to implement their "suggested TRIPLING of the $1.50 night hotel-tax surcharge! The fix-up, minor expansion and land sales package include sale of 150 truck swing space south of the centre by an 80 truck garage on 12 av that industry cites as creating a major handicap. This is all quite too complex and it is past time for some heads to roll over all this [if not privatisation!].

Expansion to the South was unfortunately linked to the defeated NYC 2012 Olympic -JETS W. Side stadium. NYPOST OCT 19 2007 reminded us of The Swap FLIP - let MTA profit from sale of JAVITS and its site and build $1+bil platform there big enough for an replacement for the JAVITS. NY State aborted any scheme to build a JAVITS replacement on 26 acres of Hudson Yards NYC and pushed or was forced to back off forced to cut MTA out of any Javits role bye brou-ha-ha over new developer's plans for those Hudson Yards rose, fueled by "City Hall." Oh, a West Side Stadium would have been just the thing to add to $$$ to collected congestion price fees from traffic for daytime - weekday night events!

"We" take it for granted -HERE- the financial capital of the friggin WORLD[?] that the govt [taxpayer!] has to build the convention center! Praised by some, but tougher critics said [see also "Users of Javits Center Criticize It's Expansion Plan" NYTimes 3-10-2007] only a "..second rate convention center at a $1.7 Bil price tag ! said Assemblyman Brodsky [on Committee that oversees State Authorities"] and Sen Schumer of the Rogers redesigned plan. "Friends of Javits" say do it right or NOT at all, particularly lead by the AUTO group finally got a chance to sound-off to Centre officials at two FEB 2007 meetings finally said the plans are NO good despite a more people-friendly design it was compromised functionally and esthetically. Truck ramps are too screwy, truck parking [in the press 3-23-2007] was cut to 83 spots from 200 orig planned. Multi-floors are a problem and "latest" security concerns re-shaped the 2+ year old design making it 1/5 SMALLER than already compromised expansion figure. The new loading area is to be separated from the main bldg, unlike now but the new concern is that the multi-story truck screening facility and depot is to be atop the Lincoln Tunnel. Every delayed month increased the cost by $15Mil+ while the power brokers jerked us all.

Another fantasy plan - Crain's NY Business -MAY 1 2007- "Two groups favor Queens over Javits Center" Why not deck over the Sunnyside yards for long term full size convention centre we really need...say Municipal Art Society and Regional Plan Association to [ESCD] Empire State Development Corp. Planned LIRR link to Grand Central would would keep it from being fantasy.. also being considered in studies for a replacement are Aqueduct raceway site and Willets Point.

The political wonks in the 1980s built the undersized centre and disfigured J.I. FREEDs JAVITS design down to putting in cheaper glass that make it a dark box. Plans for expansion moved forward [difficultly] after Guiliani departed as Mayor - he could not longer block a NYC project like this that he could not control. Javits expansion plan 1-block NORTH to 40st was approved by the State DEC 7 2004. A multi-level center was the abomination that PATAKIi shepherded through due to the constrained site - but wasn't a major problem of the abandoned N Y Coliseum! After that, an unrelocatable MTA 11av-39 to 40 st bus garage blocks further expansion. ESDC-Pataki late 2006 approved some "finalised" $3.1bil+ building plan that the State Convention Center Operating Corp [what is THAT?] approved late May 2006. This 1st $1.68Bil phase of expansion was supposed to be "completed" by 2010 enlarging space from existing 750,000 sq ft. to 1.1 million sq. ft. with city to spend $350Mil, NY State to spend $350mil with $350Mil from "other" and $650Mil from the hotel industry [coming from new $1.50 night surcharge! Then Mayor Bloomberg announced AUG 2006 a city commitment to fund some of the cost of a Phase II of what might have been a $5bil rebuild. "Reconsidering" late 2006 ESDC-Pataki approved plans Spitzer called together the Mayor and his Moses [Doctoroff], Sen Schumer and the ESDC Chief quietly met [to have it out?] on this MAR 13 2007, then the downstate chair [FOYE] of the ESDC said there was going to be something new in MAY 2007. The convention-hotel industry them was let in on it and [3] packages. ranging from too expensive for little space gain in the last ESCD-Pataki plan at $3.1bil to full rebuild-expansion at $5billion that was just plain too much to even consider. FOYE proposed increasing the hotel tax surcharge, but whether to $2.50 or $4.50 it was not enough for full blown rebuild, so hotel industry and some businesses said ENOUGH! Scrap the big expansion and go for an annex building instead even while they disagreed over what right amount of meeting room vs exhibition space is needed .

