Smart/Soft Power CT/COIN/Stability Strategy -> GlobalServiceAcademy@GovIsland (Gov Island Profile)

8/9/2019 Smart/Soft Power CT/COIN/Stability Strategy -> GlobalServiceAcademy@GovIsland (Gov Island Profile)

1/14

Governors IslandHighest & Best Use

1-of-14


2/14

Governors Island

Restrictive Covenants:

2.3 Permitted Uses.

Subsection (a) (ii) Educational Uses: From and after the date hereof and for a periodofthirty (30) years from the Master Plan Effective Date (the "Educational UsesRestrictive Term"), not less than twenty (20) acres of the Island Property, shallbe used for one of any combination of the following educational purposes, including:

classrooms, libraries, offices, auditoriums, incubators, research facilities, campusfacilities, conference facilities, student and faculty housing, student services anddining facilities (the "Educational Uses");

2.4 Prohibited Uses.

Subsection (a) Residential uses, except as otherwise expressly permitted herein.

Overview:

A former military post, with roles in the Revolutionary War, and virtually everyother major U.S. military engagement including the War of 1812, Civil War, bothWorld Wars, and the Gulf War.

A National Historic Landmark District featuring 18th century fortifications, pre-CivilWar arsenal buildings, Victorian and Romanesque Revival housing, as well as early20th century neo-classical architecture.

Historic Significance:

172 total acres (North + South Island) approx. 22 city-blocks from tip-to-tip;

Located in the heart of New York Harbor 800 yards from Lower Manhattan and400 yards from Brooklyn;

Restricted ferry access only;

May 31st to October Public Park (2008 season: over 128,000 visitors);

October to May 30th Currently Vacant;

Impediments to commercial development include: no direct transportation routesand harsh tough weather conditions during the Autumn and Winter months;

New York Harbor School taking occupancy in 2009 (school brochure also attached);

Artist Studio Program to open year-round in May 2009;

52 landmarked buildings totaling 1.4 million square feet;

80 acres of non-historic land south of Division Road;

3 working ferry docks;

More than 1,600 trees;

Unique park-like setting minutes away from the capital of the world;

Closest point on land to the face of the Statue of Liberty.

Highest & Best Use

2-of-14


3/14

Governors Island

Impediments to Commercial Development:

Governors Island Development Framework

M a r k e t St u d y A p p e n d i x - Ex c e r p t s :

Significant challenges to the redevelopment effort do exist. Governors Island is anisland, and that brings with it a number of physical challenges, especially related tothe efficiency and quality of transportation to, from and on the Island. The relativeharshness of weather conditions is another concern. Further, the requirements thatrestrict certain uses, in particular permanent residential, and encourage the use ofhistoric buildings are positive for many reasons, but also create challenges that need

to be overcome.Making transportation convenient and special

The location of Governors Island is geographically accessible to a large market, but itstill is an island with no direct transportation routes.

Controlling for the weather

The weather on Governors Island can be relatively quite harsh, especially during theAutumn and Winter months. The wind conditions are of a particular concern,especially on the west side of the Island. The chance for tough weather conditionswill certainly affect the depth of demand for certain uses at specific times of the year,although primarily indoor uses can continue to some extent. Even more critically,uses on the Island that will operate during the harsh weather periods must have

transportation options on the Island that can get people comfortably to and from theaccess/departure and the various buildings on the Island.

The use of historic buildings

Historic buildings can be a very strong market advantage. However, they alsopresent several challenges associated with rehabilitation and adaptive reuse. Forexample, often, reusing historic structures can be more expensive than newconstruction, which then requires a competitive positioning that may not be possibleor is more risky. It is also often the case that historic buildings do not often meet thesize specification of many modern uses, which can result in the inefficient use ofspace and/or the need to construct new buildings in addition to the historicrehabilitation.

