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VOLUME 24, NUMBER 31 THE NEWSPAPER OF LOWER MANHATTAN
DECEMBER 21 - 27, 2011
BY ALINE REYNOLDS
In a matter of days,the Peck Slip school hasbeen expanded, zoned andassigned a principal.Last week, the cityDepartment of Educationannounced plans to fur-ther expand the K-5elementary school from656 seats to 712 seats,allowing additional spacefor two more classroomswhen the school moves toits permanent location atOne Peck Slip. CommunityEducation Council DistrictTwo also approved theD.O.E.’s third and finalrezoning proposal on Dec.14. The new zone willsend Downtown studentswho live north of LibertyStreet and Maiden Laneand south of the BrooklynBridge to the Peck SlipSchool.And, at NYS AssemblySpeaker Sheldon Silver’sSchool Overcrowding TaskForce meeting on Monday,Dec. 19, the D.O.E.announced that MaggieSiena would be the new prin-cipal at Peck Slip. CurrentlySiena is principal at P.S.150 and will remain therethrough this school year.The expansion followsthe D.O.E.’s promise madein November to expand theschool from 476 seats to656 seats and to build twoextra floors in the One PeckSlip building. “After thePostal Service decided notto maintain use of a part of the building, we were ableto add additional space tothe new Peck Slip site,” saidD.O.E. Spokesperson FrankThomas.A U.S.P.S. spokespersonconfirmed the news and saidthat its retail and carrieroperations are still slatedto move to the John andChurch Street locations inthe coming months.Silver said he was“delighted” over the news.“For us, the more [seats],the merrier,” Silver said.“We need as many seats aswe can get.” While Siena said shedidn’t know about staffingat the future school, she didimpart information on thePeck Slip School’s curricu-lum, which will emphasizecritical thinking and socio-emotional learning, amongother core values of the
Peck Slip school getsnew seats, new principal
BY TERESE LOEB KREUZER
The Howard Hughes Corp., whichhas a long-term lease on portions of theSouth Street Seaport, quietly showedits plans for Pier 17 to a few membersof Community Board 1 on Dec. 14 butrefused to talk about them further or todiscuss them with the press.John Fratta, chair of C.B. 1’s SeaportCommittee, said that he, C.B. 1 chairJulie Menin and Paul Hovitz, a memberof the Seaport Committee, met withHoward Hughes reps and saw someplans for a structure that would replacethe current mall. “They’re loweringthe building,” said Fratta. “They’regoing to make it all glass so no matterwhere you are on Pier 17, you’re goingto have an unobstructed view of the
Howard Hughes pitches pier plans
Continued on
page 13
Continued on
page 17
Downtown Express photo by Milo Hess
East and West celebrate the season
The annual East Meets West parade was held on Saturday, Dec. 17 and combined the heritage and culture of LittleItaly and Chinatown in celebration of the holiday season. Page 14.
OPEN 24HOURS// 7 DAYS A WEEK64 SLICE CT SCAN ULTRASOUND
TREATING ACUTE ILLNESSES
ANYHOSPITAL EMERGENCY ROOM.
YourDowntownHoliday Guide,p. 22
December 21 - December 27, 2011
2
downtown express
Silverstein Properties Pres, Janno Lieber, goes on the record
Last week, the Downtown Express sat down with Janno Lieber, president of World Trade Center Properties, an affili-ate of Silverstein Properties, to discuss the construction prog-ress and leasing prospects of W.T.C. 2, 3, and 4; developer Larry Silverstein’s hiring of a co-chief executive officer; andother aspects of the W.T.C. redevelopment project.
BY ALINE REYNOLDS
DE: How long have you been with Silverstein Properties?What is your role in supervising the rebuilding of theW.T.C.?
I’ve been working here since 2003. I do a little bit of everything: I work on W.T.C. business matters, as well asenvironmental, legal, public affairs and leasing issues. I alsodeal with stakeholder-related design and construction issues,which is like being a U.N. diplomat. We don’t have a lot of controversies right at this moment, though, so I actually gotto go to my 11-year-old daughter’s basketball game for thefirst time this week!