#7 Subway Line Extension

to Javits funding was in doubt late SEPT 2006 and into 2007 escalating cost said to be near $6Billion! Deal over the 'Yards' made NYC assume cost of the line. SO NYC would only fund one stop if MTA did not put in half the cost at least even an UNfinished a 41st-10Av station [see MORE->]. The bulk of $$ for the #7 will be enabled by bonds approved by MTA "Hudson Yards Infrastructure Corp" [formed JULY2004] still to issue at least $3BIL in bonds and construction contracts for no 7 subway extension [huh I am not sure if these are the same bonds as below TFA as what press says City is going to issue- news reporting is not very clear at all].

While NYC is "sharing" in development is to buy-in of air-rights of "east" section" of the yard to be transferred to nearby west side development are. NYC gave up on a forced buy of "West" [on the HUDSON] portion LIRR yards from MTA to let MTA sell it for commercial development, after some rezoning by NYC- still not done which was part of the TISHMAN's problem with their deal, in exchange for NYC paying most of cost $2.1Bil one-stop subway extension through PILOTs from builders on this land. SO it will be exempted from most commercial real estate, construction taxes etc under the MAYORs control. The MTA [summmer 2005] leaned towards spending $481Mil on the platform over W Side rail yard as NYC negociated to buy the site with an offer of $300mil for 'west" section" of the yard pays $200mil for development rights for the "east" section of the yards. Why are NYC taxpayers shanghaied for $500mil and what the F__ is that and why is another public development corp formed for this project?

MAY 2008: Sen. Schumer again scolded NYState-City govt - forget paying for mid-block [bet. 9-10 Av Lincoln Tunnel approach] boulevard - use money for the 41st station instead and start Moynihan station already! Why would Bloomberg care; he is greasing the property value for private developers along the proposed blvd and Hudson Yards with new West Side boulevard and public plaza Hudson Yards entails *another* new public development corporation "Transitional Finance Authority" issuing a $3+ billion bond issue and short-tem debt repaid by sale of dev. rights and property taxes. Part of city spending from this money is to acquire all the ol bldgs on path of the new mid-block blvd (33-39st 10/11Av] and 4 acre park to enhance value of 24 million sq ft of private office etc space that MAY be built as part of the Hudson Yards project! Why not use any of the existing public development corporations? Like so many others projects, this keeps the billion$ in government construction OUT of the democratic process because it is not in the city capital budget but taxpayers are paying the interest until the project up and running and produces revenue.

Schumer countered that exist PENN Sta renovation could be enhanced with space freed by move out of some of AMTRAK operations and WaMu Theatre (at MSG), he says, but Bloomberg said MYOB! NYC -IS- going ahead with acquiring property to make a new W. Side Blvd / esplanade 36st down to 33st and Hudson Yards instead of using its limited funds to complete this more critical transit infrastructure. Sen Schumer wrote in protest of these plans to NYC, NOV 30 2007. BIDS were due JUNE 20 2007, then NYC is going to deal with cost overrun funding. But we did not need a 3rd CDB [central business district] corporate-fascist-like glass monoliths by TISHMAN SPEYER $1.004bil bid for 99-year lease selected announced MAR 27 2008 by MTA-NYC to be developer for the Yards. Since the Tishman prelim agreement with MTA-NYC did fall apart, RELATED Cos w/ Goldman Sachs plan was chosen mid MAY 2008. MTA sees $$ from the deal going toward cost of #7 extension. Related will pay for the $2bil platform over east and west parts of the Yards, but there are penalties to NYC and MTA if they hold up Related. Related can get 25% of a project deposit BACK if NYC rezoning of the west part does not give it expected allowance of building size plus there are rent penalties to MTA if Related is held up from starting building in 2 years and others ["rent holiday"] if #7 line construction fall behind MORE of its convoluted history: Half of this site was being rammed thru [NYCity had a $600mi commitment to infrastructure] to enable a West Side Stadium to proceed. The MTA first was taking *no-bid* proposal that became open at the last minute forced by a "Hudson Gardens" apt-hotel-retail proposal by Cablevision. Then another bid by TransGas based on bldg a power plant in BKlyn and MTA purchase of power was also submitted, but in Mar 2005 the Jets bid was selected for development rights for the stadium over their W Side rail yards subject to more State Authority approvals etc. AND so the NYC 2012 Olympics bid failed, and the JETS backed off from the West side,too. None of the bids were equal to an estimate of full market value of the property is. There has NEVER been this kind of commercial development in this area, despite 1986 construction of the Javits Center, but it is such a valuable area, building will happen when it is "time", no matter what. There was NO parking planned for the stadium. Since even an unfinished 41st-10Av station was cut from the growing area will even moreso be poorly served by public transit. On DEC 12 2002 Mayor Bloomberg spoke before a breakfast sponsored by the Association for a Better New York of his vision for building up Lower Manhattan beyond the WTC site. It included a lot besides office space in a continuing vision of the 24hr community that has barely taken hold over the last 20 years or so. At a cost estimated to be over $10 billion from sources that are far from assured such as development rights, WTC taxes "Port Authority excess funds" [who has excess funds anymore?], insurance and various fees [airport facility charges-who's flying?]...he was really stretching it.

