Comments on: Second Ave. coop files suit over ventilation structures

By: The Upper East Side Ruins | Upper Green Side

The Upper East Side Ruins | Upper Green Side — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 22:48:30 +0000

[...] consideration to be reused as a new ferry landing. With completion of the Second Avenue Subway years away, a new ferry landing would help facilitate a “blue highway” on the East River, giving [...]

By: LOLcat

LOLcat — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 17:45:09 +0000

This is the exact type of project eminent domain should be used for. One that benefits the masses at the cost of a few. The people suing the city should be ashamed that they are holding this project up.

By: Kai B

Kai B — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 15:22:18 +0000

You have to remember too that the SAS is mostly being built deep underground, not open cut like most of the rest of the system. If you rather have all of Second Avenue entirely dug up for a few years than maybe a few of these could be removed.

By: Andrew

Andrew — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 02:05:49 +0000

I think the concerns many had with Kelo and Atlantic Yards cases were with eminent domain being used to transfer property from private hands to private hands. Eminent domain is always somewhat controversial, I think, but I suspect that a lot more people find its use acceptable for, say, transit facilities.

By: Andrew

Andrew — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 02:03:29 +0000

Sidewalk grates are irrelevant for a line this deep.

By: AK

AK — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 22:01:41 +0000

I’m with you on that, Ben, but I am also afraid we are in the minority, as evidenced by the incredible outpouring of anger that occurred in the wake of Kelo (a Supreme Court case invovling eminent domain use in New London, Conn. for the transit, but non-legal nerds in the audience) and the recent Atlantic Yards case that was heard by the New York Court of Appeals.

The echoes of Moses still distort the public’s views about development in this grand City of ours.

By: Think twice

Think twice — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 19:04:10 +0000

Maybe there would be less opposition if they had half-way decent looking exteriors. And they need to be honest…the rendering is missing giant billboards (A jail-bate American Apparel ad on 69th St and a not-too-subtle homoerotic Calvin Klein one on 2nd Ave).

By: AK

AK — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 16:07:11 +0000

I know we’re talking about Phase 1 structures, but my point is that I would much prefer to cut Phase 1 spending to ensure Phase 2-4 completion (or to simply cut costs on the project, which would show people that the MTA actually thinks about the money it spends and never takes taxpayer dollars for granted– can you imagine the public relations opportunities MTA could take advantage of if they returned taxpayer dollars, the agency’s lack of a PR department notwithstanding). Second, while you are realistic to think pork spending will continue, NYC is always under a more powerful microscope, especially now when the angry eyes of the public are focused directly on some of its most powerful institutions.

By: Benjamin Kabak

Benjamin Kabak — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 15:06:19 +0000

All we’re doing here though is talking about Phase I structures. Anyway, there’s enough logrolling and pork with the appropriations bill that if mid-country Senators are sending billions are way, their constituents are definitely getting something in return. I wouldn’t worry too much about that.

By: AK

AK — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 14:58:47 +0000

I like your optimism Ben, but I do not share it when it comes to SAS’s budget. The federal contribution will make Phase 1 a reality, but Phases 2-4, which have no funding commitments will be cast to the wind. Given the state of the federal budget (and the fury over existing debt), it is far from clear that those funding commitments will be forthcoming, even if MTA is brutally efficient in its construction of Phase 1. It is all but certain that lawmakers in the middle of the country will not be able to tell their constituents with a straight face that NYC needs $10 billion additional for a subway line that has air-conditioned platforms.