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The standoff at North Cove Marina between the Battery Park City Authority and Michael Fortenbaugh, who has managed the marina for the last 10 years, has escalated.

On Jan. 2, the BPCA stationed security guards at the marina to keep Fortenbaugh and his supporters from gaining access.

In the afternoon, Fortenbaugh issued a press release that said that the BPCA was "defying Community Board #1 as well as state, local and federal officials," by closing down the marina.

According to the press release, "Members of the Manhattan Sailing Club, as well as current North Cove Marina operator Michael Fortenbaugh, were turned away by BPCA's security guards this morning, who informed Fortenbaugh and club members that they have been instructed to keep them, and the public, out of the marina."

The press release notes that, "BPCA's lock-out comes despite a unanimous resolution from Community Board #1 asking that the Authority withdraw a flawed RFP for a new operator that requires only minimal attention to community programming. The Community Board's resolution also asks for public input into the decision, as has been the case with other public facilities at the BPCA such as the [Asphalt Green] Community Center and the ball fields. The Community Board asked BPCA to extend the lease of the current operator for another season while a better RFP can be put together."

Around 10:30 p.m. on Jan. 2, the BPCA responded with its own statement.

"The prior license holder was made aware several weeks ago that the BPCA would assume responsibility for the North Cove Marina and its associated operations when his Term expired on December 31st.," it said. "As soon as the BPCA Board makes a final decision on the 2015-2025 licensee, arrangements will commence to ensure the upcoming sailing season at the North Cove Marina is as exciting and engaging as ever for the Battery Park City community."  

When informed of the BPCA's statement, Fortenbaugh said in an email, "BPCA has not talked to me about this at all, so it is reasonable to assume that BPCA plans on replacing us with some program devised by Brookfield and Island Global Yachting. We have spent 20 years being good neighbors and building up this sailing community. This is not just something you can duplicate or replace.  I am very sad and outraged today."

Fortenbaugh said that he had asked to meet with BPCA Chairman Dennis Mehiel and the other members of the Authority's board of directors, but that they had declined.

North Cove Marina, Jan. 2, 2015, around 3 p.m. (Photo: Terese Loeb Kreuzer)

"How a Ferry Ride Helped Make Brooklyn the Original Suburb," New York Times, 12/29/14. "This much is known about the maiden voyage of the Nassau: The twin-hulled boat carried 549 passengers, one wagon and three horses. It was captained by Peter Coffee, who would remain with the company that operated the vessel for 50 years," says The New York Times. "Though Lewis Rhoda, the chief engineer, got tangled in the machinery and was killed on the first day, "'this noble boat surpassed expectations of the public in the rapidity of her movements' as those on board glided across the unpredictable river as gracefully as if they were 'passing over a bridge,' a newspaper account at the time said. What is unknown is the name of the first passenger - the man (and chances are it was a man) who on May 10, 1814, boarded the Nassau, the first regularly scheduled steam-powered ferry from Brooklyn to Manhattan. Whoever he was, he can justly be called America's first commuter. Since then, for fully two centuries, millions of his fellow travelers have arrived by bridge, railroad, trolley, elevated train, subway, automobile, bus, helicopter, bicycle and, more recently, by revived ferry service in the diurnal ebb and flow that arguably transformed Brooklyn Heights into the nation's first suburb, gave New York City what E. B. White described as its 'tidal restlessness,' inspired the terms rush hour, bedroom community and urban sprawl and now nearly doubles Manhattan's population on weekdays." For the complete article, click here.

"Woolworth Building's Grand Arcade Is Once Again a Sight All Can See," New York Times, 12/31/14. "The Woolworth Building long ago lost its title as tallest in the world. But its grand arcade, designed by Cass Gilbert, has never lost the distinction of being the most sumptuous office lobby in New York, with a dazzling mosaic ceiling that brings a delectable taste of the Byzantine Empire to Lower Manhattan," says The New York Times. However, says The Times, "The grand arcade has been off limits to the public for more than a decade." Now, tours of the Woolworth Building's interior are available to the public. For the complete article, click here.

