Agree with most of the posters that this was a real miss for the neighborhood and a classic example of why committee based group think that has to please too many vocal constituent groups is always a disaster. If you look at all of the ridiculous hoops and special interest check boxes that any vendor had to check to get this deal, it is a sick joke and why the rest of the country laughs at us. "Grab and go" from the people who do foodservice for the school district? Really? Gigino's was (is) a neighborhood gem that is reasonably priced and used the space is a way that was welcoming yet still special. Why not reach out to the former operators of the Bryant Park Grille? Or an established and stable restaurant group like Starr or Danny Meyer? Tourists being dumped off buses so they could be attacked by illegal vendors and then buy a plastic bottle of coke in this beautiful structure is a loss. No locals will eat there - ever. Plan for a failure in 2 years and an empty structure for 2 more after that. Sometimes common sense is the best strategy, not pleasing Community Board 1. — Downtown Dad Reborn on Wagner Park restaurant goes to a Queens company that operates The Migrant Kitchen

Let’s be kind to each other Mr. Bogardus. There’s already enough hatred and mockery out there. — Elizabeth Liscio on Greca / The Greek has reopened on Washington

Rallis Galis? — James Bogardus on Greca / The Greek has reopened on Washington

I live in that neighborhood and I’m glad they gave the contract to people who will open something fast and affordable. Sure, there’ll be tourists, but it comes with the territory. — Meg on Wagner Park restaurant goes to a Queens company that operates The Migrant Kitchen

This is so upsetting for downtown. Having a beautiful local restaurant with a view was downtown’s best kept secret. Gigino was so delicious and affordable for a nice night out! This sounds like a spot that won’t stay open very long if tourists don’t keep it going. And given location I can’t imagine tourists keeping it going. This area of the city is mostly for residents and downtown workforce. What a loss for the neighborhood! — JD on Wagner Park restaurant goes to a Queens company that operates The Migrant Kitchen

That's such a tough location — Sandra on Orangetheory is closing in two weeks

Agree on the tourist emphasis. Ilili has very good food so that sounds hopeful. But the space certainly sounds large enough to have been divided into finer dining and the affordable options. — Slue on Wagner Park restaurant goes to a Queens company that operates The Migrant Kitchen

Fidi location is often crowded! I imagine this will be better for them — egb on Orangetheory is closing in two weeks

Doesn't sound very appetizing. I guess they're targeting the tourists. — Makes You Go Hmmmm.... on Wagner Park restaurant goes to a Queens company that operates The Migrant Kitchen

FWIW - Soho location closed a couple months back as well... — CPH on Orangetheory is closing in two weeks

Hackers! There’s a chase scene that takes place primarily in the IPN courtyards! — johnhoe on Crowd Sourcing: What movies were shot in Tribeca?

Thanks for The Pool Cleaner. I'm going down there at sunrise to see that view. — G on Neighborhood events for today, September 11

@Sean: You’re right that Jess lost the June primary by a large margin. You got the rest wrong. Jess is pro-development, not pro-developer. How else but with large-scale development of new housing can NYC receive and absorb immigrants and other newcomers who since the 1600s have continually revitalized our economy and culture? That means loosening the NIMBY stranglehold that Marte personifies and which your comments embody as well. Granted, Chris has an appealing vibe. His megaphone photographs well. But under that patina, too many of his policy positions are retro. Opposing City of Yes – the only Manhattan councilmember to vote No – and championing members’ veto power over new housing – speak volumes. Ditto, waffling on congestion pricing, which is proving a godsend for downtown. Contrary to your innuendo, Jess’s campaign was locally financed at the same rate as Marte’s. Calling Jess – a candidate cut from the idealistic cloth of Adlai, Eleanor and JFK – a shill for developers is the kind of personal attack that turns people away from public service. Try to do better. And for once, please share your idea or three about solving our city’s problems and fulfilling its potential. — Komanoff on Councilman Chris Marte will run for speaker

It is an object lesson with everything wrong with "our system of government," but maybe not the one you meant. The delays and costs of dealing with NYC's zoning, obtaining zoning changes, the "City of No" mentality at Department of Buildings, mandates on construction and operating costs, the litigation-friendly environment spiking property insurance costs, the costs of generous social services to any and all comers spiking property taxes, etc. etc. all lead to developers' focus on luxury housing to turn a profit. — James Bogardus on Action at 65 West Broadway at Warren?

Sometimes that works, sometimes it doesn't. Developments like Stuyvesant Town, Peter Cooper Village, Parkchester, etc., are still providing "middle-class" accommodations. And union-developed ones like Penn South, Amalgamated houses. and others, still fill the needs of some New Yorkers. But some of the NYCHA plans from early mid-20th century were vastly overbuilt. Some idealist concepts from that time, like Le Corbusier's high-rise housing blocks, had dense populations mixed with parks, etc. But critics eventually noted the failure of these area to turn into cohesive neighborhoods with lively streetscapes. One, Lewis Mumford, called Le Corbusier's development "instant wastelands, shunned by the public." That happened in parts of NYC, too, and at some NYCHA developments. Jane Jacobs ("The Life and Death of Great American Cities") advocated for active, populated and safe neighborhoods built to a human scale. So, maybe huge superblocks are not the answer. She was no fan of Le Corbusier, or Robert Moses, either. As E. B. White noted in "Here Is New York" (1949), "Thousands of new units are still needed and will eventually be built, but New York never quite catches up with itself..." He was right. — Gary on Action at 65 West Broadway at Warren?

