Governors Island. Image credit: Trust for Governors Island.

The island has seen large growth in visitors over the past several years. On September 28, 2021, Mayor Bill de Blasio and the Trust for Governors Island announced that Governors Island will now be open year-round to the public starting November 1st. Governors Island, a 172 acre island in New York Harbor, was previously only open seasonally from May to October.  (more…)

Governors Island. Image credit: Trust for Governors Island.

The six new appointees will help oversee the Trust’s planning , operations, and development decisions. On April 14, 2021, Mayor de Blasio announced new appointments to the Trust for Governors Island Board of Directors. The appointments are Donnel Baird, Alice Blank, Lisa Garcia, Grace Lee, Michael Oppenheimer, and Matthew Washington. The appointed members have a combined wealth of knowledge and backgrounds in the fields of green technology, climate science, environmental justice, architecture, business, government, and advocacy. The appointments will be overseeing the Trust’s activities in planning, operations, and development of Governors Island. (more…)

Image Credit: Google Maps

The center would be a part of advancing the City’s Recovery Agenda. On October 21, 2020, Mayor de Blasio and the Trust for Governors Island issued a request for proposals to develop a hub for businesses and non-profits working on the climate and the environment in Building 301 – a historic waterfront building located on the Northern section of Governors Island. This project is an early step to establish Governors Island as a leading center for climate solutions. (more…)

Rendering of proposed changes to Governors Island Building 110. Image Credit: LPC

In addition to re-facing to prevent further damage to the porous, water-damaged brick, work will aid expansion of tenant artists’ colony. On May 9, 2017, the Landmarks Preservation Commission approved an application by the Trust for Governors Island to reclad an 1870s building constructed as an ordnance storehouse in stucco, with other alterations. The 300-foot-long two-and-a-half story building is part of the Governors Island Historic District. The red brick Romanesque Revival storehouse served as office space for the military in the 20th Century, and currently hosts artists’ residences, as well as studio and exhibition space, operated by the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council. The Trust’s Matt Blood and architect Nancy Rankin of John G. Waite Associates presented the plan. (more…)

Portions of Trust for Governors Island’s redevelopment plan falling within historic district needed Landmarks approval. On February 7, 2012, Landmarks issued a binding report approving portions of the Trust for Governors Island’s plan for the recreational redevelopment of the 172-acre Governors Island. Landmarks in July 2011 approved the Trust’s proposal to demolish six non-historic structures and landscape an area near the Yankee Pier public ferry landing within the Governors Island Historic District. The historic district encompasses approximately 92 acres on the northern half of the island. 8 CityLand 109 (Aug. 15, 2011).

At Landmarks’ hearing, Leslie Koch, president of the Trust, presented the plan, including proposed alterations to the portion of the island outside the historic district’s boundaries. Koch said the Trust’s broad goal was to create a world-class public space by expanding public access to and within the island, while also encouraging the reuse of existing historic structures and creating opportunities for appropriate mixed-use development.   (more…)