The lack of permanent residentsThe redevelopment of Governors Island must be completed in accordance with theguidelines set when the land was transferred from the federal government to the Cityand the State of New York. This includes a prohibition of permanent residential usesin order to ensure the Island remains a public place. However, the lack of a supply ofpermanent residents does create some market challenges, in particular limiting the24-hour, year-long population on the Island that would support other uses inparticular retail and restaurants.

Highest & Best Use

3-of-14


4/14

Governors Island

Ownership/ Management:

Twenty-two (22) acres, the Governors Island National Monument (GINM), areowned and operated by the National Park Service (NPS).

One hundred and fifty (150) acres of the Island are owned and operated by theGovernors Island Preservation and Education Corporation (GIPEC).

GIPEC is responsible for the planning, redevelopment and ongoing operations.

A partnership of New York City and New York State, GIPEC seeks to bringGovernors Island back to life.

Board of Directors Vice Chairman: Daniel Doctoroff.

The two agencies are working together to facilitate public access, create openspace, and foster the Islands redevelopment.

Comprised of:

N o r t h I s la n d :

* 92 acres designated the National Historic Landmark District (NHLD)

22 acres of NHLD - the Governors Island National Monument (GINM) - ownedand operated by the NPS (Monument Property)

Three GINM structures:

Castle Williams (1811)

Fort Jay (1809)

Section of the historic glacis

70 acres of NHLD owned and operated by GIPEC (Island Property)

52 historic buildings to be preserved (225 structures of which 64 are historic)

State / City obligation to stabilize buildings

Total close to 1.5 million square feet needing long-term tenancy/adaptive reuse

Open to the public during summer season

So u t h I s la n d :

* 80 acres owned and operated by GIPEC (Island Property)

Created with landfill from 1901-1912 using excavation from Lexington Avenuesubway

Views of Harbor, Statue of Liberty, and Verrazano-Narrows Bridge

All buildings to be demolished

Location of Summer Park, Great Promenade, service area, and future development

Currently closed to public due to safety concerns

Highest & Best Use

4-of-14


5/14

Governors Island

Educational Uses Potential and Committed:

M a r k e t St u d y A p p e n d i x - Ex c e r p t s :

SummaryThere are excellent opportunities for educational uses on Governors Island. Not only does theIsland itself already possess a campus-like environment reminiscent of a New England collegecampus, but its location just minutes from Manhattan combined with its serene, peacefulsetting provides a unique opportunity to create a quality learning environment that is bothsecluded yet connected.

Based on the unsolicited interest from numerous educational groups, we know theappropriateness of the island for learning activities is strong. We have considered wide range

of educational activities to ascertain their potential impact upon total visitor traffic toGovernors Island and understand the potential connections and synergies with otherproposed uses. These uses range from educational opportunities for public school children inNew York City to first-class teaching facilities for premier educational institutions. They arepublic sector and private sector, and they cover all ages and activities.

The proposals received to date by GIPEC are the New York Harbor School, The CityUniversity of New York (CUNY) summer school and auxiliary campus use, and a proposal for ananotechnology research center. To this list, we have added the Governors IslandInstitute, a colloquium of thinkers and leaders who will interact, live, work and teach on theIsland; a specialty education component, such as the Culinary Institute of America, whichteaches professional and continuing education courses to a wide urban market; and anenvironmental education center, which would provide an ecological learning environment for

visitors to the Island. Finally, student dorms have been considered as a possibility fortemporary housing, given the shortage of dorms in New York City.

Public Schools Harbor School and CUNYThe Harbor School and CUNY would be able to provide their students New York Cityresidents with a unique campus setting for their programs. Demand and feasibility for theprograms is determined at the school level and would not represent a financial obligation onthe part of GIPEC. Synergies are high among the other uses planned for the Island, with themost intense impact of a school being the constant and steady stream of people to the Islandduring the week.

