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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PR- 181-11
May 29, 2011

MAYOR BLOOMBERG DISCUSSES EFFORTS TO CONTINUE LOWER MANHATTAN'S REBIRTH IN WEEKLY RADIO ADDRESS

The following is the text of Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg's weekly radio address as prepared for delivery on 1010 WINS News Radio for Sunday, May 29, 2011

"Good morning.  This is Mayor Mike Bloomberg.

"It's easy to forget these days, but in the weeks and months after 9/11, many wondered whether Lower Manhattan - and our city - would ever recover. But we never lost faith. We came together as a city, we found our confidence, and we got to work rebuilding Lower Manhattan and making it stronger than ever. 

"Last week saw the latest and hugely significant proof that our efforts have paid off, when publishing giant Condé Nast signed a lease to become the anchor tenant of what will be the tallest building in the country - One World Trade Center. The company will occupy one-third of the building, which is currently under construction and adding one new floor every nine days.

"Condé Nast's move from Times Square to Lower Manhattan is significant for a number of reasons. It bolsters our efforts to diversify the neighborhood's economic base. It will no doubt attract other like-minded companies to make their home downtown. And, maybe most importantly, it represents a tremendous vote of confidence in the future of Lower Manhattan.

"That confidence is well-founded. Today, the streets downtown have never been more full of life. Some 15,000 housing units have been built since 2001, which has led to Lower Manhattan's population growing by nearly 250 percent. And more than 280 firms in a wide range of industries have relocated to Lower Manhattan over the past six years. 

"Part of the reason why Lower Manhattan is so attractive to businesses is because of our efforts to make the neighborhood more livable, more exciting, and more dynamic. And last week also brought us some great news on that front, when the Whitney Museum of American Art broke ground on its new home at the entrance of the High Line. 

"For an institution like the Whitney to expand into a neighborhood like the Meatpacking District would have been unthinkable two decades ago. But through a combination of strategic planning, rezoning, and targeted investment, we've brought new life back to areas of our city that had been long abandoned, or simply underused. As a result, in four years time the Meatpacking District will have a world-class museum that generates hundreds of millions of dollars of investment for the area.

"Of course, for those looking right now for art downtown, there's plenty to satisfy your thirst - and some of it's completely free. Last week in City Hall Park, for instance, we opened a major outdoor retrospective of the late, great American sculptor Sol LeWitt. It's part of our ongoing effort to bring art out of the traditional confines of galleries and museums and onto the streets of our city, where it can be experienced by everyone.

"I also encourage you to visit Governors Island, which opened for the season this weekend and which this year features an exhibition by iconic New York sculptor Mark d' Suvero. Free ferries to the island leave from the Battery and Brooklyn Bridge Park every Friday through Sunday until September 25th. With its breathtaking views, refreshing sea breezes, and free recreational activities, it makes for an unforgettable summer day out in the city. 

"This is Mayor Mike Bloomberg.  Have a great Memorial Day weekend."







MEDIA CONTACT:


Stu Loeser   (212) 788-2958



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