The imminent end of the Bloomberg administration and the prospect of an unknown political climate will prompt several major development projects to rush to enter the city’s approvals process; among them, the West Side Yards, St. Vincent’s hospital, and the Domino Sugar Refinery – not to mention the Coney Island and Willets Point rezonings (New York Observer). MAS has testified numerous times on all these projects and will continue to monitor their progress in the upcoming year.

New York Magazine focuses on the New York City skyline this month, in particular the September 11, 2001 memorial Tribute in Light, produced by MAS.

In other news, the final public hearing before the state economic development corporation on the proposed Columbia University expansion in West Harlem is tomorrow (New York Sun); remaining landowner Nick Sprayregen still promises to challenge the expansion in court if it is approved (Wall Street Journal).

The renovation of Lincoln Center has created a maze of scaffolding and sidewalk sheds on Broadway (New York Times).

In greening mid-century glass clad office buildings, exterior retrofits are becoming the first and quickest step (New York Times)

A new, green performance venue graces the Gowanus (Gothamist)

In the right light, the 7 WTC skyscraper at Ground Zero achieves its mission of transparency (New York Times)