Once again, developers of what's to be the soaring 630-foot observation wheel on Staten Island have pushed back its groundbreaking, this time until after Labor Day. NY1's Amanda Farinacci has more on whether the delays are starting to impact public confidence in the project.
When it's built, the New York Wheel is meant to be the signature of the Staten Island skyline. Some 60 stories high, with views that overlook New York Harbor, it's a huge piece of the waterfront development that's set to change the borough.
So why hasn't there been a groundbreaking ceremony yet?
"There's absolutely no reason for any concern," said Rich Marin of the New York Wheel. "Because all you have to do is go out to the site and see all the work that's being done."
The groundbreaking was originally planned for earlier this year, but was canceled because of cold weather. Then, in April, as its companion project, the Empire Outlets, broke ground on their site, the developer postponed again, citing rising construction costs.
Marin said the ceremony would be sometime in June. Now, he says he's planning for sometime after the summer.
"One, everybody's back to school, so to speak, and secondly, it's two or three months out, and you can get on people's calendars," he said.
While groundbreaking ceremonies are largely symbolic, they do lend a sense of credibility. So with all these starts and stops, it's only natural that some have begun to question whether or not the wheel is going to be built at all.
"I don't know how to answer that," said Staten Island Borough President James Oddo. "Folks will think what they will think. All I could do is look a man in the eye and he says x and I will believe him until I have reason not to believe him. And it's a complicated project. We want to get everybody here. It'll happen."
But at least Marin can point to the construction that's already started. Behind a shroud of green mesh are some obvious signs of progress.
Most of the work on the wheel this year will be on its foundation. It won't be until next year that the structure will begin to rise and the wheel will begin to take shape. Perhaps then, people will really believe it's happening.