An acquaintance recently warned me about walking on the north side of Chambers St on the Church/W Broadway block on the Church St end, saying there were often vagrants in the storefronts there in the evenings and that there had been some break-ins along that stretch as well. — N on Seen & Heard: J&R Is Shrinking

Park 51 in other news: http://pix11.com/2013/04/26/landing-gear-apparently-from-plane-that-hit-world-trade-center-discovered-almost-12-years-later/#axzz2RgpMdkK9 They must be serious about developing the property as the news story says the landing gear piece was discovered by surveyors. — Nicole on In the News: Sterling Mason

I am more concerned about the leadership of a larger school. The current principal is already having a hard time with the small school she has now. Leadership is lacking. Staff parents and children are unhappy. What will happen when she is given the keys to a bigger school? — Concerned citizen on Is P.S. 150 Being Moved to Chelsea?

ConcernedM when choosing PS 150 you not only choose location, you choose the entire package most importantly the small community school environment. People spend a lot of money to buy homes in good school districts all over the country, it actually might be the number 1 consideration for any family. So yes, location and convenience does matter. If I wanted my 4-10 year old to go to school in Chelsea, I probably would have stayed in Chelsea. If I wanted my child to go to PS 234, I would have chosen PS 234 in Kindergarten. If I wanted state of the art facility, I could have moved to Spruce. PS 150 offers a very specific alternative to the larger schools in the neighborhood. — TribecaMom on Is P.S. 150 Being Moved to Chelsea?

We had 3 of the side for dinner tonight and they were seriously delicious, way above anything from Whole Foods. Don't know how I’d feel about eating next to the giant list of diseases though. — Hudson River on New Kid on the Block: Mulberry & Vine

A few years ago by means of a lucky break my wife and I managed to get right up to the lantern at the top of the Woolworth building. It was quite an incredible view from there. I wish the owners would be more free with allowing restricted and supervised access to this wonderful building. I would love to see the swimming pool in the basement. — Bob Moore on Inside the Woolworth Building’s Lobby

Jenny's letter states that this is a PROPOSAL. The letter states that the PROPOSAL stems from DOE concerns over: (1) overcrowding issues in our downtown schools, (2) questionable economic viability of a small school, (3) concerns about professional development and lack of opportunity for collaboration for our teachers and (4) expanded opportunities for our students. Let's break this down and then perhaps we can all have a proper debate about the merits of this PROPOSAL: (1) "Overcrowding issues in our downtown schools". MY TWO CENTS: It is my belief that by moving PS150 out of the neighborhood, they will simply be creating more of an issue for the remaining neighborhood schools as parents will enroll their children in the other TriBeCA, FiDi and BPC schools. (2) "Questionable economic viability of a small school". MY TWO CENTS: Without a budget it is difficult to address this, however, given that the school has flourished for close to 40 years it is difficult to accept this as fact. If this is truly a concern, the DOE should provide more details. The school benefits from a very active PTA and has done a terrific job of coming up with fundraisers (such as the Taste of Tribeca) to help supplement public funds. Is this really about money? (3) “Concerns about professional development and lack of opportunity for collaboration for our teachers.” MY TWO CENTS:I love our teachers at PS 150 and want nothing more than for all of our teachers and administrators to have outlets where they can develop and to collaborate with others. If the administration and the teachers feel that this is a real issue, I am certain the PTA would work with them to try to address their concerns. I would like to see this issue addressed with the community, the PTA, and our neighboring schools rather than with DOE. This should not be a reason to move PS 150. This is news to me. Some teachers thrive in a small school and others need a larger network to operate (and/or hide). I love our teachers and think this “issue” should be addressed away from the discussion of moving the school. (4) “Expanded opportunities for our students” MY TWO CENTS:I take offense to this one. Sure our school lacks certain things but it more than makes up for any shortcomings. This statement is offensive – I would take the love and sense of community that PS 150 possesses over a gymnasium any day. I love PS 150, I love our kids, I love our teachers. I think Jenny is great and I think Jenny choose to come to PS 150 and I would like to think (while she can’t say this) she wants PS 150 to stay where it is. The DOE’s proposal doesn’t make sense to me. I hope they see our way or I hope they can convince us that their view is right. Let’s not let this PROPOSAL tear apart our community. Let’s figure out how to keep PS 150 where it is. — PS150DAD on Is P.S. 150 Being Moved to Chelsea?

