MAS is awarding this year’s Brendan Gill prize to Sufjan Stevens for his acclaimed composition BQE (AsthmaticKitty). The Gill prize was created by Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis in honor of Brendan Gill and is awarded annually to a creator of a work of art, book, sculpture, film, musical composition, or architectural design, accomplished the previous year, that best captures the spirit and energy of New York City.

Santiago Calatrava echoes MAS’ sentiments that a train station should be a grand gateway into the city and a gift from the city for the public good; read more about MAS’ principles for Moynihan Station on New Penn Station.

In other news, the land and business owners in opposition to the City’s proposed Willets Point rezoning have broken into factions…

… some of the smaller business owners cannot afford to pay lobbyists’ fees or campaign contributions to Councilmembers (New York Times)

The Italian American Museum has opened on Mulberry Street (New York Times); The New Museum of Contemporary Art has acquired its adjacent building on Bowery (New York Times).

Vesey Street may close for several years to accomodate the next phase of the World Trade center construction (New York Sun)

The recent Center for Urban Future study on big-box retail in New York City suggests that the Bronx may be underserved by large, national retailers (New York Daily News)