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DowntownNY.com
Alliance for Downtown New York, Inc. 120 Broadway, Suite 3340 New York, New York 10271
LOWER MANHATTAN It All Starts Here Summer/Fall 2015 Lower Manhattan's newest attraction, the SeaGlass Carousel, at The Battery.
the THE
LOWDOWN LOWDOWN
CANYON OF HEROES
On July 10th, Lower Manhattan hosted a historic Canyon of Heroes parade. Organized by the City of New York for the US Women’s soccer team, it was the first parade to honor a women’s sports team. The Downtown Alliance supplied around two tons of confetti for the parade and also provided supplemental security and sanitation services.
DID YOU KNOW?…that 120 Broadway — which recently celebrated its 100th anniversary — was once the largest office building in the world and spawned the city’s first comprehensive zoning resolution? DowntownNY.com | Page 1
FROM THE PRESIDENT
{ dear neighbor} Summer is a quiet time for many, but for the Alliance, it has been anything but. On July 1st, we opened a first-of-its-kind collaboration and event space for tech and creative companies called LMHQ (and the response has been incredibly positive and enthusiastic; learn more on page 6). We announced a big expansion of our free public Wi-Fi program and began to upgrade and redesign our website. We released a major quarterly report on Lower Manhattan’s economic vitality, produced a successful summer programming series and helped the city organize a historic ticker-tape parade.
And now, we are preparing for the return of our immensely popular community tasting event, Dine Around Downtown, which will take place on September 30th from 11 A.M. to 3 P.M. on 28 Liberty Plaza (formerly Chase Manhattan Plaza), bounded by Liberty, Pine, Nassau and William Streets. The neighborhood food fair, which will feature as many as 50 restaurants, comes at a time when Lower Manhattan is emerging as a major shopping and dining destination. Lower Manhattan is now indisputably one of New York’s hottest neighborhoods. In describing our thriving dining scene, The New York Times wrote that “it’s as if the island’s center of gravity has shifted.” That shift is not just reflected in the shopping and dining boom. It’s also evident in surging tourism and hospitality, a growing residential population, rising student enrollment and a stream of companies — new and old, large and small — deciding to make Lower Manhattan home. All these changes represent the stunning evolution of a place that, 14 years ago, was devastated by one of our nation’s greatest tragedies. The Alliance has recently gone through a transition of its own: our esteemed founding board chair, Robert Douglass, has stepped down from his leadership role. Bob is a Lower Manhattan legend and one of the visionary creators of the Alliance, and I am very glad to report that he will remain on our Board as a member. Bob and I are both delighted that Brookfield Properties Partners' Global Office CEO Dennis Friedrich was elected to serve as our new chair. At this pivotal and exciting moment for Lower Manhattan, we are thrilled that someone with Dennis’ skills, qualifications and abiding love of Lower Manhattan has come on to lead the Alliance in the months and years ahead. Whether you work or live in Lower Manhattan, or are just visiting, there is no better time to explore all this special neighborhood has to offer. Jessica Lappin, President
DowntownNY.com | Page 2
SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS
PARM 230 Vesey Street, Brookfield Place 212-776-4927 | parmnyc.com Are you a fan of old school red sauce and Italian classics? Mario Carbone and Rich Torrisi have brought Little Italy to Lower Manhattan with the opening of their popular eatery, Parm in Brookfield Place. The menu features sandwiches, starters, salads, pastas and entrees. Have a sweet tooth? Go for the ice cream cakes. These delectable cakes, which serve up to 14 people, have names like Elvis, Grasshopper, Turtle and Firecracker.
The space occupies an L-shaped corner with two areas, featuring tin ceilings, vintage wallpaper and oldies music. In the first room, you’ll find the bar, high-top tables and a take-out counter. Go around the corner for the tables and booths. The restaurant is sure to be a fan-favorite for both the denizens of the nearby office towers and local families in Battery Park City.
