In 1996, Governor's Island, no longer needed for defensive purposes, was offered by the federal government to New York City for the token sum of $1, on the condition that the City would come up with a suitable proposal for its redevelopment. Since then, an architectural competition was held, an RFP was issued, many discussions have taken place and a number of proposals put forward. Proposals have ranged from benign and uninspired, such as converting the entire island into a public park or a housing development, to blatantly commercial, such as turning it into a casino resort. By now, the sale price has increased significantly, and the Island's future appears to be in limbo.

We believe that the Island's prominent geographic and symbolic position in the harbor calls for a proposal that benefits the public in a larger sense, putting the Island on par with the other symbols in the harbor that make New York a beacon of freedom and democracy to the rest of the world. Historically significant in its own right, the Island is probably the largest and most desirable piece of land that the city will have at its disposal any time soon. In 1998 we submitted a letter (which was not published) to the Op-Ed page of the New York Times, proposing to make Governor's Island home to the United Nations and an Institute of International Studies, as well as a public park. Over the last two years we have developed this design for the project.

The Island was first sighted by Verrazano in 1524. From the 17th century through the 1960's it served as a military defense position; from 1966 through 1995, it was the site of the nationŐs largest Coast Guard base. During the first decade of the 20th century, with fill from the excavation of the subway system, the Island was more than doubled in size to its present 172 acres. The northern portion of the Island has been recognized as a National Historic District; it contains mature trees and many buildings of merit, including six structures that have been designated individual NYC landmarks. In spite of its exceptional siting, the southern portion of the Island is characterized by poor planning and banal buildings. It is this part of the Island that we propose to be given to the United Nations. The northern Historic District would become a public park, with many of the existing buildings to be occupied by a new Institute of International Studies affiliated with a New York academic institution.

The symbolic merits of placing the UN within the context of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island in NY harbor are obvious. There are also many practical arguments for such a move. In its present facilities, the UN is acutely short of space, lacks a high tech infrastructure, and is experiencing growing security concerns that are difficult to address in a dense urban neighborhood. The land currently occupied by the UN is adjacent to some of the most high-priced and coveted real estate in Manhattan. The redevelopment of the buildings and the profit from the sale of the land would go a long way towards paying for the construction of new quarters. Governor's Island stands to benefit as well. Since the Island is naturally divisible into two parts, both recreational and institutional uses can be accommodated and the landmarked structures preserved. Lower Manhattan would also get a boost since functions associated with the UN would naturally gravitate there, promoting the long hoped-for mixed-use development in the area.