The two story figure is possibly in reference to an average ceiling, which is probably 8 feet high or so, as long as the people standing next to the statue are normal sized humans — lowphat on Seen & Heard: Soho Furniture Store Moved to Tribeca

Dear Corcoran Broker, David Bonavita, Are you paying to rent the furniture and to hire someone to stage this apartment? How about offering to pay artists to "rent" their work as well? Exposure, meh. $$$, yes. — Huck's mom on Seen & Heard: Big Sale on Kids’ Clothes

http://nymag.com/thecut/2017/01/fashion-designers-and-stylists-migrating-to-canal-street.html "But fashion’s incursion into the area isn’t just an artistic one. Industry people have begun to turn one of the blocks into a mini–Garment District. Two facing buildings, on 264 and 265 Canal, have become a hotbed for the city’s indie talents to set up shop — the brands Area and CG; stylists Mel Ottenberg, Chris Gelinas, George Cortina, and Katie Mossman; and magazines Document Journal and Office, to name a few. Attracted by the cheaper rent, Gelinas relocated his studio this summer from the slice of midtown that makes up the city’s shrinking (but eternally relevant) Garment Center. He says he appreciates the extra space and the remove from the fashion Establishment. 'The day that Canal Street would ever seem like a reprieve from the chaos is crazy to me, but it totally is,' he says. "The fashion crowd there has developed a kind of proximity-based camaraderie. Ottenberg can see into Area’s studio from across the street and jokes that he checks in on what they have coming down the pike. Recently, he put some of their pieces on his client Rihanna for her Fenty campaign. 'We’re on the same wavelength,' says Area co-designer Piotrek Panszczyk. And Office recently published a Q&A with Ottenberg. 'I didn’t know him officially' until he moved into the building, explains co-editor Simon Rasmussen. 'We’ve since peed together in the bathroom. Became friends,' he says jokingly. "For decades, the neighborhood has managed to stay less expensive and multinational-chain-choked than the rest of downtown Manhattan. Ottenberg says that 'this area is what Chrystie Street was ten years ago,' while Document Journal editor-in-chief Nick Vogelson likes that 'it feels like what I imagine Soho would have felt like in the ’70s. It doesn’t feel necessarily like you’re in New York in 2016.' But that could change as outsiders, including those in fashion, continue to replace legacy businesses in the neighborhood." — James on New Kid on the Block: Canal Street Market

same same on the Anish Kapoor- Ive always liked the graphic quality of a filled space, but even this seems a bit tight! — ian berry on Seen & Heard: Soho Furniture Store Moved to Tribeca

http://therealdeal.com/2016/10/26/the-long-view-nyc-is-yet-to-tax-foreign-buyers-but-could-that-soon-change/ "Since 2012, several cities with a heavy influx of foreign – and especially Chinese – apartment buyers followed Hong Kong’s model [a 15-percent tax on property purchases by anyone who wasn’t a permanent resident]. Singapore imposed a 15-percent tax on foreign apartment buyers in 2013. That same year, Switzerland set a 20-percent cap on the number of pieds-à-terre in any community. This April, Britain introduced a 'stamp tax' on pieds-à-terre. In June, the Australian states of Queensland and New South Wales (which include Sydney, Brisbane and the Gold Coast) introduced 3- and 4-percent taxes on foreign homebuyers. And in August, Vancouver set a 15-percent tax on foreign property buyers. "One glaring exception to this trend is New York. What’s up with that? [...] "[I]n a market as large as New York’s, foreign buyers may not move the needle on prices as much as they might in other markets. "'Our foreign investment is fairly well below 15 percent (of apartment sales) as a whole,' said Edward Mermelstein, a real estate attorney who works with overseas real estate investors. 'We’re not as affected by foreign investment driving the prices up.' "Anti-discrimination laws prevent brokers and city agencies from collecting data on the share of foreign apartment buyers, meaning no one knows for sure how many there are. But it’s clear prices in New York haven’t risen as dramatically as in some other cities. In Hong Kong, prices rose 65 percent in two years. In Vancouver, prices rose 31 percent in the first eight months of 2016 alone. In Manhattan, meanwhile, the average apartment price rose by a more modest 13 percent over the past year, according to Douglas Elliman, and the market shows signs of slowing down. Slower price growth may mean even less political pressure to curb foreign buyers. [...] "As other cities impose taxes on foreign buyers, more of them may choose New York, putting upward pressure on prices. That could in turn increase political pressure to limit the influx of overseas money." — James on Best of New Tribeca: The Winners

I'm pretty sure Reade Street Animal Hospital still has some. — Erik Torkells on The Great Tote Bag Giveaway!

Love these. Do you know if they are still available at any of these locations or is there a way to purchase directly from you? Thanks! — Jen on The Great Tote Bag Giveaway!

