WORLD WORLDWIDE USA New York NY New York City NYC thecity THE CITY News Journal Update - THE CITY SCOOP: New Migrant Shelter Expected To Become Largest Ever

 

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If you know anyone who might like this newsletter, send it to them. If this was sent to you by someone else, subscribe here — it's free!  Dear New Yorkers, Part of a block-sized complex at 47 Hall Street that quietly opened last week to migrants is now slated to become the largest dormitory-style shelter in New York City’s history. City Hall confirmed plans for up to 2,000 people to stay in dormitories spread out across multiple floors in two previously vacant buildings near the Brooklyn Navy Yard in Clinton Hill — and an administration source not authorized to speak to the press said that number could go up. A press release went out yesterday, after THE CITY inquired about the roughly 450 migrants who already moved into a previously undisclosed “respite center” at the site.  The opening of the Hall Street facilities comes as the city passed a grim milestone late last month: For the first time, more than 100,000 people are staying in city shelters.  More than half of those are recently arrived migrants who have fled hardship, economic strife, war and abuse in their countries, according to city officials who say the crisis could cost taxpayers an estimated $4.3 billion by the end of next year.  The developer of the Hall Street site, RXR, bought the property in 2018 and completed refurbishments in 2021. Neither RXR, which donated $10,000 to Mayor Eric Adams’ now-defunct nonprofit One Brooklyn Fund, nor the city would say how much rent costs for the two buildings. Read more here. Some other items of note: Manhattan has 20% fewer store employees than before the pandemic — and Amazon is a prime reason why. While the city may be on the cusp of regaining jobs lost in the pandemic, numbers show the retail sector is still coming up short.  Planned renovations at 15 public housing playgrounds are “paused” due to lack of city funds —  at a time when more than one in 10 public housing playgrounds are currently closed for repairs. The stalled projects include the estimated $2.7 million makeover of a playground at the Seward Park Extension houses on the Lower East Side, a $1.5 million overhaul at the East 180th Street-Monterey Avenue complex in The Bronx,  and a $1.3 million basketball court renovation at the Brevoort Houses in Bedford-Stuyvesant.  For the latest local numbers on COVID-19 hospitalizations, positivity rates and more, check our coronavirus tracker.  Weather scoop by New York Metro Weather Wednesday's Weather Rating: 4/10. Oh, it's hot again. High temperatures reach the lower 90s this afternoon. Dew points won't be too bad initially, but get worse as the day goes on. A few isolated storms are possible later tonight. The vibes are...all right! Things To Do Here’s what’s going on around the city this week. Wednesday, July 12 and Thursday, July 13: Manhattanhenge is back. Brave the tourists and find a spot facing west to catch the view. Get there at sunset; 14th, 34th, 42nd, 57th and 79th streets are said to be the most photogenic.  Thursday, July 13th: Gentlemen of Soul perform at the first Astoria Park Waterfront Series concert of the summer, from 7:30 to 9 p.m. at the Astoria Park Great Lawn on Shore Boulevard. Free. Saturday, July 15: NYC Audubon is hosting several events, from “Intro to Birding” in Marine Park to “NYCHA in Nature” birding at Beach 43rd Street and in Bay View. Details here. Free. THE KICKER: Did you know that duck food can be delivered via Uber Eats? An Upper West Side home has become a place where mallard ducks nest in recent years, leading to all kinds of lessons. This year’s ducklings were brought to the Wild Bird Fund’s sanctuary. Thanks, as always, for reading. Make it a great Wednesday. Love, THE CITY P.S. If you liked something about today's newsletter, or didn't, let us know at zshah@thecity.nyc

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