Upper West and Lower West Side

The locals are not grubby artists anymore! Anyone thought what residents of new-ish $multimillion lofts of Tribeca would say about towers of a new Battery Park City North just N of the existing one on new Hudson landfill blocking THEIR view? Thoughts for it floated around for years in the head of Charles J. Urstadt, chair [1968-78] of Urstadt Biddle Properties was former chairman, NOW Vice Chair of the Battery Park City Auth [1998- ] Another Pataki bud doing a number on us! "He recently pitched his idea in a meeting at City Hall with James Whelan, the chief of staff to deputy mayor for economic development, Daniel L. Doctoroff." [McGeehan, "Man's Vision to Carve Prime Real Estate From Hudson River Proves a Tough Sell" NYTimes 10-16-2007] IS IT worth the money the city would be paid in fees in lieu of property taxes, as with BPC? Condo owners are in buildings on land they don't own.

$7Billion 25-year Columbia University expansion north into 17 acres of "West Manhattanvile" 125 to 134st, Broadway west to 12 Av. They already owned 76 per-cent the properties and got tenants out and now ninety+ whatever percent anyway. NY City Council passed rezoning Columbia needed DEC __ 2007 and same day the preliminary MOU [Memorandum of Understanding] commitment and agreement to continue on to a Community Benefits agreement was signed. Columbia pressured private owners with condemnation to sell them their properties. For last 2 commercial hold-outs they WILL are on verge of using eminent. the 17 acre area was officially declared "blighted" on JULY 17 2008 by the Empire State Dev. Corp. and "final" approval to condemn the properties was given by NYState / ESDC DEC 17 2008. But this is being appealed for last? time in a new petition filed JAN 2009 for courts to "..reject, annul and set aside" EDC light-eminent-domain ruling, presents evidence of collusion between Columbia, ESCD and consultant [AKRF] it hired and also that the scheme does not meet the standards for such development concerned by that infamous US Supreme Ct "KELO" decision. Mr. Sprayregen who leads this lawsuit suit also found with a FOIA request that six AKRF consultant employees who worked on the blight study also worked on the redevelopment plans. -see Damon W. Root, "College Cheat: Columbia blighted own hood" NYPost 2-16-2009.

"State, university hire same consulting firm" Norman Siegel |reps some of the local business owners| is sued NY Empire State Development Corp alleging conflict of interest. The NY ESDC using the consultant to push thru their "blight" determination with shady tactics, and Columbia is using AKRF, to do some architectural work for the new campus [-Crain's Insider 6-8-2007] "AKRF and ESDC contend that there is no conflict of interest because the projects are handled by different departments within the planning firm."

Columbia left their properties under-developed or vacant and poorly maintained for years. The very last residential tenants can stay for a while [2018 max] then construction reaches them. The University is paying off the "Harlem machine" with groups with a new Community Benefits Agreement, $76mil estimated to be controlled by these pols over 12 years of the approx $150mil package through new West Harlem Development Corp. for the purpose. Heil, Columbia? SO far [Sept 2007] $20mil "affordable housing fund", $11.5mil for care for West Harlem Waterfront park for 25 yrs. and building replacement homes for displaced tenants. And before it supposed to allowed according to the DEV Corp BYLAWs, Rep. Charlie Rangel and S. Stringer, the Borough President and 7 other politicians glommed on the its board to take part in sharing and distributing the $poils. Columbia is using pols and these groups, many who are from just outside the area to propagandise and disarm local WEST Harlem opposition. Charlie Rangel received campaign contributions from three Columbia administrators who are lobbyists. Bill Lynch & Assoc is getting $50,000 a month from Columbia..Lynch is a Dem consultant tied to David Dinkins one of his Deputy Mayors, but Dinkins and Hazel Dukes were both booed at SEPT meeting of the local Community Board -which is a sounding board but no real power in the issue, though. [-"Columbia's Astroturf: Faking grassroots support for expansion plan" T. Elliott, NYPost 9-19-2007]

Flood zone? Terrorist target? Mar 2008 Lawsuit against it by one of the holdout property owners brought to public attention the 2 million sq. ft. 17-acre[!] 8 fl. 'bathtub' type underground storage, lab, power generation facility under the site. Not officially in a flood zone in the ol charts, it is too close for comfort![-See E. Dwoskin "Hurricane Klaus: Everyone listens to Columbia's disaster expert - except Columbia itself" Village Voice OCT 1-7 2008]