Yeah, we're on Murray, too. Can hardly wait for yet more construction noise, dust, traffic, etc. — Will on Warren Street Is Getting Torn Up Next

I like the internal capitalization. I looked it up and discovered this approach is also referred to as "Camel Case": https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camel_case "TriBeCa" is mentioned as an example. — Marcus on Seen & Heard: Did Disney Bail on the World Trade Center Mall?

I really liked the toys and games, educational and otherwise at that marbles store. Best store in the entire mall! — ian berry on Seen & Heard: Did Disney Bail on the World Trade Center Mall?

Yeah, I live in Brooklyn Heights but work in Tribeca (and used to live there too), and thought that Disney would be a great destination store for families given the lack of other toy stores. Curious to see if you hear anything! Thanks for the follow up and the always great and informative blog! — David on 11 Reasons to Be Excited About the Future

Back in the day (1970's), Tribeca was TriBeCa, to emphasize the origins of the neighborhood name - an acronym of Triangle Below Canal St. Soho was SoHo too, I believe. — Susan Rosenberg Jones on Seen & Heard: Did Disney Bail on the World Trade Center Mall?

No matter the stat...the feel of empty storefronts is so much larger in tribeca- it is a human scale perspective. You cannot compare using lower Manhattan as the marker because that probably includes BPC & WTC...it would be a great study subject for urbanites in a micro level of neighborhoods...Tribeca vs. West Village vs. Soho...Soho is more big chains and more commercial each year...just like Tribeca.. — TK on Best of New Tribeca: The Winners

Thank for posting, very interesting. Facts matter. :-) — SW on Best of New Tribeca: The Winners

This is not a scientific study but based on the high-rise building I live in, virtually all of the apartments owned by offshore owners are being rented out, and have been for years. Just because a condo may have been purchased by a foreign buyer doesn't mean that the apartment is unoccupied. — SW on Best of New Tribeca: The Winners

Yes, it would be great if next year's survey did not require answers to all the questions. I had never been to any of the places in a couple of categories and thus couldn't participate in the survey at all. Also it would be telling to do a survey of old Tribeca vs new Tribeca among Target customers.......Just kidding, but enough already about the undesirable new Tribecans! — SW on Best of New Tribeca: The Winners

Marbles is the only store that has always had a bunch of people in it from the start, sometimes playing games in the corridor. Don't know if they're buying! Until a few days before Christmas, the other stores throughout were still not very busy, even when the corridors were crowded. I thought I heard that Toys'R'Us was going to be in the space across from the PATH, and the Pressed Juicery is almost ready to open--it's a kiosk in the passageway just as you get to the Fulton Center metrocard machines. — Hudson River on Seen & Heard: Did Disney Bail on the World Trade Center Mall?

Good question. It was even in the press release that Westfield put out when the mall opened in August (http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/westfield-world-trade-center-to-officially-open-august-16th-300311735.html), but I don't see anything online about it being canceled. I just went to the Westfield site to make sure it's not there (trust but verify!), and I did learn that there are going to be two Duane Reades—the one we knew about off the Vesey entrance, and another one on the upper level of the passageway to Brookfield Place, near the Condé Nast entrance (https://www.westfield.com/westfieldworldtradecenter/center-info/map/duane-reade/58964#!/westfieldworldtradecenter). And a currency-exchange place, the Change Group, will be nearby it. And there are only two Starbucks now (both with signage up), instead of the three that had been planned. But back to Disney: I was at the mall with some friends and their kids the other day, and one of the kids asked if there was a toy store. You should've seen his face when I said that the only toy store was an educational one (Marbles). — Erik Torkells on 11 Reasons to Be Excited About the Future

"And work has finally started on the much fancier hotel under construction at 456 Greenwich (at Desbrosses), rendered above; little is known about the amenities at this point, but the odds seem good that there will be a restaurant." From the proposed Schedule A - Occupancy / Use (by floor) PROPOSED SC1 GYM ACCESSORY TO HOTEL ONLY PROPOSED CEL SCREENING ROOM ACCESSORY TO HOTEL PROPOSED CEL FLEX/MEETING ROOMS PROPOSED 001 - 001 BAR (EATING AND DRINKING ESTABLISHMENT) PROPOSED 001 - 001 COURTYARD ACCESSORY TO A-2 RESTAURANT WITH OUTDOOR SERVICE UNDER ONE OPERATOR PROPOSED 001 - 001 RESTAURANT PROPOSED 008 - 008 WHIRLPOOL,ROOF TERRACE ACCESSORY TO HOTEL http://a810-bisweb.nyc.gov/bisweb/JB2ScheduleAServlet?requestid=5&passjobnumber=121193010&passdocnumber=01&allbin=1002927 — James on 11 Reasons to Be Excited About the Future

At one point there was a Disney Store planned for Westfield WTC but I no longer see any references to it on the Westfield web site. Has that been officially axed? — David on 11 Reasons to Be Excited About the Future

The great Ian Frazier has written several really interesting, long articles on this subject in the New Yorker -- worth checking out: http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2004/01/12/bags-in-trees-a-retrospective http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2016/05/02/saving-america-from-plastic-bags http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/1994/05/23/bags-in-trees-ii http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/1993/05/24/stuck-in-trees — S. on Let’s Take Back Our Trees!