New York Harbor School provides a hands-on curriculum for inner-city children in conjunctionwith the South Street Seaport Museum, The Waterkeeper Alliance and The NYC Departmentof Education, among other organizations. It is a new program designed for high-school teens

who do not have access to outdoor learning opportunities and whose public education optionsare among the lowest-ranked in the city. The school has already taught its first class ofstudents and is looking for a home where it can more easily develop its unconventionalcurriculum, which teaches kids through activities such as sailing and boat building. Theproposal identifies buildings 310, 315 and 330, constituting 22,000 square feet, as theoptimal locations for its Phase 1 rollout for 250 students. Long-term plans include buildings324 and 333 to teach 500 students and house a certain portion of them in a total of 46,500square feet.

Highest & Best Use

5-of-14


6/14

Governors Island

Educational Uses Potential and Committed: (contd)

Public Schools Harbor School and CUNY (contd)CUNY has also identified Governors Islands historic buildings and campus setting for specificpotential uses. However, any further investigation of the opportunity would need to follow aCity mandated process that determines the schools expansion plans. School representativesattest that educational facilities are in short supply for all institutions in the city. Originalinterest from a higher education institution came from New York University in the late 1990s,but was dropped when it decided to expand into the East Village. CUNY proposes a campuson the Island that will focus on a specialized form of study such as marine biology or art anddrama. It will also enable the institution to do teacher training and summer school for kidsduring the summer.

The traffic and population impact of a university campus on the Island would be tremendousand needs to be considered in the context of its impact on the non-public sector uses on theIsland. Next steps will likely involve the input from selected anchor tenants such as aconference center and destination restaurants.

Governors Island InstituteThough still unformed, the concept of a forum for academics and world leaders has emergedand remained a point of great interest among contributors to the Governors Islanddevelopment. The Governors Island Institute would become an important place of learningand convening, unique in the world much like Davos or the Aspen Institute. It would help rootthe identity of Governors Island in a global, high-level concept and associate the Island withleadership in the minds of New Yorkers and people around the world.

The Institute has several resources to provide the foundation of the thinking behind it: WallStreet, the United Nations and the numerous first class colleges and universities nearby. TheInstitute will need to be developed by a consortium of leaders in one of these or anothersimilar area, and should be very specifically structured around the needs and goals of thatthought industry in order to retain the clearest possible sense of purpose and identity.

The officers homes around the courtyard in Nolan Park and the comfortable setting of theacademic halls provide an ideal platform for the development, sharing and assessing of ideas.Just as the Xerox Parc Lab in Palo Alto is designed to foster creativity, with sofas and desksmixed together and white board covering every wall, the protected yet luxurious Islandenvironment can do the same. Institutional models need to be studied and designedaccording to the desired level of interaction. There are ample resources to accommodate anInstitute of high-level participants without too much conversion of the existing historic

buildings. It is an interesting option to explore and one that is synergistic with the other useson the Island.

Highest & Best Use

6-of-14


7/14

Governors Island


Environmental EducationEnvironmental education has emerged as an area of interest for the educational effortsconsidered for the island, particularly marine ecology and maritime history. Passive parkspace at the southern end of the Island will become an important part of the Islandscharacter and will also be one of the few large spaces in New York that offers access to thewater from the coastline. It can become a place where children can experience nature beyondCentral and Prospect Parks.

Both CUNY and the Harbor School have strong environmental components to their proposedcurricula. CUNY has proposed a marine-focused campus on the island that would gatherexperts, visiting scholars and students from all CUNY and other schools to the Island to focuson marine biology and ecology studies. The New York Harbor School, together with the USArmy Corps of Engineers, has proposed building a hydraulic model of New York Harbor, muchlike San Franciscos Bay model that attracted 250,000 visitors in 2003. The Harbor Schoolslearning methods are very focused on helping children understand physics, math, ecology andgeology through the practical application of techniques in the outside world. It has focused onthe Governors Island opportunity for the indoor, outdoor and water-based resourcesavailable.

