NEW YORK | UN Building | 546 FT | 36 FLOORS

[NYguy]

http://www.dnainfo.com/20110929/murr...n-un-land-swap

Conservative Think Tank Wants Congress to Weigh in on UN Land Swap

September 29, 2011
By Mary Johnson

...as the Oct. 10th deadline to agree to the terms of the deal looms, a fellow at a Washington, D.C.-based conservative think tank is adding his voice to the mix — arguing that the federal government should be the final arbiter in the plan.

In a report from the Heritage Foundation published earlier this month, author Brett Schaefer argued that the construction of a new UN tower has significant implications for the rest of the nation beyond New York City, where the debate has been largely concentrated. “The government of New York is proceeding along with this project … without really making the U.S. government aware of what the potential financial obligations might be,” Schaefer told DNAinfo.com Wednesday.

Schaefer, who frequently writes about the UN, said he decided to investigate the land swap because of the potential costs associated with building a new UN office tower. He also warned that the project may be an unnecessary expense to bear during tough economic times.

While the U.S. would not have the power to stop the deal, Congress would have to weigh in if the UN wanted to issue tax-free bonds for the deal, sources said.

[NYguy]

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/30/ny...1&ref=nyregion

Land Deal With U.N. Would Fill a Big Gap in the Waterfront Greenway





A site on the East River once occupied by Consolidated Edison is to become part of the Greenway.

By LISA W. FODERARO
September 29, 2011

For at least a decade, the United Nations has coveted a playground just south of its landmark tower, where it would like to construct a new building. For just as long, city and state officials have longed to fill in the largest remaining gap in the Manhattan Waterfront Greenway, from 38th to 60th Streets on the East River, but have not had the money.

Now, in a series of real-life Rubik’s Cube moves, elected officials are on the verge of signing an agreement that would create a framework for both sides to get what they want. The United Nations would take part of Robert Moses Playground for its new building, while the city would end up with enough cash to finish an esplanade for the 32-mile Greenway — and a replacement playground. In July, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo signed legislation that gave the city and state governments until Oct. 10 to agree to the terms of a deal.

If the agreement, or memorandum of understanding, is signed by Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and the heads of the Assembly and the Senate, as required, the United Nations Development Corporation could begin a land-use review for its new tower, which could be no taller than the 505-foot Secretariat Building.

[yankeesfan1000]

Thanks for keeping this thread going NYGuy, any idea on what might be built on the lot south of the Robert Moses Park?

[Crawford]

The lots south of Robert Moses Park are owned by developer Sheldon Solow, who´s building a giant mixed-use highrise complex designed by Richard Meier.

[NYguy]

Originally Posted by Crawford

The lots south of Robert Moses Park are owned by developer Sheldon Solow, who´s building a giant mixed-use highrise complex designed by Richard Meier.

Yes, the infamous Con Ed development. I hate to even think of it now, and what could have/should have been.













It reminds me of why I think it's a mistake making the new building no taller than the original. The Secretariat as it is now is an iconic landmark on the waterfront of Manhattan, and it's set apart from the other skyscrapers. Dropping a similar sized tower in the vicinity takes away from it I think. On the other hand, a taller, thinner, and angular tower would stand apart and take nothing away from the Secretariat.

[NYguy]

http://www.heritage.org/research/rep...ed-information


http://thf_media.s3.amazonaws.com/20...figure%201.pdf

[kingcity]

wow very nice

[NYguy]

http://www.nationalreview.com/articl...ett-d-schaefer

The Building You’re Buying the U.N.
You’re buying New Yorkers a park, too!

Brett D. Schaefer
October 3, 2011

With little attention from national media or Congress, the pieces are falling into place for the United Nations to build a brand-new building next door to its current 39-story tower. That’s fast work, considering the U.N. has yet to provide the Obama administration or Congress an official cost estimate for the project or a detailed justification of the need for this building.

Earlier this decade, construction of a new U.N. building was estimated to run about $400 million. And New York wants $65 million for the playground property. Add those two figures for a lowball estimate. The cost could go much higher, however. After all, the current renovation of the U.N. building was initially estimated at $600 million. It’s now expected to wind up costing more than $2 billion. The U.S. taxpayer will likely be expected to shoulder 22 percent of the increased expenses resulting from the new U.N. building.

What New York is really proposing, then, is for American taxpayers from around the country to pay hundreds of millions of dollars so that Manhattan’s bikers and hikers can have a scenic pathway along the East River. If the citizens of New York won’t pony up for their own esplanade, why should taxpayers in Ohio or Nevada or Florida or anywhere else? This may be a “win” for New York and the U.N., but it certainly makes the rest of America look like a loser.

[RobertWalpole]

None of the buildings proposed by Solow will be built in that form. I recall reading that he's trying to sell the site.

[yankeesfan1000]

Yeah I had read that he is. It's a huge site, obviously right on the water, I'd imagine we eventually get several tall buildings there. Right? Crossing fingers...

That article you posted NYGuy makes me cringgeee.

[NYguy]

NIMBYs not ready to give up the fight...

NY Post
http://www.nypost.com/p/news/opinion...ng3zmkAAGFwSBJ

UNSportsmanlike conduct
The Issue: The city’s plan to sell the Robert Moses Playground to make room for new UN offices.