Is this foreign ownership theory quantifiable? The economic situation just doesn't seem to warrant the proliferation of the "luxury" building downtown. Can't an incentive be created to build residences that local workers can afford to live in? Why not disincentivize direct foreign investment. Let them buy REITS is they want to invest. — Albert on Best of New Tribeca: The Winners

I agree about the soups. I stopped buying them b/c they are way too salty. I have been medically advised to watch my sodium. It would be great too have an aisle with just low sodium products. Instead I have to check every label. Also, just to get into the store b/c there is no room to walk by people as you enter. Too much display. still love it but the gourmet cheeses are way too expensive. I suggest more "sampling if you expect people too pay those prices. — JACKIE on Open Letter: What Happened to Our Whole Foods Store?

I know it doesn't seem like a big deal to lose a sandwich shop, but it was a quick, easy and affordable place to grab & go from. We've had many a rushed dinner from there over the years -- even within the past few weeks. I'm going to miss it. — Meg on A Subway Sandwich Shop Appears to Have Closed

And I understand the 1-story building cannot legally be expanded vertically, because when the lot was sold by the developer of 145 Hudson Street to the developer of 7 Hubert Street, this one-story condo unit was intended to protect the light and air for the southern exposure of 145 Hudson Street. LOMBARDI v. WHITEHALL XII/HUBERT STREET, LLC (S.D.N.Y. 3-3-2010)•04 Civ. 6752, 9 (PAC). (S.D.N.Y. Mar 03, 2010) "Plaintiff Joseph Pell Lombardi, doing business as Joseph Pell Lombardi Associates, Architects, brings this action against Defendants, WXII/Hubert Street, LLC, Whitehall Street Real Estate Limited Partnership XII, WH Advisors, L.L.C., XII (collectively, "Whitehall"), BKSK Architects, L.L.P. ("BKSK") and Pavarini McGovern, L.L.C. ("Pavarini") asserting two claims of copyright infringement under the Copyright Act of 1976 ("Copyright Act"), 17 U.S.C. § 101 et seq., as amended by the Architectural Works Copyright Protection Act ("AWCPA"), Pub.L. No. 101-650, §§ 701-706, 104 Stat. 5098, 5133-34 (1990) (codified in scattered sections of 17 U.S.C.). Plaintiff alleges that he designed an original building to be constructed at 137 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014, also known as 3-9 Hudson (sic) Street, and that the Defendants copied his plans, the "Lombardi Plans," in designing and then constructing a building, called "the Hubert," at the same location. [...] "Stanley Scott ("Scott") was the controlling owner of 137 Hudson Street Associates L.P., the company which owned 137 Hudson Street, the lot on which the Hubert was ultimately built (the "Hubert Site"). (Deposition of Stanley Scott ("Scott Dep.") at 8:4-12, 12:25-13:18.) Through another company, 145 Hudson Street Associates, L.P., Scott also owned the adjoining building at 145 Hudson Street ("145 Hudson"). (Id. at 8:4-12.) [...] "Scott wanted to ensure that the building constructed at the Hubert Site did not interfere with the light and sight lines of his building at 145 Hudson. (Id. ¶ 41; Lombardi Dep. at 99:15-100:9.) Accordingly, Scott insisted that Whitehall enter into an agreement limiting the "envelope," or features, of any building constructed at the Hubert Site. The Sale-Purchase Agreement provides: "Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, any building improvements constructed on the Premises (collectively, the "Building") by Purchaser shall be constructed generally within the height, bulk and setback limitations set forth on the plans approved by The Board of Standards and Appeals of the City of New York (the "BSA") in connection with the Resolution (hereinafter defined), which plans are annexed as Exhibit "D" attached hereto, provided that Purchaser may: (i) increase the height of the Building to not in excess of One Hundred Ninety-Five (195) feet above curb level in order to install mechanical equipment on the top of the Building, and/or (ii) construct the Building to cover the entire lot that comprises the Premises (i.e., to cover the "footprint" of the Premises) but only up to a horizontal plane that is no higher that Thirty-Three (33) feet above curb level (provided that any such construction shall be performed in a manner that does not result in 145 Hudson being required pursuant to applicable laws or requirements to close-up or otherwise block any windows located on the 145 Hudson Street Building (hereinafter defined)). Purchaser shall not seek changes in the zoning applicable to the Premises or any variances with respect to the Premises. The provisions of this Section 5(A) shall survive the Closing and shall be incorporated into an agreement (the "Improvements Agreement") to be executed by 145 Hudson and Purchaser at the Closing and thereafter recorded (which Improvements Agreement shall include a provision requiring the parties thereto to provide estoppel certificates with respect to the forgoing from time to time)." https://casetext.com/case/lombardi-v-whitehall-xiihubert-street-3 — James on A Subway Sandwich Shop Appears to Have Closed