United Nations HQ

5 years of renovations finally start early 2009 after years of postponement and fuss. The U.H. HQ is being called a firetrap with 866 violations. The bloated international bureaucracy is so bad that it makes NYC's look good. Post D-Bank tower firemen's deaths, Mayor wrote OCT 20 to U.N. trying to push them to correct the violations beyond a few steps they already took. But he can not make them; this is international property, and looks like the most he could legally do is huff and puff that he would tell on them, and be "forced to direct the cessation of all public school visits.." [NYPost NOV 13 2007]. late FEB-early MAR 2008 NYTimes reported on deal with developer SOLOW for 6 years of swing space at existing 380 MadAv and possibility of leasing part of projected office tower on the Solow E River site for the U.N. as part of the 7- tower E River package that is about to face next approval phase mid MAR 2008 in a City Council vote on rezoning involved. BLOOMBERG in mid APRIL 2006 lobbied in "Albany" to move forward on its part of the renovation package, but there will probably be no new tower for the UN on a city-owned park; the State rejected in 2004 subsidising a new UN tower south of the existing UN at Robert Moses Playground 42St-1Av. their Asst Secy General in charge of renovation says they can not wait anymore for it. There will be no "outer Borough' home for UN swing space as U.N. Headquarters offices are vacated for $1billion [NOV 2005 est climbed to $1.9bil] renovation [they requested $1.2bil-dollar interest-free loan from U.S. and NY State aid!]

Pier 17

at South St Seaport was planned to be demolished adjacent high rise by leaseholder [city land] General Growth Properties. APRIL 2009 thye are filing Chapeter 11 at least hoping to keep most of the mall properties open! The NYTimes [Dunlap, 6-18-2008] showed a 42-fl apartment tower on site of ol Fulton Fish market with hotel and retail in the base and other smaller bldg on site Pier 17 on the river. The one rendering Times printed used low viewpoint of the pier area omitting the tower behind! A lawsuit for lack of promotion-marketing, cut of maintenance and security by vendors at Pier 17 against Rouse and General Growth is proceeding thru State Supreme Court may stall the demolition/construction. The developers called their tenants losers in a rent dispute.

Zoning does not allow more than 350 ft [aprox 35 floors] so NYC gotta change the rules [zoning] for this developer just as it does for what seem all of them all over wherever they want it. DO they believe a new 'mixed-use high rise building' ON the water going to knit South St Seaport back into the area! Condo owners or tenants will be a privileged group indeed; there are NO other building on the water until you get uptown to Waterside Plaza, then there are the apartment built ABOVE the East River Drive only. Preliminary plans for 50-fl mixed used bldgs were just PR, no details were shown at the company's first public presentation FEB 26 2007. Company says if they build a tower, then they can have some open space - locals largely oppose a tower on East River. Also, the 2 vacated FULTON FISH MKT bldgs. will be removed as part of the package. These Fulton Fist mkt buildings are still owned by the city thru its Economic Dev. Corp. which of course is wedded to the developers. The city does not want plans such as that for a local-artisanal foods market "New Amsterdam Market" to just move in. The new tower plans call for the "Tin Building" to be saved [actually this is NOT the original which burnt in 1996] and rebuilt on another side of the new complex. But it is being used to store "construction" and building main supplies; sounds another set-up for demolition by fire.

*Ground-breaking AUG 16 2006 for 2009 opening $400mil Gateway Center Mall is being developed by well-connected The Related Companies [a no-bid lease and zoning change approved FEB 1 in City Council] aided by NY Economic Dev Corp & greased by community job and construction job promises. The existing deco-ish Bronx Terminal Market [old ethnic-foods vendors final eviction was June 1 2006] south of Yankee stadium was demolished and construction began 9-14-2006, to be open fall 2009. RELATED gave a $34,156 contribution to Bx. Borough President Carrion. Will include BJs, Target, Bed Bath & Beyond, Marshalls, Staples and Home Depot. CITY gave the developer the next-door BX house of detention for them to tear down and build parking - but no agreement yet for called-for replacement jail*

Willets Point. Gotham Centre.