Seriously, drum circles at the Family Festival? Drum circles? I guess since they were such a hit with residents during Occupy Wall Street, that it was a no-brianer to bring them back. Oy. — Jim Smithers on Seen & Heard: Tribeca Family Festival

Forgive my naivete, but what's so "wrong" or "underhanded" about finding out about a proposal the other night which won't actually take effect (if implemented) until the 2014-2015 academic year? How much advance notice do we actually need? 2 years, 5 years? I honestly don't know. The level of backlash and outrage I've seen on this page and other local sites is a bit alarming, to say the least. How can anyone logically argue with a plan to improve our school (admittedly, by re-locating it)? To be re-located in a better facility, with greater access & resources for our children? Let's be honest and talk about the 800 lb. gorilla in the room: we are upset because of the disruption this will present to our lives, daily routines, etc. Gone may be the days of walking across the street or a quick subway ride to drop off the children each morning. I get that; it's an inconvenience, but nothing more than that. So let's move beyond such superficial 'paper cuts' and not lose sight of the fact that under this proposal, the school is MOVING, not CLOSING or being eliminated (and, further, not to another borough, but to Chelsea - 9 mins by taxi, 15-20 mins by bus or subway, or worst, 30-40 mins by walking, according to Google Maps). Due to the overcrowding issues and changing demographics of our neighbourhood, saving our school could very well mean moving it. Anyone knows that maintaining the "status quo" for the sake of maintaining the status quo is not a very good argument. In fact, I know my own initial shock (and clearly that of others) was a knee-jerk, visceral response, based purely on emotion, without knowing all the facts. Indeed, all of the facts here have yet to be uncovered and our questions still need to be answered. As parents and more importantly rational adults, we owe it to ourselves and our children to give this time, learn more about the DOE's plans (again, for 2014-2015) and refrain from hasty, petulant cries of wrong doing or harm perpetuated against our small community. Let's also do ourselves a favour and keep the extant gossip, the "not-in-my-backyard" herd mentality, all these silly emails back-and-forth, and the on-line websites & media blitz campaigning to a minimum until we know more. Indeed, let's try not try to rabble-rouse; stick to the facts as we know/learn them and, above all, be civil about all of this. Based on what we ultimately hear at our parent meeting, however, let's not forget we have an arsenal of choices at our disposal - potentially moving along with the school (if the proposal does indeed move forward), enrolling in another school in our zone or elsewhere in the city (public or private) or even moving out of the neighbourhood or city altogether if we can't find the necessary resources or environment we deem suitable for our kids. If that's not good enough, and we truly want to have a vested stake in our children's education, then homeschooling is yet another available option. It's not like any of these are out of our reach (for financial reasons or otherwise, despite the headaches or inconveniences it may create), so let's not kid ourselves and act like we've already been expelled from the neighbourhood when nothing has even happened. Finally, I caution everyone try to keep the debate classy and keep it directed squarely at the DOE. Reports of planned protests at our students' performance at the Film Festival this weekend will not only embarrass and affect our children, but the actions of some is quite frankly gauche and make all of us look like a bunch of self-serving, horses a$@es with rich people problems in the process. We're better than that. I count our family lucky to be part of this unique, tight knit community which we've all helped create over the years and, together, we shouldn't lose sight of that by acting hastily or prematurely ringing the alarm bells and, by doing so, undermining precisely the one and only thing we should be focused on: getting the best education for our children, wherever that may be. — ConcernedM on Is P.S. 150 Being Moved to Chelsea?

This is my 4 year old daughter's favorite sign -- it is on Park Place between West Broadway and Church. — Naomi on Where in Tribeca…?

