The idea of closing Rikers Island Correctional Facility has been around, according to the city’s former probations and corrections commissioner Martin Horn, since at least Mayor Ed Koch’s term in the 1970s. But New York City has come a long way since then, firmly populating itself with some of the world’s most prized, and valuable, real estate. The argument to shutter the facility remains today, but Politico points out that while the charge is lead by a human rights interest, it’s also bolstered by a real estate one.
A number of major New York City real estate players are eyeing the island. John Kriegel, a Related exec, is said to “be fascinated by the idea” while Forest City Ratner CEO MaryAnne Gilmartin is leading a committee that’s reimagining the island’s use. The study from Gilmartin’s committee will be made public some time next year.
When it comes to redeveloping the island, two main trains of thought emerge: connecting the island to LaGuardia Airport, which stands just across the channel, to provide additional runway space, or creating a new mega development.
7 comments:
I bet it will be used for LGA and that will put more dangerous noise and air pollution over the homes of Queens residents.
If you love the "temporary" homeless shelters in your neighborhood, you are gonna love the "temporary" jails
I have an important question -- What do these developers plan to do with all the inmates currently residing at Rikers?
GREED HAS NO LIMITS !!
Forcing homeless shelters in every poor and working class neighborhood is working so well, we might as well do it for prisons too!
...while Forest City Ratner CEO MaryAnne Gilmartin is leading a committee that’s reimagining the island’s use. The study from Gilmartin’s committee will be made public some time next year.
Yes Forest City Ratner, them along with China's premier predator developer firm Greenland and some shady EB-5 investors are destroying and developing downtown Brooklyn, turning a 10 block radius into something resembling the opening scenes of Blade Runner or Fritz Lang's Metropolis.
There's something a bit fishy about how this has been a desirable land grab since the Koch era. It's also quite ghoulish and nefarious that they are using the rubric of human rights to shut it down just to prematurely appraise it.
I remember this warped story months ago. I sent the link to this site as a publication request. Did they recycle this story to drum up wider interest?
Maybe this is the unofficial and maybe improvised affordable housing plan. To put the poor, homeless and the middle class who can't afford the inflated property taxes and make a lower caste potemkin village on the island.
Maybe the Trump organization will develop it.
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