Sand Causes Havoc at Liberty Court
Residents of the Liberty Court apartments in Battery Park City are developing tears in their corneas, thanks to the children’s playground at West Thames Park. Sand is apparently blowing into their balconies and apartments.
An e-mail sent to Community Board 1 stated, “About half a cup a day is flying onto the balconies — more comes in through windows, landing of course on everything inside. This includes into peoples’ eyes and into bedding and foodstuffs.”
“Property damages are now a likelihood. Personal damages also, if eye infections occur,” it said. “Photos are being collected with time/date stamps by residents.”
Something needs to be done ASAP about this “continuing and still-unresolved issue,” they say, or the residents will take action.
The New York State Department of Transportation, who has been working on the project in collaboration with the Battery Park City Authority Conservancy, is looking into the issue. DOT had no further comment before press time.
Contractor Gets a Second Chance
Developer Larry A. Silverstein has hired Regional Scaffolding and Hoisting Company, a contractor implicated in the fire that killed two firefighters at the former Deutsche Bank building in 2007, to work on the $2 billion office tower at the World Trade Center site, according to officials and news reports.
Regional is the subject of a criminal investigation by Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance Jr., over financial improprieties. Tishman Construction, the construction manager for the office tower, has hired Regional to install the elevator.
“Regional Scaffolding was contracted to perform a limited amount of work on Tower 4 because it was judged to be the most qualified responsible bidder on the project,” said Bud Perrone a spokesperson for Silverstein Properties. “Regional has been used as a hoist contractor on large jobs throughout the City, and we have every confidence that…they will perform their duties responsibly and to the highest safety standards. We will accept nothing less.”
“Regional was hired as the hoist contractor only, and is not doing any demolition work at Tower 4,” re-assured John Gallagher, Director of Public Affairs at Tishman Construction.
“We’ve worked with them on large projects around the City in the past and are satisfied that they can meet the requirements and schedule of this job while adhering to the strictest standards of safety,” he continued.
Hopefully there will be no casualties, this time around.
