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Governors Island Plans

Thursday, December 20, 2007

Rob Pirani executive director of the Regional Plan Association's Governors Island Alliance, talks about the selection of the Dutch firm West 8 to design the open space on the island.

Guests:

Rob Pirani

Comments [19]

Kale from NYC

Morpho butterflies in the wild at Governor's Island? If they think that's going to happen they might as well get some ewoks and mogwai to inhabit the place as well.

Dec. 20 2007 04:55 PM
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Dan Donatelli

How about a Marina, so that boaters could take day trips to the Island, rent slips for the day and enjoy the park?

Dec. 20 2007 11:01 AM
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Bonnie Kirsten from Manhattan

I wonder what happened to Mayer Bloomberg's vision of creating a world wide medical facility where patients and their families could be housed there while undergoing treatment. This could be such a fantastic idea for New York, easily accessible and could attract the best physicians in the world, and offer the best treatments for various afflictions....
I'm sorry to hear it might just be another commercial enterprise with a nice gift wrapped park to make it more attractive....

Dec. 20 2007 10:43 AM
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Charles from Brooklyn

Just another government facilitated development giving public land away, bringing New York farther away from New York ... Dismay for all those who understand this point, and congratulations for all those who could care less.

Dec. 20 2007 10:35 AM
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Heidi Upton

As a child, in the fifties, when it was used by the army, went there for the buffet at the Officers Open Mess on Sundays. Clear memory of huge piles of caviar. I remember the old flags hanging in the Episcopal Church. Running through the moat. Wondering at the miles thick walls that surrounded the center of the island. My son played golf with his grandfather and I have a picture of him preparing to swing - the World Trade Towers in the background.

Dec. 20 2007 10:32 AM
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John Celardo from Fanwood, NJ

Creating a park in the harbor will be spectacular. However, I am ambivalent about the conference center and hotel. I was a member of Christie Whitman’s Ellis Island Committee, and the prospects for developing the south side of Ellis Island was overshadowed by the prospect of developing Governors Island. A conference center on Ellis was one of our suggestions to the governor for the future use of the island.

Dec. 20 2007 10:30 AM
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hjs from 11211

the giant butterflies will scare the children

Dec. 20 2007 10:29 AM
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IC from NY/Montreal

Being a New Yorker and architect....it's so refreshing to finally see some greenery added on a substantial level to the cty rather than more commercial development, luxury housing and jut more man-made environment. People need natural to stop and really smell the roses.

Dec. 20 2007 10:27 AM
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Steve Hamacher

It's GOT to have hills. Having been there, I can vouch for the fact that the landfill portion of the island is big and flat and unwelcoming.
It will be one of THE NYC destinations, I predict. The historical structures alone....

Dec. 20 2007 10:26 AM
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Jim from Manhattan

What is the status of the golf course?

Dec. 20 2007 10:25 AM
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Leo from NYC

besides casinos, what else other proposals were looked at? I wanted comprehensive assisted living for the homeless, but that's just me...

Dec. 20 2007 10:24 AM
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Paulo from Paterson, New Jersey

Free bicycles on a small island seems pretty feasible. I mean, how would you steal that? Where would you take it?

But getting there seems like it might be a hassle, and I couldn't see this as a place I would go regularly like other parks.

Dec. 20 2007 10:23 AM
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hjs from 11211

are they planning on tearing down those great old buildings??

that would be a shame

Dec. 20 2007 10:21 AM
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eCAHNomics

Hills on a flat island? How tacky is that? What's the problem with making something what it is rather than an excessive hoked up artificial space? Never thought I'd live to see the day when "nature" became wholly & completely fake.

Dec. 20 2007 10:20 AM
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Leo from NYC

Sounds lovely and pointless.

Dec. 20 2007 10:20 AM
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Robert from NYC

To be fair, the West 8 rendering was not posted before my Disneyland remark. That said, let's make it a tad more nature park-like and less an attraction with Starbuckses and such nonsense. A type of oasis from the busy city. It looks like it will attract too many people and the only way out of that is to limit visitors visits thus making it even worse.

Dec. 20 2007 10:19 AM
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Paulo from Paterson, New Jersey

Looks like an otherwordly paradise... let's see how it works out.

Dec. 20 2007 10:08 AM
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john from Bay Ridge

Looks great. Will be impossible to replicate these pictures. I love the guy rock climbing down a slope. I am sure that will be illegal.

Dec. 20 2007 10:06 AM
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Robert from NYC

Oh no, not another Disneyland!

Dec. 20 2007 08:54 AM
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