BPC Tower Construction to Begin
Construction is set to begin early next year on the future 45-story headquarters of Goldman Sachs in Battery Park City.

Representatives of Tishman Construction and Goldman Sachs told members of Community Board 1 last month that work would continue through 2008.

The preliminary phase of construction on the lot at West, Vesey and Murray Streets-Battery Park City's last remaining undeveloped commercial site-is expected to last until January 2006, when building of the superstructure of the 750-foot-tall, Henry Cobb-designed tower begins. Work hours will be Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and Saturdays, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Noise was a concern for CB1's Battery Park City Committee, whose members noted that the two months of pile
driving planned in the first phase could coincide with student testing at nearby schools. The board urged the construction company to work around exam schedules.

Tishman will post crossing guards during construction to usher pedestrians and to guide trucks safely into the site. The development team told the committee that security will patrol the site 24 hours a day and that the construction company will have an office on-site to address community concerns.

Until recently, the property, known as Site 26, was used as a parking lot. All but three sites in Battery Park City-Sites 3, 23 and 24-have been developed or have designated developers. Requests for proposals for the unbuilt sites are expected to be released in January.

The lower floors of the two-million-square-foot building will occupy the full lot and house the firm's 75,000-square-foot trading floor. One hundred and forty feet up, the building will be set back 70 feet to a more slender tower.

On the west side, across from the movie theater, the plan is for a narrow sidewalk sheltered by a glass canopy, and ground-level retail stores. On the West Street side there will be a walkway lined with planters and a double row of trees, and a lane for black cars that will run parallel to the existing bike path.

Only 15 parking spaces will be available for building employees. Black cars and public transportation are expected to shuttle the rest of the workers. Goldman Sachs intends to fill the building with 7,500 employees by 2009.

Cheese Tasting
A cheese tasting to raise money for I.S. 89 will be held Dec. 6 from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at Tribeca Cinemas, 54 Varick Street.

The fundraiser will feature a guest maître fromager from the Artisanal Restaurant Group and a brew master from Brooklyn Brewery.

All Downtown residents are invited. Tickets are $30 in advance and $35 at the door. Ticket price includes two drink tickets. Email Laura Waitz at ljwaitz@nyc.rr.com for tickets.
In Brief content

BPC Parent Network
A free series for Battery Park City and other neighborhood parents, held the third Tuesday of every month, continues on Dec. 21 from 10:30 a.m. until noon in Community Room 1 at 21 West Thames St .

This month, share holiday tips on traveling with kids, dealing with company and finding fun spots in the city for the family. Also, bring stocking stuffers to donate to charity. Call 212-786-9306 or go to infobpcnpa.org.

Call for TOAST Entries
Organizers of the annual Tribeca Open Artist Studio Tour, or TOAST, are seeking artists to participate in next year's tours, to be held April 30 and May 1 and 2.

For an application, e-mail toastapplication@verizon.net or go to www.TOASTartwalk.com. Deadline for applications is Jan. 14.

Little League Sign-up
In-person registration for the Downtown Little League's 2005 season takes place on two Saturdays, Dec. 4 and Dec. 11, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., in the P.S. 234 cafeteria at Chambers and Greenwich Streets. Bring proof of age and address, and two self-addressed stamped envelopes, even for children who have played before. Kids ages 6-16 as of July 31 can play, and fees are $90 for one child, $160 for two. For information go to www.downtownlittleleague.org

Coat and Toy Drive
The annual New York Cares coat drive is collecting adult and children's coats this month to give to the needy. Coats can be dropped off at the 1st Precinct at 6 Ericsson Pl., the transit precinct at Lispenard and West Broadway or the Janovic Plaza store at 136 Church St.

Wall Street Rising's Downtown Information Center, 25 Broad St., is collecting new, unwrapped toys for the the Toys for Tots program. Toys can be dropped off Monday through Friday, 11 a.m to 7 p.m., through Dec. 20.

A Rockin' Record Sale
Records, CDs and collectables will be on sale every day from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. from Dec. 11-19 at the Archive of Contemporary Music, 54 White St. Among the items on sale, most for around $3, are signed records and new CDs donated by record companies.

Child Care Voucher for Downtown Residents, Workers
Downtown parents and employees of small businesses below 14th Street may be eligible for up to $5,000 in child care vouchers. The Liberty Zone Child Care vouchers can be used as payment for child care services by any registered provider.

To be eligible, applicants must live or work in a small business (fewer than 100 employees) Downtown , have a child under age 13 and a combined income no greater than $34,348 per year for a family of two; $43,093 for a family of three and $51,838 for a family of four.

To apply, call Seedco: 646-843-6508. Or go to www.earnbenefits.org.