Since there doesn't appear to be a separate thread about it, here is a recent picture of the ongoing work on St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church captured on June 14, 2022.
While work on the base cladding appears to be wrapping up, there has been a prolonged period of work being done on the roof areas and dome. This seems to involve a lot of electrical, lighting and circuitry work, along with work on the inside interior dome (hence why some panels on the dome still appear to be missing). Only recently does it appear that white paneling has been placed on some roof areas once this work has completed (you can see archived pictures of the progress on Earthcam
in the Hall of Fame section below the live cam.
At the rate the work is progressing, the St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church probably will not be open by July 4, 2022, but maybe instead the 21st anniversary of September 11, 2001 or the end of 2022/early 2023.
In the meantime, in addition to the addition of several bee conservancy sites in Liberty Park added in April 2022, more wildflowers are being planted at Liberty Park in time for the start of the summer.
https://www.panynj.gov/port-authorit...er-campus.html
Quote:
Date: April 21, 2022
Press Release Number: 40-2022
Unveiling Event for the New Native Bee Sanctuary Scheduled for 4:30 p.m. on April 27 at Liberty Park
New Native Bee Houses Designed by The Bee Conservancy and Woodworkers from Brooklyn Woods
12 New Species of Perennial Wildflowers to be Planted at Liberty Park to Bolster Native Bee Population
To further the agency’s sustainability and conservation efforts, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey has partnered with The Bee Conservancy to install the conservancy’s first Native Bee Sanctuary at the World Trade Center’s Liberty Park. The sanctuary is dedicated exclusively to fostering ground-and-cavity nesting bees, which will provide important pollination services for wildflowers. An unveiling event for the native bee habitat is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. on April 27 at Liberty Park.
The sanctuary is the first of its kind in creating a home environment dedicated specifically to native bee species as well as the first to be hosted on the WTC campus. Brooklyn Woods, a program of nonprofit Brooklyn Workforce Innovations that trains low-income and underemployed individuals for careers in woodworking, handcrafted the four houses. The houses were hand-built with sustainably sourced wood certified by the Forest Stewardship Council and crafted with other eco-friendly materials. The houses will have a total of 105 tubes that offer three different sizes for nesting to accommodate cavity-dwelling species including Leaf Cutter Bees, Mason Bees and Small Carpenter Bees.
Bees are considered a keystone species, making them essential for healthy ecosystems and the support of human and animal life. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, bees pollinate one in three bites of food that humans eat and 80 percent of the world’s flowering plants. And the U.S Geological Survey reports there are more than 20,000 species of bees around the world, about 4,000 in North America. Due to the impact of habitat loss, chemical pesticides, and climate change, one in four bees are at risk of extinction.
“This agency has a long history of developing and building new and unique projects, and this endeavor certainly has a place on that list,” said Port Authority Chairman Kevin O’Toole. “This exciting addition will complement the 52 plant species in Liberty Park, and with a quarter of bees listed on the endangered species list, this will allow us to provide a habitat for bees on the campus.”
“This installation was made possible through a unique partnership with The Bee Conservancy and expands our ongoing initiatives to support conservation and sustainability efforts across the campus,” said Port Authority Executive Director Rick Cotton. “Climate change is an existential crisis that threatens everything on our planet, including bees which are critical to our survival, and we must act urgently to protect them and our environment.”
"We are thrilled to debut our first Bee Sanctuary dedicated to fostering ground- and cavity-nesting bees at Liberty Park,” said The Bee Conservancy Executive Director Rebecca Louie. “The Port Authority team has been an incredible partner in this endeavor, demonstrating a true commitment to the city's native bee species as well as evolving their horticultural practices to help them thrive. With educational and engaging events planned throughout the year, we at The Bee Conservancy look forward to a fantastic season of habitat creation, buzzy bee activity, and community engagement."
Later in the spring, the Port Authority will introduce 12 new species of perennial wildflowers throughout Liberty Park as part of The Bee Conservancy’s efforts and with additional plant selection guidance from the Battery Park City Authority, which also houses more than 50,000 bees in its Rockefeller Park beehive. The additional plants will complement Battery Park City’s native plantings, creating a pollinator corridor for the wildlife that both pass through and call downtown Manhattan home.
To educate the public more about the issues of bee conservation and biodiversity, The Bee Conservancy will host a series of educational events and activations. These community events will take place at the World Trade Center throughout the spring and summer and will be open to the public.
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