Breathtaking! — Andrea on Inside the Woolworth Building’s Lobby

@Rohin: Thanks! There are no regular tours at this time. Obviously if I hear of any opportunities, I'll post about them. — Erik Torkells on Inside the Woolworth Building’s Lobby

Absolutely incredible! Thank you for sharing these. How do you arrange to sign up for a tour? — Rohin on Inside the Woolworth Building’s Lobby

I saw some bike racks installed on a very narrow street in Soho where the individual racks were angled so that the bikes wouldn't stick out so far into the street. Shouldn't DOT be doing that everywhere, especially in places like the corner of Duane at Greenwich Street where cars are turning onto Duane Street? This is just an accident waiting to happen. And does anyone know why we need over a hundred bike racks within a 3 -4 block radius? I like the idea of Citibikes, but the installation locations seem ill-conceived. — Lisa Barry on Seen & Heard: Bike-Share Stations

Ah, the DOE, always on that proverbial fine line between clever and stupid. Parents in the 276, 234, 89, Peck, and Spruce zones will just pull their kids out of school and enroll them in their zoned school, which will only overcrowd downtown schools more. Also, remind me if I'm wrong -- while 150 used to be zoned for all of district 2, didn't they re-zone 150 to be filled only with kids from the 276, 234, 89, Peck, and Spruce zones, to alleviate crowding? Bet the DOE forgot that. Silly to move 150 and not just grow a new school in Chelsea. When that building's done, of course, because in DOE construction-speak, 2014 = 2016. — jfrankp on Is P.S. 150 Being Moved to Chelsea?

Schools schmools! Our time & 5-hour energy is better spent fast-tracking the NID tax, so that we can collect/waste $11 million annually to stop the HRP from following into the Hudson! We also need to find the money to design lavish pedestrian bridges over the West Side Highway because the existing asphalt crosswalks are too dangerously simple for some. Tribeca is under siege and if we don't spend our money unwisely now, then we will drown in our children's tears and runny noses. More importantly, does anyone know when the Friends of HRP's annual gala is this year? I need to find a tie that goes with my wife's inappropriately low-cut, yet Diane von Furstenberg-y, dress. You know, for the photo-ops!! — Jim Smithers on Is P.S. 150 Being Moved to Chelsea?

"Due to overcrowding issues in our downtown schools" we are going to eliminate a downtown school?! It's absurd. When is the DOE going to wake up and realize this is a major problem? — Christy on Is P.S. 150 Being Moved to Chelsea?

The Chelsea parents must be ecstatic that they fought for a new school and when it opens it will be filled with TriBeCa kids. Closing a school in an overcrowded neighborhood and moving those kids to another overcrowded neighborhood sounds classic DOE logic. How does moving 4-10 year olds out of their neighborhood benefit anyone? — TribecaMom on Is P.S. 150 Being Moved to Chelsea?

It is entirely wrong. No one knew about this until 5:30 pm last night. Not a peep before that. It seems very underhanded. — jacqueline on Is P.S. 150 Being Moved to Chelsea?

Tribeca Trust, Friends of Finn Square, and a scattershot of residents from North and East Tribeca Historic Districts wrote DOT a collective, friendly letter a month ago. We had created our own map of where the bikeshare stations ought to go around Tribeca's historic districts, pinpointing spots that would not create anger at the program. We asked DOT for the opportunity to walk through Tribeca to discuss the rack locations and invited them to take a look at our more-considered choices. DOT just ignored us until the night before the current racks arrived in their ill-considered locations. Their late-arriving last minute response was just to tell us thanks but no thanks. — Lynn Ellsworth on Seen & Heard: Bike-Share Stations

Someone seems enthusiastic here. Parents and families got screwed. Something is not right. — cami on Is P.S. 150 Being Moved to Chelsea?

Hmm Dylan Prime is still listed to be auctioned off on May 6th http://www.maltzauctions.com/auction_detail.php?id=202504 — Dmitriy on Seen & Heard: Dylan Prime Update

Thank you Nicole for your vigilance and thoughtful presentation of this issue. Please let me know if there is anything I can do to help. — Kathy Capsouto on Seen & Heard: World Trade Center Security Plan

Re: New Yorker's map: Canal St. on the 6 is about double Canal St. on the 1. I'm not sure how that's possible. I think it puts the entire graph (though beautifully executed) into question. — David G. Imber on In the News: Brooklyn Flea Coming to the Seaport

Sweet conspira-jeeezus! - Sounds like that CB1 member has been there tooooo long. — Jim Smithers on Seen & Heard: Bike-Share Stations