New York's astonishing building surge continues apace as projects that long seemed laughably impossible take shape all over town.

Decades have passed since people first began talking about building a new Yankee Stadium, and yesterday the team broke ground on what should become a magnificent new home and addition to the Bronx. For a similarly long period, people have bemoaned the wasteland that is the East River waterfront in Long Island City, and yesterday the City Council unanimously approved plans for a $1 billion residential and commercial development there, including movie production facilities.

This week also brought the groundbreaking for a $500 million retail complex, called Gateway Center, where the Bronx Terminal Market stood decrepit for more than a quarter-century and a key state okay for the transformation of the Farley Post Office on Eighth Ave. into a grand rail terminal, a concept that has been on the drawing boards for more than a decade.

And there's much more in the pipeline. A new stadium for the Mets, Atlantic Yards in Brooklyn and countless projects large and small in every borough will push 2006 construction spending in the city well past last year's record $19 billion. That money will generate the vital benefits of well-paying jobs, affordable housing and renewed neighborhoods. Silvercup West, planned for Long Island City, is a prime example in that the movie studio is expected to have 4,000 permanent jobs, and residential towers will add 1,000 units to New York's housing stock.

Why is all this happening now? Two reasons. First, the economy is on an upswing. Second, Mayor Bloomberg devised zoning reforms and smart public investments, often in partnership with the state, that served as catalysts to development. This is a city on the move.

Kicking butts

Having decided to devote himself to philanthropy after leaving office, the mayor is giving a healthy slice of his fortune, $125 million, to a global anti-smoking campaign.

"There are roughly 5 million people who are killed by tobacco in this world each year," he said. "We know how to save millions of lives, and shame on us if we don't do it."

Achieving just part of that goal would be a triumph. Every success, Mr. Mayor.

(c) New York Daily News, L.P.: reproduced with permission.