RGB Lower Manhattan Public Hearing - June 14, 2017 - Part 3

 

Other parts available at that link.

Also, news from the TA:

Tuesday, June 27, the Rent Guidelines Board will vote on increases to leases that renew starting October 1. If you’re paying a preferential rent, this increase will apply to your higher, legal rent.

TUESDAY, JUNE 27
5:45 p.m. Meet on the corner of 23rd St. and First Ave. to walk to the rally
6:00 p.m. Rally on 25th St. and Lexington Ave.
7:00 p.m. RGB votes at Baruch College's Mason Hall, 23rd St. and Lexington Ave.

HOW MUCH ARE THE PROPOSED INCREASES? The chair of the RGB has proposed a range of 1%–3% for one-year renewal leases and a range of 2%–4% for two-year renewal leases. BUT THE RGB CAN STILL VOTE FOR A ROLLBACK OR A FREEZE.

The RGB knows that even though landlords’ costs are projected to up, FOR ELEVEN STRAIGHT YEARS their profits have increased.

Rent increases are forever. Join the TA to demand a fair deal for tenants.

Note: If you plan to take the 23rd Street SBS crosstown, you should get off at Third Avenue. There is no stop at Lexington anymore.

Yes, It Is a Construction Zone

Hot on the heals of the TA informing us that Blackstone is constructing new apartment configurations in Peter Cooper and that the noise level in various parts of the complex has risen, I have decided to name all the current projects and soon to be projects that are going to be inside or near this community. I will be adding as warranted. Above you see, the view pictured above is from inside Gracefully. No doubt you have seen this scaffolding, the putting up of which is noisy, all over the complex, to include scaffolding atop Oval Stuy, right by Oval "Office," along 20 Street, etc. I know the mandated reason, but does this work have to be done in the summer months and at the hottest, most humid time? Expect an MCI, by the way. Blackstone, therefore, is not crying too much.

Aside from this, there is the work being done on condos along 14th Street. Then there is the normal noise intrusion of barking dogs, the noise which is sharper and louder than children at play. Certain residents even encourage their dogs to bark/play with other dogs, oblivious that their dogs may be disruptive, but just "cute." There is also the noise one hears from inconsiderate neighbors. For some residents, this noise is a nightmare.

There is the continual noise of refurbished apartments. Any time you see the "old" AC unit, know that when the tenant moves out, that window unit will be replaced by one positioned below the window. More noise. A lot of it, to include the "normal'" noise of refurbishing an apartment.

The construction on Playground 7, which when finished will have an outdoor gym, continues. Obviously, this construction is noisy.

There is the noise and smell coming from diesel cleaners who go around the property, usually the Oval, and clean the walkways, which are used by STPCV vehicles, too. Though we have been promised the old-fashioned rakes, know that air leaf-blowers continue. They can be very noisy, particularly in the early morning hours.

Speaking of which, though they are not noisy, the club cars running around the complex seem to be increasing. Apparently they can go either way, so watch out. I'm sure if these cars could fly, they would.

I have lived here from about three decades and have never seen it this bad.....

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Update 6/22: Adding "music events" at the Oval, to include other "events," like free movies. But this music today was particularly loud and abrasive. Way to go, Rick and Blackstone. About 100 people, if that, listened to this music.

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Update 6/23: Gee, I knew I forgot something. The tree and branch cutters. We have a lot of trees and branches, and they have to be cut, if not taken out of living. More noise! Buzzzzzzz.....

Dividing Up Apartments To Get More Rooms

Certain Stuy Town apartments have been "divided" to give rooms an extra "room." We have talked about this, but now a "pilot" program is being introduced into Peter Cooper Village.

The TA has woken up, it seems, and this is their latest:

http://www.stpcvta.org/new_reconfiguration_of_stpcv_apartments

New Reconfiguration of STPCV Apartments

StuyTown Property Services recently informed the Board of Directors of the Stuyvesant Town–Peter Cooper Village Tenants Association that they are  embarking on an “experiment” to reconfigure vacant apartments. Although construction has already begun, StuyTown Property Services has not yet notified the community.

The new program will convert 40 vacant Peter Cooper Village units by turning the kitchen of a one-bedroom unit into a bedroom and moving the kitchen into the living room; combining adjacent one- and two-bedroom units to form a three-bedroom unit; and reconfiguring adjacent one- and two-bedroom units to create a three-bedroom unit and a studio. The new program will continue to divide Stuyvesant Town living rooms of 75 vacant apartments to provide an additional bedroom at the expense of living and dining space.

The Board of Directors of the Stuyvesant Town–Peter Cooper Village Tenants Association opposes the reconfiguration of the Stuyvesant Town apartments, which reduces living rooms to foyers in order to increase sleeping spaces. The arrangement, which degrades the time-tested, well-designed layout, will likely result in an increase in the existing transient rent-a-room lifestyle. This is the antithesis of the original concept of our community. This reconfiguration will most certainly exacerbate the dormitory and churn effects which tenants have been objecting to since subdivision of apartments began. It will add further pressure to our aging infrastructure. It will continue to destabilize our once-cohesive community.

However, we consider that, with the exception of the studio apartments, the reconfigured Peter Cooper Village units may attract long-term residents, the stated goal of both management and the Tenants Association.

The Term Sheet executed by the City and Blackstone when the latter purchased the property states in part:

"The agreement protects both the current tenants of Stuyvesant Town and Peter Cooper Village, as well as the Property’s legacy as a home for moderate- and middle-income New Yorkers for the generation to come. The Purchaser and the City are committed to the good stewardship of this unique community, and its long-term viability.

