Approvals Binge Consumes Bloomberg's Waning Days

With only two weeks left in office, Mayor Michael Bloomberg is still adding to one of the most visible legacies of his administration - the city's evolving built environment. Approvals are being sought for more than $12 billion worth of projects.

December 17, 2013, 5am PST | Jonathan Nettler | @nettsj

Deputy mayor Robert K. Steel is leading a full court press to push through approvals for Mayor Bloomberg's favorite projects, including the massive Domino Sugar Refinery redevelopment in Brooklyn.

"The gusher of projects recently approved or on track for approval in Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg’s final days include an outlet mall and a giant observation wheel on Staten Island, totaling $580 million, and a relatively modest $16 million building in Manhattan with 55 experimental micro-apartments, as well as a $2 billion residential complex on the Brooklyn waterfront and the country’s largest indoor skating complex, to be built in the Bronx," observes Charles V. Bagli.

"Many projects are rooted in the early days of Mr. Bloomberg’s 12-year tenure and were steered by his first deputy mayor and chief development architect, Daniel L. Doctoroff. More than once, Mr. Bloomberg has said that Mr. Doctoroff, and by extension himself, had a 'greater impact on this city, I think, than Robert Moses.'"

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Going Out With Building Boom, Mayor Pushes Billions in Projects

Published on Sunday, December 15, 2013 in The New York Times