In the News: Soho House for Muslims?

Park 51's original plan

••• The unraveling of Park51 continues: “The developer behind the proposed Islamic community center near the World Trade Center said he is exploring commercial uses there, including condominiums, a hotel and an office tower.” Also possible: A Soho House for Muslims. No matter what, a mosque will be part of the plan. For now. —Wall Street Journal

••• The new Batman movie might shoot at Occupy Wall Street protests in Zuccotti Park.  —Gothamist

••• Earl’s Court, the food court opening at John and Gold, will include outposts of “Earl of Sandwich, Greens, The Original Soupman, Sushi Express, Billy’s Bakery (third NYC location), Lavazza (coffee) and Shake Bar (apparently a UK-based make-your-own milkshake place?).” If FiDi were an airport, it’d have the best food. Anyway, Earl’s Court is opening Oct. 31. —Midtown Lunch

••• Christopher Ward’s revenge? The New York Post‘s Steve Cuozzo calls bullshit on Governor Cuomo’s “arbitrary decision to move the site of the new St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church back to Liberty Street.” And this: “Cuomo and the PA also say the church will occupy a “footprint” of just under 4,100 square feet, much smaller than the 8,000 the archdiocese wanted at first. That’s misleading. By late 2008, when the PA and the church were still trying to nail down a deal, the footprint had already been whittled to 4,600 square feet—compared with the original church footprint on Cedar Street of only 1,200 square feet. Why so large a new church for a congregation estimated to be fewer than 200 parishioners? Well, it will include a ‘nondenominational prayer and meditation center.’ Hello? Isn’t that the function of the 8-acre memorial and 7-stories-deep museum across the street?” What Cuozzo doesn’t understand: Lower Manhattan will be The Bereavement Capital of America.™

••• “New York Cares, which runs volunteer programs for 1,200 nonprofits, city agencies and public schools, is relocating to a larger space at 65 Broadway between Exchange Alley and Rector St.” I had to go to that building this morning! Grimmest hallway I’ve ever seen. —Citybizlist

••• Manhattan Loft Guy puts a sale at 9 Murray under his microscope.

••• More on the DOT’s decision to put a stoplight Greenwich and Duane: “A recent DOT study found that the number of pedestrians crossing Greenwich Street on weekends has tripled since 2007, thanks to the influx of residents and tourists in the neighborhood.” —DNAinfo

 

1 Comment

  1. So the Batman film shoot wants to come in and takeover some streets, sidewalks, etc. and basically inconvenience the residents around Zuccotti Park? Gosh, where have I heard about something similar? Just super, man!