The Gondola is Dead. Long Live the Gondola!

Wednesday, April 18, 2007, by Joey

Every time architect Santiago Calatrava's bizarre vision for a Governors Island gondola slips our mind, someone comes along and reminds us that—while it's most likely not gonna happen—the Calatravola is not impossible. Last time around, the Sun dug up its grave in a story about Gov's Island development plans, and on this go-round, it's none other than Deputy Mayor Dan Doctoroff who mentions the potential transportation service. Rich Calder writes in the Post:

Deputy Mayor Dan Doctoroff said the city's Economic Development Corp. is still keeping the idea of a futuristic-looking span designed by renowned architect Santiago Calatrava on the table.

"So far, there are some challenges, but no show stoppers," Doctoroff said during a meeting of the city-state Governors Island Education and Preservation Corp., which he chairs.

We really, really want to believe, but what will really get us pumped up is when we see more than the same grainy rendering a Calatrava intern slapped together in Photoshop.
· Gung-Ho on Govs I. Gondola [NYP]
· Gov's Island Gondola Dreams Live! Maybe... [Curbed]
· Santiago Calatrava Has Lost His Mind [Curbed]

Filed under Manhattan: Tribeca, Urban Planning, Gondola, Governors Island, Santiago Calatrava

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Comments (18 extant)

Couldn't we just build a human slingshot? One on each side. Out of that $125 mill budget I bet we could carve off $123 mill easy with my design.

By Anonymous at April 18, 2007 9:08 AM

Please, just move NYU to a spanking new expansive campus on Governor's Island and give the Village back to the people.

By Anonymous at April 18, 2007 9:18 AM

Haha, could they have done a rendering from farther way. Why not show what the bridge would look like from staten island.

By Anonymous at April 18, 2007 9:19 AM

Give the Village back to "the people"? You mean the ones paying $20 mil for townhouses?

By Grimace at April 18, 2007 9:24 AM

with 3 million housing units in nyc, 1 million of those under rent stabilization then I would guess that a fair number live in the village, no?
Far less than the $20m house buyers.

By Anonymous at April 18, 2007 9:26 AM

There is a clear reason why they are keeping this idea alive: great free publicity for Governor's Island (and Calatrava). Of course, the idea is preposterous and always has been, and hell will freeze over before this gets built.

By Oldmark at April 18, 2007 9:26 AM

OK, fine. Then everyone who wants to hear whining from people with rent-stabilized apartments in Greenich Village, raise your hand.

By Grimace at April 18, 2007 9:28 AM

#1 and #6 - Try and get out of New York City every once in a while

http://www.galinsky.com/buildings/mujer/

By a downtown broker at April 18, 2007 9:35 AM

Yes downtown broker, that is a picture of a pedestrian bridge. We are talking about a gondola. That costs 125 million dollars.

By Oldmark at April 18, 2007 9:46 AM

10.

Hey downtown broker, maybe they'd be more inclined if you let them know they can just hop on the C experience the glories of the world

"Take subway (Subte) Line C to "Plaza De Mayo" stop"

By Anonymous at April 18, 2007 10:00 AM

11.

ah, downtown broker, you're probably still anticipating the grand opening of 80 South Street too...

By bustamove at April 18, 2007 10:02 AM

12.

#8 try understanding the issue

HE WANTS TO BUILD A GONDOLA.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gondola_lift

By Anonymous at April 18, 2007 10:02 AM

13.

$125 Million Dollars? How will NYC feed its kids?

By Anonymous at April 18, 2007 10:03 AM

14.

Their parents should feed them or else they shouldn't procreate

By Anonymous at April 18, 2007 10:31 AM

15.

Wouldn't ferries be cheaper and able to move more people?

By Bing at April 18, 2007 1:35 PM

16.

Did you know that St. Louis' Gateway Arch attracts 4 million visitors per year? Think of the money we could extort from the tourists if this thing got built.

By Anonymous at April 18, 2007 2:09 PM

17.

Oh, and the London Eye carries 3.5 million passengers every year.

By Anonymous at April 18, 2007 2:14 PM

18.

#16 - did you know that there are plenty of tourist attractions already in New York, building an impractical unnecessary gondola won't bring any more in. St. Louis on the other hand - why else would you visit that place other than to see that silly arch?

By Anonymous at April 18, 2007 2:33 PM