News and events in Lower Manhattan
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Volume 6, No. 65, Feb. 6, 2023 |
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CONTENTS:
Outdated Hudson River Rail Tunnels Get Some Federal Funding
Downtown Post Food: Par Ici at the Hotel Barrière Fouquet in Tribeca
Bulletin Board: Register for Five Boro Bike Tour; Donate Bikes for Migrants
Calendar: Black History Month in Lower Manhattan
Go to www.DowntownPostNYC.com for breaking news and for updated information on facility closures related to COVID-19
MASTHEAD PHOTO: Detail of a painting by Anita Bartsch in the annual exhibition of work done during art classes in Battery Park City sponsored by the Battery Park City Authority. (Photo: © Terese Loeb Kreuzer 2023)
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Downtown Post NYC's website (www.DowntownPostNYC.com) is updated daily. That's the place to check for urgent messages, breaking news and reminders of interesting events in and around Lower Manhattan. So be sure to look at the website every day, especially if you want to know about breaking news.
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OUTDATED HUDSON RIVER RAIL TUNNELS GET SOME FUNDING |
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On Jan. 31, 2023, New York Mayor Eric Adams and other New York and New Jersey elected officials joined U.S.President Joseph Biden for a press conference to discuss infrastructure investments and the Hudson River Tunnel Project.
(Photo: Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office)
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A 110-year old railroad tunnel under the Hudson River has shown significant and unaddressed deterioration for decades. (Photo: Christopher Leaman, US DOT) |
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In the distance, the headlights of a train appeared in a tunnel, barreling past exposed pipes, corroded wires and crumbling concrete.
The date was June 28, 2021. New York Senator Chuck Schumer was giving Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg a tour of one of two 110-year-old tunnels constructed under the Hudson River to connect New York and New Jersey.
Age and the ravages of Superstorm Sandy on Oct. 29, 2012 had done their work.
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Buttigieg was impressed. "It's one thing to hear about it, it's another thing to see it," he said. "You go into that tunnel and... you see the consequences of sea water that came in, accelerated by Superstorm Sandy, and further degrading the infrastructure."
This was — and is — not just a local problem. The two antiquated tunnels under the Hudson River are part of what's called the "Northeast Corridor." the busiest passenger rail line in the United States. It runs from Boston to Washington, D.C. passing through Providence, New Haven, Stamford, New York City, Trenton, Philadelphia, Wilmington and Baltimore.
The corridor is used by Amtrak, by several long-distance trains and by inter-city trains with many commuter rail service connections along the way.
Schumer emphasized the severity of the situation. "This tunnel will not last," he said to Buttigieg, "so we are full speed ahead to get Gateway done."
The Gateway Program, otherwise known as the "Gateway Project" or just as "Gateway" has been on the drawing boards for years. It was unveiled on Feb. 7, 2011 by Amtrak's then-president and by two U.S. Senators from New Jersey. The project, which consisted of much more than the restoration and supplementation of the two tunnels, was projected to cost $13.5 billion and to be finished in 2020. By 2012, revised projections estimated the cost at $14.5 billion with a completion date in 2025. The cost is now an estimated $16 billion for the Hudson River tunnels with a completion date in 2038.
U.S. President Barack Obama had enthusiastically endorsed the project. He called it the "most vital piece of infrastructure" needing to be built in the United States. But when Donald Trump became president, he backed away from allocating money for the Northeast Corridor. In March 2018, Trump successfully urged U.S. House Speaker, Paul Ryan (R-Wisc) to get the Republican caucus to oppose federal funding for the Gateway Program.
The current plan is to repair the two old tunnels and to build two new tunnels under the Hudson River with the cost shared by the States of New York and New Jersey, by Amtrak and by a grant from the Federal Government.
When President Joe Biden visited New York City on Jan. 31, 2023 to discuss the Gateway Project and the Federal government's commitment to it, the occasion was deemed important enough for most of New York and New Jersey's political bigwigs to show up at Hudson Yards to hear what the President had to say.
