With a win for tenants who are against the commercialization of the Oval, we can expect some type of pushback from “the powers that be.” The most obvious one will be to try to get Stuyvesant Town rezoned for commercial use. We, as well as our representatives, have to be vigilant to make sure that there will be no zoning change in the R7-2 classification this complex now holds.
The powers that be will try to gain tenant support by rallying around the “Green Market flag,” but it must be remembered that the only way the Green Market can make a comeback in southern grass area of the Oval is if Stuy Town’s zoning is changed. While having the Green Market move to another location, or disappear altogether, may be an inconvenience to some, having the Green Market legally remain where it was situated will mandate a zoning change. The greater picture is that, if such a zoning change becomes successful, commercialization of Stuyvesant Town's open spaces will become legal and the powers that be will have no restraint in introducing newer ways of inserting commercial entities within Stuyvesant Town and Peter Cooper Village. Indeed, such a “green light” will surely see more of our open free spaces, which we value greatly, reduced to money and publicity making gimmicks, furthering the aesthetic devaluation of our environment.
Though our Tenants Association has taken some criticism, I think it's imperative that we, tenants, have to stick together so that we can present an organized front and speak with a greater voice to the powers that be and even to our political representatives. Ultimately, it was the cooperation of several entities (from voices on websites, to the TA, to Councilman Garodnick and his office) that led to this current victory over the commercialization of Stuyvesant Town.
I can see now why the TA wanted to landmark the property. Is this the next battle we have to fight, the zoning laws? You were right STR, it IS all about battles with this place.
ReplyDeleteI agree on most points except for the TA. The TA represents less than 10% of the residents of ST/PCV. They have rendered themselves irrelevant and they need to be replaced.
ReplyDeleteI don't think that under the agreement that was made to develop ST/PCV they will be able to rezone. The interior was intended to be park/open space and must remain that way. But vigilance will still be required.
ReplyDeleteThe TA are like the police, everyone wants to complain about them until they are needed, myself included. They're not the loudest voice of all the camps but they still watch out for the tenants. Now is not the time to divide with infighting and bickering, now is the time for all of us to unite. Thank you TA, Gardonick, STR and Lux!
ReplyDeleteNow is exactly the time to take the TA to task. They had months to do or say something about all this illegal stuff going on but didnt say a word. It took a group of tenants WITHOUT the TA to get Dan Garodnick moving on this. The TA jumped on the bandwagon after they saw the tenants were taking matters into their own hands in order to save face. They get ZERO credit for this, ZERO!. I will pay dues to any group that wants to work for the tenants EXCEPT the current TA. And, FYI this is after being a dues paying member since their inception up until the time they wanted to become owners.
ReplyDelete@The Bat: Well said!
ReplyDelete"It took a group of tenants WITHOUT the TA to get Dan Garodnick moving on this."
ReplyDeleteI don't disagree, but the way the game is played, Garodnick officially contacted the Dept of City Planning at the request of the TA, which may carry more weight than doing it at the request/demand of individual tenants. I will note that it is surprising that the Green Market has been around for so long, since Tishman Speyer days, and yet no one in a position of authority checked the zoning regulations. And the food trucks were looking as if they were there to stay.
I'm SO glad that we seem to be getting this done but it does seem like Garodnick and the TA were leading from behind. Don't get me wrong, this wasn't going to happen without Garodnick picking up the cause but it seemed to be done grudgingly.
ReplyDeleteCan anyone tell me how long the "No Food Trucks" logo has been on this site? I know STR can but can Dan? Seems pretty obvious to me that this is an issue that our rep should have latched on to very quickly--if for no other reason that so many of his constituents considered it to be important.
Does anyone see the coincidence of Dan Garodnick springing into action when STR wrote a post about Rose being a financial contributor of his?
ReplyDeleteAre Joyride here today? Their website says so. If so, calls to 311 and Dan Garodnick's office are in order. Anyone?
ReplyDeleteOne observation.
ReplyDeleteIf management didn't charge admission to the rink, that would seem to have been ok to proceed according to the letter that Councilman Garodnick received.
If they weren't charging a fee then it would gave been ok to build?
People don't want a free rink either.
"If they weren't charging a fee then it would gave been ok to build?"
ReplyDeleteIt could fall under "accessory use" and then would SEEM to be okay. Yet there may be other infractions to be determined.
Still, I don't know if the folks running the rink would do it for free. Someone would have to pay.
Seemed pretty clear from their "2 free hours per week" offer that this was a pay-to-play venture.
ReplyDeleteAnd, yes, we all shed a tear when we heard that they didn't expect to make a profit from this venture. That said, they weren't planning to give it away for free and WE ALL KNOW it was just a cheap ploy to shoot promo videos and attract new rubes.
Free or not free, the rink will have a cafe. Will the $$$ making cafe be illegal as the greenmarket and food trucks are?
ReplyDeleteIf the rink were free, there would still be issues about noise, lighting and hours of operation. Tenants are still expecting the ability to enjoy the peaceful use of their apartments, so while it might no longer be a zoning issue, it would be an issue on other fronts.
ReplyDeleteObjections were made to thes commercial uses of the Oval and playground spaces when Tishman Speyer started building the amenities. Many posts were on Lux Living about this, and I can't believe that the TA or our elected representatives weren't aware. I think they just weren't interested in fighting the battle because they were much more interested in seeing a tenant led buy out of the property.
