The condo project at 20 Henry Street is at last hitting the marketplace after years of delays. Final polishes are taking place at the former Peaks Mason Mints building, known as the Candy Factory, with asking prices between $450,000 and $2.56 million for studios up to 4 bedrooms. The building includes 24 lofts (six of them penthouse units, at $2+ million), with an additional 14 units in an adjacent modern structure on Poplar Street scheduled to wrap by summer.

An article in today’s Wall Street Journal reminds us of the building’s history: The former industrial space was built in 1885 as the base of candy makers Mason Mints and Mason Dots. In the 1970s, it became housing for artists under the state’s Mitchell-Lama subsidized-housing program.

Artists lived in studios there until the program ended in 2004. Developers Urban Realty Partners bought the site in 2007, but weren’t able to finish a conversion to condos after the imminent financial crisis. Los Angeles-based Canyon-Johnson Urban Fund stepped in and took over the project in 2010, alongside plenty of legal drama.

When plans were first announced that the factory was slated to become a condo development, the Brooklyn Heights Assn. wanted 20 Henry’s garden to remain open space, the WSJ adds—which is now the site of the new 14-unit modern building. BHA executive director Judy Stanton says she still prefers the garden to the new building, but is glad the factory is finally ready for new homeowners: “I’m sure it will attract families.”

Brokerage firm Stribling & Associates is marketing the project, and says that 20 Henry St. already has an 800-applicant waiting list.

(Photos: Wall Street Journal)

Despite City Council approval February 1 of the Borough Hall Skyscraper Historic District, which designated 21 buildings along Court Street as a new landmark district, the debate continues in an Op-Ed He Said/He Said piece in the Brooklyn Courier. Commentary is offered from supporter Philip Magnuson, chair of the Brooklyn Heights Assn. Landmark Preservation Committee; and opponent Steven Spinola, president of the Real Estate Board of New York.

Read both pieces in their entirety here, with edited highlights below…

Philip Magnuson
The Borough Hall Skyscraper Historic District, with the splendid Greek Revival Borough Hall and North Plaza at its focus, is figuratively and functionally the urban center of Brooklyn, located at the civic, business, education and transportation hub of the borough. It is the interface of the vibrant neighborhoods of Metrotech, Fulton/Downtown, Court Street and Brooklyn Heights. They all share the new district as a historic core and a distinctly Brooklyn’s “Town Square.”

This historic district is on its way to cohesion and vitality. Also, like so many inner city districts now returning to robustness, it is rich with a varied, significant and potentially endangered architectural context. The assemblage of important, large-scale, early 20th century skyscrapers along Court Street, each with its own exuberant historical style, embrace a richness and scale befitting the official and commercial heart of Brooklyn. The skyscrapers play a significant role in defining the singular quality of this area.

The designation of the Court Street skyscrapers is a timely step in recollecting, acknowledging and preserving Brooklyn’s urban richness. We believe the Borough Hall Skyscraper Historic District will safeguard and support the present and future renaissance of this unique neighborhood.

Steven Spinola
The creation of a Downtown Brooklyn Skyscraper Historic District is unwarranted and would add burdensome costs for local property owners and retail tenants. The Real Estate Board of New York believes there is no need to create a special historic district in this area of Downtown. In fact, the report of the Landmarks Preservation Commission notes that several of these buildings have no distinctive architectural style worth protecting and have undergone numerous renovations over the decades.

More troubling, creating a special historic district would impose millions of dollars of additional costs on existing property owners and retail tenants. Once an area is landmarked, significant added costs (are) attached to property improvements; one must acquire additional city approvals and it takes longer to secure such approvals, and all improvements are subject to review.

Many require further review by the Landmarks Preservation Commission, which often requires plans to be redone and certain materials to be used, which adds time and cost to any renovation. These delays often result in massive losses for retailers and landlords because space sits empty while awaiting commission approval.

The commercial office market on Court Street is already suffering with a 17% vacancy rate. The landmark designation will impose an additional tax on such space, making it more difficult to rent and provide less incentive to upgrade. This proposal will harm rather than help the properties in this district.

The soon-to-be Le Pain Quotidien “bakery and communal table” at 121 Montague Street in the long-deserted former location of Jennifer Convertibles, is moving along faster than you can knead a loaf of bread. As of Tuesday, February 7, framing for new front windows was in the works.

