NYCkayaker Pier 63 is closed.

[bonnie13 at earthlink.net]

I'm sure 95% of people have heard but I haven't seen anything posted here yet so I'll do it as an FYI - 

BasketBall City lost their final last-ditch attempt to eke out a little more time in the bubble-topped building at Pier 63. The Trust moved fast to finalize this & effect the eviction (BBC has dragged it out for years now, they were always supposed to be interim users but apparently didn't agree to that in good faith) & get going on the demolition. The folks who keep our boats at the barge originally got 2 weeks notice the week before Labor Day, no ifs ands or buts, boats out by 9/10 or don't see 'em til the barge moves; after general dismay & a lot of us turning up at an Advisory Council meeting, the Trust & the contractors talked things over with MKC and a few of the other folks there & agreed to let individuals who were genuinely stuck (out of town, couldn't get transport, whatever) contact the contractors to make appointments to retrieve their personal property - now they've just given us another few days because BasketBall City was also having a bad time moving that fas!
 t. 

Long story short, though - aside from paddlers retrieving their boats to move them elsewhere, the barge should be considered closed until it moves to 66a (pending completion of permits). 

If you find yourself in trouble in the Chelsea Piers area, and need to get off the water, Surfside III at Chelsea Piers is a reputable marina & as such should not turn away a boater in distress.  

There is more to the Pier 63 saga - lots in play right now, more than I can even start into here - Carter's got a good article on Waterwire:

http://www.waterwire.net/News/fullstory.cfm?ContID=1906

I'd done sort of a background post way back in June, when the first eviction notice was received (BBC filed for bankruptcy to stall THAT one!)  - it's just my take, may or may not be accurate, but does give at least a sense of the back story. 

http://frogma.blogspot.com/2006/06/pier-63-better-explanation.html

that's it for now.