Another idea proposes an environmental learning center that combines functioning windturbines and solar panels with interactive and educational exhibits on hydraulic power,maritime travel and design and marine ecology. The Islands unique location and access towater, unobstructed sunshine and wind make it an ideal setting for an interactiveenvironmental learning center. Technologies for renewable energies can be demonstrated and

used to help support the Islands electricity needs, which are significant if any furtherdevelopment is pursued. This type of center would create a hands-on learning environmentand laboratory for renewable energy and sustainability in the Harbor while feeding cleanenergy to the remainder of the Island.

Specialty SchoolsThe specialty school option, like all continuing education programs at universities, provides abroad market of people with access to educational opportunities after they have finishedschool. This is usually a professional market that is willing to pay very high prices per hour ofinstruction when compared against a full-time program. It is a good market and re-use ofresources for many educational institutions. Specialty education courses that should beexplored for Governors Island are sailing, cooking, arts and acting and any number ofpossibilities.

We have profiled the Culinary Institute of America here to better understand how this entitymight use and interact with Governors Island and its accompanying resources/amenities. Adetailed description of this organizations and its potential use is given below, and should beused as a guide to understanding how the Island might serve the needs of a yet-to-beidentified educational institutional partner.

Highest & Best Use

7-of-14


8/14

Governors Island


Culinary Institute of America an in-depth studyCulinary institutes represent an interesting opportunity for the Islands educational use.These schools apparently operate at high margins, covering costs with tuition, whetherdesigned for a corporate, professional, or individual structure. In our analysis of culinaryinstitutes, we have identified a strong market opportunity for the continuing education courseoffering. This concept is a one-day to two-week cooking course that is targeted to amateurchefs and backed by renowned institutions such as Cordon Bleu or the Culinary Instituterepresents the low-hanging fruit of the culinary market, an easily targeted and untappedmarket of non-professional cooks that is willing to pay for specialized courses. Once kitchenand specially designed classroom space is built, the facilities are easily expanded to draw on a

larger market. Ancillary uses for the instructional kitchen facilities would includedemonstrations by celebrity chefs, film leasing of the facilities for commercials and specialevents by restaurants and professional chef associations. The Culinary Institute of AmericasNapa Valley location, as an example, does three food demonstrations per day, attracting SanFrancisco residents and visitors to the wine region for numerous events.

The bulk of continuing education courses are one to two day courses, offered on theweekends. They are typically structured as learning retreats for high-income markets, andinclude a full day of coursework in the school kitchens and a meal in a leading restaurantassociated with the school. The synergies for these educational retreats and the Islandsintended hotels and recreational uses, including spas, a marina and restaurants, are veryhigh.

The Culinary Institute of America has expressed interest in offering its Continuing Education

courses on Governors Island. The CIA is based in Hyde Park, New York, in a convertedmonastery on the Hudson River, and has a second campus in Napa Valley, located in apicturesque, converted vineyard. Students service five upscale restaurants at the Hyde Parkcampus. It is the only culinary institution that offers a four-year Bachelors degree alongsideits professional training courses, custom programs for institutional operations and continuingeducation classes. The CIA has just begun a certification program in 2004 that hopes to setindustry standards among employer institutions and to differentiate its offerings from otherless serious cooking schools, which number more than 500 in the US. The CIAs managementhas put great efforts towards this in hopes of strengthening its presence and leadershiparound the world.

The success of the Institutes continuing education courses has far exceeded capacity of thekitchen space. The schools week long, intensive Boot Camp courses sell out weeks in

advance, as do the weekend adult education courses, which are only offered in the spring andfall. Boot camp classes can accommodate 16 students and cost $1,800 per week. Theweekend courses have 30 kitchens at their disposal and bring 450 people per day to thecampus. Marketing is minimal due to the full occupancy of the schools kitchens throughoutthe year and each day of the week.