"We’re going to get it done," Biden said. He said that $292 million in federal funding for the Gateway Project had already been authorized under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that was passed by Congress in the fall of 2021. Biden signed it on Nov. 15, 2021. The $1.2 trillion Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is the largest long-term infrastructure investment in the history of the United States. It provides $550 billion over fiscal years 2022 through 2026 in new Federal investment to be spent on such things as roads, bridges, mass transit, water infrastructure, resilience and broadband.
The $292 million for Gateway will go to build the final section of concrete casing under Manhattan’s west side, eventually enabling trains to travel from Penn Station to two new underwater tunnels that will supplement the existing tunnels. Two sections of this casing had been completed in 2013 and 2016. Section 3 will run diagonally from 11th Avenue to 30th Street. The casing must be in place before any further work on the tunnels can begin.
Biden called the Gateway Project "one of the biggest and most consequential projects in the country.”
“It’s going to take time," he said of the extensive work needed to address and complete all aspects of the project. "It's a multi-billion effort between states and the federal government. But we finally have the money and we’re going to get it done. I promise you, we’re going to get it done.”
— Terese Loeb Kreuzer
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On Dec. 19, 2018 Andrew M. Cuomo who was then the Governor of New York toured the North River Rail Tunnels that connect New Jersey and New York. These tunnels were built between 1904 and 1908 by the Pennsylvania Railroad so that trains could reach Manhattan. They opened for service late in 1910. The North River Tunnels still carry Amtrak and other passenger rail lines under the Hudson River between Weehawken, New Jersey and Pennsylvania Station in Manhattan. As of March 2018, up to $541 million for the Gateway Project, a program that includes building two additional rail tunnels under the Hudson River, had been allocated in the Consolidated Appropriations Act. But this was only a small part of what was and is needed to repair and supplement Gateway's two crumbling tunnels, which are more than a century old and were seriously damaged in 2012 by Superstorm Sandy.
(Photo: Kevin P. Coughlin/Office of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo)
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Feb. 23: BPCA'S Annual Art Exhibition will close with a reception that will include reading and poetry created by participants in BPCA's inaugural writing program. Place: 6 River Terrace. Time: 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. |
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Downtown Post Food
PAR ICI AT THE HOTEL BARRIERE FOUQUET IN TRIBECA
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Par Ici, a café in the Hotel Barrière Fouquet in Tribeca (Photos: © Terese Loeb Kreuzer) |
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After a faltering start during which opening dates were announced and then postponed, the Hotel Barrière Fouquet at 456 Greenwich St. in Tribeca began booking guests and opening its café and restaurant to the public in late November 2022.
The café, Par Ici, is less formal than the restaurant, Fouquet, and less expensive. Although it's possible to make reservations, at the moment they don't seem to be necessary. During four recent visits, the café wasn't crowded. Some people brought babies with them. Others brought work (a computer or reading material) and stayed for several hours without being interrupted. Service was attentive and pleasant. Under a large skylight in a room lined with plants, the atmosphere was peaceful, music was low key and the food was good.
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Grilled zucchini with baba ganoush, honey-marinated manouri and mint ($19) was excellent. So was tomato soup accompanied by a truffled grilled cheese sandwich ($22). All of the bread and pastries served in the Hotel Barrière Fouquet's restaurants are baked in-house and are superb.
(Photo: Grilled zucchini)
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Squash flatbread with mushroom and taleggio ($25) would have been enough food for two people to share. In fact, the diners at several tables seemed to be doing just that — ordering a variety of items from the menu and sharing them.
(Photo: Squash Flatbread)
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Although the main entrance to Hotel Barrière Fouquet is at 456 Greenwich St., the entrance both to Fouquet's and to Par Ici is at 28 Desbrosses St. Fouquet's serves breakfast daily from 7 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. and dinner from Sunday through Thursday from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. On Fridays and Saturdays, Fouquet's is open for dinner until 11 p.m. On Saturdays and Sundays, it is open for brunch from 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. For more information about Fouquet's click here. At the moment, Par Ici Café is open for lunch from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, although it may also open for dinner in the spring. For more information about Par Ici Café, click here.
