Volume 16 • Issue 40 | March 5 – 11, 2004
Downtown local
Dueling umbrellas
The umbrella stand on Water St. is always open but after a light rain Thursday, mobile umbrellas such as this one were closed.
Tribeca development
The city began its formal review of the project proposed for the Site 5C lot on Chambers St. when it released a draft environmental impact statement on Feb. 20. The 1.5 inch-thick document covers the scope of the project, a 35-story residential building, and its expected effect on the surrounding community.
The city owns the lot, bounded by Chambers, Warren, and West Sts; the Uniform Land Use Review Procedure is a process required every time the city considers building on its land.
Community members have long expressed concerns about the 5C development, saying it will dwarf the neighborhood. Many have voiced fears about the shadows the building would cast over neighboring P.S. 234 and Washington Market Park.
The draft environmental impact statement included a detailed shadow study of the development: In the morning, the building would cast shadows on open spaces to the west, namely the Battery Park City ball fields, the narrow strip of green along North End Avenue, the P.S./I.S. 89 playground, the plaza next to Stuyvesant High School, the Hudson River Park, according to the D.E.I.S. Midday to evening, the open spaces north of Chambers St., including the tennis and basketball courts of Washington Market Park, as well as the main portion of Washington Market Park, would be under shadow, according to the document. In the afternoon, the building would cast shadows to the east of the site on the P.S. 234 playgrounds, the Tribeca dog run, and the development’s own plaza, the d.e.i.s. continues.
The study offers a bleak assessment of the projected shadows over Washington Market Park: “there are no reasonably practicable mitigation measures that would eliminate the identified shadow impact on the park,” it concludes, because any mitigation would involve reducing the height of the proposed building to below 250 feet.
Scott Resnick is the developer of the building, which was designed by the London-based architectural firm of Foster and Partners. Norman Foster was one of the finalists in the competition to design the World Trade Center site.
The Uniform Land Use Review Procedure typically takes six to seven months, said Janel Patterson, a spokesperson for the Economic Development Corporation. The process allows for community feedback. Community Board 1 expects to review the environmental impact statement in April, said Judy Duffy, assistant district manager.
Roy at Roy’s
Chef Roy Yamaguchi will return to Roy’s New York, 130 Washington St., March 20 to mark the restaurant’s fifth anniversary. Yamaguchi will check in with the restaurant’s local executive chef, Justin Haifley, who will be offering a five-course anniversary menu which includes a taste of golden osetra caviar, Maine Lobster with baby mache and papaya, crispy black bass with Peking duck bouillon and pear ginger chutney, and for dessert, hot chocolate soufflé and Tahitian vanilla gelato. The prix fixe dinner at Roy’s, located in the Marriott Financial Center, is $99 with wines from Iron Horse Vineyards in Sonoma, Cal. or $69 without wine. 212-266-6262.
Small and big business
On Tues., March 16, the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation will hold a networking event to foster connections between Downtown’s small businesses and large and medium-sized corporations.
The purpose is to identify and facilitate beneficial opportunities between the two communities. There will also be information sessions on procurement, financing and technical assistance programs and other areas of interest to small business owners.
Participating companies include Merrill Lynch, Goldman Sachs, Oppenheimer Funds, Deloitte & Touche LLP, Silverstein Properties, Cadwalader, Deutsche Bank and others.
Small businesses south of Houston St. are strongly encouraged to apply. Space is limited. To register, fax the registration form found at www.RenewNYC.com to 212-962-2431.
The event will be held on March 16, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Pace University. For more information, call Chara Tapin at 212-587-9737.
Calling dancer wannabes
All Downtowners are invited for auditions to “The Boogie Shoes Project” to do some urban folk dancing with David Parker and The Bang Group, in the World Financial Center Winter Garden. Parker, the performance’s choreographer, will present audition participants with a very easy and simple dance phase to perform.
The company is developing a piece based on the movements and actions observed on-site during a three-week residence in the Winter Garden. “The Boogie Shoes Project” will be focusing on the past and present of Lower Manhattan, from the Dutch settlers through the depression era and financiers. Accompanying music will range from Gershwin to The Beach Boys.
Audition attendees need to be 18 and over, and no previous experience is necessary. Auditions will be held on Tuesday, March 9, at 6 p.m. Those chosen from the auditions will then have four rehearsals on March 16, 18, 23 and 25 at 1 p.m. The project will perform their free performance on Wednesday, March, 31 at 7 p.m., in the Financial Center Winter Garden.
Registration clarification
In last week’s issue, our news item about school registration, did not mention the lottery system at P.S. 234. Registration for pre-K at P.S. 234 is on March 11 and March 12, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Children with siblings already at P.S. 234 can come with a parent on either day to register. But children who do not have siblings at the school must come on March 11 to register for the lottery. If they are picked in the lottery, they must return on March 12.
Parents must bring their child, record of the child’s immunizations, the child’s original birth certificate or passport and a current Con Edison bill. Call (212) 233-6034 for more information.
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