The New York Blood Center wants to replace its current low-slung headquarters with a new tower: "The New York Blood Center is in a bruising battle with its Upper East Side neighbors over a proposed expansion that opponents say would dwarf area buildings and include a scary Bio Safety Level 3 lab to study dangerous microbes. The Blood Center, a non-profit blood bank and research facility, is asking for a rezoning in order to replace its 3-story headquarters on East 67th Street with a 334-foot tower most of which would be rented out to for-profit companies as a 'life sciences center.' Community residents and some elected officials said the space is much more than the Blood Center needs, would cast shadows over a neighboring school and park, and they criticized the non-profit for not initially disclosing that it would include a BLS 3 lab." (NY Post)
Huge old trees are a new status symbol for the rich: "Mr. Acree’s business has been flourishing for more than five years, but it went into overdrive this past year as hordes of ultrahigh-net worth home buyers piled into the South Florida market amid the Covid crisis. While trophy trees are a nationwide trend, Miami tree brokers have particularly benefited because of the area’s diversity of available trees. [...] The absurdity of the situation isn’t lost on Mr. Acree. He said his wealthiest clients are finance and business types whose wealth dwarfs that of movie and music stars. 'If they want it, it will happen,' he said with a laugh." (WSJ)
NYC DOT via Patch
A new ped plaza is coming to Midtown: "Three busy stretches of Broadway in Midtown will be redesigned this spring as part of the city's ongoing project to make the thoroughfare more pedestrian-friendly, city officials said this week. The three sites — in the Flatiron District, Garment District and near Times Square — will include new pedestrianized spaces, bike lanes, narrower streets to slow car traffic and one fully pedestrianized plaza, representatives from the Department of Transportation told Community Board 5 on Monday." (Patch)
DOT blocks Citi Bike rival JOCO from entering the market: "New York City issued a cease and desist notice to a privately-run rival to Citi Bike on Wednesday — demanding it halt operations because it isn’t authorized, sources told The Post. The city Department of Transportation sent the directive in a letter to JOCO, a transit start-up that began rolling out e-bikes for its new bike-share service in Manhattan this week." (NY Post)
NYPD robot dog put down: "When the Police Department acquired a robotic dog last year, officials heralded the four-legged device as a futuristic tool that could go places that were too dangerous to send officers. 'This dog is going to save lives,' Inspector Frank Digiacomo of the department’s technical Assistance Response Unit said in a television interview in December. 'It’s going to protect people. It’s going to protect officers.' Instead, the machine, which the police named Digidog, became a source of heated debate. After it was seen being deployed as part of the response to a home invasion in the Bronx in February, critics likened it to a dystopian surveillance drone." (NYT)
Tourist spending sees a steep drop: "New York City’s all-important tourism industry is showing its first signs of revival. But the sector has drastically contracted under the pressure of the pandemic, according to a report from the state comptroller’s office. Spending by visitors to New York City dropped by 73% in 2020 from the year before, costing the city $1.2 billion in tax revenue. Tourism-related losses accounted for 59% of the city’s $2 billion decline in tax collections, the report said." (Crain's)
Fischer + Makooi Architects/Rabsky Group
New 26-story luxury apartment and office tower in DUMBO inevitable: "Dumbo Councilmember Steve Levin will vote to approve a contested public air rights sale that paves the way for a 26-story tower at 69 Adams St. — citing promises by city officials to spend most of the profits from the deal in the neighborhood, including a large chunk on the ailing York Street subway station." (Brooklyn Paper)
50 Teslas are coming to NYC as part of moped company Revel's rideshare program: "In late May, the company says the people below 42nd Street in Manhattan will be able to hail a blue Tesla for pickups and dropoffs within that area before Revel begins expanding in phases to give New Yorkers a zero-emissions alternative to cabs and other rideshares. 'Cities like New York don’t need another company promising electric fleets in 2030 – they need companies delivering now,' Revel CEO Frank Reig said. 'Revel is building a platform to electrify cities, and rideshare is a key part of it.'"(amNY)
The Plaza Hotel will reopen May 20: "Some may say that it’s not New York City without the Plaza Hotel—so it’s surely a sign of better days ahead that the landmark will be back on the scene in May. A thorough deep cleaning and regular maintenance has kept the 'castle on Central Park' in good shape during the 14-month closure, so returning guests should expect the same level of elegance in the 282 rooms and suites, which include a number of bi-level Legacy Suites and apartment-style One-of-a-Kind Suites with park views." (Robb Report)
And then there were 13: "Initially, more than 40 contenders tossed their hats into mayoral race this year. As of late April, according to Board of Election records, the pack has been whittled down to just over a dozen candidates who’ve officially made it onto the ballot for the June 22 Democratic and Republican primaries. A number of independent or third-party candidates are in the race, as well, and will petition to get on the general ballot between April and mid-May. [...] Here’s an alphabetic list of who’s still in the race for City Hall in 2021, according to the latest tally from the city Board of Elections as well as fundraising records from the Campaign Finance Board."(The City)
