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.
10 comments:
Barely a carpet in sight on those floors. Only the Oval is as bare as the floors in the yunnie/dormie apartments.
Total agreement with your assessment of the “new” ST website. Especially with the Oval “noise” events. God help us all. Woo-hoo! Bro! Dude!
I would love to see the look on the face of the lady lying on the grass when she gets up and sees brown smears on her shirt. But I forgot "Little Fido and Muffy's poops don't bother anyone!"
It appears that recent events may just be the nail in the coffin but the process really began some time ago during Met Life's final years of ownership. As a life-long resident, I can't help but shake my heard in disbelief at the changes that have occured as well as at some of the new residents and their behavior. There is a big part of me, though, that really doesn't care. After all, we are just renters,,,I am looking forward to moving on and leaving ST to its new identity. What was here was truly special and it is very sad that nothing was done to preserve some form of affordability and family friendly atmosphere. This very unique piece of real estate is perfect for that and, I believe, that the same kind of private/public partnership that got it developed should have been formed to preserve it. In the end, however, greed won the day and perhaps, in a strange way, that's a good thing because it sure would have been hard to leave,,
As far as I can tell there has been zero enforcement by STPCV of the dog leash and dogs prohibited on grass rules since STPCV delivered the rules to tenants last month.
I see fewer dog owners letting their dogs on the grass but the number who floiut that rule, including within sight of the guardhouse on East 22 and First Ave is still significant.
I feel sorry for people who plan on sunbathing on the grass when the weather warms up and also for the little kids who play on the grass
I've seen a lot of dog rule infractions in the past few weeks. And security is still pathetic and not around most of the time. I'll be doing a post on security and their "new" car tactic soon.
Just a quick note: our Public Safety Officers have been writing both leash as well as animal waste summonses during the past few weeks, and many more are coming. The fines go to the City of New York rather than the property. Dog owners who use the PCVST campus and break the rules are not only issued a summons, but are informed by legal letter that they are subject to arrest for tresspassing. Our officers will be on foot as well as on bicycle very soon.....and that is a promise.
Once again marketing is not consistent with reality. "But the pictures said I don't need floor covering." This is really sad and very disappointing and goes directly against what the new Rose has been promising tenants. Sad and disappointing, deceitful and disgraceful.
Dear Mr. Rose,
I am a member of a group of tenants in ST/PCV who split from the TA due to differences in priorities, called SAVESTUYTOWN. I must admit that at first we were very critical regarding Rose Managements handling of what we considered serious quality of life crimes being committed routinely in ST/PCV. At this time I would like to apologize for that hasty response. Our group has been extremely impressed with the wonderful response of your security department to these matters. We understand "Rome wasn't built in a day". Keep up the good work and kudos to you, Jim Yasser and his staff for the well appreciated efforts on their part.
That being said we firmly agree that ST/PCV will never be the iconic middle class neighborhood it once was, but those are the realities of life in Manhattan. It's all about money and nothing will change that. However, that doesn't mean it isn't an extremely sad occurence.
SAVESTUYTOWN
I grew up in Stuy Town and ironically didn't qualify for an apt when I was just out of college and it was still RS. When we had our first child, we moved back to be closer to family who still lives here and were able to take advantage of the move-in incentives TS had going at the time. We had thought the Roberts ruling might set things straight, but I am devastated by the destruction of the community that continues unabated. Incidentally, the rent doesn't "go up to" $4000; it STARTS at that for the "newly renovated" 2BRs. In addition, the new apts now charge per AC unit on top of the rent. So any hope of upgrading from our 1BR to a 2BR is gone. It's the same nonsense that got this place into the mess it is in the first place. I don't understand why the people in power don't get that it actually costs more to run this place this way: frequent turnover, residents who don't care to maintain the residences or grounds, and frequent noise complaints create huge costs that could otherwise be avoided with a stable tenant base. That is not to say that the apts shouldn't rent for more than they traditionally did. Ironically the rents TS was charging were not bad by comparison, but $4000+ for a 2BR apartments is downright absurd when you realize you could pay the same for a comparable apt in a new construction (read: clean water pipes, quiet heat) doorman building without the headache of transients. It is like watching an loved one descend into madness.
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