Around the Water Cooler: January 3, 2009

State Senator Andrew J. Lanza is planning to introduce legislation to call for his borough to secede from the rest of New York City. (NYT)

Atlantic Yards Project Falling Apart, Gehry Fires Staff (WSJ)

Neighbors Helping to Build a Better Jackson Square (Chelsea Now)

"I'd say that 80% of all new developments across the city have been postponed or canceled," (NYDN)

People are living in nice houses for FREE because empty mansions don’t show well. (NYT)