Deutsche Bank to Be Torn Down

It's finally official. The Deutsche Bank is coming down.

Calling the badly damaged building at 130 Liberty St. "a painful reminder" of the terrorist attack, Governor George Pataki announced on Feb. 27 that a compromise had been reached between the bank, its insurers and the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation (LMDC) to demolish the structure.

Under the terms of the deal, brokered by former Senator George Mitchell, Deutsche Bank will receive $140 million from the insurers, Allianz and AXA. The LMDC will purchase the property from the bank for $90 million and pay up to $45 Million for demolition.

As part of the master rebuilding plan for the trade center site, a new park will probably be created on the south side of Liberty Street, with bus parking below ground. St. Nicholas Church will be rebuilt at Liberty and West streets.

Demolition of the 40-story Deutsche Bank building will begin this fall and take five to seven months. Kevin Rampe, the LMDC's president, said that the building, which is being treated as an asbestos contamination site, will be taken down in a way that minimizes environmental affects, and that residents near the site would be contacted about potential impacts of the work.

Bird Watching at BPC
Novice and experienced bird watchers can join naturalist David Taft for a free bird-watching walk through Battery Park City on March 20. The hour-and-a-half tour begins at 10:30 a.m. Binoculars provided. Meet at the Pavillions in Wagner Park at the southern tip of Battery Park City. For information, call 212-267-9700.

Youth Fair
A youth services fair, offering parents an opportunity to learn about local businesses and organizations serving young people, is set for March 25. The fair will bring together representatives from more than 35 groups, organizers said, ranging from athletics to music activities as well as school associations and local elected officials. The fair, sponsored by Community Board 1, is set for 4 to 7 p.m. and will be held in the community room at Southbridge Towers, 90 Beekman St.

Lecture for Parents
The Battery Park City Neighbors and Parents' Association is sponsoring a lecture for parents on March 16 about "Building Self-Esteem From Toddlers to Teens: The Power of Encouragement." The talk will be given by Julie Ross, founder and executive director of Parenting Horizons. Free for members; $5 for non-members. Go to www.bpcnpa.com for time and location.


Flea Market at IPN
The Independence Plaza North Tenants Association is hosting a flea market on March 6-7, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., at 310 Greenwich St., 2nd fl. Flea markets will also be held on the first weekends of April, May and June.

Alzheimer's Help
A support group for spouse and adult children involved in the care of a family member with Alzheimer's disease will begin this month. The group will meet on Monday, March 22, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at The Hallmark, 455 North End Ave. Meetings will continue on the second and fourth Mondays of each month. The group is sponsored by the New York City chapter of the Alzheimer's Association and The Hallmark. For more information, call Katherine Berger at 212-791-2500.

Free Tax Prep Help
Free federal and state tax help is available from IRS trained volunteers through April at New York Law School, 57 Worth St. Taxpayers should bring all wage and earnings statements, interest statements, copies of social security cards for themselves and dependents, and any other income and expense information. Taxpayers can also file their tax returns electronically from the school. Call 212-431-2851 for an appointment.


Downtown Writers
The Downtown Arts Club, formed last year to bring together culture lovers who live, work or play Downtown, is looking for contributions to its latest project, "This is Downtown," a weekly online literary series. "We're asking that the pieces focus on Downtown and be positive in tone," said Michael Fortenbaugh, the club's president. "We want pieces that will make people smile." Go to www.downtownartsclub.com.