The Broadsheet – Lower Manhattan’s Local Newspaper
|
|
On Common Ground
BPCA Asks for Ideas about Upgrades to the Promenade
|
|
More than 28,000 square feet of public space on the stone promenade between Battery Place and Third Place may be upgraded to accommodate recreational uses.
|
|
The Battery Park City Authority (BPCA) is seeking ideas from residents about how to bring recreational uses to the granite promenade that parallels the West Street and the Hudson River Greenway, between Battery Place and Third Place. This initiative is envisioned as a tradeoff to countervail the deficit of open space that will be created for several years, when nearby Wagner Park is closed for reconstruction of resiliency measures. That project is slated to begin soon.
The BPCA envisions installing furniture, fixtures, and equipment for uses ranging from outdoor fitness and active recreation to lounging and social seating, as permitted under the NYC Plaza program operated by the City’s Department of Transportation (DOT).
In some ways, the NYC Plaza program is a counterintuitive choice for a template to guide enhancements on the promenade, since that initiative is tailored specifically to closing underused streets, while the 28,000-square-foot space being considered by the BPCA is already off-limits to vehicles. The DOT program also makes no provision for converting paved, stone surfaces to grass or installing playground equipment—two uses that local residents may be inclined to prioritize.
|
|
The space will be repurposed to offset the deficit of open space created by the closure of nearby Wagner Park, where years of construction on resiliency measures are slated to begin soon.
|
|
Similar enhancements were proposed by residents and community leaders 15 years ago, when the promenade was being designed and constructed. They were overruled by the DOT and the BPCA, both of whom said that such features would require the approval of the City’s Public Design Commission, which pronounced itself intent upon a bare, stone walkway. This led many local critics of the plan to nickname the promenade Patakistan, after then-Governor George Pataki, who saw as part of his legacy the creation of a pedestrian boulevard connecting the World Trade Center to Battery Park, under the theory that visitors to the first site would need a convenient way to get to the Statue of Liberty ferry dock at the second site. (This vision ignored likely preference of visitors for two nearby alternate routes: the scenic Battery Park City Esplanade and the stretch of Lower Broadway that is dotted with tourist attractions.)
“Over the past 30 years and in consultation with a broad base of local stakeholders, the BPCA has developed some of the best 36 acres of public space in New York City,” said Authority president B.J. Jones. “We’re excited to continue that legacy when activating this new location, again in close partnership with our local community. We invite you to share your vision for how you’d like to use this space by completing the online survey and attending Community Board meetings in the months ahead.”
CB1 chair Tammy Meltzer added, “the Community Board welcomes this opportunity for the public to help create more active and passive play spaces. With the many changes ahead, we urge the BPCA to be flexible and scale up to meet the needs of the community during and after construction. We look forward to a dynamic and robust discussion.”
Take the BPCA’s online survey about enhancements to the promenade here. Matthew Fenton
|
|
Au Revoir to Pepperoni and Pinot Noir
Two Legacy Emporia Endangered by Rising Rents Epitomize Battery Park City’s Evolution Into a Community of Shopkeepers No More
Two venerable Battery Park City neighborhood institutions—Picasso Pizza and the Bulls & Bears Winery—may be in imminent danger of disappearing. The LeFrak organization, the landlord of Gateway Plaza (which houses both shops), has posted listings for the two storefronts on the Newmark Retail real estate website. Read more…
|
|
Between the Hammer and the Anvil
City to Spray Low Concentration of Mosquito Poison Through Lower Manhattan
This evening (Wednesday, September 28) and tomorrow, City health officials plan to spray much of Lower Manhattan with a pair of insecticides that aim to kill mosquitoes. Trucks will scatter a combination of two pesticides throughout the Financial District, the South Street Seaport, the Civic Center, Greenwich South, and parts of Tribeca (but not Battery Park City) starting at 8:30pm and continuing through 6am on Thursday morning. Read more…
|
|
Quad Erat Auferendum
Real Estate Group Proposes Redeveloping ‘Highly Coveted’ College Campus in Tribeca
The New York Building Congress (NYBC) has released a series of proposals that outline the real estate industry’s agenda and goals for coming years, one of which targets a large parcel of land that is an integral feature of Lower Manhattan’s streetscape. Read more…
|
|
Letters
To the editor,
Isn’t it really late to be spraying for mosquitos? And if there are no RCT studies that have been performed to prove that ANVIL is safe for humans and animals to inhale, then why are we using this product and not something that had already been studied to be safe and effective? Something seems very off.
