Silver Demands Weekend Construction Moratorium
At Goldman Sachs Building Site In Battery Park City

Calls for stricter oversight on projects near schools and playgrounds

Following the frightening incident in Battery Park City on Saturday when a piece of sheet metal landed in the outfield during a Downtown Little League ballgame, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver called on the Department of Buildings to halt weekend construction at the site and take new measures to protect children and families.

"My Lower Manhattan community has had more than its share of construction related accidents, including a fire last summer that led to the death of two of our city's bravest," said Silver. "The recent incident at the Battery Park City ball fields, combined with the many construction accidents that continue to take place in our city, are evidence that we are not doing enough to protect local residents. I am calling on the Department of Buildings to immediately cease the issuance of weekend variances for work at the Goldman Sachs site to Tishman Construction for the duration of the little league season. This will provide time to develop and implement new safety measures to protect children and families in the surrounding area. These measures should include full-floor netting to contain construction materials and suspension of construction during high wind conditions."

Silver noted that another major construction project of two residential buildings on sites 23 (22 stories) and 24 (32 stories) adjacent to the ball fields is set to begin soon.

"We must be pro-active in protecting our citizens from unnecessary accidents around construction sites," said Silver. "Major construction projects are ongoing throughout this city. The Department of Buildings must take particular measures to ensure that construction sites near and around parks and schools abide by stricter safety standards that will prevent accidents from occurring."