Highest & Best Use

8-of-14


9/14

Governors Island


Culinary Institute of America an in-depth study (contd)Twelve rooms on campus are reserved for continuing education students, however, most stayin a Bed and Breakfast or less expensive hotels in the area. The courses attract individualsfrom nearby metropolitan regions in Boston and New York, and far-reaching states such asCalifornia and Texas. The New York City market, in particular, is a very large source for thecontinuing education courses. The school is convinced that a large, untapped market of foodenthusiasts would be well served by weekend and full week courses in Manhattan. The foodenthusiast is a non-professional cook who would like to spend the time and money with high-rated professional chefs to improve their at-home skills.

A second and larger market opportunity should be explored with the Culinary Institute oranother culinary program of equal caliber. Ongoing professional chef training is the bulk ofthe culinary institute business and includes semester long courses and certification classes.Dedicated chefs use vacation time and spend $850 per week plus hotel expenses, often notreimbursed by their employers, to improve their skills in certification courses.

Corporations are another professional source that is actively targeted by the CIA. Customcourses are designed for companies such as Aramark, the US Navy and Marriott Hotels, totrain chefs and line professionals in specific techniques used by the company. Custom coursesare scheduled around the standard school use of kitchens and sometimes in the corporationslocations, and are very profitable for the Institute. The school is actively building itsrelationships with outside corporations to strengthen the custom arm of its business.

Market Opportunity

More than 10,000 students attend the school every year. The CIA teaches 2,200 full-timestudents at a time on its campus, with 42 kitchens dedicated the main program. Ongoingprofessional education certificate and other courses attract 50 to 150 students per week andrange in price from $850 to $1,800. The continuing education program receives 450 foodenthusiast trainees each of the 14 Saturdays that it is open, for a total of 6,300. Thesestudents pay $160 per day and $250 for a two-day course, usually opting to stay at a nicehotel and eat two dinners at the schools leading restaurants.

Initial interest from the CIA in Governors Island is centered on the Continuing Educationprogram for its proximity to the city and its separation from the schools more academic andprofessional programs. Some concern of cannibalization of the custom programs forcorporations has been raised. The size of the continuing education market, and its ability topay for capital improvements, including kitchen build outs, to the existing buildings on the

Island, are uncertain. At this point, the school would be very comfortable renting kitchens forthe use of its instruction.

What is very clear from early conversations is that the pricing and capacity of the continuingeducation is missing the New York City potential. Pricing is too high for local Hyde Park andsurrounding residents at $160/day, however, the school feels it could charge much more forNew Yorkers. Students are typically 45 years or older and earn well above $150,000. Thedemographic is surprisingly skewed 60%-40% male-female.

Highest & Best Use

9-of-14


10/14

Governors Island


Market Opportunity (contd)Though further analysis into cooking class demand is needed, our early understanding is thatapproximately 10 to 15 kitchens and at least one demonstration kitchen with a theater andstudio-ready capabilities would be a strong market use on the Island. For standard classes,150 to 200 students would be expected daily. Special events could draw 300 at a time. If amore intensive program that caters to corporate or ongoing professional use is pursued, dormrooms would also be a key and profitable component to the offering.

An overview of CIA courses at the Hyde Park Campus is shown in Exhibit IX-1.

Student Housing

There is a great lack of housing for students in New York City. Currently, there areapproximately 35,000 dorm-room beds for New Yorks 233,000 full and part time students inManhattan and Brooklyn (See Exhibit IX-2). This translates to a student renter population inthe two boroughs of almost 200,000 people. A very small 1% capture of that demand wouldyield 2,000 renters annually at very sustainable rental rates given the price points in LowerManhattan today. The student dorm option faces challenges for being the only residentialactivity on the Island. Other than overnight hotel guests and conference center attendees, itcould be an isolated living experience for nine months. We have assessed the transportationconcerns of getting to and from the Island regularly and consider them a concern for mostcollege-age students. We would need to measure the depth of demand for a graduate studentpopulation who would prefer quieter environment of the Island to ease of access. If demandis found, student dorms present a very feasible opportunity to bring a steady and payingpopulation to the Island.

