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Downtown Alliance Addresses Issues, Plans for Future

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Photo: Courtesy of Jackie Hart
Photo: Courtesy of Jackie Hart

Vulnerable no more. The downtown area is a force to be reckoned with, with many upcoming projects and plans to further strengthen the downtown community.

The Downtown Alliance president, Jessica Lappin, recently discussed the future of the downtown area at a media event on Monday morning, specifically focusing on issues relating to the flooding experienced from Hurricane Sandy, and the growth of many businesses and tenants in the area.

One of the major issues brought up was the heavy flooding that occurred in the downtown area during Hurricane Sandy. As a result, the city drew up flood plans that were last amended in December, which Lappin feels did not pay enough attention to lower Manhattan.

“The needs, not just here, but across the city, are great. There are other parts of the city, like the Rockaways…that were incredibly harmed. But we were clearly one of the neighborhoods hardest hit, and we should be right up there when it comes to both short term and long term planning and implementation,” Lappin said.

Lappin stressed the importance of protecting the infrastructure and transportation because they all come together in the downtown area due to it being the world’s 4th largest central business district.

“It is really important for us to be protecting those assets, because if the subway system is shut down, the city is shut down.  When the Battery Tunnel floods, it’s not just a problem for lower Manhattan.”

Despite the flooding issue, Lappin believes that good progress has been made, both in identifying short term programs that would have an impact, as well as longer term projects that have been a priority for the Alliance.

The downtown area has also seen significant growth with businesses and tenants, especially with Conde Nast moving to One World Trade Center. According to Lappin, the move downtown really makes a statement that the area is changing and developing.  Water Street has also seen a number of tenants move in, which Lappin hopes that they can build on the momentum there.

“I think Water Street in general is a priority for us looking forward to build on its momentum…but something is happening organically on Water Street and it’s become a more attractive place for companies, but we think there’s a lot of potential there,” Lappin said.

Among the companies moving to Water Street include Hugo Boss, which the Downtown Alliance believes will lead to a different demographic coming to the area for shopping, not just tourists visiting the museums and 9/11 Memorial. The growth of retail and shopping centers in the downtown area will eventually translate to restaurants and bars opening to appeal to the demographic, which has already started to happen.

As for future plans moving forward, the Downtown Alliance plans to have more green markets, and green around events in the spring and summer to promote the local businesses and community. There are also plans to have more community engagements at different parks throughout the downtown area.

For more information, check out this video on the growth of lower Manhattan, or visit the Downtown Alliance’s website.

– by Jackie Hart

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LA News NYC

Civic Center Welcomes New Sculptures by Dee Briggs

Photo: Courtesy of DeeBriggsstudio.com
Civic Center Welcomes Bright-Orange Sculptures
Photo: Courtesy of DeeBriggsstudio.com

The courthouses of the Civic Center will be accompanied by three bright orange sculptures welcoming spring in Thomas Paine Park. Dee Briggs created this abstract, corten steel, multi-pieced, structure. It will be installed in the park this April or May and remain for about 10 months. These structures will be placed on each main lawn bordering Worth, Lafayette and Centre streets.

Briggs selected Thomas Paine Park because of the changing scale of buildings around the park. She appreciates that the park is unique from many others in New York City that are on a grid. The sculptures were designed specifically for the park, which helped her decide how her work would be arranged after visiting many times. The division of the park into three spaces allows for admirers to see into and through the sculptures as they comb the park.

Two of the sculptures are described as “ring” pieces, and the other a wavy, horizontal “plate” piece. Despite their whimsical appearance they are actually “very highly ordered” and come from Briggs’ interest in a type of scientific asymmetry called “chirality.” Briggs explains. “They’re made from very rigid geometry and a very rigid set of rules.” These sculptures, are her first public installation in New York City. They are coming to Thomas Paine as part of the Parks Department’s Art in the Parks Program, allowing them to remain for up to 10 months.

-by Deirdre McAndrew

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LA News

Housing Works Applauds Governor Cuomo’s Opportunity Agenda

Photo: Courtesy of rochesterhomepage.net
Photo: Courtesy of rochesterhomepage.net
Photo: Courtesy of rochesterhomepage.net

 Housing Works Applauds Governor Cuomo’s Opportunity Agenda

NEW YORK, NY – SUNDAY, JANUARY 18, 2015. Housing Works is thrilled to endorse Governor Andrew M. Cuomo’s 2015 Opportunity Agenda—the Anti-Poverty Opportunity Agenda, a 10-point plan to combat poverty and fight inequality, which includes more than $486 million in new funding for affordable and supportive housing. This plan will include at least 5,000 new units of supportive housing for people with various chronic conditions around New York State. Also included in the Opportunity Agenda are significant new investments in subsidies for employment of youth of color and well as a new investment in anti-hunger efforts.

Housing Works President and CEO Charles King has been chairing the Ending the Epidemic Task Force, which intends to deliver a blueprint within the next two weeks to meet the Governor’s goal of ending AIDS as an epidemic in New York State by 2020. As the Governor affirmed in his inaugural address, he intends to make New York State the first jurisdiction in the United States to end the AIDS epidemic. Although the Opportunity Agenda initiatives announced today were not specifically targeted at people living with HIV and AIDS or those at risk, they address some of the concrete recommendations being made by the Ending the Epidemic Task Force, including housing for people living with HIV and those most at risk of infection, employment opportunities for youth at risk as well as those living with the virus, and food security, which are essential for people to stay adherent to anti-retroviral treatment.

Said King, “We are excited by these initiatives and look forward to additional initiatives directly aimed at ending the AIDS epidemic once the Governor has had an opportunity to review our blueprint and recommendations. We are excited by the leadership this governor has shown, investing in peoples’ lives not only because that is the right thing to do morally but because it is the smart thing to do for the future of all New Yorkers.”

