perspective. If, say, drug legalization cuts the prison populations way, way down, and drug legalization reduces the number of violent offenders in prison, maybe we won't need that thing anymore....and that thing looks like it could be reworked, easily, into a homeless shelter, or a community hall for after school programs, senior programs, community meetings and events, etc.

If they really wanted to get creative, someone could hop up there and cut out a few more windows, and turn the thing into subsidized rental apartments! Who doesn't love an ocean view?? You could put a few community friendly items on the thing, maybe a playground for the kiddies, a convenience store, and make it a little floating village. I think they oughta look into doing more of this kind of thing--housing is pricey. If it's stable in rough weather, why not?

For starters, it's shading an area that's about the size of two football fields. That kills off the plants that are at the base of the food chain. You're also correct in mentioning the issue of rough weather. Those of us who believe that climate change is happening note the scientists' warnings that severe storms will become more severe as a result.

I'm not familiar with this particular barge. I represented individuals and civic groups who challenged the establishment of two prison barges on the Manhattan waterfront in the 1980s, because there was no environmental impact statement. The City's defense was that there was a terrible crush of inmates and a need for space, bringing the project under the "emergency" exemption to the State Environmental Quality Review Act, and the court bought that argument and let them get away with it.

We had an article here where Canada was building a floating city off Jamaica with used containers and if a hurricane happened, the city would be able to float away. It was hilarious but it was a joke.

Or is it unsinkability like the titanic

Bt yes it is an interesting question.