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| Price-tag of UN renovation soars to $1.9 billion |
| 2006-12-22 |
| Really? That's all? Well somebody there obviously isn't doing their job... UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - The price tag on a long-stalled renovation of the landmark United Nations headquarters has soared to $1.9 billion from the 2002 estimate of $1 billion, when the project was first envisioned, according to new figures released on Thursday. Long-stalled? At the UN? The U.N. General Assembly's budget committee called for the 192-nation body to adopt a draft resolution setting a budget of $1.878 billion for the project, which if approved would finally get off the ground next year. Yeah, sure. Is that all ya need? Sure that's all you need? The assembly is expected to approve the measure on Friday. ...and then...long weekend!!! The U.N. headquarters compound is one of New York's most popular tourist destinations. But after 54 years, its roof leaks, it is riddled with asbestos and lacks fire detectors, a sprinkler system and other emergency safety devices. I have no problem with any of this. The building's current "hazards, risks and deficiencies ... endanger the safety, health and well-being of staff, delegations, visitors and tourists," the draft text states. Yeah. "Visitors and tourists". Make sure that's in there. The United Nations has been working for six years on a plan to renovate the tower. The latest proposal has been scaled back and stretched out to avoid moving the whole organization into temporary headquarters while the work is carried out. Well, it hasn't fallen down yet. I might be willing to take a chance on waiting another 6 years. Or 60 years. Or 600 years. The money would be raised through increases in the dues paid by all U.N. member nations on a sliding scale. Governments would have a choice of paying their share all at once or in five yearly installments beginning in 2007, the draft says. That would put the poorest nations' share at a little under $2 million each. The United States, the world's biggest economy which picks up the tab for 22 percent of the regular U.N. budget, would pay over $400 million. 400 mill to renovate the pleasure palace of an inept, incompotent group of thieves. Such a deal! Much of the increase in project costs since 2002 is due to inflation in construction costs because of delays. Yeah...inflation! That's the ticket! |
| Posted by:tu3031 |
| #13 Barb! yer on a roll! LOL |
| Posted by: RD 2006-12-22 22:42 |
| #12 Don't give the bastards a f*cking dime. If they're so anxious to renovate their building, let them use all the money they've scammed and skimmed from various operations. Koffee and his son should be able to finance it all by themselves, with plenty of |
| Posted by: Barbara Skolaut 2006-12-22 22:23 |
| #11 This story doesn't mention it, but the UN wants the US to front the entire $1.9 billion at 0% interest. I give high odds that if any leader is stupid enough to do it, the US taxpayer will pay most of the bill. |
| Posted by: ed 2006-12-22 22:22 |
| #10 At 1 million square feet, that's $1900/s.f. for a renovation. Even gutting the wiring, plumbing and HVAC, commercial renovations are done for 10% of that price. |
| Posted by: ed 2006-12-22 22:05 |
| #9 I always said to place it in the center of the largest mass-grave in Iraq - I'll add to dedicated it to Koffi Annan. Either that or Tel-Aviv. I think that might give the UN an incentive to prevent Iran from getting the bomb. If nothing else it will give Israel warning - when the UN rats and vermin starts leaving its time to look out for incoming. |
| Posted by: CrazyFool 2006-12-22 21:51 |
| #8 Price-tag of UN renovation soars to $1.9 billion hey, 1 billion of the 2006 price is already cut up between the 5 families, wait for the discoveries, change orders, add orders, strikes, inflation, and pol fees. |
| Posted by: RD 2006-12-22 13:06 |
| #7 Amen, where do I get to bid on en entirely new building? I will take off $500 Million and give them a brand new building. Think about it. |
| Posted by: Cyber Sarge 2006-12-22 12:59 |
| #6 I think move them to Brussels, that way they can smooze the EU guys at the same time. |
| Posted by: bigim-ky 2006-12-22 12:58 |
| #5 It's hard to do a job bid sight unseen, but I'm pretty sure I could build them a new building for a hell of a lot less than $1.9 Billion. |
| Posted by: bigim-ky 2006-12-22 12:57 |
| #4 I bet we could contract to move the whole UN to Paris for a helluva lot less than $300 million. Then sell the building to a local developer who can make money renting out apartments/offices. It's a win-win. No foreign terrorists/socialists on our shores and the lucky bidder gets to create jobs. Let's do it! |
| Posted by: badanov 2006-12-22 12:56 |
| #3 No, Steve. New York City's rivers have become a lot cleaner in the last 20 years. We don't need to backslide. Still, John Bolton was right. |
| Posted by: Eric Jablow 2006-12-22 12:02 |
| #2 Trump said a couple years ago that he could do the whole job for $300 million. I'd get him back and see what the job costs today, and make him the general contractor. Of course, my first thought would be to tow the whole mess into Long Island Sound. |
| Posted by: Steve White 2006-12-22 11:36 |
| #1 Six freakin' years? Let Trump handle this, in between Rosie tirades, of course... |
| Posted by: Raj 2006-12-22 11:30 |