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In the News: NYC Jailgate and the cost of prison
FREAKING OUT OVER THE COST OF THE JAIL
Nile Berry, who runs the IG account @urbanexplained is by his own account obsessed with the cost of the jail going up on the site of the old jails on White and Centre — which is good for us! His latest freak out: the new global headquarters for JP Morgan is going to cost $1200 a square foot; the jail will cost $5400 a square foot. “If Manhattan’s new jail was built at the same per square foot cost as JP Morgan’s new global HQ. It should only cost: $840 million NOT $3.8 billion!” he notes in the caption.
LEMAN GETS A BIG CASH INFUSION
Crain’s reports that Léman Manhattan, which was on a rent strike, has resolved a dispute with its landlord and the school reported it received a $40 million investment from Collegio Partners. From Crain’s: “Léman Manhattan Preparatory School has paid back all back rent due at 25 Broadway, plus provided an equity contribution under an amended lease reached with building owner Wolfson Group, according to a report last week from credit-rating agency KBRA.”
THE WEALTHY LOVE DOWNTOWN
The Journal has a story saying that New York’s wealthiest now want to live Downtown. From WSJ: “A seismic shift is taking place in downtown Manhattan. Traditionally, the city’s most expensive real estate has been uptown, on Billionaires’ Row, Central Park West and the Upper East Side. But with a spate of big-ticket sales and listings below 14th Street, downtown prices are starting to rival the city’s most expensive uptown enclaves. As finance and tech firms have migrated downtown—alongside new retail, parks, and cultural institutions—a new wave of luxury condo development along the West Side Highway is luring wealthy buyers to neighborhoods like the West Village, Tribeca and Chelsea.”
AN EXPERT CHOCOLATIER IN CHINATOWN
Eater reports that Daniel Corpuz, an expert chocolatier who embraces Asian cacao and Filipino flavors, has opened at 60 Mulberry, near Bayard. From Eater: “Corpuz grew up on Staten Island and became interested in baking through watching reality cooking shows like DC Cupcakes and Cake Wars. He baked birthday cakes for his brothers and even for history assignments at school. Eventually, he went to culinary school, did his externship at upscale restaurant the Modern, and worked at Danny Meyer’s Manahatta, where he was introduced to chocolate-making.” Will definitely report back on that one!
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The cost of the misguided jail plan is absolutely shameful. And of course, the cost will keep going up as the project goes on, due to “over-runs”.
It’s not worth getting into the back-and-forth over the jail; pretty sure everyone’s positions are hardened at this point. (Reminds me of another recurring topic here!)
But: do people really not understand why a jail costs a lot more to construct than a corporate tower?
If you think it costs $3.4Billion to build a jail, run your numbers again. It shouldn’t cost more than $1500 sq foot for a jail even in NYC. Instead you have estimates running $3000-$5400 per square foot. I don’t buy into the BS. I don’t care how high-tech or max security it will be, that’s way too much money on any scale and I’m certain, someone’s getting some major kickback somewhere. It’s an insane amount of money for 1000 beds.
There is no question that the Rikers facilities are horrible and inhumane and need to be new.
But it should have been on Rikers where there is space.
Space for a therapeutic humane facility with appropriate medical, mental health, addiction/rehab, educational and recreational services.
And free transport for families.
The rational for borough jails was to be close to families.
But that makes zero sense as people will be in locations where they – allegedly – committed the crime. If they live in the Bronx but accused of homicide in Brooklyn, they’ll be housed in Brooklyn.
Women will all be in Queens anyway.
Every borough will have to have a designated hospital (currently there is one – Elmhurst)
The new borough jails will be too small, and insufficient outdoor space.
The new jails won’t solve problem of Correction Officer issues.
BTW many COs live far away and drive in and have long shifts. Where will they park?
Sad but very true. All driven by politics and des blasio’s determination to stick to the residents of lower manhattan at any cost, and he has certainly delivered on that.
Also I think separate jails will also impact staffing logistics.
On Rikers currently easier to move staff if coverage is needed.
Not sure how that will work with locations in different boroughs.