In the News: Plaza Redesign Threatens Food Carts

••• “The owners of the 51-story landmark Brown Brothers Harriman building [140 Broadway] and its plaza are seeking Landmarks Preservation Commission approval of a plan to renovate and redesign their plaza, between Cedar and Liberty Streets. Along with that proposal is a separate request to the city’s Department of Transportation to install planters and benches on the public sidewalk along Broadway. It is a plan meant, in part, to get rid of the [many food] vendors.” Also: “A seventh and larger round bench with trees and plantings would also serve as a new (and much diminished) memorial to Harry Helmsley, the building’s developer. The new design proposes to remove Helmsley’s large polished granite monument and inscribe his name and a saying about him in the seat back of the new planter.” —Tribeca Trib

••• New York Magazine says Jill Lindsey’s Tribeca shop/space will open in February with smokable herbs, spicy coconut-oil mouthwash, finance workshops, tarot readings, handmade nut milk, and healing tinctures.

••• Sunshine Cinema closed. —New York Times

••• The New York Times looks into the ludicrous argument that subway elevators on Broad Street should be opposed because they could be a terrorist target. What couldn’t be a terrorist target? By that logic, we shouldn’t have restaurants, concert halls, malls, and so on.

••• Update from Eater about the closing of François Payard Bakery: Owner “MARC said in a statement that it’s ‘assessing and reconfiguring its U.S. businesses.'”

••• “Community Board 1 is exploring the possibility of using surplus funds from the Battery Park City Authority to fund resiliency infrastructure throughout Lower Manhattan.” —Broadsheet

••• The new design for 312-322 Canal was approved by the Landmarks Preservation Commission, but apparently it’s seven stories, not nine, as reported. And the LPC “still had a few pointers. The Commissioners agreed that the architect should either do away with the current glazing on the building’s facade or try to pick a more muted version of the color they’re presently going with [rendering below]. They also asked the architect to reduce the ceiling height on the building’s penthouse to make it less visible from street level. The architect will now work with the Commission’s staff to rectify those concerns as this project moves forward.” —Curbed

 

1 Comment

  1. If those NIMBYs don’t want their apartments anymore I’m happy to take them off their hands.

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