Susan Korenberg
______________
To the editor,
Something sure is “off,” Ms. Korenberg, with the mosquito dusting. For one thing, there have been NO MOSQUITOES this season! But there have been noticeably fewer birds. While many of us are concerned about toxic sprays near our pets, we should remember that animals of nature can be severely impacted by human desire to obliterate insects.
Marion Marino
______________
To the editor,
It’s a good thing NYC is not spraying mosquito poison in BPC! Pesticides are not used here in any of the planted areas. The BPC Parks group uses natural enemies to combat bad bugs—e.g. ladybugs eat destructive aphids.
What would be useful in our neighborhood would be sweeping away any pooling of water where mosquitos lay their eggs. These eggs can hatch in 48 hours. If every building management put a push broom near the entrance and alerted the staff what it was for, many new mosquitoes would never emerge!
Maryanne Braverman
|
|
Comment on the Battery Park City Authority’s N/W Resiliency Project
|
|
Little Amal, the 12-foot-tall puppet of a refugee child, walked amid real and paper birds to City Hall two weeks ago. She is back downtown this afternoon. See below.
|
|
Friday, September 30
12pm
Rector Park East
See what makes the Lower West Side a hang-out for urban birds and migrators. Binoculars and field guides provided, or bring your own. Free.
2:30pm
Pier 16, South Street Seaport
Little Amal is a 12-foot tall puppet of a 10-year-old Syrian refugee girl. The puppet has traveled across Europe and is continuing her journey in NYC this fall. The walk is a celebration of art, hope and shared humanity that aims to unite communities and refocus attention on the urgent needs of migrants and refugees.
8pm
South Meadow
See above. Amal meets September Eleventh Families for Peaceful Tomorrows for a moment of remembrance with performances by Yaa Samar! Dance Theatre and The Broadway Sinfonietta.
|
|
Saturday, October 1
10am-1pm
One of BPCA’s most popular events, Go Fish! highlights the importance of stewardship and conservation of our local waters. The day features catch-and-release fishing with experienced anglers, an art project, and a nature walk with The Bee Conservancy. Special guests Teatro Sea will present The Galapagos Convention, a live play with puppetry. Free.
10am-12pm
South Cove
Paint in watercolor or use pastels and other drawing materials to capture the vistas of the Hudson River and the landscape of South Cove. An artist/educator will help participants of all levels with instruction and critique. Materials provided, and artists are encouraged to bring their own favorite media. Free.
10am-2pm
Shred-a-Thon Textile and Paper Recycling
Fulton Street between Cliff Street and Ryders Alley
Recycling of paper (limit of 10 boxes or garbage bags per person) and textiles (clothing, shoes, sneakers, accessories, and household items such as sheets and towels). Rain or shine. Free.
2pm
Governors Island
Discover a world of bees, compost, and organic gardening. Join the Bee Conservancy, Earth Matter NY, and GrowNYC for a tour of the Urban Farm on Governors Island, and learn about each organization’s work. Free.
|
|
Sunday, October 2
11am-3pm
Governors Island, Earth Matter Farm
Artist and Peruvian Heritage bed caretaker Carlos Jiménez Cahua will explore Andean culture and teach students to work in clay, woodworking and face painting. Hosted at Earth Matter’s Soil Start Farm at the Governors Island Urban Farm. Family friendly; all ages are encouraged to sign up. Free.
11am
Livestreamed
In this live-streamed walking tour hosted by the Museum of Jewish Heritage, explore the Jewish heritage of Valencia, the third-largest city in Spain. Discuss the early history of the community during the Muslim period, when several notable Jewish figures including the poet and philosopher Solomon ibn Gabirol lived in the city. Discover the Jewish Quarter of Valencia, which was one of the largest Jewish Quarters in the Iberian Peninsula and held a cemetery and synagogues. $36.
12:30pm-3:30pm
Governors Island, Nolan Park, Building 10B
Interactive percussion dance workshop using rhythmic steps, clapping, and an occasional shout out to explore sounds and create new dances or re-invent old ones. No previous experience required. No tap shoes required. Free.
