The Trust for Governors Island—a city-controlled nonprofit that runs the island—is working with the mayor’s office on a new plan for the area’s long-debated next phase: a climate-research center within 4.5 million square feet of new development on the southern part of the island. The proposed plan for redevelopment is part of a rezoning proposal that would allow for offices, hotels and retail, as well as 200-person capacity restaurants, on the island’s open space. The tallest building on the island now is about 120 feet, but with the rezoning, as proposed, buildings could be as high as 350 feet to 370 feet. It has been reported that since the proposed project, if approved, would receive public funding, it would be built 100% union. 

The proposed redevelopment plan faces community opposition from some New York City residents. Last month, Manhattan’s Community Board 1, the advisory board for lower Manhattan, voted against the rezoning plan after scores of people voiced opposition to the development’s scale. Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer has also recommended scaling back the scope of the proposed redevelopment plan.

The proposed plan, certified by the Department of City Planning in October, 2020, is making its way through the city's Uniform Land Use Review Procedure (ULURP) process, which usually takes several months, and could be voted on by City Hall in the spring.

We’ll continue to keep up with this proposed project and report on any material developments going forward.