Not all reclamation projects turn into the halls of Valhalla. For every
Widow’s Walk in Scituate, MA, USA, there is a Ferry Point. Pelayo received a bulk email this week from golfconstructionnews.com that contained a minor link to a major eyesore in the Bronx, New York City, USA. The release from GCC.Com read thus:

“In late January ‘08, New York City officials released an RFP for the design and management of this muni facility, which has been on hold since mid-November ‘06. Once a designer has been selected and construction is underway, the city will release a separate RFP for an operator to run the facility, which could be completed by fall 2010 if all goes well. The cost so far of the stalled project has so far reached $84 million. In mid-November ‘06, New York City’s Dep’t of Parks and Recreation voided the development contract for the Jack Nicklaus-designed GC and associated facilities. It’s uncertain whether Nicklaus Design (561-626-3900) will make another bid. The contract was voided due to delays, poor management practices and cost overruns. One of the major problems on the site is the presence of methane gas.! The project has been supported by various officials, including former NYC mayor Rudy Giuliani. Many of the problems have stemmed from improper capping of the former landfill site. Parks & Rec director Adrian Benepe said starting the development process over could result in the completion of the GC. The original developer was Pierre Gagne of Ferry Point Partners LLC (631-288-5684). The project was originally budgeted for $22.5 million. Here’s more history: In August ‘05, site prep began on the initial 18 holes at this muni project. The project also has provisions for a third nine, to be built on the west side of the park. Before work began, approximately 2.37 million yards of fill were delivered to the site, a 2,200-acre dump. Also involved in the development is the Staten Island Economic Development Corp. (contact is SIEDC project manager Timoty Desiderio - 718-477-0681). The dumpsite area where the GC is being built is called East Mound. Handling the original master plan for th! e site was Field Operations (212-433-1450). Handling the project for NYC is city planner Candace Damon (212-720-3300). Ferry Point Partners were slated to operate the GC. Partnering with Gagne were Nicklaus and Paul Kanavos of Flag Luxury Properties, a company based in the Caribbean. The original project included a Nicklaus GC, clubhouse, standalone 400-seat restaurant, 825-seat banquet facility, driving range and other amenities. Gagne’s development group was to lease the property from the city for 35 years at an approximate cost of $50 million.”

It seems that his Rudy-ness, former USA Presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani, championed a new, high-end public course within the confines of New York City as far back as 1998. If we remember, Guiliani was Mayor of Gotham City during the 2001 attacks and wee bit beyond. Although current alcalde Michael Bloomburg continues to support the project, Ferry Point is still mostly smoke and mirrors (and methane gas.)

As Giuliani was leaving office in late 2001, news began seeping that Ferry Point, initially contracted to the Jack Nicklaus design group, would host a PGA Tour event and be ramped up to 27 holes. Trouble was, not everyone would have immediate access. A wall was to go up on the side that faced the Throggs Neck housing project and its mostly black and latino residents, hinting that they might not exactly be welcome to tee it up.

As the year’s passed, the private dump on the site continued to operate, not exactly what one would anticipate. One might suspect that a site would be cleared, not encumbered, but New York City apparently doesn’t work that way. Watchdog site
Friends of Ferry Point Park and activist newspaperCityLimits.Org reported in 2003 that a former deputy commissioner might have been elbow-deep in hanky-panky related to the course development and the current dumping system. Ahh, progress.

Early last year, the long-dormant machine fired up once more, emitting smoke and methane gas, but fortunately, no flames. The official March 14th, 2007, release from the Mayor Bloomberg office ran this way:

“Today, the Franchise and Concession Review Committee (FCRC) unanimously authorized the Department of Parks & Recreation to issue a Request for Proposals for the development, operation and maintenance of an 18-hole golf course facility and ancillary facilities at Ferry Point Park in the Bronx with a license term of thirty-five (35) years. The Department of Parks will proceed with the RFP after giving thirty days’ notice to the local Community Board.

“With its action today, the FCRC has allowed Parks to restart the phased development of Ferry Point Park in the Bronx,” said Parks & Recreation Commissioner Adrian Benepe. “We look forward to providing a premier golf course and two new public parks to realize the long-envisioned plans for this new park development.”

The Parks Department will begin designing and developing two new parks at Ferry Point to open in 2009. The first phase will include a 7.5-acre community park on the eastern end of Ferry Point Park that will likely include a new ball field, tot lot, playground, basketball court and nature trail. Next, Parks will develop a 19-acre waterfront park on the southern edge of the property that will feature a promenade with breathtaking views of the East River, city skylines and the Whitestone and Throgs Neck Bridges.”

In the finest summary of the entire project, Anne Schwartz wrote once again in
late January of 2008 of the roadblocks, tribulations, snafus and dirty dealings that have doomed the project to date. It seems that what south Boston figured out, New York City has yet to comprehend. Much like the Red Sox and Yankees of late. Good thing Steinbrenner’s not involved!