After 10 weeks here in Doha, I had an opportunity to go back to NYC on business. In addition to meet face to face with people with whom I regularly correspond over business, the trip was a treat since it gave me the opportunity to bring back things I should have packed (e.g., binoculars), see friends and former colleagues and have Thanksgiving dinner with friends. It also afforded me the opportunity to see how much I have bonded with Qatar/Doha/Weill Cornell. And, frankly, leaving November rain in NY to land in 70/80 degree Doha was a treat. With the balcony door open and soft breezes blowing across the bay, I found myself on return quite happy if a bit jet-lagged.
Just before I left for NYC I saw an article in the NYT (Nov. 13) that discussed the amount of ongoing construction in NYC.
“Artists, architects and designers have reimagined three of the pedestrian obstructions that can make travel through downtown downright disagreeable, if not close to impossible: Jersey barriers, chain-link construction fences and sidewalk scaffolds. If you can’t get rid of them, the theory goes, at least make them look better.
In the $100,000 pilot program called “Re: Construction,” sponsored by the Alliance for Downtown New York and the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, barriers on Broadway have been stenciled with zebra striping, a fence along Fulton Street has been garlanded in a tartan pattern and — most ambitiously — sidewalk scaffolding on John Street has been turned into an entirely new architectural environment, with strikingly angled struts and a ceiling that rises as pedestrians approach Broadway from Nassau Street.”
Once back in New York City, I was struck by the lack of construction compared to Doha. Surrounding the Twin Towers I live in is a major construction site with 3-4 high-rise buildings in progress alone, the sand sifting area across from our building, and along the majority of the roadways I travel to work long and wide sections of roads are torn up and bear signs proclaiming ‘Deep Excavation.’ Back hoes lift dirt, swinging perilously close to the cars inching along and vying for space. The one open lane is pushed into two as the breakdown lane becomes a travel lane and then three as the dirt roadside becomes a completely illegal lane, and one for which you can get a 400 QR fine (just over $100) for driving in it. That doesn’t stop many folks who count on not getting caught, so the land cruisers rush long the dirt kicking of clouds of dust in their wake. Hundreds of laborers in blue or red suits dash back and forth across the roads, ducking under cloth strip barriers to get into or out of the deep excavation, and further complicating the travel. Since these projects move at lightening speed, I am uncertain if there is time to contemplate, let alone implement, any form of softening arts project but maybe this should be suggested.
Just before I left for NYC I saw an article in the NYT (Nov. 13) that discussed the amount of ongoing construction in NYC.
“Artists, architects and designers have reimagined three of the pedestrian obstructions that can make travel through downtown downright disagreeable, if not close to impossible: Jersey barriers, chain-link construction fences and sidewalk scaffolds. If you can’t get rid of them, the theory goes, at least make them look better.
In the $100,000 pilot program called “Re: Construction,” sponsored by the Alliance for Downtown New York and the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, barriers on Broadway have been stenciled with zebra striping, a fence along Fulton Street has been garlanded in a tartan pattern and — most ambitiously — sidewalk scaffolding on John Street has been turned into an entirely new architectural environment, with strikingly angled struts and a ceiling that rises as pedestrians approach Broadway from Nassau Street.”
Once back in New York City, I was struck by the lack of construction compared to Doha. Surrounding the Twin Towers I live in is a major construction site with 3-4 high-rise buildings in progress alone, the sand sifting area across from our building, and along the majority of the roadways I travel to work long and wide sections of roads are torn up and bear signs proclaiming ‘Deep Excavation.’ Back hoes lift dirt, swinging perilously close to the cars inching along and vying for space. The one open lane is pushed into two as the breakdown lane becomes a travel lane and then three as the dirt roadside becomes a completely illegal lane, and one for which you can get a 400 QR fine (just over $100) for driving in it. That doesn’t stop many folks who count on not getting caught, so the land cruisers rush long the dirt kicking of clouds of dust in their wake. Hundreds of laborers in blue or red suits dash back and forth across the roads, ducking under cloth strip barriers to get into or out of the deep excavation, and further complicating the travel. Since these projects move at lightening speed, I am uncertain if there is time to contemplate, let alone implement, any form of softening arts project but maybe this should be suggested.
