••• “A downtown performing arts center, a new pedestrian bridge and an East River park are all on the way, thanks to $137 million in new grants from the Lower Manhattan Development Corp. The largest grant that the LMDC board voted on Monday morning is $100 million to construct the performing arts center at the World Trade Center site, in hopes of finally getting that long-delayed project off the ground. […] The LMDC also gave $20 million to a pedestrian bridge over West Street at West Thames Street and $17 million to finish pieces of the East River Waterfront, including the path in front of the Battery Maritime Building.” (DNAinfo)

••• “The developer of controversial lower Manhattan community center Park51 […] confirmed Monday that he has applied for grants from the Lower Manhattan Development Corp. Sharif El Gamal, chairman of Soho Properties, said that the money he is seeking will go to funding social services and other programs. The news of the grant application was first reported by The Daily Beast website, which said the developer applied for a $5 million grant. Mr. El Gamal did not confirm that amount but said he has actually applied for several grants to fund various programs. The application is one of 270 from nonprofit and government organizations that have applied to get a piece of $17 million in grants from the Lower Manhattan Community and Cultural Enhancement Fund.” (Crain’s)

••• Steve Cuozzo of the New York Post is worked up about what security at the World Trade Center site will be like when it’s done, and I’m not saying he’s not right to be—I am saying, however, that Curbed‘s distillation is quicker and easier to read.

••• Mayor Bloomberg casts doubt on the idea of the city taking over the Battery Park City Authority. (Broadsheet Daily)