Downtown Express photo by Joseph M. Calisi

This week, the new South Ferry subway station opened mostly with the help of federal funds authorized by Congress following the 2001 terrorist attacks, and the new Downtown ferry terminal — which was on the drawing boards for over a decade — opened in Battery Park City.

Hey, stuff does open Downtown!
South Ferry subway
By Josh Rogers
“You can be in all 10 cars for the new South Ferry station,” the conductor told straphangers Monday, March 16, 2009. “You don’t need to be in the first five cars anymore….” It sounded like a new day Downtown.
B.P.C. ferry terminal
By Julie Shapiro
The new Battery Park City ferry terminal welcomed its first commuters Wednesday morning when the project more than 10 years in the making finally opened.

City says no go on Beekman stop

Silver puts mayor’s Governors Isle idea on hold
By Josh Rogers
Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver told Downtown Express last week he is against the mayor’s plan to take over Governors Island now, but Silver is open to the idea for next year.

Trust tries to tap Obama stimulus cash for Pier 40
By Heather Murray
The Hudson River Park Trust has applied for $57 million in federal stimulus money to fund “shovel-ready” projects at Pier 40.

Play revival rejuvenates Pace labor agreement

C.B. 3 approves 4 of 6 street closings along Allen/Pike mall
By Albert Amateau
The Transportation Committee of Community Board 3 last week voted a qualified approval of a Department of Transportation initiative to connect the Allen and Pike St. malls and prohibit vehicle crossing at four intersections to make pedestrians safer.

News

Downturn is 2nd body blow to businesses recovering from 9/11
By Julie Shapiro
On a quiet, shadowed block of John St., amid closed storefronts and towering scaffolding, the yellow and blue sign for the Roxy diner still gleams.

Landlord moves to evict Tribeca club

Letters deliver each side’s case at I.P.N.
By Julie Shapiro
The lawyers dueling over the future of rent protections at Independence Plaza North sent a flurry of letters over the past two weeks to the judge who is hearing their case.

Displaced Chinatown tenants hoping for homes
By Julie Shapiro

Most Downtown parents want school changes, Glick’s survey finds
By Julie Shapiro
An informal survey conducted by Assemblymember Deborah Glick’s office found people in her district turning against mayoral control of the city’s schools.

March 26 school panel talk

Landmarks approves park, cafe and boats for Pier 15
By Julie Shapiro
The plan for a new two-tiered Pier 15 cleared one of its final regulatory hurdles this week.