"Loan for 45 John sealed on a handshake, now in dispute," The Real Deal, 12/31/14. "Investment sales deals often appear neat and ordered, certainly when announced in congratulatory messages and memorial tombstones. But a dispute over a small loan needed to buy a residential building in Lower Manhattan - a deal sealed by a handshake - reveals a different story," says The Real Deal. "A Brooklyn investment team including Chaim Miller and Samuel Sprei were closing a deal on March 7 to buy 45 John Street, a former loft building that was converted to apartments, for $60 million from  Josh Zegen's Madison Realty Capital. The building is located between Nassau and Dutch streets in Lower Manhattan. But Miller and Sprei needed another $1.97 million in cash to close the deal, information from a lawsuit filed this month in Manhattan State Supreme Court states. On the day of the closing, Miller phoned Jacob Deckelbaum, a real estate investor and managing member of the Brooklyn title company Reliable Abstract, to ask for short term loan of $1.97 million, a source familiar with the conversation, said. Deckelbaum agreed to the loan, with the understanding he would be repaid within a few days, the papers state. The deal was secured over the phone on a 'handshake,' however, and not set out formally in writing." The expected repayment did not occur. For the complete article, click here.

"Assembly Speaker Silver Was Scrutinized by Moreland Commission," Wall Street Journal, 12/30/14.  The Wall Street Journal reports that, "New York State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, now under federal investigation, was under scrutiny this year by a state anticorruption probe looking into the sources of his six-figure outside income, people involved in the probe said. The Manhattan Democrat and lawyer makes between $650,000 and $750,000 in outside legal work in addition to his $121,000 speaker salary, according to his 2013 state financial disclosure forms. But he seemed to do relatively little if any legal work to justify his earnings, said former members of the Moreland Commission to Investigate Public Corruption, which probed Albany lawmakers for nine months until it was disbanded in March.The Moreland Commission's aborted work has since been taken up by Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, which are looking into whether Mr. Silver didn't disclose income from a Manhattan law firm that challenges property-tax assessments, Goldberg & Iryami PC, according to a person familiar with the matter." For the complete article, click here.

"Ex-employee claims Peebles reneged on profit sharing agreement," The Real Deal, 1/2/15. A former top executive at the Peebles Corporation is suing his erstwhile employer, claiming that CEO Don Peebles personally reneged on a promise to compensate him with ownership interests in properties including 346 Broadway, and ultimately fired him to avoid the sharing agreement," says The Real Deal. "In a lawsuit filed Wednesday in New York State Supreme Court, Daniel Newhouse, a former director of development and investments at the Peebles Corporation, claims that Don Peebles assured him of a 5 percent ownership interest in properties for which he provided execution services. These included Tribeca's landmarked 346 Broadway, which Peebles bought for $160 million on an RFP from New York City and is developing into a hotel and condominiums in a joint venture with Israeli real estate company the Elad Group. Though Peebles has now closed the company's interest in the joint venture and made $60 million on the project, he has refused to pay Newhouse his 5 percent, which would amount to $3 million, Newhouse states in the complaint." For the complete article, click here.

Downtown bulletin board

Christmas tree heaven: Through Jan. 26, the Battery Park City Parks Conservancy is collecting Christmas trees to turn into compost. Battery Park City residents are invited to bring their trees (minus all decorations and stands) to their street corner where BPCPC staff will pick them up daily. Trees will then be taken to Esplanade Plaza to be fed through a chipper.

"Recycling your tree is a great way to help your community by reducing waste, lowering carbon emissions and helping to keep the plants healthy," says the Battery Park City Parks Conservancy on its website. For more information about BPCPC's sustainable composting practices, click here.

Community Center at Stuyvesant High School holiday hours: The Community Center at Stuyvesant High School, 345 Chambers St., is offering extended winter recess hours through Jan. 4, 2015. The Community Center will be open this weekend from 1 p.m.-9 p.m. For more information about the community center and its programming, click here.
 
Westside Commuter Ferry: New York Water Taxi's Westside Commuter Ferry, which has been running between Pier 84 at West 44th Street and the World Financial Center ferry terminal, ceased service for the season on Wednesday, Dec. 30. It will be back again in the spring. The rush-hour commuter service started in May 2014 with three round trips each way, morning and evening. The ride takes 15 minutes and costs $4.50 for a single ticket, with weekly and monthly passes available. For more information, click here.

Fundraiser for Kerri Pedersen's children: For more than two decades, Kerri Pedersen worked as a nurse practitioner at Tribeca Pediatrics. Eleven years ago, she was diagnosed with breast cancer, but continued living as normally as possible - working and and taking care of her two children. She passed away on Dec. 16 at the age of 44. "Kerri touched thousands of local parents and their babies and children with her gentle knowledge and her loving and inviting smile," said Manon Chevallerau, one of her many admirers. "Every one who knew her, loved her and is heartbroken with the news." Pedersen was a single mother. Her older child, Conrad, now 27, has become the legal guardian for her younger child, Gage, 11. Pedersen's many friends have established a fundraiser to help her boys. To learn more about this effort, or to contribute, click here.