In one sense, Governors Island is treasured real estate: Located a half-mile from Manhattan's southern tip, the 172-acre island, a former military base, offers stunning panoramic views of New York City and its waterways. But the tree-dotted island lacks sufficient infrastructure (no potable water, for starters) and can only be reached by boat. Moreover, its land deed prohibits residential development.
In 2006, the city and state launched a competition that asked designers to devise a grand plan for 87 acres of public space on the island. A proposal by the Dutch firm West 8 (with several partners, including Rogers Marvel Architects and Diller Scofidio + Renfro) won.
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