Report to Manhattan Community Board 1 – Battery Park City Committee Wednesday, February 3, 2021 Presented by Nick Sbordone, BPCA (646) 531-2276 | [email protected] NEIGHBORHOOD & PROJECT UPDATES: I. Get the Facts: The COVID-19 Vaccine Is Here! o The first COVID-19 vaccines are here. Supply from the Federal Government is limited. Additional New Yorkers will become eligible as the vaccine supply increases. o While the vaccination process is underway, every New Yorker should wear a mask, social distance and avoid small and large gatherings. o More than seven million New Yorkers are now eligible for the vaccine. Eligible groups include doctors, nurses and health care workers, people age 65 and over, first responders, teachers, public transit workers, grocery store workers, and public safety workers. o Vaccines are available at pharmacies, hospitals, and through local health departments statewide – contact your provider of choice to schedule your vaccine appointment. CB1 Battery Park City Committee Report – 3 February 2021 2 | o Find a New York City provider: NYC COVID-19 Vaccine Finder (eligibility criteria apply) o Additionally, there is a network of State-run sites distributing vaccine statewide – to determine eligibility and to schedule an appointment through April 16 at New York State-run vaccination sites only, use the Am I Eligible app. o NYS COVID-19 Administration Dashboard o Click here to receive daily Coronavirus updates by email. II. Percent Positivity Rates – Battery Park City Percent Positive (7-day rolling avg.) Zone 1/25-1/31 1/24-1/30 1/23-1/29 1/22-1/28 1/21-1/27 1/20-1/26 1/19-1/25 10280 2.72% 3.45% 3.69% 3.85% 3.95% 3.71% 3.06% # Tests 368 377 379 364 380 404 360 New + 10 13 14 14 15 15 11 Tests 10282 3.4% 3.63% 2.93% 2.2% 2.77% 1.82% 1.02% # In of 265 248 239 273 289 275 293 Tests New + 9 9 7 6 8 5 3 Tests Citywide 8.31% 8.56% 8.68% 8.88% 8.92% 8.94% 8.93% Source: https://www1.nyc.gov/site/doh/covid/covid-19-data.page#7day https://www1.nyc.gov/site/doh/covid/covid-19-goals.page III. COVID-19 Rapid Testing in BPC CB1 Battery Park City Committee Report – 3 February 2021 3 | o Rapid COVID testing available at NYC Police Memorial Plaza from 8AM-6PM daily (subject to change) through February 28. o Additional sites at Pier A Plaza and Irish Hunger Memorial Plaza in coming weeks. o Cost is $25/test; to schedule an appointment: nyrapidtests (dot) com o In his State of the State address, Governor Cuomo announced plan to work with testing companies to stand up convenient testing sites in city centers, starting with New York City. o Focus is on convenient, low-cost testing; goal to eventually expand to a statewide network of rapid testing sites to help spur economy IV. Winter Storm Orlena o It was a winter blast! o As of Wednesday, February 3: o West Thames Bridge Street Elevators re-opened o Public restrooms re-opened o BPC Ball Fields re-opened o Pier A perimeter walkway re-opened o Liberty Park re-opened o NY Waterway service restored at BPC / Brookfield Place Ferry Terminal o Get your BPCA storm updates here. NO SNOW DAY FOR THIS CREW: And thank you to our entire Parks Operations team, who work hard to keep Battery Park City clear, safe, and passable for all! COMMUNITY REMINDERS: o Rockefeller Park’s North Meadow and the Wagner Park Terrace – two of BPC’s largest and most popular lawns – are open to the public on a daily basis this winter o As always, please ensure to wear a mask or face covering in our parks. o While leashed pets are permitted on hard surfaces throughout Battery Park City, they are not permitted on parks lawns. Read more: It’s a Dog’s Life in BPC o BPCA’s environmentally-sustainable snow operations: As described in the Battery Park City Sustainability Plan, BPCA has developed and enhanced sustainable landscape and maintenance techniques for more than two decades. This includes the decisions we make about what products we use and how we approach snow removal. Read more: BPC DID YOU KNOW? | EVEN GREEN IN THE SNOW CB1 Battery Park City Committee Report – 3 February 2021 4 | V. Confederate Flag in BPC o Early on the morning of January 8, a Confederate flag was found tied to the doors of the Museum of Jewish Heritage. The incident remains under investigation by local and State law enforcement o BPCA was honored to join a community-wide vigil condemning this cowardly act on Thursday, January 14. o Read More: After Neo-Fascists Strike, BPC School Offers Solidarity with Jewish Museum (Tribeca Trib) “The Battery Park City Authority stands in solidarity with our partners at the Museum of Jewish Heritage – A Living Memorial to the Holocaust in condemning this heinous act of vandalism. We remain in regular contact with Museum management and will continue to offer any and all