MAPLE
VILEBREQUIN
maple.com
230 Vesey Street, Brookfield Place 212-786-0304 | us.vilebrequin.com
Are you tired of eating out? Cooking? Slow delivery? Long lunch lines? Don’t worry, there’s an app to fix all your dining troubles. Meet Maple. Founded by Caleb Merkl and backed by famous chef David Chang, this app puts a restaurant in the palm of your hand… literally. By using your smartphone, you can order off a rotating menu of some of the best foods in town. With Michelin starred chefs on the team, each day you will be able to choose from three different lunches (at $12 each) and dinners (at $15). Prepared by some of New York City’s most inventive chefs, the dishes change every day – so Maple keeps the ingredients and the selections fresh. As of right now, Maple will only be delivering to customers south of Chambers Street but does plan to expand its service area in the future. DowntownNY.com | Page 3
If you don’t think the words “luxury” and “beachwear” belong in the same sentence, you need to check out Vilebrequin. Now that the retailer has opened its new location at Brookfield Place, we’ll all be able to hit the beach in style. These are no ordinary swim trunks. A formal aesthetic with a whole lot of casual thrown in, Vilebrequin’s beachwear is also sprinkled with hints of the legendary Saint Tropez lifestyle. Vilebrequin will help you stroll the surf with the panache of London’s top numerically named secret agent. You can even get tuxedo swim shorts! Not much of a swimmer? No problem! Their clothing collection offers a wide selection of beach appropriate apparel and accessories, such as towels and sunglasses. The store is open on Monday–Saturday from 10 A.M.– 8 P.M. and Sunday from 11 A.M.–7 P.M.
SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS
PURE BARRE 80 Pine Street 212-785-1222 | purebarre.com/ny-financialdistrict/
Hitting the “barre” has never been better for your health! Pure Barre, a studio that offers classes utilizing the ballet barre, has opened a new location in Lower Manhattan at 80 Pine Street. A “dancer, choreographer and a fitness guru,” Carrie Rezabek Dorr founded Pure Barre in 2001 — and it has flourished ever since. There are now more than 200 Pure Barre studios across the country. Current members praise not only the friendly atmosphere of the studio but the valuable positive changes in their bodies and lifestyles. If you want to tone your whole body and burn fat in a dizzyingly short period of time and you also enjoy a lively atmosphere, a sense of community and energetic music, then Pure Barre is for you!
WILLIAM OKPO 6 Fulton Street 212-482-8869 | williamokpo.com Ever since it was created by two talented sisters, Darlene and Lizzie Okpo, the William Okpo clothing line has been hailed as hip, unique and fun. Its new New York store recently opened in the South Street Seaport at 6 Fulton Street. The label is named after their Nigerian father who immigrated to New York in the 70s. The girls were inspired by their father’s ability to emulate the American dream without ever letting go of his own sense of style. Hence their label today embraces both his work ethic and his sartorial flair, which succeeded in even catching the eye of Solange Knowles. Yes, Beyoncé’s sister. Check out the store yourself to see if the Okpos’ outfits catch your eye too!
STELLA FLAME 21 Fulton Street 347-480-8246 | stellaflame.com The “antidote to all things ordinary” is here! The fine jewelry brand Stella Flame has opened a store at 21 Fulton Street at the South Street Seaport. Named after the designer, Stella Flame offers jewelry inspired by natural elements, such as fire, earth, wind and water. The pieces are carefully crafted in Turkey by master jewelers with precious metals and gems. Flame told JCK Magazine that her signature style is “Byzantine luxe from a distinctly American viewpoint.” Exotic and gorgeous, many of her pieces also make a bold statement.
DowntownNY.com | Page 4
WHAT’S UP DOWNTOWN WI-FI, WI-FI EVERYWHERE! The Downtown Alliance’s public Wi-Fi network has undergone a major expansion and is now one of the largest sources of free internet access in New York City. The program, which began in 2003, provides 3.7 million square feet of free coverage throughout Lower Manhattan. Coverage was recently added along Broadway from Bowling Green to Trinity Church, with a further expansion of the Broadway Wi-Fi Corridor planned all the way to City Hall. The Free Lower Manhattan Wi-Fi Network already seamlessly connected from north to south, all of the public and private open spaces, streets and sidewalks from the South Street Seaport to the Staten Island Ferry Terminal. Coverage also branched out to neighboring side streets and along the East River waterfront and piers in Lower Manhattan. “Broadway runs right through the heart of our district and this will give so many more people the opportunity to move around more easily and stay longer in Lower Manhattan,” said the Alliance’s Chief Technology Officer Jeremy Schneider. “By installing the latest in Wi-Fi technology and using enough bandwidth to run a small business, we’ve seen incredible growth in our Wi-Fi coverage. Extending our service from Bowling Green to City Hall Park will only magnify that growth further.” The support of Lower Manhattan law firm Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP (WilmerHale) has been pivotal to the success of the free Wi-Fi program. As the co-presenting sponsor of the initiative, WilmerHale is in its third year of partnership with the Alliance and continues to be instrumental in making an essential public utility available to more and more people.