— Terese Loeb Kreuzer
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Restaurant Week 2023: Restaurant Week in New York City started on Jan. 17 and runs through Feb. 12. Two-course lunches cost $30 and three-course dinners cost $45 or $60. Some restaurants are offering Sunday lunch/brunch for $30. Others are only offering Restaurant Week deals from Monday to Friday. Prices don't include beverages, tax or gratuities. For more information, click here.
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Celebrate Valentine's Day
with Té Company
Woo your valentine with chocolate linzer and tea from Té Company. For more information and to order, click here.
The tea room at 163 West 10th St. is open Wednesdays through Sundays from noon to 6 p.m.
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Bulletin Board
REGISTER FOR FIVE BORO BIKE TOUR; BIKE NEW YORK SEEKS BIKE DONATIONS TO HELP MIGRANTS AND ASYLUM SEEKERS
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New York City's Five Boro Bike Tour takes riders through all five boroughs of New York City on a 42-mile course. Here, some of the riders pedal through South Cove in Battery Park City. This year's Bike Tour will take place on Sunday, May 7. Registration is now open. To register, click here. (Photo: © Terese Loeb Kreuzer)
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Register for TD Five Boro Bike Tour: On Sunday, May 7 for the 45th year, the Five Boro Bike Tour will carve a path for cyclists through New York City's five boroughs. Proceeds from the Bike Tour go to Bike New York, a 501(c)(3) charity that funds free public bike education and access programs. Bike New York also sponsors a program called "Bike Path" that provides formerly incarcerated people and those with limited job opportunities with intensive bike mechanic training so that they can obtain stable employment with Motivate, which maintains Citi Bike's fleet. Standard registration for the Bike Tour costs $129 plus processing fees. VIP registration is $400 plus processing fees. Part of the registration cost is a tax deductible contribution to Bike New York. For more information and to register, click here.
Bike donations needed: In partnership with the City of New York, Bike New York is soliciting donations of bicycles that can be repaired if necessary and given to asylum seekers and other immigrants who have recently arrived in New York City. Through Feb. 28, bike donations can be left at designated drop-off locations that include Unlimited Biking stores near Central Park, Columbus Circle and Brooklyn Bridge. Trek Bicycle is also accepting donations. In Lower Manhattan, the Unlimited Biking store at 79 Chambers St. is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Trek Bicycle's Chelsea store at 183 8th Avenue is open from Monday to Friday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 12:00 (noon) to 5 p.m. For more information, go to UnlimitedBiking.com/donations. Bike New York's team will repair the bikes and distribute them through the Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs in the springtime. "New York City is home to people of all backgrounds and nationalities, many of whom arrived with little more than the clothes on their backs," said DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez. "Bikes represent more than just a mode of transportation," he observed. They can "provide newcomers with freedom, a form of income and renewed feeling of community. I urge all New Yorkers looking to make a difference in the life of one of our City's newest arrivals to drop off a donated bike."
9/11 Memorial & Museum 5K Run/Walk: The 11th annual 5K Run/Walk will take place on Sunday, April 30, 2023. Proceeds raise funds for the 9/11 Memorial & Museum, which is operated by a private foundation whose mission is to commemorate, educate and inspire. All funds raised by the 5K Run/Walk help ensure that the 9/11 Memorial remains free for all who wish to visit. In early 2023, the Memorial & Museum will release additional information about special promotions, fundraising rewards and resources, race-day activities, and more. In the meantime, save the date and register by clicking here. For questions, email runwalk@911memorial.org.
