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| U.N. weighs move to gritty downtown Brooklyn |
| 2005-05-11 |
| I was born and raised in Brooklyn. It used to be a nice place to live. Oh well. There goes the neighborhood. The United Nations may temporarily have to move across the East River to gritty Brooklyn while it renovates its Manhattan headquarters, U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan said on Tuesday. After looking at more than 100 properties, the world body found that only a site in downtown Brooklyn would be able to accommodate both U.N. staff and conferences, Annan said in a report to the U.N. General Assembly. "The advantage of this site is that conference and office space would be together. The disadvantage is that the site would require additional travel for many staff and delegates," he said. a cryin' shame His report made no mention of the psychological impact to the organization and staff of moving from chic Manhattan to one of New York's less-fashionable outer boroughs. THIS is what they worry about?!?!?!!! The "psychological" impact? Aren't these do-nothing petrowhores supposed to be worrying about global famine, disease and war? And they're upset about having to commute like 99.9999% of the rest of the people who live in NYC?!?!?!!! (myself included) The United Nations has been working for five years on a $1.2 billion Capital Master Plan for renovating its aging headquarters, which was completed in 1952. only 5 years? I woulda thought it started way before then. Renovations are due to begin in 2007, although financing is not yet locked in place. But the plan depends on staff moving into a temporary building while the main U.N. secretariat building is gutted and refurbished. The U.N. complex is an architectural landmark that draws 800,000 tourists a year. But inside, some roofs leak, toxic asbestos lines ceilings, heating and cooling systems are erratic and there are no sprinklers in case of fire. yep. that's nyc. Under the plan's initial version, a new 30-story office tower was to be built in Robert Moses Park near U.N. headquarters to temporarily house the staff. holy crap! ONLY the UN would come up with a plan like that. But that ran into a brick wall when the New York State Legislature, caught up in a wave of anti-U.N. sentiment in the United States, declined to give it the necessary approvals. whew! that's a relief. Delaying the project to wait for those approvals might now mean major delays in the renovations, Annan said. The United Nations just three months ago had denied it was looking at temporary sites in Queens, Brooklyn or the Bronx. they lied? tap. tap. In his new report, Annan said that despite finding the Brooklyn site, the United Nations would keep looking for the ideal real estate solution. How about Sudan? Another option, he said, was to lease Manhattan office space and build a temporary conference building nearby at a cost of about $45 million, not counting operating costs or acquiring the land. Yeah. How about giving to the NY economy. At least they can do something good. |
| Posted by:PlanetDan |
| #12 It looks like the UN will be sharing digs with the Nets! Heh. |
| Posted by: someone 2005-05-11 15:52 |
| #11 The phrase "rape 'em on the rent" springs to mind... |
| Posted by: mojo 2005-05-11 15:40 |
| #10 I hear Arafat's old headquarters are available.... |
| Posted by: CrazyFool 2005-05-11 14:15 |
| #9 They might move to France and France might take them. I'll throw support behind that idea. |
| Posted by: Bomb-a-rama 2005-05-11 14:10 |
| #8 They won't move to a third world nation no matter how ironic or just it might be. They might move to France and France might take them. Win/win for everyone. Then the third world can come to the UN in time as the French economy sputters. |
| Posted by: rjschwarz 2005-05-11 12:58 |
| #7 growler - RINO Bloomberg can claim whatever he wants, but it's a sure bet that NYC will GAIN bigtime if the UN leaves town. I suggest we Send 'em to America-hating, jealous Phrogistan - they'll fit right in. |
| Posted by: Barbara Skolaut 2005-05-11 11:43 |
| #6 Deacon, that "park" is a playground. One of the few, if only, ones in the area. Here is a nice short writeup about how NYC got shafted with the UN in the first place, as well as a nice rundown of the local opposition. That said, they'll never move to Brooklyn. I cannot imagine any diplomats having to cross the river. As it is now, most can walk to the UN, or drive their cars and park illegally. Plus, Mayor Bloomberg will probably cut some deal for Manhattan space, claiming the city would lose lots of money if the UN left. |
| Posted by: growler 2005-05-11 11:11 |
| #5 You know, no matter what we want, they'll whine and cry and will end up with something. I recommend, unlike the Dems, to actually offer an alternative. Move the lot to San Francisco, their first home. Then once we get them all moved in and confortable, make the city independent like Vatican City. Hehehehe. |
| Posted by: Spoluper Hupenter1939 2005-05-11 09:56 |
| #4 Under the plan's initial version, a new 30-story office tower was to be built in Robert Moses Park near U.N. headquarters to temporarily house the staff.But that ran into a brick wall when the New York State Legislature, caught up in a wave of anti-U.N. sentiment in the United States, declined to give it the necessary approvals. Maybe it wasn't anti-UN sentiment. Maybe they just didn't want to build a 30 story office tower in a park. On the other hand, I kind of like the idea of New York sticking it to the UN after 50 years of unpaid parking tickets and othe UN shennanigans. I once worked for The Gruzen Partnership, Architects in New York City. Loved the reataurants, theatre, and museums but it was just too big for a South Alabama farm boy. |
| Posted by: Deacon Blues 2005-05-11 09:30 |
| #3 I still think they should move it to the center of the largest mass-gave in Iraq. Somehow I think it would be fitting. 1.6B to only renovate the building? You could probably build a new one with - in fact it does, that includes the 'new building' they will build to for a 'temporary' location. |
| Posted by: CrazyFool 2005-05-11 09:08 |
| #2 Zimbabwe's nice this time of year. So's Somalia... |
| Posted by: tu3031 2005-05-11 08:40 |
| #1 Move them 12 miles east. |
| Posted by: ed 2005-05-11 08:12 |