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January 9 - January 22, 2013
B Y TERESE LOEB KREUZER
ASPHALT GREEN COMMUNITY CENTER: The Battery Park City Authority has issued a statement about the community center it is constructing at 212 North End Ave. No, it doesn’t know when the community center will open. Yes, Asphalt Green is still the operator of the project. This community center was originally supposed to open in November 2011, with numerous announced and missed opening dates due to structural, permitting and contractual problems. Then Superstorm Sandy arrived. This is where things stand now: The lower level of the community center was flooded. Both swimming pools will have to be drained and disinfected and the pool circulation pumps and motors will have to be replaced. Water covered the wood flooring in the gymnasium and two other exercise rooms. The wood warped, making it unusable and the entire floor needs to be replaced and treated. Rubber flooring in the fitness/ exercise area was also flooded, ruining it beyond repair. About 20 inches of floodwater washed up against the eastern lower level wall of the center. Some of that water got into the interior space, staining the walls and stairs. Plaster must be repaired, stains removed and new paint applied to the walls. Floodwater overwhelmed and broke through the overhead door at the ball field maintenance facility. Damaged slats are being replaced by heavier gauge material than originally used. The electrical switchgear room is located in the cellar level of the ball field maintenance facility. This area took on about 30 inches of salty water dur-
Downtown Express photo by Terese Loeb Kreuzer
The Conrad New York hotel at 102 North End Ave. in Battery Park City is one of several Lower Manhattan hotels that are offering complimentary Downtown Culture Passes and Century 21 gift cards to weekend guests who stay at these hotels on or before Feb. 28, 2013.
ing the storm surge. Transformers located in the electrical room were submerged in water and must be replaced. The sub-cellar took on 16 inches of water, affecting the boiler/chiller room. Heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems were either submerged or exposed to water and have to be drained, cleaned, repaired or replaced. Damaged insulation, wiring and conduits must be replaced. Hot water heat exchanges must be restored to pre-storm conditions. Washing machines and dryers in the center’s laundry facility must be replaced. Some work is in progress while the B.P.C.A. awaits delivery of some new material and equipment. The B.P.C.A. does not know how long
The Asphalt Green community center on North End Avenue was severely damaged by Superstorm Sandy. The Battery Park City Authority, which is constructing the center, has no estimate as to when it will open.
it will take to make the repairs. However, once completed, they will have to be inspected before city permits and certifications can be obtained. The community center was originally budgeted at $55 million. At a meeting of the B.P.C.A. Audit Committee on Jan. 8, 2013, the subject of insurance was raised. Warren Ruppel, a partner in the firm of Marks Paneth & Shron, the B.P.C.A.’s outside auditors, stated that the storm damage is still being assessed so proceeds from insurance are unknown at this time.
B.P.C. EVENT SPACE: Some Battery Park City apartments are undoubtedly too small for all-holds-barred celebrations, but fortunately there’s a terrific space that can be rented right in the neighborhood. For around a year, the Battery Park City Parks Conservancy has been renting its 2,000-square-foot space at 6 River Terrace for such occasions as birthday parties, wedding brunches, and even movie shoots for which the “extras” had to be accommodated with meals, snacks and a place to sit down. Some of these events have been quite elaborate with face painting, balloons, flowers, caterers and entertainment. The conservancy will set up tables and chairs but then it’s up to those who rent to do the decorating, provide the food and clean up afterward. The facility has a sink and a small pantry but no refrigerator or stove. Toys and play equipment such as a puppet theater and a play kitchen are available for a small fee. Rental prices vary according to usage and the number of hours needed. Most rentals are for a minimum of four hours. To reserve or schedule a walk through, call 212-267-9700, ext. 363 or email mdart@bpcparks.org.
HOTEL DEALS: January and February are often slow months for New York City hotels, with
many offering deals to boost occupancy. In Lower Manhattan, these slow months loom especially large because of damage from Superstorm Sandy that forced a large number of downtown hotels to close for several weeks, reopening with limited services. Now most are fully restored to pre-Sandy levels. NYC & Company, New York City’s official tourism arm, has teamed up with a number of Lower Manhattan hotels to entice weekend travelers with complimentary Downtown Culture Passes granting three days of admission to 12 cultural attractions in Lower Manhattan (one per person, and a maximum of two per package) plus a complimentary $20 gift card to the Century 21 Department Store. The Conrad New York at 102 North End Ave. in Battery Park City is one of these hotels. Also on the list are the Andaz Wall Street, the Best Western Seaport Inn Downtown (newly reopened after significant damage from Superstorm Sandy), the Cosmopolitan Hotel in Tribeca, Doubletree by Hilton New York City, Gild Hall, the Holiday Inn New York City Wall Street, the Millenium Hilton, New York Marriott Downtown, the Ritz-Carlton Battery Park, Smyth Tribeca, the W New York Downtown, and the World Center Hotel. For more information, go to www.nycgo. com/lower-manhattan
TREE MULCH: In keeping with Battery Park City’s “green” ethos, the Battery Park City Parks Conservancy will pick up discarded Christmas trees and turn them into mulch for the neighborhood’s parks. Through Jan. 25, leave your tree on the curb for pick up. No decorations, please. For more information, call 212-267-9700. To comment on Battery Park City Beat or to suggest article ideas, email TereseLoeb10@gmail.com