Could Governors Island be the next apple in Mayor Bill de Blasio’s development eye?
Sources told Politico the mayor is aiming for some type of mixed-use structure on the 172-acre island, which has 900,000 square feet primed for development.
It is unclear what kind of project will take shape, but it could be a cultural institution, a tech hub, or some type of educational facility. De Blasio is expected to make the announcement in his Thursday night State of the City speech.
The Trust For Governors Island, which manages the car-free island, will issue a solicitation for ideas this summer and then a request for bidders later in the year, Politico reported. Construction could begin in 2019.
Governors Island has been on de Blasio’s radar for development, sources told Politico, but with residential development prohibited and transportation difficult, it has been a challenge. Commercial tenants have shied away from the the former military base because of these infrastructure difficulties.
This summer, the island’s project “The Hills” — four man-made mounds that offer views of the New York Harbor, will be ready for the public. [Politico] — Dusica Sue Malesevic