PlaNYC

PlaNYC

Big Blue Building: Massive College Point Police Academy Set to Break Ground

Wed

Dec

Even for those of us whose understanding of what police academies should be like is centered around Steve Guttenberg and The Guy Who Makes Noises, the news that NYPD's main training facility is over 40 years old is kind of alarming. This is a big city, it requires a large and well-trained police force and... well, and those are basically the most uncontroversial statements anyone could make. But while the case for a new police academy isn't appreciably more controversial, the LEED Silver Perkins + Will-designed Police Academy planned for the College Point neighborhood in Queens (covered by Stephen here) has nevertheless drawn its share of controversy, for a host of fairly reasonable reasons.

Marquiss Wind Power to NYC: Test Drive a Free Wind Turbine

Tue

Aug

by Stephen Del Percio

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Apparently unfazed by recent skepticism from local engineers and architects aimed at Mayor Bloomberg's plans to install wind turbines on Gotham's skyscrapers and bridges, California-based Marquiss Wind Power has offered to donate one of its turbine systems to the city in order to demonstrate that the Mayor's idea is in fact viable. The company's patented roof-top wind turbine is approximately 19 feet high and weighs less than a typical rooftop air conditioning unit. Its T500 model is optimized for low, variable wind, is rated at 5 kilowatts, and is priced between $30,000.00 and $60,000.00 depending on the specific configuration. According to Marquiss CEO Paul Misso, the company's turbines should pay for themselves within four to eight years, "depending on wind speed, utility rates, and available incentives." Last week, in the aftermath of Mr.

Mid-Week Musing: Quick Thoughts on Mayor Bloomberg, Professor Kibert

Wed

Apr

by Stephen Del Percio

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I’ll present my detailed thoughts on Mayor Bloomberg’s Earth Day speech that he delivered on Sunday at the Museum of Natural History in an upcoming post, but in the meantime I’ll point you in the direction of a few links (see below) that describe the 127-part plan, including the proposed congestion pricing scheme. I do think what the Mayor is trying to do for the City is both ambitious and necessary. The addition of 1 million more New Yorkers by 2030 will have drastic consequences for our existing infrastructure and will demand innovative planning from our leaders. Whether all of the Mayor’s ideas are realized is obviously no certainty, but it’s refreshing to see an elected official thinking proactively and on such a grand scale.