WILLETS POINT: the almost infamous "Iron Triangle". Task Force [multi-Agency] inspectors raided Willets Pt. businesses APR 2 and 3 2009 and shut 11 down just a couple of day before new Citi field opened. [-see DailyNews Apr 5 2009]

May 1 2007 Mayor showed 1st concept -originally 8 finalists versions for a mixed-use business-retail-convention district with condos and "affordable housing" financed elsewhere to induce key Council persons to OK the whole thing, plus a little park adjacent to the new Mets [Citi] Field were due in 2006 and a actual developer[s] won't be chosen until after late 2008 approvals at earliest. The Mayor and NY State EDC want to ram thru a rezoning thru the Council and hand it to a developer. This will put off or eliminate land use hearings if the land is seized and turned over to a developer thru the STATE, though Mayor said he would *like* to NOT have to seize the 61 acre site by eminent domain. NO ONE from NYC or the public Development Corp contacted the local businesses thru 2007. IN the meanwhile, owners are making deals with the city,' 2nd biggest owner "House of Spice" in late OCT, much smaller Feinstein Ironworks early NOV means [Daily News 11-12-2008] that NYC "controls 47% of the site". The owner of Flushing Towing also in DailyNews 11-12-2008 said he was glad to have sold out from the disgusting area, to the city - at a profit! The last bigger more connected owners are holding out for more$$. Is this blockbusting? Is this socialism? YES. These are [secret terms] business deals using tax dollars on behalf of developers by the Mayor.

C. Schulman, former Queens boro President is 'Queen' of the new Development Corp. of this project who had commissioned a study of the area which concluded a good industrial area could be made of it if the roads and sewers were etc. were finally done, but that was not what she was looking for; we now see it was just more matter of a little time before politicians delivered the area to their developer patrons.

The [J. Lauinger, Daily News JUN 12-] said a consultant for NYC is providing a "blight study" report as a step towards eminent domain justification, described the draft report as a what I would say sorta is a 'blackwash' of the area "The illegal activities and harmful environmental practices in the district have created a condition that is threatening to the environment and harmful to the neighboring communities." Umm is this about Wall St? * They PAY same ol taxes as everyone! There is like 1 resident literally, but really only auto repair, steel fabrication, scrap, and warehousing-distribution businesses [1,500 est employed] that will all have to relocate or be forced close. Neglected for decades by NYC; they have now [APR 9 2008] filed a FED lawsuit suing NYC over neglect since post WWWII not providing sewers, sidewalks, sanitation services prompted by NYC moves to possess take their land for developer[s]! Many of them are big polluters as a result.

Gotham Center: Ah the developers are getting ready to GO on Queensboro Plaza area. Though NY ESCD selected Tishman thru an RFPropoals, all the parties involved are in the same ol club. NYC grea$ing the way for them. First there is the announced NYC $40mil [with $19mil in FED funds] "beautification" makeover of the public space itself announced early fall 2008. Then, announced OCT 17 2008 NYC will sell off its municipal garage at the east end of the 'Plaza', surely sweetheart deal to TISHMAN SPEYER [no comment from Tishman or DOH to DailyNews see 10-17-2008] and will lease the space [all?] in TISHMANs upcoming $3160mil 21-fl office tower + retail and 180 parking spaces there for 2,000 NYC Dept of Health employees relocated from various downtown spaces as the first phase of the whole project! There is also approx $18million in equity by the NYC Employees' Retirement System and the Teachers Retirement System committed.

Kingsbridge [Bx] Armory Would be ready to go, but the activists seeking a piece $ [union, commmunity organsiers] of unresolved community benefits Agreement..new big new supermarket [NON union] would be within, making them VERY angry. Activists " "The Kingsbridge Armory Task Force finally met last week to consider development plans after the city dropped a controversial demand that members sign a gag order.""[-B. Egbert, DailyNews 5-15-2007]" demanded a Community Benefits Agreement plus a 'living wage' [minimum wage] of $10hr + benefits for "75% of workers" from winning -or CHOSEN!- developere, which is RELATED Companies; chosen [no-bid] by NYC March 2008 and officially confirmed APR 2008 [announcement/ choice delayed from fall 2007]. In MAR 2009 the developer got $17mil tax benefits from NYC Industrial Dev. Agency. In 1996 the facility was transferred to NYC. It took til FEB 2007 to put out for bid and get 3, "green" buildings.

Stapleton S. I. waterfront redevelopment Spring 2007 $66mil infrastructure work to start. RFP solicited mid 2007. "Adjacent" City-owned land to be sold to help pay for cost of maintenance of public part of the it.

