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U.N. may move to Brooklyn temporarily
Bakersfield Californian ^ | 5/10/05 | Nick Wadhams - AP

Posted on 05/10/2005 3:32:23 PM PDT by NormsRevenge

UNITED NATIONS (AP) - United Nations delegates, welcome to ... Brooklyn? U.N. planners have found commercial space across the East River in Brooklyn that could serve as a temporary home while the United Nations' iconic glass-and-steel headquarters in Manhattan gets a long-overdue renovation, Secretary-General Kofi Annan said in a report Tuesday.

The report assessed where things stand with plans to renovate the U.N. secretariat building, which was considered modern when it was constructed 50 years ago but now violates most New York City fire and safety codes.

The 38-story tower has no sprinkler system, is packed with asbestos, and loses about 25 percent of the heat pumped into it in the winter.

Annan said a search of more than 100 properties in Manhattan had turned up nothing that satisfied its needs for both office and conference space. One possibility that planners looked at was 7 World Trade Center, which is expected to open next year, officials said.

A major issue is working out where to hold the annual General Assembly debate, when world leaders descend on New York for several days.

The Brooklyn space, part of a larger development in the borough, could fit the bill, Annan's report said.

"The disadvantage is that the site would require additional travel for many staff and delegates," Annan wrote.

U.N. officials acknowledge the chances of a move to Brooklyn are remote. But even raising the option revealed just how difficult it has become for the world body to find a suitable place to stay during the headquarters overhaul.

The U.N. had originally hoped to build a skyscraper next to the secretariat in Manhattan to serve as a temporary home during the renovation. Once the work was complete, U.N. offices scattered around New York would fill the building.

But the U.N.'s original plan requires approval from the New York State legislature in Albany because the United Nations would have to take over a small playground where the building would be erected. And lawmakers who oppose the United Nations on principle have refused - despite urging from the Bush administration.

Even if Albany does agree to the legislation soon, the next-door skyscraper would not be ready until 2010, three years behind schedule. Those delays would cost the United Nations $114 million, Annan said.

In the report, Annan also recommended that the United Nations accept a U.S. offer for a $1.2 billion loan, repayable over 30 years at an annual interest rate of 5.54 percent, to finance the U.N. renovation. The loan offer expires Sept. 30.


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Foreign Affairs; US: New York
KEYWORDS: brooklyn; move; temporarily; un; unhq; unitednations
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There goes the neighborhood..
1 posted on 05/10/2005 3:32:23 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
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To: NormsRevenge

While they are packing, they should move out of the US.


2 posted on 05/10/2005 3:33:26 PM PDT by NY Attitude
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To: NY Attitude

Sounds like a wonderful opportunity to fill the entire facility with passive and active listening devices.


3 posted on 05/10/2005 3:34:26 PM PDT by MeanWestTexan
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To: NormsRevenge

". . .is packed with asbestos. . . ."

Let's root for the asbestos.


4 posted on 05/10/2005 3:35:11 PM PDT by righttackle44 (The most dangerous weapon in the world is a Marine with his rifle and the American people behind him)
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To: NormsRevenge
A renovation you say? That makes sense now that the oil for food boondoggle is busted they need a new money laundering scheme.
5 posted on 05/10/2005 3:35:29 PM PDT by Mark in the Old South (Sister Lucia of Fatima pray for us)
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To: MeanWestTexan

But what would the French think about that?


6 posted on 05/10/2005 3:35:47 PM PDT by thompsonsjkc
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To: NormsRevenge

Next stop...Ryker's Island!


7 posted on 05/10/2005 3:36:05 PM PDT by siunevada
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To: siunevada
We can only hope.
8 posted on 05/10/2005 3:36:58 PM PDT by Do not dub me shapka broham ("What in the world happened to Gerard's tag-line?")
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To: NormsRevenge

Lets move it to Gaza. It will be a perfect chance for the liberals who champion the third world, to walk the talk..


9 posted on 05/10/2005 3:37:51 PM PDT by cardinal4 (George W Bush-Bringing a new democracy every term..)
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To: NormsRevenge
Why can't they move to Cuba the climate is good and they will with their own kind.
10 posted on 05/10/2005 3:38:04 PM PDT by solo gringo (Liberal democrats And Flori-duh judges are parasites)
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To: NormsRevenge

I have a better idea to solve the UN's and our problems. Read my tagline.


11 posted on 05/10/2005 3:41:33 PM PDT by Paul_Denton (Get the U.N. out of the U.S. and U.S. out of the U.N.!)
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To: thompsonsjkc; siunevada; cardinal4; righttackle44; NormsRevenge; NY Attitude; ...
To be honest, if I were Larry Silverstein, I'd probably take this deal.

The fact is, the United Nations-as contemptible as it is-seems to be the best hope he's got for finally snagging an actual tenant to occupy the rebuilt 7 World Trade.

12 posted on 05/10/2005 3:42:49 PM PDT by Do not dub me shapka broham ("What in the world happened to Gerard's tag-line?")
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To: NormsRevenge

Not being funny, It would do them a lot of good to move to one of those places like Rwanda or Sudan that they have really, really screwed up.


13 posted on 05/10/2005 3:51:43 PM PDT by JimSEA
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To: NormsRevenge
The 38-story tower...loses about 25 percent of the heat pumped into it in the winter.

Global warming! Global warming!

Another speech or two per day by the Hero of Rwanda should make up for the heat loss.

14 posted on 05/10/2005 3:51:54 PM PDT by siunevada
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To: NormsRevenge
The report assessed where things stand with plans to renovate the U.N. secretariat building, which was considered modern when it was constructed 50 years ago but now violates most New York City fire and safety codes.
The 38-story tower has no sprinkler system, is packed with asbestos, and loses about 25 percent of the heat pumped into it in the winter.

Why not just tear the building down and not waste the $Millions it will cost for repairs? The UN can move to Uganda or some such place.
15 posted on 05/10/2005 3:57:30 PM PDT by R. Scott (Humanity i love you because when you're hard up you pawn your Intelligence to buy a drink.)
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To: NormsRevenge

I think they should move to France and we should demolish the UN HQ in NY, instead of refurbishing it. I read that the cost of refurbishing it is astronomical.


16 posted on 05/10/2005 4:02:46 PM PDT by QQQQQ
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To: NormsRevenge
...while the United Nations' iconic glass-and-steel headquarters in Manhattan gets a long-overdue renovation

Image Hosted by ImageShack.us

This looks like a job for Controlled Demolition, Inc.

17 posted on 05/10/2005 4:08:15 PM PDT by WideGlide (That light at the end of the tunnel might be a muzzle flash.)
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To: WideGlide

A couple very nice sites. Picture the UN building...

http://www.implosionworld.com

http://www.controlled-demolition.com/


18 posted on 05/10/2005 4:51:25 PM PDT by Right Wing Assault ("..this administration is planning a 'Right Wing Assault' on values and ideals.." - John Kerry)
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To: NormsRevenge

No doubt Ratner can find a suitable place for the UN


19 posted on 05/10/2005 4:51:59 PM PDT by OldFriend (MAJOR TAMMY DUCKWORTH.....INSPIRATIONAL)
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To: NormsRevenge

Hmmm... I wonder which part of Brooklyn? If the site is on the other side of the WIlliamsburg Bridge, they would be right in the middle of a very large Orthodox Jewish neighborhood.


20 posted on 05/10/2005 7:33:26 PM PDT by sittnick (There's no salvation in politics.)
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