DowntownNY.com | Page 5
WHAT’S UP DOWNTOWN
LMHQ UNVEILED On July 1st, the Alliance unveiled a first-of-its-kind innovation hub and collaboration center, LMHQ, at 150 Broadway. The state-of-the art, 12,500-square-foot facility, which provides a unique and affordable resource for Lower Manhattan’s growing tech and creative communities, has seen an enthusiastic and exciting response. Supporting new ways to work and conduct business, LMHQ was designed as an annex to your office, with all the amenities you need more of: conference rooms, event space, work and social space and a coffee bar. It is helping to serve some of the more than 800 creative companies who already call Lower Manhattan home. LMHQ offers both individual and company memberships. Corporate members already include Architizer, Shutterstock, NYC Economic Development Corporation, and Futures and Options. Founding members include Pace University, Lower Manhattan technology company Control Group, AREA Founder and entrepreneur David S. Rose, Annalect, Continental Advisors, and Streeter Technologies. The new facility has been featured in numerous media outlets such as Forbes, The Commercial Observer, New York Press, Fox 5 News and NY1. It has hosted a series of engaging events, including the recent panel discussions “Women & Body Image: Making It Fit” (with speakers from Marie Claire magazine, UpWorthy, Ingredient1, Plus Size Lifestyle Blogger, Eater and Dear Kate) and “The Growing Sharing Economy's Impact on Cities” (with speakers from Zipcar, KitSplit, and the National League of Cities). The Alliance is grateful for the support of its key partners, including Microsoft, WB Wood and Idea Paint. Microsoft outfitted the space with the latest in technology, WB Wood provided the furniture and IdeaPaint transformed parts of the space into writeable walls. Stay tuned for announcements on LMHQ's fall calendar of events. For more information, please visit lmhq.nyc. DowntownNY.com | Page 6
WHAT’S UP DOWNTOWN
LM EATS UP #GETLOW Tuesdays were anything but typical this summer in Lower Manhattan. The Alliance’s summer dining promotion campaign, #GETLOW — which offered a 20% discount at 32 restaurants throughout Lower Manhattan on Tuesdays between May 26th and September 1st — highlighted the district’s thriving food scene and drew more than 2,000 participants and 3,500 social media followers. Participants who helped spread the word about the program using social media were entered to win a four-day, three-night trip to Amsterdam! (Yeah, that Amsterdam!)
SEAGLASS CAROUSEL OPENS! The Battery’s long-awaited and luminous SeaGlass Carousel opened on August 20th. The chambered nautilus shell features 30 magnificent and colorful fish-shaped seats. The carousel is open from 10 A.M. to 10 P.M., and tickets cost $5. For more information, visit thebattery.org.
FIND OUT WHAT’S GOING ON IN LOWER MANHATTAN Check out our website, DowntownNY.com Follow us on Twitter @DowntownNYC "Like" us at Facebook.com/Downtown.Alliance Read our blog at blog.DowntownNY.com Subscribe to our email list to receive e-newsletters and event
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DowntownNY.com | Page 7
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DowntownNY.com | Page 8
UPCOMING HIGHLIGHTS DINE AROUND DOWNTOWN
Wednesday, September 30th 11 A.M. - 3 P.M. | 28 Liberty Plaza Save some space on your calendars and in your bellies. The Alliance’s popular community food fair and tasting event will feature as many as 50 of Lower Manhattan’s best restaurants. For more information, go to downtownny.com/dinearound.
WEEKLY FARMERS’ MARKET Thursdays at Coenties Slip and Water Street From 8:00 A.M.- 6:00 P.M. Now until November 19th The Downtown Alliance has partnered with GrowNYC to put on a weekly seasonal farmers’ market on Thursdays at Coenties Slip and Water Street. You’ll find a wide selection of local vegetables, orchard fruit, breads and pastries, honey, hard cider and wine. Visitors are encouraged to stop by the manager’s tent for free recipes and to taste samples of the weekly cooking demos. To learn more, go to grownyc.org/greenmarket.
ADOPT A GERANIUM! Flower power comes to Lower Manhattan! On October 7th at 10 A.M., the Downtown Alliance will hold its annual “Adopt-aGeranium” event at Bowling Green Park. These free, low-maintenance plants are a great way to add some color to your home or office.
DowntownNY.com | Page 9
ALLIANCE NEWS ALLIANCE WELCOMES NEW BOARD CHAIR In June, the Alliance’s Board of Directors unanimously elected Brookfield Properties Partners’ Global Office CEO Dennis Friedrich as its new Chairman. Friedrich replaces Robert Douglass, who has served as the Alliance’s Chairman since its inception in 1995 and will remain a member of the Board of Directors. “Lower Manhattan’s renaissance has only just begun,” said Friedrich. “The Alliance is the guardian of the interests of Lower Manhattan, and our mission is as critical now as it has ever been. I feel proud and privileged to take on the responsibilities of chair.”