"In addition, the Purchaser intends to maintain the unique characteristics of the Property . . . by creating an environment that is conducive to residents establishing a long-term connection to the community."

The Tenants Association believes the terms and the spirit of the purchase should preserve the functionality of the original Stuyvesant Town living spaces in order to maintain, not violate, a viable and gratifying living experience in an unusual urban setting.

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Right now, I do not have plans of these or Stuy Town rooms, but it appears that Management is creating more space by actually giving less space. More to come.

Life in Stuyvesant Town and Peter Cooper Village

A photo here and a photo there. To be updated with more photos.

Yes, there is a rule of NO riding of bicycles around the Oval. Trust me: there is that rule. The barriers at all points of entry to the Oval tell riders of the rule and everybody else who can read.

But unless you run over a Public Safety officer, chances are no one cares....

And, yes, they are riding right by the "guard" booth. 

Difficult to see because I couldn't focus in time, but this is something one witnesses ALWAYS: dogs being walked without those PCVST lanyards. All this despite the second warming by our Manager, Rick Hayduk, which has followed the first warning given a year ago. No one cares, including, it seems, Rick and Blackstone itself. A rule that is not enforced, no matter what is said. And, yes, I know about "the monitors."

Don't ask, don't tell...

Every Friday, Public Safety closes the 1st Avenue Loop to ticket cars parked illegally during that time.... And I do hope that dog is very nice, but he is kinda eyeing me in a persistent way....

We hear a lot about this place being noise free. That is one of the selling points of this complex. But residents can hear many things aside from the sounds of birds in the morning. Yes, it is a "construction zone." Of course, the noise depends on the job being done and its duration, but apartments will be "upgraded" forever, bit by bit.... This photo also clearly shows the bicycle barriers and the ever-present sign that warns bicyclists not to ride around the Oval.

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Update, around 11am.

It's not all tears. There is laughter, too. As when at a certain season (which just happens to coincide with the closing and then opening of colleges), moving trucks start appearing in Stuyvesant Town. Oh, for a fee Oval Something-or-Other will provide all the material you need to get you the hell out and another sucker tenant coming in at an even higher price for a PCV or ST apartment.

All good things must end. So enough laughter. Serious stuff coming up in the next update.

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Update, around 1:30pm.

Do you play chess? Well if you do, you may want to bring your own chess board. Photos of our chess tables between Five Stuy Cafe and Oval Studio....The term "elbow grease" has probably not been heard because when the tables are cleaned, in response to the complaints of residents who are not all pigs, we get a spray of water from one of those diesel-spewing and smelly vehicles.... And whose bright idea was it to put a garbage can near the tables? Doggie do-do and urine go so well with breakfast or lunch.... And let's not mention just how new these tables are or their benches! Oh, okay, we can mention that, too.

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Update, around 8pm.

Things like this greet me in the morning. Left behind by pigs. There's no other word for them.

Below. Unattended. "Sorry, we haven't seen your package anywhere."

"It is a sandbox for my little one, isn't it? Anyway, I pay too much rent to be bothered by soil or plants! Maintenance will clean it up. And, by the way, what's it to you?"

Maybe more updates tomorrow.

Variety is the Spice of Life - Part 2

I was very tempted to title this differently, but you get the picture. More coming later or tomorrow.

Variety is the Spice of Life

Taken in the last couple of days. Everything on the "service road" is considered Blackstone property, which I guess includes all the Citibank bicycles, the cars, etc. The images speak for themselves, of course. And in case you didn't know the history here: Peter Cooper Village was considered the upscale version of Stuyvesant Town. No more if the photos say anything. Urine all over the entrances, and concrete streaks and other quick fixes all over the place, to include gouges. I would not be proud of any of this, but I am me and not our masters.

The last photo: It appears that a senior gave up.

Blackstone Territory in ST and PCV

According to Debbie Sabatino, the Senior Manager of this property for Blackstone and the complex's resident relations, the territory owned by Blackstone extends to the sidewalks and service roads around the perimeter of STPCV. The "islands" are the actual concrete surroundings beyond service roads, which are owned by the city. So when you see Blackstone's many club cars on the sidewalks or "service roads," they are under the control of PS. This is what is told me, and until the city says something different, it appears that what you may be seeing outside STPCV is actually owned by Blackstone.

I know that the stores around the perimeter are rented by Blackstone and that the little flower areas around the perimeter are cared for by STPCV workers, so the response makes some sense.

However, I must warn that this issue of who owns what on the perimeter is not resolved by me, nor should it be resolved by anyone else. Is PS or Blackstone responsible for the ice cream truck that stands and stinks with constant exhaust the "service road" at the corner of 14 and First Ave.? That is a for instance, and there are a few others.

Now, according to Sabatino, the club cars must obey certain rules, such as not going against traffic. I see these club cars going against traffic frequently, even on Blackstone's loops, but this is the problem: In order for PS to do anything a resident must report this and the time so the monitors, which take pictures, can be checked. Okay, okay, I see you rolling your eyes, but that's what is said. I'm just reporting at this point.

We now know what the official stance is.

Update: You may want to watch this and pay attention to who owns the curb:

Stuy Town, Wednesday, May 24

I don't know if this is it, but the benches were "cleaned" around the Oval Fountain:

This is what greets me in the morning, among other things....

Update: May 25, about lunch time and since the morning: