Yes, that was a great highlight of the evening! Also found it amusing that Yellen said Tribeca is loosing all its old school charming institutions to horrid luxury high-rise condos. BUT oh wait - He lives in Battery Park City which is only luxury high-rises. Maybe they should move The Lodge to BPC — Nicole on Neighbors Nix Raccoon Lodge Spinoff

The applicants mentioned the idea of appealing to restaurant workers getting off work late, but every time that idea comes up (and it always does when a bar asks for 4am), I wonder whether that's really the case around here anymore. As someone who lives on the block in question, would I rather have that spot empty than a bar there? Of course. Places like the (Raccoon) Lodge are great—as long as you don't live right near them. — Erik Torkells on Neighbors Nix Raccoon Lodge Spinoff

Great article as always, thanks Erik. A couple of things, Most restaurants make a larger portion of their money after midnight when restaurants close and both patrons and industry people (these are people that work in restaurants/bars - I defined this for the ignorant people that will read this) come in to unwind as it is their happy hour. Second, what exactly do these people want in that space? Do they want it to remain vacant? Do they want something they're familiar with like back in Oklahoma like a Buffalo Wild Wings? These people are slowly destroying this neighborhood and this city with votes like this. I wish they would all go back to where they came from so I can enjoy my city once again. — Vince on Neighbors Nix Raccoon Lodge Spinoff

Will 173 W Bway now fix the sidewalk? — George on Seen & Heard: Saks Fifth Avenue Update

Thanks for saying that, Welcome Wagon! I agree. — SW on The 19 New Buildings Under Construction in Tribeca

I agree 1,000% with your comment "I would love to know why some construction sites create a pedestrian passageway and others don’t. ....... Pedestrians yesterday were just walking on Greenwich, nearly getting sideswiped by cars. And don’t get me started on 111 Murray." There seems to be no limit to the amount of public space which a construction site can subsume for their operations. The fact that Church Street, Barclay Street & Park Place have been severely restricted for nearly two years for the construction of one of the ugliest buildings designed in this area is just another example. There are many, many more. Almost any time I go out in this area there is another sidewalk or street taken up by construction. Do they pay for this storage space? Don't people matter at all? — Bob on Seen & Heard: Musical Swings and Inflatable Birds

facts are important? what? — lowphat on Target’s Tribeca Store Will Have a Chobani Café

I agree with you about the overall problem but this is not quite the right example. 255 Greenwich has been a big gray office building for almost 30 years. The Target space was, if memory serves, a very large Korean deli that was part of a chain. It closed after being trashed by 9/11 and for 15 years I've seen either nothing there or strange little offices with very little street visibility. There may be some BMCC stuff in there, I'm not sure. Upstairs is R. R. Donnelly and the NYC Office of Management and Budgeting, for at least a few decades. So, this address is not a mom & pop location and hasn't been since 1987. — Noah on Target’s Tribeca Store Will Have a Chobani Café

New York is a crowded city, and it is in the middle of a huge economic boom. There will definitely be stresses on stores and on services (schools, etc), but I think stores and restaurants will respond to the dynamics, and Tribeca will continue to be one of the best neighborhoods in New York to live in. Lastly, everyone talks about "buildings" and "developers" and "boards" and "agencies" etc, but let us not forget that the people moving into these 19 buildings are FAMILIES, with adults and children, who will become our friends and neighbors. Let's welcome them. — Welcome Wagon on The 19 New Buildings Under Construction in Tribeca

I rather have a target in the neighborhood than all the homeless encamping on empty store fronts (plenty of those two to go around). West Broadway has a few new residents lining its sidewalks. Seems real estate is getting a lot more affordable in Tribeca lately. Where do they go to have their basic needs? I can't wait for those warm summer smells to fill the air!! That will make me go hmmmmmmm!!! — B. S. on Target’s Tribeca Store Will Have a Chobani Café

And the malling (mauling) of Tribeca continues unabated. — Makes you go "hmmm..." on Target’s Tribeca Store Will Have a Chobani Café

Erik, Re:City Vineyard... I don't understand why this is taking so long? Looks like absolutely nothing has taken place onsite in the past 9 months. Are these city related delays? Sad about the dragged out process as this looks to be a great new addition to the area - I hope it's up and alive at the start of the summer! — Rohin on In the News: Tribeca Penthouse Reportedly Sold for $54 Million

the outside tables are great at sunset! — j on Seen & Heard: That Chinese Restaurant Isn’t Really New

quality had slipped at tokyo bay while billy was in asia for a few years but since he's returned, things have steadily improved. nice job on the renovation. this is my go to place for dependable sushi. — j on Seen & Heard: That Chinese Restaurant Isn’t Really New

Perhaps our mayor is trying to line up a sponsorship deal for the fountain and he is having a hard time calculating which deal he can pocket the most money from. — PeterD on Nosy Neighbor: When Will City Hall Park’s Fountain Get Turned On?

The boards are off and there was a guy in there cleaning it up this morning — S on Nosy Neighbor: When Will City Hall Park’s Fountain Get Turned On?

I assume the amount of space that Brookfield cordons off for the swings will be offset by the 'sense of community and ownership of public space'. — anne on Seen & Heard: Musical Swings and Inflatable Birds

Great article. For all the latest on the High Bridge, Highbridge Park, and the area immediately surrounding please look at highbridgeparkdevelopment.blogspt.com Have a great day at the High Bridge. — Dr.Sliderule on Field Trip: The High Bridge

Also wondering why the gas lamps in City Hall Park haven't been on for months. Are they gone forever? — Cynthia on Nosy Neighbor: When Will City Hall Park’s Fountain Get Turned On?

Love Erik's comment ref 2008 - 45000+ luxury condos coming on the market and then ear.. KABOOM?! It's pretty obvious that what we are witnessing here is brown bag builder / NYC regulator "arrangements" $$$ (cough) gone wild. Love to see what is going on with the federal probes into the current administration. — Rohin on The 19 New Buildings Under Construction in Tribeca

Hi James, Well as you can see they are certainly closing streets! Just not sure the word coordination could be in the NYC govt vocabulary :)! Discombobulated certainly should be. — Rohin on The 19 New Buildings Under Construction in Tribeca

Brookfield Place is in Battery Park City, not FiDi. — Erik Torkells on In the News: Scoop Is Closing

What's the rationale for using sic in the story about Scoop? — John Doe on In the News: Scoop Is Closing

Liberty view was actually one of my favorite places so I'm glad to hear that it is basically back. — hst on Seen & Heard: That Chinese Restaurant Isn’t Really New

Oh good. I gave up on them about 5 years ago for reasons I now can't remember. Will give them another go... — M on Seen & Heard: That Chinese Restaurant Isn’t Really New