BPCA Approves Field Time for Little Leagues

Community leaders, directors of youth athletic leagues, and elected officials are voicing criticism about the process under which the Battery Park City Authority (BPCA) is allocating time on the community’s ball fields. In a March 2 letter to BPCA chair Dennis Mehiel, U.S. Congressman Jerrold Nadler, Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer, State Assembly member Sheldon...
Soccer Field
"Along with schools, the parks, and libraries," ball fields are the foundation of any community. Here the community gets together in a beautiful summer scene.

Today in History – March 9th

On 20 April 1861, when Virginia authorities took over the Norfolk Navy Yard after its evacuation by Federal forces, they found, among other valuable items, the hulk of the steam frigate USS Merrimack. Though burned to the waterline and sunk, the big ship’s lower hull and machinery were salvageable. During the remainder of 1861 and...
The Merrimack
The Merrimack was the first of six screw frigates (frigates with steam power) begun in 1854.

Fewer Transients, More Residents

Two Lower Manhattan Hotels are facing headwinds. At the March 3 meeting of the Battery Park City Committee of Community Board 1, committee member Tammy Meltzer said, “I’ve heard from one of the people on the board at the Ritz-Carlton that they are actively seeking votes to boot the hotel, and to turn the entire...
Ritz Carlton
The Ritz-Carlton Hotel, located at the foot of West Street, may be converted entirely to apartments, if the board of the condominium housed in the building's tower has its way.

Narcs Need to Park, Too

Battery Park City’s already notoriously difficult parking situation may be on the verge of much getting worse. A specialized law enforcement unit, HIDTA (which stands for High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area) recently moved into a 56,000 square foot space in the Brookfield Place office complex, occupying the entire 19th floor of 250 Vesey Street. The...

Today in History – March 4th

51 – Nero, later to become Roman Emperor, is given the title princeps iuventutis (head of the youth). 1152 – Frederick I Barbarossa elected Holy Roman Emperor 1215 – King John of England makes an oath to the Pope as a crusader to gain the support of Innocent III. 1628 – England’s King Charles I...
Forth Bridge Under Construction
The apocalyptic-seeming Forth Bridge, under construction