Next StepsThe need for Governors Island to be a self-sustaining entity dictates that the educational usesbe developed in conjunction with private sector initiatives. The opportunities anddevelopment requirements are unique for each educational initiative from sailing andenvironmental education to world leadership and cannot be assessed with any particulargoals in mind. As we interview potential partnering institutions, the strengths and challengesassociated with any one of these efforts will become clearer.

Highest & Best Use

10-of-14


11/14

Governors Island

Historic Significance:

Pre-Colon ia l Era

Lenape Indians settle on island they call Pagganck (Nut Island).

1524 Giovanni da Verrazzano sights Governors Island.

1609 Henry Hudson explores New York Harbor looking for route to Pacific Ocean.

1624Noten Eylant (Nutten Island) is one of the Dutch West India Companys firstsettlements.

1637 Wouter Van Twiller, Dutch Governor of New Netherlands, privately acquires island from

Native American owners, Cakapeteyno and Pehiwas, allegedly for two axe heads, astring of beads and a few nails.

1664 British take possession of the island during occupation of New Amsterdam. It remainsrural, housing the Governors sheep, cattle and coach horses.

1698 British officially acquire the island, thereafter called Governors Island, for the benefitand accommodation of His Majestys Governors.

1702 Edward Hyde, Lord Cornbury, Governor of New York State, builds a splendidpermanent home for the British governors on high ground.

June 1710 Thousands of German refugees, on epidemic-ridden ships, are quarantined on theIsland.

1732 Governor William Crosby stocks Island with English pheasants.1755 51st Regiment of Foot is the first trained unit of soldiers posted on the island. Later,

the unit is joined by the Royal Americans, a British regiment recruited in America.

April 1776 Continental troops under George Washington occupy and fortify Governors Islandagainst British invasion.

September 1776 New York City and Governors Island fall to the British.

1783 British Royal Navy surrenders the Island to Governor George Clinton of New York State.In addition to three forts, structures left behind include: a wharf, three wells, threekitchens, captains barracks, lieutenants barracks, guard house, gardeners house,summer house, convalescent hospital and barn for cattle.

The New Repub l i c

1784-1794 Unused military facilities fall into disrepair and the island is leased for a racetrackand summer resort.

1790 Governors Island is granted to the Regents of New York State to raise funds foreducation. Title is rescinded four years later at the threat of war with France.

Highest & Best Use

11-of-14


12/14

Governors Island

Historic Significance: (contd)

The New Repub l i c (contd)

1794 Using volunteers from Columbia College, political clubs and trade guilds, GovernorClinton organizes construction of new defenses on the island. A passenger rowboat islicensed. Fare: three cents.

1797 Garrison is assigned to the new fort, consisting of a major, a captain, a surgeon, 2lieutenants, 3 sergeants, 4 musicians, 5 artificers, and 34 privates.

1798 The fort is named after patriot John Jay, the first chief justice of the Supreme Courtand a drafter of the peace treaty with England.

1800 New York State cedes the Island to the United States.

1806 Reconstruction of Fort Jay

1811 Castle Williams, on a point of land at the edge of the Harbor, is completed and namedafter its designer, Jonathan Williams, the first superintendent of West Point.

1815 Peace Treaty with Britain ending the War of 1812 is celebrated with fireworks onGovernors Island.

1821 Island becomes headquarters of the Army of the East.

1823 Governors Island is designated a signal station. Flags announce the arrival of ships inNew York Harbor.

1833 Ordinance Department of the Army selects Governors Island as a major arsenal, andoccupies waterfront land.

1847 Islands first church, the Episcopalian Chapel of St. Cornelius the Centurion, isconsecrated.

1849-68 Periodic cholera epidemics sweep the Island.

April-June 1852 Ulysses S. Grant resides in the officers quarters known as the Block House.

1852 Governors Island changes from an artillery post to a recruiting depot.

The Civ i l W ar and Beyond

1861 Steam tugs supplant the oar-powered barge-ferries to the Island.

1861-1865 Civil War Governors Island is the central Army recruiting station for the EasternSeaboard, and Castle Williams is a prison camp, sometimes holding over 1,000Confederate soldiers.

