^^
Yeah, the rent dispute trial started last Wednesday (January 24th) and was only expected to last a day or two, I believe. I was expecting to have heard a verdict by now, but apparently the relevant parties will be notified in writing at later date, which could be as late as March or April.
The conservancy is hanging its hat on a lease that was re-negotiated in 2011 after the ship was acquired from NCL. The lease spells out an $850 daily rate “continuing until upon removal of the vessel from its current location.” On the other hand, the landlord’s defense is that the lease wasn’t intended to be in perpetuity and nobody expected the ship to remain there for so long after the lease was signed.
The judge in the trial recommended that the two sides try to work something out via negotiation, rather than a court ruling. In my opinion, a good compromise might be to keep the old rent rate until the end of 2024, then the ship has to either begin paying the higher rate or move.
Honestly, it is silly keeping this rusted out, gutted hulk around any longer. If it was ever going to be repurposed, it would have already happened. New York firmly doesn't want the ship there, anyway. They're saying it won't even fit at Pier 76 and would require dredging. See:
RXR's Ship-to-Hotel Conversion is in Deep Trouble
The conservancy has fought a good fight, but it's over for the Big U.