Fun and Games Grease Up The Politicos:

Ground was broken 8-16-06. Last game was 9-21-2008. The City of NY [the public!] owns the old stadium and grounds. So what, it is of no other major use than as Yankees home; the city may as well own the air, all that we do with it is for and by direction of the Yankees! The 2007 rent to NYC was $14,976,488 of $319mil stadium income, after $5mil maint and $mil sweetheart "planning" deduction set up by Giuliani. The Yankees President, Randy Levine [-see DailyNews 1-11-299] rebuffed critics of the deal by noting Economic Development Corp figures that NYC is netting $60mil on construction. GEE, on a $1.3bil project! Plus a thousand or two thousand new jobs. B.S. - they are mostly seasonal and probably mostly "replace" ones at the ol stadium! NYC saves all the maintenance costs of the ol stadium. GEE, NYC does not get any more rent. Independent Budget Office estimate JAN 2008 of direct costs to taxpayer were $326 million for construction of parks replacement, train station, garages, demo of ol stadium etc. With lost rents, tax breaks and other subsidies the IBO estimate of NYC-NYState taxpayer cost is about $855,000,000!

The few hundred million$ of 'one -time' direct costs [infrastucture] to the taxpayers increased to $663mil [JUL2007 dollars] which was $217mil more than APR 2006 estimate which was an $76.2mil increase over 2005. Taxpayer costs are still increasing - 10.2 acres replacement park on roofs of new garages and to demolish the original Yankee Stadium [for "Heritage Field" to be ready fall 2011!] increased from 2005 figure using 2004 costs" [!] package plan $116mil, now $197.4 million according to the IBO report released JAN 27 2009! Though $30mil+ are increased 'waterfront park' added cost for a pier, the IBO questioned $16 million as still quite unexplained. Cost for garages only to be paid back to NYC *IF* they are profitable to Bronx Parking Development Co. ["shell corp" part of Community Initiatives Development Co.[CIDC-WHO are they?-] Financing the government portion delayed - put off for a month from SEPT to OCT 2007. NYC and MTA are covering new $91Mil cost [announced MAY 21 2007] which MTA first approved 2006 as $40mil for a Yankees METRO NORTH Yankees train station *plus* NYC will spend another $59mil for a pedestrian bridge to it. The YANKEES are *not* paying any part of that.

Developer of new mall at former BX terminal market- The Related Companies somehow is going to receive $1.2mil too in this deal. This all came from the "Multimodal" station presented to MTA Board by pressure from the Mayor and Governor APR 26 2006 after being dropped from plans. This GOVT [taxpayer] cost: $75mil from State ESDC-and the rest from NYC issuing $190Mil - NO ooops its $219mil -they said parking garage cost AUG 2007 "just" rose by nearly $30million reaching almost $240million in tax free bonds for garages, some of the infrastructure and new trees. 1,145 spaces in one of 4 garages was CUT just to stick to that cost.

Will there be any TAXES on new stadium paid by the team to NYC?? NO! Yankees will pay PILOT [payment in lieu of taxes, controlled by Mayor] and assumption of maintenance by team INSTEAD of paying RENT [NO Real Estate taxes either] to NYC though there are none now either, is all the revenue back to us! No more rent so no more filing annual rent report to NYC; the finances will be more private. "Tax law stipulates that PILOT bonds can only be issued in amounts equal to what the area would normally receive in property tax revenues." Hence, higher values NYC park land handed over to Yankees, more bonds could be issued! Changed IRS rules block financing stadiums and such with tax exempt bonds after FEB 2007. NYC and State also lobbied for IRS -NOT- to close this LOOPHOLE or provide waivers for projects under way!

Local government is happy because they see it as a way to way to get the Feds to give the largest share of the subsidy!" "According to the city's Independent Budget Office, the construction of the new Yankee stadium received $920 million tax-exempt, resulting in savings of $190 million in tax payments for the Yankees...the city's treasury lost $10 million in taxes, the state $18 million, and the federal government $200 million." NOT that the city should be in the business, but for ANY govt [public!] $$ to build stadiums, we should get a piece of the team for the money! Did NYC [Dept of Finance] inflate value of BX land a few times over in order to sell more$$ in the tax exempt bonds to finance the new stadium?

NYC/ Mayor stonewalled for 2 months a request by Congressman Kucinich / House subcommittee for documents of the land appraisal and wrote directly to the Mayor [OCT 14 2008] to ask for what was not sent, and demand the NYC Dept of Finance Commissioner testify in DC OCT 24 at a hearing on the stadium [-see Schroeder, in The Bond Buyer OCT 17 2008]. The law seems plain enough to him that PILOTs are intended for primary benefit of the localities above the private interests concerned and he wants the Treasury to stop this kind of abuse of the rules [and taxpayer $$$]. BUT Eric Solomon, US ASSST TREASURY SECY countered KUCINICH in letter JULY 2008 that fed law allows local government to determine what they will finance with tax exempt bonds and so only Congress limit it by changing the law. Paying the current bond debt with PILOTs from the Yankees/developer to NYC allowed them to circumvent the law, so far. IRS "letter" cleared the bond financing deal for this stadium based on "cooked" land value assessment cleared by NYC lawyers [IDA- Industrial Development Agency and Yankees lawyers] which NYC still officially denies/stonewalls [2 higher appraisals PLUS lower construction cost estimate], so Bloomberg/Yankees could proceed with the bond issue unchallenged by IRS.

