Roland Betts

The Times says that Mayor Bloomberg is looking for a larger role in downtown development. Too little, too late? Or is it just election-year campaigning?

Chelsea Piers jefe maximo, George Bush friend and "Pioneer" Roland Betts has quit the board of the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation.

Shopping and rememberin'. There's money for the memorial, and there's plans for 200,000 square feet of retail down downtown way. (We had it here and here yesterday [sounds of tooting one's own horn].)

The Post calls 2 Columbus Circle an "eyesore" and celebrates that it was finally sold yesterday to the Museum of Arts and Design for $17 million, clearing the way for its renovation and the mallification of Columbus Circle.  read more »

The Daily News reports on a new Bayside, Queens, development that can't handle the rain. According to various people, it's so poorly constructed that its retaining wall nearly collapsed in the last downpour.

-Matthew Grace

Federico Pignatelli, C.E.O. of Pier 59 Studios, which is part of the Chelsea Piers complex, showed up at Community Board 4's meeting last night to appeal for help from the board to prevent what he says is a dire situation at the popular sports and entertainment complex.

According to Mr. Pignatelli, the foundation of Chelsea Piers, which is a concrete platform affixed to wooden pylons in the bed of the Hudson River, is degrading at an alarming rate. Mr. Pignatelli, who said the foundation is in "dire need of care" and "rotting form the inside out," told the board that he had approached the management of Chelsea Piers, which leases out the property from the Hudson River Park Trust, with his concerns, only to be told that maintenance of the foundation was the responsibility of the HRPT. Likewise, when he approached the HRPT, he was told it was Chelsea Piers' responsibility.

The community board referred the matter to its waterfront committee. It'll most likely be taken up at the next committee meeting , and, depending on the outcome of that meeting, the board will take some action next month.

Calls made to Chelsea Piers and the Hudson River Park Trust were not immediately returned. Spokespeople for both organizations are on holiday.  read more »

Pictured is Chelsea Piers co-founder Roland Betts, with college buddy George W. Bush. If he's quicker to the mark than his fellow alumnus was with Hurricane Katrina, he just might sort out the bureaucratic labyrinth before the piers sink beneath the water.

Update: Chelse Piers e-mailed us the following statement after the original post was published: "The Chelsea Piers are in excellent structural condition. Since Chelsea Piers Management leased the Piers in 1994, regular substructural engineering surveys have been conducted by Chelsea Piers, the NYS Department of Transportation and the Hudson River Park Trust. Routine repairs, as directed by the structural engineers, are performed as required to keep the Piers in structurally sound condition." - Matthew Grace

The Times explores Chelsea Piers co-founder Roland Betts' fight with neighbors over a proposed golf course--in northwestern Connecticut. Along with charges that it will bring in undesirables (memberships would cost $150,000), blue-collar locals say the course's irrigation needs will deplete the water table.

Instead of looking down, opponents should look up. Betts promises, "If a spotted owl is discovered, I'll drop the whole thing."  read more »

--Matthew Schuerman

The WNYC radio version of the story also reported here and in the Voice is now online, and it's very tough on Deputy Mayor Dan Doctoroff.

WNYC's Andrea Bernstein has an uncanny ability to elicit damning quotes. Here's one from Roland Betts, Bush pal, Chelsea Piers mogul, all around macher:

"He hasn't really given up the reins of 2012, so the amount of time he's spent on 2012 and the Deputy Mayor's job basically means he's basically been working two jobs."

Two other notes:  read more »

"On the NYC 2012 website, Doctoroff is listed first on the staff list. The holiday card from NYC 2012 is signed by 'Dan, Jay and the NYC 2012 team.'"