For most New Yorkers, Governors Island is a historically significant site…its historical significance interminably lost to history. In spite of its lordly appellation, throughout most of the last century the island has been surpassed only by Ellis Island in its dismal and forlorn appearance. Many years ago, New York was virtually given the 172-acre property for $1.00. A mansion having been built there in 1708 for the royal governor (hence its name), throughout the ensuing decades and centuries it played a prominent part in (among other events) the American Revolution and the Civil War, yet it’s primarily (and merely) known today for housing a former coast guard base. For all intents and purposes, the island was generally ignored; just something to casually look at as one sailed by it on the Staten Island Ferry.
City officials, lately, appear to be awakening to the realization that Governors Island is actually a “cash cow” sitting at the forefront of New York Harbor. Situated less than 800 yards from the southern tip of Manhattan, it offers front-seat views of the NYC skyline, the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, etc., guaranteed to delight a sightseer. With its abundant acreage that could be set aside for cultural and educational purposes, parks and promenades, Governors Island has the potential to be a major city attraction; its history brought to the attention of persons interested in this city’s and this nation’s past.
Governor Spitzer and Mayor Bloomberg have already chosen a team to design what will be the park area of the island. These and other designs and proposals are in the offing. But it remains to be seen if this will be a genuine “cash cow” project which benefits the many and appreciative or (like so many other NYC projects) a “pork barrel” benefiting the few and unaccountable to the many.
For more on this go to the NY Times’ “The Most Fabulous Views of Manhattan” Editorial Board:
theboard.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/…
Tags: Big Apple Sauce, culture, historic
Sphere: Related Content
December 28th, 2007 at 4:12 am
I always wondered what the island’s “thing” was. Will be interesting to see, as you say, what happens to it.
December 29th, 2007 at 1:43 am
Alas, in NYC the most richly-promising proposals result in cut-rate disappointments, the proposers alone becoming rich because unaccountable.
Everyone wondered what the island “thing” was, but in this town there are so many things to wonder about…without ever receiving an answer.