Yankees fall 2008 dropped the 'bomb' they NEED $350mil+ more tax exempt financing claimed due to extra luxe conference, dining, $14.2mil higher priced scoreboard, $5mil "bathroom improvements", $10.5mil suite upgrades, $10.7mil extra video board, $8.7mil and extra for "administrative office" furnishings? This mean the total package for the new stadium is $1.3billion! Even some Yankee fans are griping about NYC grea$ng the package in this time of govt budget cuts for the rest of us! NYS Assembly Committee is reviewing the project, with neighbouring lands of $15+ sq ft they gave stadium land $275 sq ft values, based on some Manhattan values! US Parks Dept put value at $45 sq ft. "Hill eyes Yankees' bond sale" -Juan Gonzalez, Daily News, 7-28-2008. By OCT 2008 ___ hearings, IRS already approved the issue of up to nearly $366mil more tax-free bond financing Yankees demand. Hmm, Bloomberg - Goldman Sachs cabal of US Treasury..the people did not have a snowball's chance...[P. Keifer, 'Soviet-Style' Tactics Said To Be Used To Help Yanks", NYSun 6-13-2008]

The Yankees hired high-priced lobbyists and lawyers to fix the deals for the stadium and of them, hundreds of thousands of dollars of consulting fees went to a select few directly connected to the BRONX Democratic organisation. Locals so far [FEB2008] wondered why Yankees and pols and hire people to administer the programs have not accounted for money, and facts to back up the agreement which included hiring 25% Bronx contractors and 25% Bronx construction workers [sure, good luck!] and they with Yankee lawyers and the Bloomberg Admin nearly silenced the opposition. They certainly pushed them aside; the Community Board was purged of those opposed to the stadium, .

The project particularly greased Bronx Borough President Adolfo Carrion, and his Mayoral ambitions with tens of thousands in campaign donation from companies benefitting from the construction. Was the BX Boro President "troubled" about the TAXPAYERs or "his" money before the approval vote as he questioned the increased cost of financing deal because the IDA [Indust. Development Agency] withheld draft lease agreement, but he has only 1 appointee on the IDA panel anyway. One "donor" noticeably made two contributions of $5k then $25,000 was first-time pol contribution the Glasers of G.A.L. Manufacturing just as they were getting $5mil from NYC for "air rights" + free hand in still expanding their bldg. under a new "pedestrian bridge" at E153st leading from the expanded MTA /Metro North station towards a garage and the new stadium. "The $30,000 contributions from the Glasers to Carrion were raised through an intermediary, Ricardo E. Oquendo, of the major lobbying firm Davidoff and Malito, record show. Oquendo was formerly counsel to the Bronx Democratic Party and former state assemblyman Roberto Ramirez." Though a new law effective JAN 1 2008 made LLC /Partnership contributions illegal, Carrion raised "more than $250,000 from LLCs and partnerships since January 2006." [-G. Rayman, Runnin' Scared/ Elevator Diplomacy, Village Voice NOV 28-DEC 4 2007 issue]. The YANKEES started to pay out towards their "community Benefits" obligation late, in 2008. The $50Mil 40-year "Community Program" is a "slush-fund" shepherded by the BX Borough President paved the way [Who is to be favored with the "free" tickets and kids baseball money etc.?] NOTE: GROUPS can apply for their share of this kick-back fund *here.*

Other STADIUMS and SUCH

The NY area teams have cemented creation of a new market. When dollar$$ paid to and earned for the team by top players becomes more a concern than their game [if EVEN it is just PERCEIVED by the player] then they are in for a fall! Season ticket buyer [PSL] Personal Seat License GIANTs prices start at [ticket plans released 8-27-2008] $4,000 to $25,000 seat "personal ticket license" just to be allowed buy most tix such as $700. ea [+ whatever the paid in wining bids for the PSL] for 2,000 "Coaches Club" seats and amenities are all really finance a piece of [$185mil estimated] of $1.6+bil new stadium. Top price for a PSL Oct 2008 was reported by one bidder for 2 ea. PSL at $400,000. HA! JETS PSL fee requirement excludes 27,000 upper deck seats at $85. Sorry for me calling those complaining businessmen who are already spending many thousands for multiple season tix for years fat rats. Some are squirming over huge increases by trying to downgrade or drop their season tix. Others are turning them into their own speculative instruments for resale after a year or taking on partners.[-see Sandomir, "Tickets for New Stadiums: Prices: and Outrage, Escalate NYTimes 8-26-2008]. This is just business in 2008; THEY should know! Most of the rest of us are just trying to cope with rising costs of the basics! Some of "youse" guys worship "market price" otherwise in setting huge rent and other prices for all other basic stuff you sell to us.