September 26, 2011

***

Mayor Bloomberg’s plan to destroy what is possibly the city’s most bucolic place, Tudor City, may go through -- with a possible taxpayer bill of hundreds of millions of dollars (“Paying the UN To Steal a NY Park,” Megan Clyne, PostOpinion, Sept. 22). Does Bloomberg think that New York has too many parks and too much money or that the United Nations has too few offices to bash the United States and our allies?
David Bergstein
Tudor City


***

Clyne grasps the expansion for what it is -- a land grab. When a political entity takes land that belongs to another, it’s called colonialism. When the United Nations does it, it’s called “consolidation.” The coming redevelopment of Midtown’s East Side will bring 8,000 new residents, just as the politicians give away a vital playground that the neighborhood desperately needs.
Edan Unterman President
East Midtown Coalition for
Sensible Development
Manhattan

***

It’s about time someone stuck up for those of us who played on the Robert Moses field of dreams in the 1960s. The STAGs of St. Agnes High School, which used to occupy a building on East 44th Street, spent many a fine afternoon playing intramural softball there. Let’s hope the city pops one over the right- field fence and the deal to sell our field of memories is ruled an out.
Dennis Hawkins
Manhattan

***

Clyne fails to mention what the city stands to gain. The proposal would generate thousands of jobs at the UN construction site -- a major boost for the city in this time of economic hardship. And residents would get a greenway along the East River, which is why East Siders support the proposal.
Laura Bucko Vice President
Manhattan Chamber
of Commerce
Manhattan

_____________________________


Daily News...
http://www.nydailynews.com/opinions/letters/index.html

Not in my backyard

October 5th 2011

Manhattan: As we mourned the huge loss of the twin towers on 9/11, we here in Midtown East are threatened by a potential new terrorist target: Our politicians are working on a deal to expand the United Nations' footprint by crossing over 42nd St. to a site right next to the Midtown Tunnel air shaft. This building will be a needle, erected by taking an irreplaceable playground away from the community. And it will have to be built right to the street, making it extremely difficult to defend. There are plenty of other places to put UN workers.

Vivienne Gilbert

[SkyscrapersOfNewYork]

This building will be a needle, erected by taking an irreplaceable playground away from the community. And it will have to be built right to the street, making it extremely difficult to defend. There are plenty of other places to put UN workers.

Seriously.....seriously? are these people kidding me? now i remember the anger i felt toward this NIMBY ignorance when Verre was in this stage.

[NYguy]

Originally Posted by SkyscrapersOfNewYork

Seriously.....seriously? are these people kidding me? now i remember the anger i felt toward this NIMBY ignorance when Verre was in this stage.

Those are some of Manhattan's most furious NIMBYs. I was told by one lawyer who lived in the area that there would be "riots in the streets" if something as tall as Trump World Tower was proposed for the Con Ed site. It's classic NIMBYism, because they would apparently be fine with the tower if it were built somewhere else.

There are plenty of other places to put UN workers.

If the proposal was to take down the original, and build a new tower at twice the height, their tunes would probably change.

[SkyscrapersOfNewYork]

Those are some of Manhattan's most furious NIMBYs. I was told by one lawyer who lived in the area that there would be "riots in the streets" if something as tall as Trump World Tower was proposed for the Con Ed site. It's classic NIMBYism, because they would apparently be fine with the tower if it were built somewhere else.

I simply cant fathom as to why Nimby's act as ignorantly as they do. Especially in the capital of the skyscraper. If NYC is to remain great it must be given the opportunity to grow.

[NYguy]

^ They are losing this battle fast.


http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/20...and-esplanade/

Land Deal Is Announced to Allow New U.N. Tower and Esplanade


The former Consolidated Edison site that will become part of the city’s Greenway.

By DAVID W. CHEN
October 5, 2011

City and state officials on Wednesday agreed to a $73 million plan that would unlock an underutilized chunk of the Manhattan waterfront between East 38th and East 60th Streets, paving the way for a new United Nations office tower and esplanade along the East River....It would also enable the United Nations to begin a land-use review for a long-planned tower that could be no taller than the 505-foot tall Secretariat Building.

There is no guarantee that the United Nations will commit to the deal, since it was not a party to the agreement. But there is every expectation that the United Nations will be supportive, since it has long sought the land just south of its landmark tower — currently a playground — where it could build a new tower.

__________________________


http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000...025143388.html
Greenway Plan Gets 'Missing Link'


The Robert Moses Playground near First Avenue is adjacent to the existing United Nations campus.

By ERICA ORDEN
October 6, 2011

New York City and state agreed to the development a mile-long stretch of East Side waterfront using $73 million derived from an expected expansion of the United Nations campus, officials said Wednesday.

State legislation passed in June allows the United Nations Development Corp. to utilize the western portion of the city-owned Robert Moses Playground, adjacent to the existing United Nations campus, for a new building connected to its existing campus.

To proceed with those plans, the U.N. arm would pay $73 million into a special purpose fund, which the city has agreed to use to finance the development of the esplanade between 38th and 60th streets.

[antinimby]

Originally Posted by SkyscrapersOfNewYork

I simply cant fathom as to why Nimby's act as ignorantly as they do. Especially in the capital of the skyscraper. If NYC is to remain great it must be given the opportunity to grow.

What is there not to fathom? They don't care about the city being great or not. They only care about the things that affect their immediate area and that may impact their daily life. That's why they're called NIMBY's.

How difficult is that to understand?

[SkyscrapersOfNewYork]

Originally Posted by antinimby

What is there not to fathom? They don't care about the city being great or not. They only care about the things that affect their immediate area and that may impact their daily life. That's why they're called NIMBY's.

How difficult is that to understand?

What cant Fathom is that how can you not want you city to progress, if something is being built whether it be in my neighborhood or in the Bronx i care especially if it will enhance the city as a whole. They act as though there building a 500 ft tall prison...there getting class A office spaced that carries a name that is renounced world wide. They should be thankful to live near such treasures.

[antinimby]

[SkyscrapersOfNewYork]

Originally Posted by antinimby

Hey i'll take a condo next to the UN and this tower.

[NYC4Life]

Anti-Nimbyism will continue to prevail in NYC :-)