I also agree with the poster that credits tenant voices in bringing this to light, a fact that was even reported in the lead graph of the cover story in this week's T&V.
Now, lets see what DOB has to say, and how enforcement will be handled on the matters that are no longer in question.
Weren't they planning to rent skates? That's a commercial activity. All in all, the rink is of dubious economic value. It costs money to build it, it costs money to maintain it, it costs money to manage it, and it costs money to buy ice skates for rental. Did anyone actually think that any money that might have been made would make a dent in the $3.4 billion?
ReplyDeleteFYI - It's 10:30pm and there are still men working on the skating rink...and a LOUD machine cranking away near the 20th Street side of Playground 10.
ReplyDeleteWell they powered up the monster cooler at the rink. Sounds like a small jet engine.
ReplyDeleteThe fact is that some have been raising objections to people in authority about the greenmarket based on zoning violations for some time but those in authority were timid, concerned about offending those who think the greenmarket in the oval is a swell idea. In any event those who were concerned, including the much maligned TA that never gets the credit it deserve from the whiners who never join and who never actually do anything but whine, finally got some action. The Planning Commision letter speaks for itself.
ReplyDeleteWhy can't a restraining order be imposed at the rink site?
ReplyDelete1030p and still working?
This is illegal!
Don't stop now Councilman Garodnick.
Management and CW are just giving angry tenants the big "UP YOURS!"
ReplyDeleteThey don't give a rat's ass about zoning rules.
How will these zoning violations actually be handled?
Who will enforce the rule of law?
Is this one of these things that will be dragged through the courts for years?
Roller coaster is next in one of the basketball playgrounds.
FYI: The Joyride food truck reappeared this morning in the oval. When I asked the truck-barista if the recent absence had anything to do with the recent protests, he said that, no, it was because for the past several days, there was some kind of technical issue with that particular area's electrical system.
ReplyDeleteHe seemed oblivious to the recent brouhaha and was back to business as usual.
Anyone know the real scoop? Might some people be in for a surprise if the Greenmarket is running this sunday, business as usual too?
Please call Garodnick's office (212) 818-0580 and let them know that the food truck has shown up again at the Oval.
ReplyDeleteI would also call security and management, and let them know about JoyRide. Take down times called, too.
ReplyDeleteNow is the time to document all infractions that apply. If anyone would seek relief, they would need to bring proof of the violations.
ReplyDeleteTake time stamped photos. Send them to Councilman Garodnick's office and the TA.
I think that Adam Rose and his pupeteers at CW have declared war on the tenants of Stuyvesant Town. Rob Speyer installed clanging dumpsters on the loop roads which were emptied in the early hours of the morning several times a week and this caused people living in the nearby buildings to get absoluely no sleep; now with the ice rink it seems they have commenced similar sleep-deprivation tactics against the hundreds (if not thousands) of tenants within that vicinity. This is evil. Pure evil.
ReplyDeleteWhen calling 311 for the Joyride truck complaint, use 1 Stuyvesant Oval as the address of record. Add playground 12 as well for their data base. They will want to know the current truck schedule (I said around 10Am to 6 PM,Monday-Thursday?), how long this has been going on, etc. After you get the confirm number, call Dan’s office, ask for David, give him the confirm #. Forward the 311 email confirm to Dan as well. These constant QOL assaults are so friggin exhausting to respond to but that is what CW is counting on.
ReplyDeleteSTR, you should keep track of these instructions like Anon November 10, 2011 4:21 PM post on how to file the 311 complaint.
ReplyDeleteI know there have been some other posts with a lot of contact info for Garodnick, the TA etc. It would be good to put these all in one contact link for complaints
I definitely will do that. I'm at work right now, so when I get the free time, certainly.
ReplyDeleteCall the 13th precinct if the truck is there.
ReplyDeleteChannel 2 just ran their skating rink piece on the 5pm news. They spoke to two tenants who were against the rink and one who was for it. They said that they tried to get a comment from Management over the phone and in person - the piece actually showed them in the Management office! - but Management wouldn't respond. COWARDS! The piece also said that the TA would continue to fight to stop ice rink and mentioned the now ILLEGAL food trucks and Greenmarket.
ReplyDeleteCall 311. 311 will tell you this is a non-emergency police matter and the y will take your information and make a referral to the 13th. Prc. Be sure to take down your Service Request #. The address you can give is the closest building to the truck which at this time is 1 Stuyvesant Oval, 10009. Alternatively, you can call the prec. 477-7411, ask for the Community Affairs Officer. Explain the situation.
ReplyDeleteThrough a little detective work, I believe that I found the email address for Andrew MacArthur, VP, CW Capital. Here it is: amacarthur@cwcapital.com.
ReplyDeleteI hope everyone uses it to let him know just how you feel about what is going on here. I know that I will.
IT'S 43 DEGREES OUTSIDE AND WE HAVE NO HEAT. COMPLIANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK IS JUST NOT SOMETHING THAT FITS INTO ROSE'S MANAGEMENT STYLE.
ReplyDeleteEmail Adam Rose and let him know that you have no heat:
ReplyDeleteadam@rosenyc.com
He's actually reasonably good about getting back to tenants.