Sunday, March 20, 2011

Stuyvesant Town Welcomes the First Day of Spring



These photos around the Oval area were taken a little before 11am. Yeah, some of the people who live (and visit) here are pigs. But where are the grounds-keeping and maintenance crews? Sleeping? Where are the promised foot-patrol security officers who would have easily spotted that broken wine bottle hours ago, blocked off the spot, and called someone to remove the pieces of glass? As for the pathetic condition of the Oval and environs, the photos speak for themselves.













Friday, March 11, 2011

Forget Ikea NYU Chic -- This is a Stuy Town Apartment!



It's a three-bedroom, but it shows you just what you can do with a Stuy Town apartment. I wonder how James deals with those ugly ceiling beams?

Speck by Speck, Dust Piles Up - NY Times

Saturday, March 5, 2011

RIP: Stuyvesant Town as it Used to Be


What Stuyvesant Town is "about," according to the newly refurbished official Stuy Town website.


IT'S OVER FOR AFFORDABLE MIDDLE CLASS HOUSING IN STUY TOWN & PETER COOPER VILLAGE.


What the refurbished Stuyvesant Town Website tells us about the future of our complex.

If you thought that the return of Rose Associates would be a return to the "good ole days" of Stuyvesant Town & Peter Cooper Village, you would be wrong. The newly refurbished Stuyvesant Town website clearly indicates that we will be seeing the same Stuy Town/PCV that was instituted by Tishman Speyer: an aggressive sell to student transients, the overuse and continual destruction of the Oval grass grounds, the absurd and costly promotion of "amenities," and rental prices that start at $2840 (assuredly for just a one-bedroom apartment) to $4,000.

Whatever Adam Rose or anyone in his organization personally think about affordable middle class housing or the selling of rental apartments to packets of young people is a moot point. The company answers to a higher authority than tenants or any by-now idealistic concept of affordable middle class housing and life in Stuy Town and Peter Cooper Village.

The new website is just a jazzed up version of the one crafted by our previous overlords, the despicable Tishman Speyer.

"Look around"--and what do you see....



Why it's another public access party time at the Oval! Attended by? Well, aside for a couple on the upper left (who look like they are just walking through), all twenty-somethings. Probably a good number coming in from below 14th St.

Look around some more and you'll see the wonderful "Music on the Oval" events, which will now be either part of or incorporated into a "Summer on the Oval" program. In another cost-cutting American Leisure measure, much like the removal of Sunday Brunch at Oval Lounge for tepid coffee and a bagel, this time around residents will be able to participate as performers. Why pay a professional band, when you can get your performers for free from neighbors and students living in the complex? These events will be scheduled for Saturdays, rather than Wednesdays, making the Oval grounds that much more impacted by even more non-residents who will be encouraged to be in attendance. And if you work all week and want to enjoy the Oval grounds in luxurious peace and quite on a nice sunny Summer weekend--forget about it! You may as well go to Tomkins Square Park, which I guarantee you will be quieter than our Oval grounds during "Summer in the Oval."



And if you continue to look around, you will see that the Green Market will be back--I assume at the same location on the south part of the Oval grounds--which means the absolute ground destruction of that area, with mud replacing the grass that was once there--what?--five years ago?




THE SAME DUPLICITOUS SPIN

I thought so before, and I still think so: Promoting the pathetic "putting green" is beyond clownish and absurd. I mean, seriously, when was the last time you saw this tiny space being used for putting? Either dogs are taking a piss or a crap on it (within site of the guard booth) or, in the summer, hot thong babes are sunning themselves on the mounds (which is something Rose Associates should promote along with photographic opportunities).



I've been inside the Oval Lounge and never saw it looking so football field long:



Apartments? You wanna see apartments? Well, this one will surely dazzle you, despite the ugly ebony stain used on the floors. (Ikea furniture not included, btw.) Oh, you may want to remember that, technically, you'll need far more carpet covering than shown, but Rose Associates is keeping that requirement out of their promotion (which, admittedly, is a duplication of Tishman Speyer's promotion). Note: This "photograph" was taken by the same guy, or gal, who took the one of the Oval Lounge.



Below is Stuy Town's "classic" look apartment. Nicer natural wood finished floors. Not much carpeting, of course, so be careful when you walk around in those stiletto heels, girls. Don't forget there's probably a grumpy senior citizen living below you who will complain and complain. Not to worry, however. The Lord giveth us senior citizens and then the Lord taketh them away--and giveth Stuy Town another turnover apartment to market rate and you a complain free downstairs neighbor, much like yourself.



And below is one of Stuy Town's bedrooms. Curious, no carpeting in sight. What's worse, as I just noticed, that hot chick on the rocking chair (whose squeaking noise will easily drive the downstairs senior citizen crazy) is trying on those stiletto heels! Buy, hey, it's a cool scene that any transient student would like to be a part of. But let's get real: Where are the pressurized walls?



Wifi? Bullshit. I've yet to find a good, non-amenities costing hotspot on the Oval.



There's something very strange about the people in this playground below. I actually do not think they are people, but rather aliens. Do not disturb them; they may move and attack you.



Love jogging? Well, jogging used to be a pleasure in Stuy Town, but not anymore, with the green barricades put up at opposite sides of the Oval (to ostensibly stop bicyclists because our security team can't) and the possibility of one of the numerous dogs around the complex jumping at you when you pass them by. BTW, it looks as if the aliens in this photo below are running in place.



Speaking of security.... This is an odd scene below. We actually see security "on the beat"--something that rarely happens, though we have been promised that will change.