ALLIANCE WEBSITE REDESIGN The Alliance’s website is undergoing a major redesign. The eye-catching new site will include more photos and videos, feature an improved and interactive map and be optimized for all mobile devices.
Q2 REPORT RELEASED The Alliance’s Q2 2015 Real Estate Market Report, released on August 3rd, chronicled Lower Manhattan’s commercial office, residential, hospitality, retail, and development projects. Among other noteworthy news, it found that the neighborhood’s private sector employment had seen its fifth consecutive quarter of increases and reached its highest level since 2001.
DowntownNY.com | Page 10
QUESTION & ANSWER
Charles C. Platt is the Partner-in-Charge of the New York office of WilmerHale. The first major law firm to move from Midtown to Lower Manhattan following the September 11 attacks, WilmerHale has become a vital partner of the Downtown Alliance.
CHARLES C. PLATT
Q&A WITH CHARLES C. PLATT THE PARTNER-IN-CHARGE OF THE NEW YORK OFFICE OF WILMERHALE
WilmerHale opened a Lower Manhattan office in 2012. Why Lower Manhattan? At WilmerHale, we pride ourselves as embracing and adapting to change. In 2009, we saw a shift in the way businesses were spreading out from midtown. We also saw an opportunity to occupy new office space at 7 World Trade Center that offered significant technological advantages and collaborative layouts — all in a growing and exciting neighborhood. So we were proud to become the first major law firm to move from Midtown to Downtown since 9/11, and a member of what is now a booming business community.
ALLIANCE FOR DOWNTOWN NEW YORK | BOARD OF DIRECTORS Hon. Bill de Blasio | Hon. Gale A. Brewer | Jill Bright | Mark E. Brooks | Hon. Margaret Chin Betty Cohen | John V. Connorton, Jr.| Fern Cunningham | Charles C. Dorego | Robert R. Douglass K. Thomas Elghanayan | David V. Fowler | Rachelle Friedman | Stephen J. Friedman Dennis H. Friedrich | Robert J. Giuffra | Brett S. Greenberg | Francis J. Greenburger Erik Horvat | Thomas M. Hughes | Shari C. Hyman | Richard T. Kennedy | Stephen Lefkowitz
What has personally surprised you the most about Lower Manhattan? The great neighborhood, the energy of new businesses here, and the continued growth have not surprised me, but are constant reminders of why my colleagues and I are so pleased to call this our professional home.
businesses, residents and visitors. Working, visiting and living in this area is now more convenient, efficient and welcoming. WilmerHale is committed to supporting the Lower Manhattan community, and the Downtown Alliance’s free Wi-Fi program is a significant way to help it continue to thrive.
Why is it important for WilmerHale to support the Lower Manhattan community? As a law firm with a significant client base of emerging, high-tech, and social media companies, WilmerHale is especially keen on being in the middle of the surge in those businesses in the Lower Manhattan area. We are proud to support the Downtown Alliance and its delivery of free Wi-Fi to the community, which ultimately supports local businesses and other users in the area. Our goal is to provide a special resource to the growing tech, social media and other young businesses in this area, and enhance the entrepreneurial spirit of downtown.
The Downtown Alliance’s technology committee recently helped spawn a first-of-its-kind innovation and collaboration space called LMHQ. What do you view as the benefits of providing such opportunities to entrepreneurs and startups in our community? WilmerHale has helped thousands of entrepreneurs launch their businesses, raise billions in financing, and position their companies for strategic opportunities. LMHQ provides startups with the tools and space to help foster their growth that are of great value. We just recently unveiled a new website,wilmerhalelaunch.com, which provides vital information, tools and connections for entrepreneurs as an additional way of supporting these entrepreneurs along with LMHQ.
Why, specifically, has WilmerHale chosen to support a free public Wi-Fi program? In a nutshell, because it’s a terrific free service that can be utilized by
John “Janno” Lieber | John Ma | Catherine McVay Hughes | Ross F. Moskowitz | Dr. Antonio Perez Edward V. Piccinich | Seth Pinsky | Peter Poulakakos | William C. Rudin | Frank J. Sciame | Alan Scott Allan G. Sperling | Ninfa Segarra | Hon. Scott M. Stringer | Kent M. Swig | Matthew Van Buren Dennis H. Friedrich - Chairman | Jessica Lappin, President
DowntownNY.com | Page 12
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Bike Rentals Also visit citibikenyc.com
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Cover Photo - Filip Wolak Other Photos Courtesy of - Pete Thompson (inside cover), Jennifer May (jennifermay.com), Ben Stone (pg.6), Downtown Alliance, Bathsheba Parker
DowntownNY.com | Page 13
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