Volume 73, Number 24 | October 15 – 21, 2003
NEWS BRIEFS
Bricks fall from Westbeth
An unstable section of decorative brick located between the 10th and 11th floors of the Westbeth artists housing complex along Washington St. fell onto the sidewalk shed and onto the street on Saturday morning, Oct. 11. The 100-year-old building had been undergoing routine renovations and maintenance repair on the facade when the 40’-x-20’ section of decorative brickwork and terra cotta columns collapsed, Buildings Department spokesman Sid Dinsay said. Buildings issued a violation and ordered the remaining loose brickwork to be removed. No one was injured in the collapse.
Actress posts on the Web
Actress and native Soho resident Julia Stiles’ new Web site, www.juliastiles.net, provides information on the actress as well as an overview of several city attractions and traditions. Visitors to the “Halloween central” section of the site can visit Julia’s “online apartment,” learn about the Village Halloween Parade and go on a colorful, Flash-animated tour of Jefferson Market Library. Stiles was recently photographed for an upcoming New York Public Library poster, and much of her site reflects her dedication to the library’s cause.
Variance sought for new condo project at Canal and Watts Sts.
A Tribeca developer plans to build a new eight-story residential condo with ground floor retail space on the vacant triangle bounded by Greenwich, Watts and Canal Sts.
The architect, Shael Shapiro, and land-use lawyer, Jay Segal, representing the owner, Fabian Friedland, told the Community Board 1 Tribeca Committee on Oct. 2 that the project would require a variance from the Board of Standards and Appeals because current zoning does not allow new residential buildings.
The preliminary concept plan calls for a total of 48,000 sq. ft. and about 19 apartments in a project built to a floor-to-area ratio of six. Current zoning allows new commercial buildings with a FAR of five.
“In general we support residential development,” Albert Capsouto, chairperson of the committee, said this week, “but we don’t support increases in bulk.” Marc Ameruso, a Tribeca Committee member who lives across the street from the site, said, “We’re glad to see something built on the lot to replace the derelict buildings there and we appreciate getting information early, but we’re concerned about the height of the project.”
A two-story former auto repair garage and two other buildings, one four stories and the other three stories that partially cover the site will be leveled to make way for the project. If it were built to the five F.A.R. currently allowed for commercial construction, the project would be closer to six stories instead of eight.
“It’s a unique site. There’s water at the seven-foot level — probably the old canal on Canal St.,” said Shapiro. The eastbound tube of the Holland Tunnel also underlies the site and rises to the surface on Canal St. three blocks away. There is no design yet for the building and the B.S.A. variance application has not yet been filed, Segal and Shapiro said.
Village transfer station not foreseen
Concern has risen that the city may be planning to use Gansevoort Peninsula in the Hudson River Park for a marine waste-transfer station. The issue was discussed at Community Board 2’s recent environment committee meeting.
However, Kathy Dawkins, a Department of Sanitation spokesperson, said that the peninsula, located off the northwest corner of Greenwich Village, is not slated for a marine transfer station under Mayor Bloomberg’s plan to containerize garbage and barge it out of the city.
“It’s not one of the ones on our list,” Dawkins said. “The plan that was announced by the mayor last summer, that was not one of the sites mentioned.”
The planned Manhattan waste-transfer sites are E. 91st, E. 135th and W. 59th Sts., Dawkins said. Gansevoort contains a decommissioned waste-transfer station, including barge slips covered by a shed.
Six new Silver professors minted
Six New York University faculty members have been offered endowed Silver Professorships, a distinction given yearly to outstanding scholars in the faculty of Arts and Sciences, N.Y.U. President John Sexton announced on Oct. 6. A $150 million cash gift donated by the Jurodin Fund, Inc., created by the estate of alumnus Julius Silver, guarantees between five and six N.Y.U. professors to be named to Silver Professorships each year. The fund helps to recruit new scholars and to support N.Y.U.’s current faculty. Marsha Berger, professor of computer science and mathematics; Jeff Cheeger, professor of mathematics; Claude Desplan, professor of biology; Hartry Field, professor of philosophy; David Levering Lewis, professor of history; and Fred Myers, professor of anthropology are the latest recipients of the endowment. An official convocation ceremony took place Oct. 9 at the Eisner and Lubin Auditorium of the Kimmel Center.
This hot little team was the subject of endless chatter on Long Island Internet message boards when they caused a huge upset in defeating the number-two team in the first round of the State Cup this month. From Montauk to Queens, everyone was shocked that the little guys from the big city could defeat the mighty U-11 boys from East Meadow. Now our city boys are the talk of the town and the Island!
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