City Council Member Marte Spearheads Aid for Migrants: "Generations of immigrants made the neighborhoods of Lower Manhattan, from the Five Points, to Little Italy, to the Lower East Side, to Chinatown," says City Council Member Christopher Marte, who represents Manhattan District 1. "We now have hundreds of new neighbors moving into our communities who are seeking asylum from their home countries and better futures for their families. Their stories are just like many of ours, our parents, or our grandparents. We are so grateful to the hundreds of people who have already donated new and gently used clothes, coats, shoes, and toiletries. Welcoming asylum-seekers into our office with these items helps them to immediately feel cared for and allows us to build the trust we need to connect them with critical services. We are still collecting items for all ages and sizes - and are especially in need of children and adult sneakers and new underwear for kids, teens, and adults."
Marte asks that donations be brought to the District 1 office at 65 East Broadway, from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday to Friday. For those who have nothing to donate, he suggests making a tax-deductible contribution to Welcome to Chinatown’s fundraiser, which has been set up to direct cash assistance to migrant families. To connect with the fundraiser, click here.
Feb. 11: Native Cinema Showcase Screening: Encanto. (USA, 2021, 120 mins.) Directors: Byron Howard, Jared Bush, and Charise Castro Smith. Encanto tells the tale of an extraordinary family, the Madrigals, who live hidden in a magical house in a vibrant town in the mountains of Colombia. The magic of this wondrous, charmed Encanto has blessed every child in the family with a unique gift, from super strength to the power to heal—every child that is except one, Mirabel (voice of Stephanie Beatriz). But when she discovers that the magic surrounding Encanto is in danger, Mirabel decides that she might just be her exceptional family’s last hope. Time: 2 p.m. Place: The film will be livestreamed into the auditorium at the National Museum of the American Indian at 1 Bowling Green. To watch this film, click here.
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Annual Exhibition
of Work from Battery Park City Art Classes
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This year's annual show of artwork created in the Battery Park City Authority’s year-round art classes opened with a reception on Jan. 29 at 6 River Terrace in Battery Park City. The art work will remain on view at 6 River Terrace on Thursdays, Feb. 9, Feb. 16 and Feb. 23 from 2 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. It can also be seen on the Battery Park City Authority's You Tube website.
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Some of the Downtown Post NYC bulletin board listings are now on the Downtown Post NYC website. To see the bulletin board listings, click here.
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To see the events and activities on the Battery Park City Authority's winter calendar, click here. Most events are free. For some, reservations are required. |
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CALENDAR
Spotlight: Black History Month in Lower Manhattan
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A display at the African Burial Ground National Monument depicts a slave burial. New York's African Burial Ground in what is now Lower Manhattan was first used actively around 1650 and was closed by 1795. Long forgotten, it was discovered by chance in 1991 when the General Services Administration (GSA) began excavations at 290 Broadway with the intent of constructing a federal office building. At first archaeologists thought that there were only a few graves on the site, however it turned out that around 15,000 people had been buried there. Most were enslaved Africans. Others were free Africans or people who had escaped slavery or indentured servitude. (Photo: © Terese Loeb Kreuzer)
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The African Burial Ground is the oldest and largest known excavated burial ground in North America for both free and enslaved Africans. It acknowledges and teaches the historic role slavery played in building New York. During February there will be special craft programs and lectures on Saturdays in recognition of Black History Month. All are free and open to the public. For more information, click here.
The Alliance for Downtown New York has published "A Guide to Marking Black History Month in Lower Manhattan" on its website. The African Burial Ground National Monument is among the sites described. For other places that are important to the Black history of Lower Manhattan, click here.
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A National Park Service guide pointing to a map incised into the outdoor memorial of the African Burial Ground showing the approximate boundaries of the original cemetery. Originally, the cemetery covered 6.6 acres. The memorial near Broadway and Duane Street is three-quarters of an acre. (Photo: Terese Loeb Kreuzer) |
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Downtown Post NYC is emailed to subscribers once a week.
Editor: Terese Loeb Kreuzer
All articles and photographs in Downtown Post NYC are copyrighted and
may not be reprinted or republished without written permission.
© 2023
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