To quote McBrooklyn, Le Pain Quotidien’s menu is filled with pastries (croissants and pain au chocolat); open-faced sandwiches (“Rustic Tuna, Hummus & White Bean with diced tomatoes and basil pesto”); sharing platters; and salads (“Grilled Chicken Cobb with organic mesclun, avocado, bacon and Fourme d’Ambert”).

Check out the chain’s full menu here.

It’s been rumored for a couple months, but confirmation is now at hand: Starbucks at 112 Montague Street is moving east… to 134 Montague Street, site of the former Nine West shoes, which closed in July 2010. While the current space will lose a lot of window vistas along the front, the folks at Heights Vision next door tell BHB that the new locale is deeper and actually offers more square footage.

Reasons for the move: Apparently, the one-story building at 112 Montague was a constant source of roof leaks and plumbing issues for Starbucks, while the building at 134 is being completely gutted, including the residential above. It looks like the Star was willing to sacrifice views for peace of mind. And knowing most ‘Bucks addicts, the extra block either way from Henry Street won’t make a hill of beans difference.

The beautifully historic but long-suffering Romanesque revival Offerman Building along Fulton Street Mall is at last getting the facelift it so deserves. As H&M continues its new-construction two-story glass modernist build-out next door, TJ Maxx will open a downtown Brooklyn store at 505 Fulton Street, according to signage that appeared within the last week.

Imagine Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein and Giorgio Armani having presence on Fulton Street (albeit last season). This long-promised renaissance may well take hold, after all, as developer United American Land has its eye on fully developing the block at Fulton and Bridge Street, after demolishing the Offerman annex to build H&M.

Meanwhile, downtown Brooklyn’s City Point up the block continues to take shape, first comprising a four-story 50,000 sf retail building on Albee Square across from the landmarked Dime Savings Bank building. In all, that project intends to encompass 1.5 million square feet of retail and residential.

The Offerman Building’s upper floors are rumored to be going residential, so it appears a full reno is forthcoming. The handsome structure was built in 1890 by Henry Offerman, at the time one of the tallest buildings in Brooklyn. It is best known as the location of Martin’s department store, which ushered other major retailers to the area, including A.I. Namm & Son Department Store and Abraham & Straus (today, Macy’s).

Read a full history of the building on The Smoking Nun blog here.

The two narrow retail spaces at 214 and 216 Hicks Street—which housed the recently closed Overtures and Dara Ettinger—have been demolished inside to carve out a single larger space.

A manager at next door neighbor Heights Cafe at 84 Montague Street—which owns the retail building—tells BHB that no one has yet leased the space, but it is believed that the additional square footage will attract more potential vendors.

Dara Ettinger jewelry opened at the beginning of May 2011 and barely lasted eight months at 214 Hicks, while beloved stationery and gift boutique Overtures at 216 Hicks endured for 30 years. Still hanging on: high-end clothier J. McLaughlin at 218 Hicks.

Morton’s The Steakhouse at 339 Adams Street (next to the Brooklyn Marriott) has shuttered, due to “shifting demographics.” The national steakhouse chain was purchased by hospitality company Landry’s Feb. 1; hours later, the company closed down the high-end eatery and stripped off its signage.

The Real Deal reports that Landry’s is also closing the Morton’s in West Palm Beach, for similar reasons. Perhaps also explaining the Brooklyn eatery’s demise, Landry’s VP of marketing Kris Guthrie said, “Over time, demographics shift, and so do the areas in which businesses thrive. It’s because of this that we must close the Morton’s location in Palm Beach.”

Landry’s also owns steakhouse chain McCormick & Schmick’s. Perhaps they were intimidated by the new Shake Shack that opened steps away on Fulton Street?

Thanks to “Nancy,” who tipped BHB in last Wednesday’s Open Thread.

(Photo: The Real Deal)

It may not be as swanky as the annual BHA House Tour, but hundreds of locals attended an open house Saturday at the Brooklyn Detention Center, located within a whisper of Brooklyn Heights at 275 Atlantic Avenue off Smith Street in Boerum Hill.

The event, where carrot cake and coffee were served, is part of a city PR campaign to stave off fears about the jail’s reopening this week, after being shuttered in 2003 because of budget cuts. It is destined to replace older jail buildings at Rikers Island that may be phased out. In all, the facility will house 759 inmates for an average of 57 days before standing trial in Brooklyn and Staten Island. No convicted felons are based at the Detention Center.

