July 7th, 2011, By Dana Haugh
As it turns out, the U.N. isn’t just all work and no play. At least, not since Albany approved their proposed plan to build another office tower on the Robert Moses Playground. I guess world leaders need a break too, and what better way is there to unload stress than climb on the monkey bars or ponder the world’s internal affairs on the swings. Who knows, maybe this could even make world relations more amicable—if things get a little heated, break for recess!
The proposed expansion, which is expected to have Mayor Bloomberg’s full support, will be located on 42nd Street and First Avenue, just a stone’s throw from UN headquarters, and will house U.N. staff from both the U.N. complex and two other city buildings. The building’s construction, to be set on 29,000 square feet of blacktop, had originally been proposed, and denied, seven years ago when legislators were in a rather “anti-U.N.” attitude following the U.N.’s refusal to allow the U.S. invasion of Iraq. Funds for the new building would come from development corporation bonds if approved by the General Assembly.
Supporters such as Micah Lasher, director of state legislative affairs for Bloomberg, say “the project could have an enormous upside for the local community and the city as a whole,” while skeptics are more worried about ensuring the construction of a new park in return.
Funding for the new playground would come from the sale of the two city buildings in use by the U.N., but finding a place to put the playground is a bigger issue. Also in the works forthe “East Side project” is a $13 million renovation of a 42nd pier, funded by Con Edison, which will soon be home to offices and residential sites.
City and state officials are expected to come to an agreement on the construction by October 10.
All information gathered from the Wall Street Journal