According to previous announcements by SilversteinProperties, 4 W.T.C. is scheduled to open in 2013; and 2and 3 W.T.C. are to be completed by 2015. Are you onschedule with all three towers?
Four W.T.C. will be completed by 2013. Three W.T.C.should be up by 2015; although; we do have one milestoneto hit: We need to get a 400,000-square-foot tenant in orderto get a financing backstop that makes sure we will complete
Janno Lieber, president of World Trade Center Properties, an affiliate of Silverstein Properties, stands beside amodel of the future W.T.C. site.
Continued on
page 27
downtown express
December 21 - December 27, 2011
3
SQUADRON BACKS GREEN INCENTIVE PROGRAM
In advancing the mission to provide service and advanceLower Manhattan, the Downtown Alliance, backed byState Senator
Daniel Squadron
, has put forth an initiativeto launch the Green Commercial Incentive Program.In Squadron’s letter to Governor
Cuomo
, the Senatorasserted that, after the state passed legislation, New Yorkhas the means to create jobs and build the economy.The incentive program is expected to reduce energy use,increase tax revenues, grow and retain employment, aswell as sustain the market for “green-tech” jobs, accordingto the proposal.Squadron proposed that the Downtown Alliance beallotted $10 million to launch the program. “The programwould cover the cost for new commercial tenants whomake sustainability improvements to their spaces by offer-ing a grant of refundable credits and supporting smallbusinesses and building owners. The investment…. wouldcontribute to Lower Manhattan’s continued redevelopmentand growth,” the letter read.
E.D.C. LIGHTING INITIATIVE
The New York City Economic Development Corporation(N.Y.C.E.D.C.) has issued a Request for Proposals to allowdesign and architectural professionals the opportunity tobrighten Lower Manhattan and give it a 24-hour appeal tobusiness, residential and commercial individuals.“The new [street] lighting will make visitors feel morewelcome,” said Councilmember
Margaret Chin
said. “Thisproject will further our vision for Lower Manhattan as adynamic and forward-looking place to live.”The N.Y.C.D.E.C. will provide the selected team up to$1 million to leverage other funding sources. N.Y.C.E.D.C.has identified South Street between Fletcher and WhitehallStreets, as well as the pedestrian area bordered by ExchangePlace, Broad Street and Wall Street, as two potential loca-tions that have the ability to engage a large amount of tour-ists, workers, and residents.The initiative is scheduled to begin in late 2012.
Elizabeth H. Berger
, President of the Alliance forDowntown New York said, “Downtown Alliance applaudsE.D.C. President
Seth Pinsky
for this visionary plan.”
MOSES COMES TO LITTLE ITALY
A bronze replica of one of the world’s most renownedsculptures has found its way to a church in the heart of Little Italy.On Dec. 1, the first official casting of “Moses,” madefrom Michelangelo’s original white marble sculpture, wasinstalled in the sanctuary of the Church of the Most PreciousBlood, at 109 Mulberry St. The bronze work, which wasproduced in the last 50 years, originated from the very firstmolding of Michelangelo’s famed sculpture, which is part of the elaborate tomb of Pope Julius II in San Pietro in VincoliChurch in Rome.The majestic bronze, crafted to the exact dimensionsof the original “Moses” by the Chiurazzi Foundry in Italy,depicts a horned, long-bearded Moses who, having justdescended Mt. Sinai, is bearing the Ten Commandmentsdown to the Jews.“The work of art itself is deemed one of the greatworks of art in the history of the world,” said
ChuckHuller
, owner of SPQR, a New York-based art-brokeragefirm. “It has not only tremendous historical significance,it has what they called ‘implied movement’ — one motionstopping and another about to begin — as well as beauty,form and line.”
NEWS
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EDITORIAL PAGES
. . . . . . . . . . 10-11
YOUTH
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ARTS
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CLASSIFIEDS
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C.B. 1
M
EETINGS
Please note that the C.B. 1 office will be closed fromDecember 26 to the end of the month, and that no C.B.1 meetings are scheduled during that time.
ON WED., DEC. 21:
C.B. 1 will host its monthlyfull-board meeting at 6 p.m. in 3-Legged Dog’s artand technology center (Studio A, 80 Greenwich St. atRector Street).
D
OWNTOWN
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