Over the last six years, six high-rise apartment buildings, such upscale stores as Barney’s Co-op and Trader Joe’s and a boutique hotel have opened in the vicinity, but the city assures local residents that neighbors won’t interact with inmates, thanks to an underground tunnel that connects the jailhouse to the courts. Then again, BDC sounds like a pretty lovely destination: The 10-story building offers a rooftop with a view where prisoners can play tennis and handball during their one hour of outside recreation each day.

Some local associations have formed an advisory board if problems do arise. Read more in The Wall Street Journal here and The New York Times here.

(Photo: Gothamist)

In the BHB post a week ago about the new 80-unit building at 75 Clinton Street & Montague (on right) going rental, a healthy debate blossomed here between the architectural charms of its facade versus the new 40-unit residential building one block down at 101 Clinton Street & Joralemon (left). You guys took each building to task, with typical opinionated passion.

So let’s put up your dukes, BHB followers. We invite a full-on discussion about the merits—or not—of each property. The Corcoran link for 75 Clinton is here. 101 Clinton doesn’t appear to have a dedicated site yet, since it’s still under construction. You are welcome to add whatever you’ve seen, heard or linked to.

Please keep it clean, friends.

More likely, it was the effort of Bobby Cruz, who is hoping to open a tapas and wine bar beneath Heights Vision this spring, who took it upon himself to bag a good deal of the garbage of his own accord in January. He told the Brooklyn Paper—which led with the story about the garbage dump—that he intended to tidy the space until it was clean.

When we inspected the grounds January 20, located across from Corcoran real estate on Henry, it was easily accessible through an open iron gate—and remained so January 31. For years, residents have complained to landlords and business owners, to no avail, as it continued to accumulate garbage strewn & stacked at liberty. But as of Tuesday, it was largely free of garbage and clutter, albeit with a few remaining broken bottles here and there.

Cruz says his intention is to open an outdoor space behind his potential tapas bar. Now, the roomy, open courtyard that backs up to Our Lady Lebanon Cathedral on Remsen Street, looks like it could truly become a sweet spot.

A five-floor, 7,000sf townhouse at 212 Columbia Heights & Pierrepont Street has scored a lofty superlative as the most expensive home sale in Brooklyn Heights’ history. The closing price, according to Brownstoner: $11 million ($1,928/square foot). The owners, who paid $8.5 million in 2006, re The New York Times, listed it only three months ago for $13.5 million.

Here’s what you get for such a pretty penny: The Corcoran listing shares that the 25-foot-wide home was built in 1855 and renovated in 2005 to add a new kitchen and five gas fireplaces, along with its seven bedrooms, six baths and 17 rooms total. The parlor floor offers 14 foot ceilings and a garden facing the Brooklyn Heights Promenade, with full-width terraces on the parlor floor, master bedroom and fourth-floor family room. Add to that library, media and family rooms.

The previous record in Brooklyn Heights, Curbed says, was 88 Remsen Street, which sold for $10.8 million in 2008. 212 Columbia Heights also ties the highest sale in Brooklyn overall for a house in Gravesend that sold in 2003.

Glenn Markman, an executive VP at Cushman Wakefield, shares that rents currently run as high as $250 per square foot along Montague’s “high-rent retail strip,” and notes that the Starbucks there is scouting for a new location.

In addition, the article says: “The Le Pain Quotidien deal comes as Brooklyn Heights retailers are enjoying a surge of new business from new hotels and apartment buildings that have opened in the past few years. More foot traffic is expected in the area from the planned Squibb Park Bridge that will make it easier to reach Brooklyn Bridge Park from the Heights, scheduled to open this fall.” Markman says it will be “a game changer.”

The piece goes on, “No one has claim to freeze New York’s ever-changing silhouette” and claims that the buildings’ “demolition and replacement would, frankly, be quite beautifying. Here is a landmark case of abusing the landmarking process.”

Good luck: Prices range from $2,800 to $7,000 a month. Marketing Directors VP of Sales Angela Ferrara, the building’s marketing firm, says Invesco decided to take advantage of the “booming” rental market.