*NEW Mets stadium -named CITIfield + corporate image integration for $20mil a year from Citigroup- ceremonial groundbreaking NOV 12 2006 $632Mil tax-free and taxable bonds approved APRIL 2006 to pay for construction saves team over $150mil and city+State spend $165Mil for infrastructure. Less seats [except for some $19 way upper deck, others will be from $125 to $495. I guess those laid off NY area Citi workers may not in the luxury suite and seats, but who is getting screwed more, the ol workers, shareholders or the taxpayers?. *CITIFIELD warning: [from all I read-Upper seats/'nosebledd'whatever regualr siezed exits up there to long flts of stairs down. NOTE the field and stadium are like a newer version of Ebbets field - with very similar OBSTRCTED view seats. NYC surprisingly will own this stadium but of what use is that! NYC pays some but doesn't "play" it can't take it away [sell or let another team play!] METS will get property tax exemption, they will pay the operating cost [and who would expect anything else] but that will largely be covered by the CITI Filed naming rights and the METS will NOT pay any rent to NYC. There will be 12,000 fewer seats than at Shea plus 54 luxury suites include 10 Sterling [low level "bunker"suites"] in NYC for first time. 2,100 parking spaces are closed for the duration of construction.*

NASCAR Staten Island 2010

plan cancelled by International Speedway Corp. DEC 2006. Site will be prepared for resale by ISC in 2008 or later. But coming industrial/ distribution use of site will bring heavy truck traffic! Traffic nightmare of planned 82,500 spectators well 2006 now they say bus in all the fans from NJ parking sites. Staten Islanders say has anyone told Bayonne? And how would parking in NJ add more commerce to S.I.?? The land sold was in 2004 to International Speedway Corp. -with local co-developer also politically influential in NYC "The Related Companies" but approvals not all in place. Plan hearing APR 27 2006 nearly erupted in violence so was shut down by police as pro-NASCAR union "goons" tried to silence the opposition including a local Councilman who some say goaded and insulted them and turned the hearing into a political rally-see Staten Island Advance APR 30. Not mentioned in an earlier presentation to elected officials, but first noted by press [2-28-06] for the complex is the 3 or 4 slot helipad for official and the rich to fly in! [Now former] Borough President Guy Molinari -the "Molinari Group" was paid monthly fees under 2 contract starting June 2004, totaling about $1.5mil to publicly and sorta covertly -see NYPost 4-23-2007- to influence the community for it- BLOOMBERG met with him in support but Mayor was quiet on the issue despite many local against it, guess because he needed SI support to be elected.]

But It's Even Worse in Jersey

PEW REPORT released 3-3-2008-> State of NJ 3rd worst in US [above RI, NH] in management of employees, budgets and infrastructure.
*XANADU in the Meadowlands Whatever is ready will first open NOV 2008. .."Reprieve for Troubled Xanadu..[NYTimes 8-23-2006] new backer-partner agreed to finish the project"...takes control from MILLS Corp. Only 2,300 car deck and "skeleton of the major bldg. is finished of now $2Bil amusement park-shopping mall while a mini Nascar track, YMCA, roller coaster are among original goodies dropped from the plans.* Xanadu and next door hardly started new luxe golf community received almost "..$1billion in low-interest loans, tax breaks and infrastructure investments by public agencies.." [Belson, "Delay, Turmoil and High Costs Plague Meadowlands Projects" NYTimes 3-5-2008] "And this is a third world country when it comes to ethics."- lawyer, local developer and a founder of the Meadowlands Commission, Mr. Bruinooge.

Prudential - Newark Arena

Opened OCT 25 2007..oh it's too close to the street and official decided secretly, streets would have to be closed, the Star-Ledger broke the news OCT 2007. SO far, adjacent streets are closed with barriers on game nights. People realised in BROOKLYN, similar security needs would also force closures, yet the new "superblock" of the Gehry-designed "BARCLAYS" arena and towers block would eliminate local streets. How could the few major arteries left -FLATBUSH, ATLANTIC, and 3Av be closed, choking traffic even into MANHATTAN over the BK-Manhattan Bridges! The Prudential [Newark] Arena was started in 2006, last bldg plan unveiled APRIL 7 2005 met opening date for NJDevils season despite construction delays with roof structure. New Mayor Booker was examining the wheeling-dealing on this project by Sharpe James, guess it umm passed muster.*

Serving Up Brooklyn Hot to Developers