2pm
Museum of Jewish Heritage, 36 Battery Place
Brooklyn-based, Native Tel-Avivian Dida Pelled is widely regarded as the greatest jazz guitarist this side of the Mississippi. Pelled’s ambitions took shape as a child, when, entranced by bebop, she sequestered herself from the world and resolved to master guitar, later earning a spot in the Israeli Army band before training at the New School on a scholarship to study jazz. As her jazz star rose, Pelled felt a pull toward classic American songwriting, shifting her direction and redefining her voice. Love Of The Tiger, Pelled’s upcoming album, is the product of a jazz prodigy gone rogue. $10 suggested donation.
2pm
Tall ship Wavertree, Pier 16
Join a round-robin of shared maritime songs on the deck of tall ship Wavertree. Lead or request a song, belt out the choruses, or just listen in. Free.
4pm
Meditate on the River
Lilac steamship, Pier 25
Reflect on the water and its flow, visualize the energy of the water embracing you, experience and rest in the motion of the docked vessel. Meditation will be held in the former Petty Officers’ Quarters where art with music and video that celebrates New York’s waterways is installed. Masks are recommended while indoors. Free.
4pm
Museum of Jewish Heritage, 36 Battery Place
This LGBTQ+ History Month, the Museum is celebrating the release of Dr. Jake Newsome’s new book Pink Triangle Legacies: Coming Out in the Shadow of the Holocaust. In it, Newsome tells the dynamic and inspiring history of the community’s original pride symbol by tracing the transformation of the pink triangle from a Nazi concentration camp badge into a widespread emblem of queer liberation, pride, and community. $10 suggested donation.
6pm
Pier 17 rooftop
Concert.
|
|
Lower Manhattan Greenmarkets
Tribeca Greenmarket
Greenwich Street & Chambers Street
Wednesdays and Saturdays, 8am-3pm (compost program: Saturdays, 8am-1pm)
Bowling Green Greenmarket
Broadway & Whitehall St
Tuesdays and Thursdays, 8am-5pm (compost program: 8am-11am)
World Trade Center Oculus Greenmarket
Tuesdays, 8am-5pm
The Outdoor Fulton Stall Market
91 South Street, between Fulton & John Streets
Indoor market: Monday through Saturday,11:30am-5pm
CSA pick-up: Thursday, 4pm-6pm; Friday, 11:30-5pm
Outdoor market: Saturdays, 11:30am-5pm
|
|
Today in History
September 30
|
|
The arrival of the Queen of the Night in the opera The Magic Flute. Stage set by Karl Friedrich Schinkel for an 1815 production. The Magic Flute was first performed on this day in 1791.
|
|
1399 – Henry IV is proclaimed King of England.
1791 – The first performance of The Magic Flute, the last opera by Mozart to make its debut, took place in Vienna, Austria.
1882 – Thomas Edison’s first commercial hydroelectric power plant begins operation on the Fox River in Wisconsin.
1927 – Babe Ruth becomes the first baseball player to hit 60 home runs in a season.
1941 – In World War II, second day of the two-day massacre at Babi Yar in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv by German forces.
1954 – The U.S. Navy submarine USS Nautilus is commissioned as the world’s first nuclear reactor powered vessel.
1968 – The Boeing 747 is rolled out and shown to the public for the first time at the Boeing Everett Factory.
1986 – Mordechai Vanunu, who revealed details of Israel’s covert nuclear program to British media, is kidnapped in Rome, Italy by the Israeli Mossad.
1991 – Jean Betrand Aristide ousted as president of Haiti
2021 – Land, including world’s oldest living rainforest, Daintree National Park (180 million yrs old) returned to the Eastern Kuku Yalanji people in Australia.
Births
1861 – William Wrigley, Jr., businessman, founded Wrigley Company (d. 1932)
1917 – Buddy Rich, drummer, bandleader, and actor (d. 1987)
1924 – Truman Capote, author, playwright, and screenwriter (d. 1984)
1946 – Jochen Mass, German race car driver
1975 – Ta-Nehisi Coates, author
Deaths
1955 – James Dean, actor, in a car accident, age 24.
1978 – Edgar Bergen, actor and ventriloquist (b. 1903)
1985 – Charles Francis Richter, seismologist and physicist (b. 1900)
1989 – Virgil Thomson, composer and critic (b. 1896)
1997 – Male alligator, largest in Florida (14 feet), killed at about 65
2019 – Jessye Norman, opera singer, dies at 74
|
|
|
|
The Broadsheet Inc. eBroadsheet.com editor @ ebroadsheet.com ©2022 All Rights Reserved All photos © Robert Simko 2022 unless otherwise credited
|
|
|
|
|
