The Greer Journal

May 11, 2013- 5:00 PM- A strong stormfront brought high winds and hail to Battery Park. The trees along the esplanade, already weakened by Hurricane Sandy, could not bear the force, and three more toppled. Merchant’s River House was hit hard. The north and south outdoor dining areas were crushed by two trees.

There are reports on people being injured by the hail. No one interviewed reported seeing a funnel cloud. Continue reading →

June 5, 2013- By Steven E. Greer

At the recent May 23rd BPCA board meeting, the newly appointed “Chief Operating Officer”, Anne Fenton, proudly stated how Pier A was advancing Continue reading →

June 5, 2013– By Steven E. Greer, MD

The Poulakakos group presented to the CB1 their detailed plans for the new 25,000 square-foot market/restaurant/bar that they are building in the ground level of the WFC 2 building (where the old SouthWest restaurant used to be located). Clearly emulating the successful Mario Batali “Eataly” market on 23rd Street and Madison Park (see our recent review), the Brookfield Place market will have a vegetable and produce market at the southern entrance near the round Cherry Tree lawn. As customers walk north, Continue reading →

June 5, 2013- By Steven E. Greer

The June 4th CB1 meeting delivered an update on the DOT studies that will result in design changes to South End Avenue and West Thames Street. First, the most recent traffic study has been completed and is being analyzed. The DOT will beet with the CB1 and interested public on June 17th. At that time, it should be known whether a series of traffic lights will be installed, as were done rapidly on North End and Murray, near Goldman Sachs. The formal decision by DOT should be known at the end of this month, according to CB1’s Evan Lacher.

Update May 29, 2013– The joint session of the CB1 passed the resolution supporting Margaret Chin’s plan to make Battery Park City a slow zone. An amendment was made to submit applications for the entire BPC rather than two separate north and south applications.

Update May 7, 2013- At the CB1 meeting tonight, a staffer for City Councilwoman Margaret Chin announced that her office is willing to help even more with the dangerous streets in Battery Park City. Her office will endorse an application to designate much of BPC as a “slow zone“, which are special areas within the city that have speed bumps, and 20 MPH speed limits. This would be in addition to the ongoing City DOT plans to install possible traffic lights.

Update April 3, 2013

The monthly CB1 meeting on April 2nd, held at the Library on North End Avenue, provided some positive updates on the DOT efforts to reduce the pedestrian dangers on South End Avenue and West Thames. The Community Board met with the DOT and began discussing specific plans to slow down traffic before the DOT studies are concluded that might result in the installation of street lights. One possibility mentioned was to place large concrete planters in the medians of the streets, but the question of maintenance and aesthetics was raised. In other areas of the city, they have become littered with trash and unsightly.

Regarding the funds needed to install more permanent measures Continue reading →