New York Wheel

New York Wheel
General information
Type Ferris wheel
Location Staten Island, New York City
Coordinates 40°38′49.2″N 74°4′41.9″W / 40.647000°N 74.078306°W / 40.647000; -74.078306
Opening April 2018[1][2][3] (August 2016 estimate)
Cost

2012 estimate: $230 million[4]
2013 estimate: $330 million[5]
2014 estimate: $400 million[6]

2016 estimate: $590[7]
Height 630 ft (192.0 m)
Design and construction
Architect Starneth BV
Main contractor Starneth BV
Other information
Seating capacity 1,440

The New York Wheel is a 630-foot (192.0 m) tall giant Ferris wheel[4][8][9][10] under construction in St. George, Staten Island alongside the site of the proposed Empire Outlets retail complex. Although the two projects are going through the approval process simultaneously and will share consultants on issues such as traffic and the waterfront, they are two separate projects, each funded separately.[11][12] The ride is to operate every day of the year, except during adverse weather or maintenance, from 10:00 to 22:00/24:00, with extra hours during summer. A single ride is expected to last about 38 minutes.

History

In October 2008, Meir Laufer, the developer behind the New York Wheel, traveled to experience the London Eye and met with its lead engineer. He established a business relationship with them to bring a wheel to New York. On September 27, 2012, at a press conference headed by New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, New York Wheel CEO Richard Marin announced that a deal has been worked out and the wheel would be located at the St. George Waterfront District.[9]

In announcing the New York Wheel, city mayor Michael Bloomberg issued a statement that read: "The New York Wheel will be an attraction unlike any other in New York City - even unlike any other on the planet. It will offer unparalleled and breathtaking views, and is sure to become one of the premier attractions in New York City and the latest exciting addition to our newly revitalized waterfront."

Construction of the wheel was to start in the beginning of 2014 and end in 2015,[4][13] but this has since been put back several times; in April 2013, it was reported to be July 4, 2016.[14][15] On June 12, 2013 construction was approved by Staten Island Community Board 1,[16][17] and on October 30 it was also approved by New York City Council, with construction to start in early 2014[18] and a grand opening planned for 2016,[10] but as of October 2014, construction is now planned to start in early 2015 with an opening date for early 2017.[18] On December 11, state economic development officials excluded the proposal from a list of 824 projects selected for state funding under a regional economic development program, saying it would not provide the overall economic benefit needed to qualify, however a spokesman for the project said it would continue to move forward.[5]

On Jan. 20, 2016 The Real Deal, citing mounting lawsuits by infighting members, ran an article skeptical on the project's future titled "Is the New York Wheel spinning out of control?"[19]

Design and construction

The designated designer and manufacturer is Mammoet-Starneth LLC, which has team members who worked on the London Eye. The New York Wheel will have 36 passenger capsules (which will be built by the Dutch company VDL Groep [20]), each carrying up to 40 passengers, and a total maximum capacity of 1,440 people per ride. Bloomberg's office said it expects up to 30,000 passengers per day and about 4.5 million per year.[13] The wheel is expected to create 400 construction jobs and 700 full-time jobs.[5] Four large pedestals for the wheel arrived on site 11 November 2016. [21]

Parking garage

The New York Wheel public parking garage opened on August 12, 2016. Planned to accommodate commuters using the Staten Island Ferry, this waterfront garage accommodates 820 vehicles, but will expand to 950 spaces after the construction on the New York Wheel is completed.[22] A shuttle bus runs between St. George Ferry Terminal and the New York Wheel parking garage. The garage is currently valet parking only, commuters arrange pick up of their cars in advance of their arrival via text message.[23]

References

  1. ↑ Staten Island’s observation wheel pushes opening date to 2018
  2. ↑ New York Wheel Project on Staten Island Also Bringing New Activity to Brooklyn Waterfront
  3. ↑ Tracey Porpora (August 15, 2016). "First ride on New York Wheel pushed back to April 2018". Staten Island Live. Retrieved August 16, 2016.
  4. 1 2 3 "World's tallest observation wheel to tower over New York". Traveller. Retrieved 11 April 2016.
  5. 1 2 3 GLENN BLAIN (December 12, 2013). "Bloomberg's S.I. Ferris wheel plan drops off economic plan". NY Daily News. Retrieved April 11, 2016.
  6. ↑ http://www.ny1.com/content/news/borough_spotlight/207758/betting-on-the-big-wheel--ny-wheel-ceo-brushes-off-doubts-about-his-project
  7. ↑ Exclusive: First parts of 'New York Wheel', America's tallest Ferris wheel, arrive on Staten Island
  8. ↑ Empire Outlets New York City
  9. 1 2 Eliot Brown (June 26, 2012). "Ferris Wheel Eyed for Ferry Terminal". WSJ. Retrieved April 11, 2016.
  10. 1 2 "Giant Staten Island Ferris wheel approved by city council". WABC TV. Retrieved October 31, 2013.
  11. ↑ "New York Wheel CEO says Staten Island neighborhood will be riding high". SILive.com. Retrieved April 11, 2016.
  12. ↑ More Parking, More Green Spaces Part Of Updated Plans For SI Ferris Wheel, Outlet Mall
  13. 1 2 Goldman, Henry. "World's Biggest Ferris Wheel Will Anchor Staten Island Complex". Bloomberg. Retrieved September 27, 2012.
  14. ↑ "Wheeler-dealer SI Ferris lawsuit". New York Post. April 3, 2013. Retrieved April 11, 2016.
  15. ↑ "Staten Island outlet mall planned near New York Wheel to include Nike, Adidas, Coach". SILive.com. Retrieved April 11, 2016.
  16. ↑ "Staten Island Ferris wheel approved by community board". WABC TV. Retrieved June 12, 2013.
  17. ↑ Massive Ferris wheel gets board approval by Casey Tolan, NY Daily News, Wednesday, June 12, 2013
  18. 1 2 http://newyorkwheel.com/project-schedule/
  19. ↑ Clarke, Katherine. "Is the New York Wheel spinning out of control?". The Real Deal New York. Retrieved 2016-01-25.
  20. ↑ "VDL - News_VDL scores mega order New York Wheel". Retrieved April 11, 2016.
  21. ↑ "Exclusive video: First parts of 'New York Wheel' arrive on Staten Island". ABC7 New York. 2016-06-26. Retrieved 2016-11-14.
  22. ↑ "New York Wheel parking garage opening is delayed". Retrieved 2016-08-16.
  23. ↑ "New York Wheel garage to open Friday morning". Retrieved 2016-08-16.
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