Because we still have a Constitution in the United States, which has a 5th Amendment that reads in relevant part, "nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation." — James Bogardus on Update on the Dinosaurs of Tribeca: Unfinished buildings and abandoned lots

Thank you for compiling this information. There is also one by South St and Maiden Lane by the Seaport area where construction has been stopped for over 10 years, I believe, if not longer. It’s definitely an eyesore! — Lorena on Update on the Dinosaurs of Tribeca: Unfinished buildings and abandoned lots

Because these projects have lenders involved who have liens on the properties and need to be repaid, and from an economic standpoint, its not financially feasible to pay off the lenders for a luxury project and then convert it to affordable housing. — Reademan on Update on the Dinosaurs of Tribeca: Unfinished buildings and abandoned lots

95% of the projects in our neighborhood are being sponsored by lightly capitalized, small developers. They usually can’t get bank financing for a full project upfront, so they end up funding everything in stages - demolition, foundation, frame, and facade, and then at any stage if something goes wrong or takes too long, which is typical and expected, the project is in crisis and the developer is teetering on bankruptcy. And in NY, once it goes to bankruptcy court, it can take years to resolve, whereas in other states it is usually resolved in months. 45 Park Place has been in bankruptcy proceedings for SEVEN years. The developer has clearly defaulted, the lenders want to take the property and finish the project, but have been blocked by the court process. — Reademan on Update on the Dinosaurs of Tribeca: Unfinished buildings and abandoned lots

Thanks for this piece. It's something, to see them all listed together. It's a testimonial to something - my guess is terrible regulation of the real estate in our city. — Will on Update on the Dinosaurs of Tribeca: Unfinished buildings and abandoned lots

Why can't some of these dinosaurs be taken over by the city and finished for affordable housing? — C on Update on the Dinosaurs of Tribeca: Unfinished buildings and abandoned lots

Alternatively, now that three kiosk vendors have failed, we could get rid of the kiosk (and its apparently uneconomical costs) and try to attract better truck vendors. I don't know if this is right but continuing to try the same approach doesn't seem to make sense. — Don on Bogardus kiosk is back to square one

Not just the Halal truck but the morning kiosk that sells pastry items - neither of which pays rent to the City. If the plaza kiosk didn't have both of these other vendors, it could sell those items and we would have a truly independent functioning plaza. Our fellow community members are making this work "now". How much longer before they throw their collective hands up? — G on Bogardus kiosk is back to square one

Because he's a criminal who deserves it — JR on Carjacking on North Moore has a happy ending…

Is there any way to ask the city to move the ugly Halal truck to relocate? Is the a place we can write to request this? It really is too bad aesthetically to have it be the cornerstone of the park. — CB on Bogardus kiosk is back to square one

17 LEONARD has been an eye sore for so long. That and the failed japanese grocery store (H mart) on Hudson are such a shame — B on Update on the Dinosaurs of Tribeca: Unfinished buildings and abandoned lots

The headline on each of these were perfect. "The Newbie" — yes!! I would add that whenever I see "street level retail" promised in TriBeCa, I have to laugh. More like "street level glass enclosed vacant spaces with broker signs on them that eventually, over several years, morph into TD Banks and Sweetgreens." — Noah on Update on the Dinosaurs of Tribeca: Unfinished buildings and abandoned lots

Park Place Partners Development (the owner of 45 Park Place and the adjacent 51 Park Place lot) filed Chapter 11 on the day the adjacent lot was scheduled to go to foreclosure auction. They're scheduled to propose a reorg plan in Dec. This seems like the last card they have to play to hold off their lenders. Hopefully there is light at the end of the tunnel for all parties involved, including those poor neighbors! — Peter G on Update on the Dinosaurs of Tribeca: Unfinished buildings and abandoned lots

BIDs are the harem eunuchs of the real estate world -- all responsibility and no authority. — James Bogardus on New group to explore the potential of a Tribeca Business Improvement District

Don't we already have the Tribeca Alliance doing this work? How would this BID differ. We certainly don't need two if they cannibalize or dilute each other's efforts. Tribeca is not that large. — BT on New group to explore the potential of a Tribeca Business Improvement District

I've been to Friedman's several times and agree with your evaluation of the food. It's very good, and I think it will compete for some of Bubby's patrons, although Bubby's is a classic and has a character of its own. I'm not a fan of Friedman's interior design, which, given my background, is probably something I notice more than most. Suram next door was a disappointment, perhaps because I'm comparing it to Zutto, whose food I find better at basically the same price. — Toni on New Kid on the Block: Friedmans

Read the story. — Tribeca Citizen on Carjacking on North Moore has a happy ending…

How is this a happy ending? I am confused by this headline as a car was stolen. — Rob on Carjacking on North Moore has a happy ending…

Why are you showing a 14-year-old’s face? If this were a Tribeca neighborhood kid who conducted this dumb act, would you show his face? Pretty sure you wouldn’t. Every decision we make like this matters. — KD on Carjacking on North Moore has a happy ending…

Neither the Chinatown BID nor the SoHo Broadway Iniative have had any success with reining in the illicit vendors. Additionally, keep in mind that BIDs work for the property owners…and that since power is based on real estate lots, coops get one vote no matter how many units. — SoHo Neighbor on New group to explore the potential of a Tribeca Business Improvement District

Sounds like an inside job which then felt like not a good idea. — Sandra on Carjacking on North Moore has a happy ending…

What I find most shocking in this story is not that cars with keys inside would be stolen but that anyone would pay 300K for that ugly vanity car. — K on Carjacking on North Moore has a happy ending…

What a dumb move by real estate agents- not just leaving keys in his car but his client’s car?? Wonder if he leaves apartment doors open! Won’t use this RE duo! — Tribeca RE mom on Carjacking on North Moore has a happy ending…

Sounds promising. How much power does such a BID have? Could it actually do something to clear out the illicit street sellers? — Marcus on New group to explore the potential of a Tribeca Business Improvement District

I’m officially a senior citizen and I have to tell you if me and my buddies from the Bronx had to live down all the stupid things we did back in the day we would never have gotten this far. I do wonder though if there’s an actual adult involved here and if there was a premeditated attempt to steal a car to sell to a some kind of criminal ring. — John Gallagher on Carjacking on North Moore has a happy ending…