Why does everyone default to 'blame the government'? A private developer bought some buildings, tore them down, caused structural damage on neighboring 100+ year old buildings and ran out of money. Which part is the government? This is a very old city in some ways with major infrastructure issues. 20 or 30 (or whatever number) of luxury housing is not going to solve anything. Maybe if we bulldozed all of Tribeca and put up giant blocks on every street for tens of thousands of people, maybe just maybe we would put a dent in the crisis. — Michael T on Action at 65 West Broadway at Warren?

I live nearby that site and this day, although 24 years ago, never fails to come back to me in its original clarity, misery, horror and utter sadness. — Merle Temkin on Neighborhood events for today, September 11

And you wonder why we have a housing crisis? They're great at tearing down beautiful, 100-year-old structures. And then they go bankrupt and sit in litigation for a decade or two, wrapped up in red tape and regulation and who knows what nonsense. It's disgraceful, and an object lesson in everything wrong with our system of government. — Will M on Action at 65 West Broadway at Warren?

They never lay these things correctly. The base always washes away. Europe cobbles don’t move for centuries but Tribeca ones last only 6 years. Why is that? — CF on The city is repairing one block of Greenwich cobblestones

Appreciate the local focus. From hip hop classes to robotics and gymnastics, this list makes it easy for families to plug into the scene without leaving the neighborhood. — Martin Valen on The city’s best kids activities are right here in the neighborhood

You seem really angry, clearly threatened by people like Coleman. And you should be. You also fail to mention Lewinsohn spending a million dollars of her own money, and Coleman still got more first round votes than many sitting assembly members got in their elections. I was proud to support him like many others and I won’t be surprised when he’s the council member 4 years from now. You seem like a really sad person who needs to talk down about people behind an anonymous comment on a message board. It’s just sad. Why don’t you run yourself if it’s so easy to get several thousand votes against an incumbent? My guess is it’s because you are a “pathetic” person yourself who merely projects your anger and anxiety about your declining power onto others. It’s sad. I genuinely feel bad for you. — Sandy on Councilman Chris Marte will run for speaker

Ahmed is such a great guy. And makes a truly excellent iced coffee — Jon Foster on Ahmed’s coffee cart will stay on West Broadway

"you don’t understand ranked choice voting” Oh, I understand it VERY well, as well as the facts of this specific election. The fact is that pro-developer Coleman came in a distant third in a 4-way race, not even cracking the 20% barrier, with a mere 16% of the initial vote. Let me educate you. There is something called the Mickey Mouse Vote, whereby if you run Mickey Mouse against an incumbent, Mickey will get 15% of the vote. That is what your Coleman got: the Mickey Mouse vote. Next time I suggest you YIYBYs run Mickey Mouse. He’ll probably do better than your guy Coleman. And don’t think we don’t notice how you totally skip over the fact that close to a million dollars from outside PACs and the wealthiest real-estate developers was spent in vicious negative campaign ads to defeat Marte. On the other hand, Marte’s funding came from his neighbors and small time donors. At the same time his campaign ran a positive - not negative - message, and he trounced the Open NY candidate. Finally, if you think developer shills win elections, I refer you to the Bronx, where YIYBY incumbent Democratic councilmmeber Marjorie Velazquez lost her seat to an unknown activist - a Republican no less - after she supported an upzoning her constituents opposes. Her loss to a Republican in the Blue Bronx made headlines and shows that voters don’t fall for the BS that YIYBYs spout. Not to mention how the East Side’s Carlina Rivera, another developer’s pawn, barely beat unknown and underfunded community activist Allie Ryan, who had little funding or name recognition, just the support of her neighbors. Ryan got 40% of the vote, despite little funds, politician endorsements, or name recognition, which is a whole lot better than your guy Coleman’s pathetic results. Spin it all you want, but time and time again, the voters are smart enough to know who represents them and who represents the oligarchs. — Sean on Councilman Chris Marte will run for speaker

Not surprised you don’t understand ranked choice voting, but Marte didn’t even get a majority of first choice votes, which is (objectively) horrendous for an incumbent in NYC and incredibly embarrassing. You can celebrate all you want on your pathetic narrow victory for a historically incompetent incumbent who does nothing, but the NIMBYs are a dying breed and the Martes of the world are breathing their last political breath. — Sandy on Councilman Chris Marte will run for speaker

"Rejection of Marte’s Council Speaker bid will be a clear sign that NYC housing NIMBYism is on the way out” Hey, did you not receive the results of the June Democratic Primary yet? Your guy, Jesse Coleman, YIYBY champion, came in a distant third. Marte swept it with 62% of the vote!! This, despite hundreds and hundreds of thousands of dollars spent by Big Real Estate and out-of-state PAC money to defeat him. Ain’t it terrible when the local voters and grassroots activists - your neighbors - crush the rich and powerful? — Sean on Councilman Chris Marte will run for speaker