February 24, 1865 Confederate Captain John Yates Beall is executed on Governors Islandfor piracy on Union shipping.

1870 Yellow fever epidemic rages on the island.

Highest & Best Use

12-of-14


13/14

Governors Island


The Civ i l W ar and Beyond (contd)

1878 Island changes from Army fortification to administrative center.

1880 City water is introduced to the island through mains under the East River fromBrooklyn.

1895 First squirrels are brought to Governors Island.

1897 Congress proposes a bill to convey Governors Island to the City of New York for thepurpose of a public park. The Army Board of Engineers, citing the Islandsindispensability for military purposes, soundly rejects the proposal.

1901-12 By adding 4,787,000 cubic yards of fill from the Lexington Avenue Subway,Governors Island is enlarged from 70 to 172 acres at a cost of $1.1 million. Secretaryof the Army Elihu Root selects architects McKim, Mead & White to design a newheadquarters for the Department of the East. All of the structures in what is now theLandmark District are to be destroyed except Castle Williams, Fort Jay, SouthBattery, and the Chapel.

1904 Electricity is introduced to Governors Island.

September 29, 1909 Wilbur Wright takes off from Governors Island on the first flight everover American waters, circling the Statue of Liberty before returning. A few days laterhe flies from the island to Grants Tomb and back.

W o r l d W ar s I a n d I I 1914-1918 World War I Island is a major supply base and embarkation point. More than 70

new buildings are erected.

1918Worlds shortest railroad (a locomotive and three flat cars on 1 miles of track)carries coal, machinery and supplies from the pier to shops and warehouses.

1924 A municipal airport is proposed for Governors Island.

1930 Building 400 opens. Designed by McKim, Mead & White, it is the first Army structure tohouse all facilities for an entire regiment.

1937-1938 Comedians Tommy and Dick Smothers are born at the base hospital while theirfather, Major Thomas Boyln Smothers, is stationed on the island.

1939-1945 World War II Island is a major administration center and chief reception centerfor inductees.

1942 WAC detachment brings the island its first women soldiers.

1949 White octagonal tower is constructed to provide ventilation for the Brooklyn-BatteryTunnel.

1965 U.S. Army leaves Governors Island.

Highest & Best Use

13-of-14


14/14

Governors Island


W o r l d W ar s I a n d I I (contd)

June 30, 1966 Rear Admiral I.J. Stephens accepts jurisdiction over Governors Island onbehalf of the U.S. Coast Guard.

1966-1996 Lima, Tango, and Yankee piers house six vesselsdestroyers, tenders andtugsfor law enforcement, buoy care and ice breaking.

July 4, 1976 Governors Island is opened to the public for the first time, hosting 20,000residents and visitors for fireworks and a parade of tall ships for AmericasBicentennial.

1983 Burger King opens on the Island and serves beer. Other activities for officers andenlisted men include golf, tennis, swimming, bowling, bingo and movies.

1986 President Ronald Reagan relights the torch of the restored Statue of Liberty from thesouthwestern tip of the Island.

December 7, 1988 Diplomatic meetings between Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader MikhailGorbachev held at the Admirals House.

Recent H is to r y

1992 Island is the staging area for Op Sail, bringing the Tall Ships to New York Harbor.

September 1, 1996 Coast Guard leaves Governors Island.

April 1, 2002 President George W. Bush, Governor George Pataki and Mayor MichaelBloomberg announce that the federal government will sell the island back to thepeople of New York for one dollar.

January 31, 2003 After 200 years, Governors Island is returned to the people of New YorkCity and State through the Governors Island Preservation and Education Program(GIPEC).

February 7, 2003 Twenty-two acres of the island are transferred to the National ParkService.

Highest & Best Use

14-of-14

Documents

Smart/Soft Power CT/COIN/Stability Strategy -> GlobalServiceAcademy@GovIsland (Gov Island Profile)