Before plans were approved in 2007 to go residential, 75 Clinton Street was a bankruptcy court. Is there a waft of irony there, perhaps?

Landmarks approved the design in 2007, but construction didn’t begin until last year. Developers Gordon Kahn, Bilotta Kitchens and ZMK Group also renovated the townhouse next door at 45 State Street, which sold it for a cool $3 million.

And that makes three. Baluchi’s Indian restaurant is preparing to open its 10th NYC location, in Brooklyn Heights, at the north end of Henry Street near Cranberry Street.

McBrooklyn shares that it joins Gandhi Palace on Montague (which replaced Amin) and Curry Heights on Remsen.

There are nine Baluchi’s throughout New York City, including Soho, the Financial District, East Village and Park Avenue. This is its second Brooklyn location, joining 310 Fifth Avenue in Park Slope.

The discussion is already hopping on today’s Open Thread Wednesday here. (Photo: McBrooklyn)

Key endorsements for the landmark designation—which runs along Court Street, from Montague four blocks south to Livingston—were voiced by the council’s Subcommittee on Planning, along with Councilman Stephen Levin, who represents the area.

In a joint statement with Councilman Brad Lander, who heads the subcommittee, Levin said, “After close consideration, we believe this new historic district will strengthen the character of Downtown Brooklyn, allowing for new development and growth like the new retail space planned for the Municipal Building [next to Borough Hall] while preserving the graceful, historic, early-generation skyscrapers that make it Brooklyn’s civic center.”

Lander and Levin added that they intend to ask the city to ease rules for storefronts and work with Livingston Street residents “without imposing hardships on co-operators.”

The district was first proposed to the Landmarks Preservation Commission in 2010 by the Brooklyn Heights Assn. and other preservation groups and since, has fostered snarky opposition from the Real Estate Board of New York (REBNY), Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce, Brooklyn Law School, Court-Livingston-Schermerhorn Business Improvement District and similar groups.

Once again, REBNY president Steven Spinola tore the initiative to pieces in a New York Post article today: “Not only is this an inappropriate use of landmark designation, but it will end up costing the city much-needed tax revenue and jobs. This is another case of the city landmarking away its economic future.” As well, in a direct mail campaign blanketing the neighborhood, REBNY claimed, “In these economic times, when every dollar counts, landmarking threatens to send Court Street back to the ‘bad old days’ of empty storefronts and dirty streets.”

City officials refute that the designation only sets guidelines overseen by Landmarks to ensure that construction blends with the neighborhood.

This is the best news that Love Lane Mews has offered in some time: The 38-unit condo complex at 9 College Place in Brooklyn Heights is now 25% sold, according to Multi-Channel News. In addition, the city’s Building Department has issued its Final Certificate of Occupancy.

Streeteasy’s latest figures for Love Lane Mews show nine units in contract, with sales prices between $1.4 million for a 1-bedroom and $4 million for three bedrooms. Unit 1C closed in late December, with the deed just recorded last week: a 2-bed, 2-bath 1,320 sf for $1.5 million. It entered into contract way back in February 2011. Love Lane Mews was developed by Manhattan Skyline Management Co., with prices from $825,000 to $3 million.

“We’re thrilled to be welcoming residents to Love Lane Mews, and to reach this important milestone in sales,” said Manhattan Skyline principal Laurie Zucker in a release, adding that it’s a testament to buyer’s tastes “to live on such a quiet, picturesque and historic mews in one of New York City’s most coveted locations.”

The Brooklyn Paper: “There are a lot of people who want to keep it around,” said Lowy, who hopes to find a new home for the theater if the building can’t be saved. “It makes it easier to move forward knowing we have all this support.”

The story also quotes landowner Tom Caruana’s architect (not named) as saying “plans for the site are not yet ready to be shared.” Architectural historian Francis Morrone, author of An Architectural Guidebook to Brooklyn, who the article says “is working with the [Brooklyn] Heights Association on an in-depth history of the building”, is quoted thus: “It’s an intact piece of history, …A major part of what makes Brooklyn Heights what it is is this historical physical fabric.”

The plans of the development company that bought 72 Poplar Street, the former NYPD building (see photo), will be considered at the meeting of the Executive Committee of Community Board 2 tomorrow (Monday, January 23) evening, starting at 6:00, at the Library Learning Center, room 515, of Long Island University, at DeKalb and Hudson Avenues.

