BY SAM SPOKONY  |  ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED DEC. 9, 2013  |  The city’s Parks Department and its hired architect proposed their conceptual master plan for the redevelopment of Pier 42 on Dec. 5, offering a park design that focused heavily on wide open lawn space, waterfront marshes and near-complete removal of the large shed that currently read more here »

BY SAM SPOKONY | The organization that oversees the High Line said on Monday that it’s not sure how a rare breed of cockroach — which has never before been spotted in the U.S. — ended up in the popular elevated park. On Monday it was reported that Periplaneta japonica, a species of roach that can apparently survive read more here »

BY SAM SPOKONY | ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED NOV. 27, 2013  |  A developer has filed plans for a six-story, 70-foot-tall residential building on a contested lot that was part of a Lower East Side community garden for more than 30 years. Supporters of the Children’s Magical Garden, at the corner of Stanton and Norfolk Sts., were dismayed read more here »

By SAM SPOKONY  |  Originally published Nov, 8, 2013  |  Opponents of the New York City Housing Authority’s plan to lease public land to private developers have filed a lawsuit against the agency in an attempt to stop the plan from moving forward. The Urban Justice Center and New York Environmental Law and Justice Project announced on read more here »

  The discussion at Duare Square just might be the start of something “crate.” Last Thursday, crates had been set up to create the “TALK” sign in front of the large white tent at Duarte Square. Photos by Lincoln Anderson BY LINCOLN ANDERSON | The talking at the Talking Transition tent at Duarte Square, at Canal read more here »

By LINCOLN ANDERSON  |  Last Friday, environmental and community groups opposed to allowing the Hudson River Park to sell its unused development rights one block inland from the park raised the alarm: After months of inaction since the bill passed the Legislature in June, it had suddenly been rushed to Governor Cuomo for his signature. The read more here »

BY LINCOLN ANDERSON | (Updated Oct. 23, 2013)  Controversy continues to flare around the East Village’s Community Board 3 and its troubled relationship with LES Dwellers, an aggressive and highly organized, new quality-of-life group. A month ago, David McWater, the board’s former chairperson, resigned from C.B. 3 a week after blowing up at Sara Romanoski, a read more here »