assistance as requested. Hatred will find no quarter in Battery Park City – not now, not ever.” – BPCA President & CEO B.J. Jones HATE HAS NO HOME HERE: Students from P.S./I.S. 276 display signs in support of their neighbors at the Museum of Jewish Heritage during a community vigil on January 14, 2021. VI. Black History Month o February is Black Month – Keep an eye out in the coming weeks for ways you can celebrate with us! COMMUNITY REMINDER: o Opened in October 2020, The House That Will Not Pass for Any Color Than Its Own (2011), by renowned mixed- media artist and educator Mildred Howard, is an interactive purple glass house sculpture, into which (and in keeping w/social distancing protocols) a party of up to three or four people may enter at one time. CB1 Battery Park City Committee Report – 3 February 2021 5 | o Situated along BPC waterfront allowing visitors to view Statue of Liberty from within the house and through its doorway. (Visitors must wear masks or face coverings at the site.) o Installation on-view through summer 2021. ROOM WITH A VIEW: Looking out on a snowy BPC from within The House in the aftermath of Winter Strom Orlena. VII. BPCA’s Annual Art Exhibition o Pieces available via video presentation and on-view in windows of BPCA facilities through February 28. o Exhibition showcases work inspired by the landscapes of Battery Park City created by participants at BPCA art programs in 2020. CB1 Battery Park City Committee Report – 3 February 2021 6 | VIII. Overnight Oculus Closures o As of January 17, Oculus access is limited overnight from 1AM to 5AM to allow for maintenance and the safety and security of customers due to reduced traffic volumes. o For access to the World Trade Center PATH station, please use the Vesey Street or Fulton Street entrance via the North Concourse in the 2WTC Lobby. o For PATH train access from Brookfield Place, you may exit via Brookfield’s upper pavilion to access the street. All other entrances will be closed. (See the WTC Campus map here.) o For elevator access, please use Elevator 23 in the 2WTC Transit Lobby. If you have any issues accessing elevators, please ask a nearby security agent for assistance. (See the WTC Oculus Elevator maps here.) o This and other WTC Campus updates can be found here. IX. BPC Blood Drive – Thank you, Battery Park City! o The need for blood in New York City remains acute – so please mark down the date of the next BPC Blood Drive #6 – Tuesday, March 23 @ 6 River Terrace, 12-6PM Book your slot here: donate.nybc.org/donor/schedules/drive_schedule/288675 o Across six New York Blood Center-coordinated drives since June, the BPC community has donated nearly 500 “Gifts of Life” to help replenish New York City’s blood supply: CB1 Battery Park City Committee Report – 3 February 2021 7 | X. BPC Resiliency Project Updates o Combined North and West Battery Park City Resiliency Project— Project to be performed through progressive design-build process Consulting Engineer procurement in progress Project definition development & environmental review commencing in 2021 Progressive design-build contractor to be selected in early 2022 o North Battery Park City Resiliency Project— Project being combined with West BPC Resiliency Project. Public Meeting #3 (virtual) – July 23, 2020 (presentation & video) Public Meeting #2 – February 27, 2020 (presentation & video) All-Agency “kickoff” meeting – November 22, 2019 (presentation) Public Meeting #1 – October 1, 2019 (presentation & video) o West Battery Park City Resiliency Project— Project being combined with North BPC Resiliency Project o South Battery Park City Resiliency Project— Update w/LMCR Quarterly Report to CB1 Environmental Protection Committee on Monday, February 22. Environmental Impact Statement to be complete November 2021 Update w/LMCR Quarterly Report to CB1 EP Committee – October 19, 2020 SBPCR Project underwater pile remediation work began September 2020 Project updates @ CB1 EP Committee – June 15, 2020 (presentation) “Deployables Workshop” session @ CB1 EP Committee – May 18, 2020 (presentation) Update to CB1 BPC Committee – May 6, 2020 Prelim. Submission to PDC – April 24, 2020 (for 5/18 virtual public meeting) Update to CB1’s EP Committee – February 24, 2020 Public Meeting #4 – January 15, 2020 (presentation & video) Presentation to CB1’s Environmental Protection Committee – October 3, 2019 Public Meeting #3 – June 24, 2019 (presentation & video) Wagner Park Design Activity Workshop – April 15, 2019 (video here) Public Meeting #2 – March 12, 2019 (presentation & video) Public Meeting #1 – November 1, 2018 (presentation) o Battery Park City Ball Fields & Community Center Resiliency Project— Revocable consent process w/NYC Department of Transportation nearing completion