According to the developer, as quoted by C.B.2:

Application is to extend the existing fourth floor, construct a new fifth floor addition, set back the rear wall by five feet to achieve legal light and air requirements, construct new rear façade, install new accessible ramp at Poplar Street entrance, create new window and door openings at east and west facades, and construct a one-story rooftop addition on adjacent garage.

If one were to traipse through the 11201 Zip Code to get their nails done, it would be easy enough to visit a different salon for every digit on both hands and feet. That includes the fringes of Cobble Hill, DUMBO and downtown Brooklyn. In the Heights proper, you’re not exactly suffering: Yelp and the Yellow Pages bring up some 14 choices.

There must be an endless demand for such a service, because Montague Street is about to get its seventh nail salon at 93 Montague, the previous sales office for Love Lane Mews, which shuttered in the fall. A sign in the window Friday, January 20, announced “Nail & Spa Opening Soon,” with an approved building permit posted.

A walk down Montague already offers shiny cuticles at: Plaza Nails at 151 Montague, Simoa Nail at 141, Hair Profile at 137, The Heights Salon at 136, Dashing Diva at 130 and Irene Dinvol at 119. Perplexing, huh? Pretty soon the entire neighborhood will waft of nothing but nitrocellulose (we had to look that one up).

See below for a full list of nail salons in the 11201 code… and wonder… why?

No assurance on 110% accuracy here: based on most recent Yelp and Yellow Pages searches for “Nail Salons” in 11201… Please don’t bite my nails… uh, head off, if there’s a venue or two off. This is not meant as a shoppers’ guide… only to execute a point. While some are hairdressing salons, manicures and/or pedicures were listed among additional services in the above searches. Please be kind.

Choi’s Art Nails, 149 Atlantic Avenue
The Heights Salon, 136 Montague Street
Nail House, 163 Remsen Street
Park Nails & Spa, 210 State Street
Dashing Diva, 130 Montague Street
Studios Fryzura, 78 Clark Street
Plaza Nails, 151 Montague Street
Uimage Unisex Salon Spa, 163 Joralemon Street
Height Nail Corp., 80 Cranberry Street
Tatyana’s Nails, 85 Livingston Street
Nail House, 157 Remsen Street
Samoa Nail, 141 Montague Street
Irene Dinov, 119 Montague Street
Image Unisex Salon-Spa, 91 Pineapple Street
Pretty Nails, 191 Court Street
Hair Profile, 137 Montague Street
Long Nail Salon/Pretty Nails, 142 Lawrence Street
J&A Nail, 154 Lawrence Street
Dashing Diva, 129 Smith Street
Suhjk Mic, 80 Cranberry Street

The Real Estate Board of New York is amping its drive to derail the still-tentative landmarking of 21 buildings in downtown Brooklyn, by sending out a mailing to thousands of area residents urging them to bend City Council’s ear against the newly proposed historic district. In addition, on Friday, REBNY sent a letter to City Council Speaker Christine Quinn urging the Council to rethink the decision.

All landmarked districts require final approval from the City Council and mayor within 120 days. The Council vote is slated for Feb. 1, with two hearings scheduled next week.

Preservationists had claimed victory last September when the Landmarks Preservation Commission unanimously approved the “Borough Hall Skyscraper Historic District,” a cluster of highrises built in the late 19th and early 20th centuries along Court Street and the corners of Joralemon, Remsen and Montague Streets around the already landmarked Borough Hall. Commission Chairman Robert B. Tierney noted then that “the buildings had a central role in Brooklyn’s development and illustrate an important chapter of New York City’s history.”

But a number of property owners, local landlords and developers were vehemently opposed, claiming it would drive up costs and impede retail redevelopment. Mike Slattery, SVP of the Real Estate Board of New York, sneered in September that the buildings “have little architectural and historic significance and distinction.”

In an article published in Crain’s Business New York January 18, Steve Spinola, president of REBNY, further belittled the district: “The city continues to landmark away its economic future. We want the people in the area to know landmarking will cause a lack of investment in buildings.”

Detractors argue that the designation puts a financial burden on landlords, who have to obtain additional permits and pay extra fees for any changes or upgrades on their properties. REBNY surveyed owners of roughly 750,000 square feet of space within the proposed historic district, and predicted property owners and retail tenants will incur $4.7 million in additional costs over the next several years as a result of landmark regulations and rules, according to the letter obtained by Crain’s.

