"Can we use the grass?" board member Joe Lerner asked more than once.

Each time, the answer was "No."

Kelly said that the spring and summer tours will continue during the island's redevelopment, but that because of insurance costs, staffing needs and security concerns, other public uses of the land would be prohibited.

"To open up the island for interim use would take a lot of time and money," Kelly said. "Our primary responsibility needs to be the redevelopment of the island."

That was "unacceptable," said Linda Roche, chairwoman of the committee. "This is extremely discouraging."

When the abandoned island was turned over to the state it came with certain mandates and restrictions. The island's historic buildings, including Fort Jay and Castle Williams, will be rehabilitated and preserved as part of a 22-acre historical district run by the National Park Service. A minimum of 40 additional acres of parkland must be created, with at least 20 acres of it contiguous. No less than 20 acres must be used for educational purposes. There can be no private housing or cars on the island. And no industrial uses or casinos.

To those who have had the opportunity to enjoy the peaceful, deserted feeling of the island, with its glorious views of New York Harbor and the Statue of Liberty, the most appealing of the four conceptual plans, which were presented by GIPEC at a public forum earlier in the month, may be the so-called Minimum Build Option. Under this scheme, the entire southern part of the island would be cleared of buildings and an 89-acre park would be created. More than 30 acres would be dedicated to educational purposes, such as a university campus.


But that scenario is also the least likely, since it fails to fulfill one other requirement of the redevelopment, Kelly said. The island must be financially self-sustaining. The other concepts, put together from responses to a request for expression of interest issued at the end of March, call for more private investment.

Just the basic infrastructure work-bathrooms, slip and pier improvements, plumbing and electricity, and renovation of the historic buildings-will cost an estimated $217 million, according to GIPEC.

"Hundreds of millions of dollars will need to be invested just to make it habitable," said Deputy Mayor Daniel Doctoroff, chairman of GIPEC's board.

"Destination Island" would turn the southern part of the island into a "major tourist attraction," according to GIPEC, with a convention center, a theme hotel, a recreational pool and a 62-acre theme park.

"Innovation Island" envisions business and educational research centers, a place for corporate retreats, as well as 41 acres of park space and sports facilities.

"Iconic Island" would include structures of distinctive design (think Millennium Park in Chicago) that could house a major educational institution, indoor and outdoor recreation facilities, and possibly a beach and sheltered ecological bay at the southern end of the island.

In all the development plans, the dilapidated buildings on the southern part of the island will be demolished. Some of the buildings at the northern end, around the historic district, will likely become restaurants and small hotels. GIPEC plans to hold another public forum in February to solicit ideas and reactions.

The goal will also be to expand access to the island. Currently, ferries run only from the Battery Maritime Building at the southern tip of Manhattan. GIPEC hopes to add ferries from Brooklyn, Jersey City and Hoboken.

There were few specific responses to the conceptual plans from the CB1 committee members, but last month the full board endorsed two proposals for the island, a Globe Theater in Castle Williams and a maritime educational center.

And Kelly did leave the committee with a bit of hope that people will be able to frolic on the grass before 2008. "We don't want to mothball Governors Island," he said, adding that GIPEC's board would consider interim uses for the island in limited areas.

"We're beggars," said Lerner. "We'll take anything you got."