Housing Works is one of New York State’s largest providers of health care, housing, employment opportunities, and other vital services for homeless people living with HIV and other chronic conditions.

 

 

 

CONTACT: Charles King, Housing Works CEO Tel.: 917-747-0102, Email: king@housingworks.org; Mikola De Roo, Housing Works VP Communications & Marketing, Tel: 347-585-6051, Email: m.deroo@housingworks.org

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LA News

Downtown Alliance Unveils the Selfie Kiosk

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Downtown Alliance President Jessica Lappin introduces the selfie kiosk to the public

On Thursday morning the 18th, Downtown Alliance helped boost the appeal of Lower Manhattan even more through the first ever Selfie Kiosk. The selfie kiosk allows tourists to capture a “Kodak moment” and share it through email, Twitter, and Facebook. Downtown Alliance hopes that this will continue to increase the presence of innovation and creativity in Lower Manhattan.

Jessica Lappin, President of Downtown Alliance, says “We’ve created this fun, first of its kind way for visitors to share their experiences here isn’t anything like it anywhere in the world.” If the Selfie Kiosk is as successful as it seems it will be, Downtown Alliance hope to put additional kiosks in other locations. The kiosk is intended for both members of the downtown community as well as tourists. “Social media is quickly becoming the new word of mouth,” explains Lappin. The convenience of immediate sharing options acts as an instant postcard for people to inform their friends and families of their travels.

The location of the Selfie Kiosk sets One World Trade Center as the background of the photo. With the help of ZIVELO and National Media Brands, Downtown Alliance was able to develop the new kiosk. A commemoration of 9/11 was anonymously engraved by a member of the design or construction team. The message states, “We will never forget.” The tastefully designed and located Selfie Kiosk is sure to be a success in Lower Manhattan.

-Deirdre McAndrew

-Photography courtesy of Lauren Price

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LA News

A Stronger Seaport

A Stronger Seaport
A Stronger Seaport
Photo: Courtesy of Howard Hughes Corporation

The Howard Hughes Corporation is proposing a new plan for a Stronger Seaport. The plan aims to reconnect the South Street Seaport with the needs of the community while simultaneously honoring the area’s history. Additionally, the plan will work to prepare the neighborhood from the threat of future storms, thus preventing damages similar to the ones caused by Hurricane Sandy.

The plan proposes:

  • A new public middle school, which will relieve overcrowding at other area schools, while simultaneously creating a recreational space for community use.
  • New housing will be erected in the area, 30% of which will be designated as affordable for families and seniors.
  • A locally-sourced fresh food market will be constructed in the restored Tin Building, featuring local vendors.
  • A certain portion of the budget has been designated towards preserving the history and culture of the area by reinvesting in the Seaport Museum and the surroundings.
  • Finally, the Seaport itself will be expanded, extending the East River Esplanade to the Brooklyn Bridge. This makes the Seaport safer and more accessible for pedestrians, thus promoting visitors.

The Community Board 1’s Landmarks Committee will be holding a hearing tonight, Wednesday December 10th at 6pm to discuss the issue. The hearing will take place at St. Paul’s Chapel at 209 Broadway St. The public is encouraged to attend in order to voice their support for the ordinance. Click here to access The Howard Hughes Corporations page show your support for the proposal.

-Ross Berman

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LA News NYC

Environment New York Report: 20% Solar in Reach

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Photo: Courtesy of Tony Shi

Solar power is growing so fast in New York that goals once considered ambitious are now seen as readily achievable, according to a new report by Environment New York Research & Policy Center.

“We can get to 20% solar energy in New York by 2025 if we just keep our foot on the accelerator,” said Heather Leibowitz, Director of Environment New York. “That’s a small fraction of what’s possible, but it will make a big difference in the quality of our lives and the future of our planet.”

The group’s researchers found that solar has grown 63% in recent years. Even if this pace slowed to 47%, solar could still generate 20% of New York’s electricity in just over a decade— a goal once thought improbable by many.

Achieving this goal, the report said, would cut as much carbon pollution as taking 3 million cars off the road each year, and put New York more than halfway to the benchmark set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Power Plan, which requires cuts in power plant carbon pollution of 44% by 2030.

“The benefits to New York from producing 20 percent of our electricity from clean, solar power by 2025 are enormous, which is why the findings contained in the Environment New York Research & Policy Center report are extremely encouraging. Migrating our energy economy to renewable and sustainable sources will help us meet our goal of a pollution-free energy future,” said State Senator Kevin Parker, the Ranking Democratic Member on the Senate Energy & Telecommunications Committee. He added: “In my capacity as the Ranking Democrat on the Energy Committee, I remain committed to accelerating New York’s leadership in renewable energy, and in taking concrete action against climate change, while we continue to build a prosperous, sustainable energy economy.”

Solar is currently the fastest-growing industry in the country, adding 143,000 jobs nationwide in 2013. According to the latest solar jobs census from the Solar Foundation, the solar industry employed more than 5,000 people in New York in 2013.

The report quantifies the New York’s enormous solar energy potential using data from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. Already, the New York is home to more than 35 million residential and 1.9 million commercial rooftops that could host solar panels, and it has enough technical potential to meet the state’s energy needs eleven times over each year.

“When it comes to solar energy, the sky’s the limit,” said Leibowitz. “Getting to 20% solar is just the first step to a future powered entirely by pollution-free energy.”

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From left: Anthony Pereira (Alt Power), Heather Leibowitz (Director, Environment New York), and Senator Kevin Parker at The Solaire, a luxury green apartment complex with LEED Gold Certification. Photo: Courtesy Environment New York

 

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