New York ferris wheel project has big backers, including founder of Jordache jeans
Skift Take
Unlikely to ever be visited by locals more than once, being within walking distance of the free Staten Island ferry terminal will surely be the biggest driver.
The Ferris wheel may be a steam-age invention, but it is back in vogue in New York, which this week joined a long list of cities where urban planners or developers have bet that massive, modern versions of the old ride can serve as economic engines.
After the towering London Eye debuted in early 2000, it seemed as if there was no end to the number of cities dreaming about stimulating tourism by building their own giant observation wheel, modeled after the one drawing 3.5 million riders per year in Britain.
Re-creating London's success has proved to be daunting, with failed or postponed projects in a number of world-class cities. But the concept still has luster. Work is being done on two new massive wheels in Las Vegas. Seattle saw a smaller version open on its waterfront last spring.
Now, the biggest test yet will come in New York, where city officials announced Thursday that a private development gro