“Some owners were prepared to make an investment in their buildings, but now they have a noose around their neck because it will cost them more money,” added Spinola.

Brooklyn Heights Assn. president Judy Stanton has stated that the landmark designation “is necessary to protect those buildings from being torn down—it does not prevent redevelopment. It has been a longstanding regret we did not get a district sooner.”

A report by Nancy Packes, a consultant to city developers, says, “Brooklyn has in the early planning stages as many as 14,000 new residential units, compared with Manhattan, where just 5,000 new units are in the planning phase.”

The article focuses on downtown Brooklyn and the Williamsburg waterfront, but mentions 30 Henry Street, “a low-rise project in Brooklyn Heights with full-floor units designed to emulate townhouses.”

The Packes study also insinuates that because a high percentage of Brooklyn residents are “tech or creative workers” (34%), they are more likely to “gravitate toward simple, tasteful new construction at lower price points and away from modern towers loaded with amenities.”

Citi Habitats broker Anthony Dellecave noted in the story, “That charming brownstone feel is what people like about Brooklyn. From a developer’s perspective, I’d stay away from the modern luxury high-rise and focus on old-world charm and prewar character.”

Adds Packes, “The idea of luxury may finally be finished, at least to these emerging neighborhoods.”

Brooklyn Daily Eagle: Following what one person described as “an exhilarating” discussion on the value of contextual vs. contemporary architecture in a historic district, the Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) yesterday asked the design team of a proposed new five-story, five-unit building at 30 Henry St. in Brooklyn Heights to consider making some additional changes.

The story notes that Brooklyn Heights preservationist Otis Pratt Pearsall and Brooklyn Heights Association President Jane McGroarty and Executive Director Judy Stanton all urged the Commission to reject the proposed design and require something contemporary and distinctive. BHA member and architect Jonathan Marvel is quoted as saying, ““We implore you to inspire, to delight, to raise the bar on originality.” But Park Slope resident and preservationist Clem Labine said the site doesn’t need a “starchitect” building that would be “dissonant and disruptive.”

The Commission’s legal counsel said it didn’t have the power to require “a particular style.”

Brooklyn Paper: Next Wednesday, building owner Tom Caruana will present plans for a new structure at 70 Henry St. at Community Board 2’s Landmarks Committee — an early step in gaining city permission to demolish an edifice in the landmarked neighborhood, according to District Manager Rob Perris.

The article quotes Caruana as unwilling to reveal details of his plans, but saying he will “move forward” as soon as possible. Lowy is quoted as saying he will do whatever is necessary to keep the Cinema going, even if he has to move it to DUMBO.

Table with some tools, a bottle of coke and a set of architectural drawings in the westmost vitrine. Title block legible enough to make out Le Pain Quotidien.

The popular French Belgian style boulangerie offers, along with bread and pastries: breakfasts featuring fruit and granola; lunch and snack items including soups, tartines (open faced sandwiches), quiches, cheeses, and salads; a variety of desserts; and beverages.

Glass on the addition, under construction, to 20 Henry Street, reflects the facade of the building at the northwest corner of Henry and Poplar streets, as seen from the Brooklyn Bridge on January 7.

NYO: Sugar Hill Capital Partners has purchased 50 Orange Street in Brooklyn Heights for $7.1 million from the Jehovah’s Witness-operated Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York, brokers have revealed.
Sugar Hill, according to its website, is a real estate investment firm that focuses on Brooklyn and Manhattan assets with repositioning potential. A spokeswoman for the firm, Aliza Weinstein, confirmed the company had purchased the building but declined to comment any further.

Using the power of “Google” we’ve discovered that the founder of the company, Arie Genger, is a regular International Man of Mystery (errr sumthin’..):

For over three decades Arie Genger and Israeli Major General-turned politician Ariel Sharon and later Prime Minister of Israel, have been close friends. Arie Genger served as advisor to Sharon throughout the latter’s political career. After Sharon was elected Israeli Prime Minister in 2001, Arie Genger served as personal private emissary to the White House. Mr. Genger participated with PM Sharon in meetings with President George Bush V.P Dick Cheney, Secretary of State Collin Powel [sic]and Condoleezza Rice, the US Security Council Advisor.