The Oval Cafe will be opening tomorrow, despite a significant patio area outside still not finished. Residents who may wish to see what the cafe will look like (aesthetic Ikea) can go past the place now, as the windows have been cleared of hanging brown paper.
The previous Oval Lounge looked exquisite compared to this. Ditto, the "refreshed" Oval Study:
In place of the comfortable chairs along the windows that were there before, spaced well apart, the powers that be have installed similar Ikea-like tables to those in Oval Cafe, with chairs that almost rub elbows with fellow chairs. The place has now obviously been converted to more of a "study" and guess for whom? Yes, our student population. So you seniors that liked to sit there and read the paper, you will have less comfort and space to do so. I was once, briefly, an amenity member, more to escape the hot days of the summer (I don't have AC), and found Oval Study especially inviting and a pleasure to sit in. You could sit by the window, gazing outside while sipping your coffee or tea. Not anymore. This "refreshed" space is wretched and institutional now, from what I see.
Meanwhile, we know the aesthetics here are pretty now, but placing a screen in front of the Oval Fountain to broadcast a baseball game to those on the Oval Lawn--well, it's pretty tacky. Plus everyone you see below is interested in sunbathing or picnicking, not in watching a baseball game that, with the daylight diluting the picture quality coming from the screen, no one can appreciate. It's a dumb, low-class idea, but, then again, when you hire someone to do a job (such as provide events for Stuy Town to show the world that "something is always going on" in our "backyard") they think up of these stupidities just to justify their salary.
A reader sent in these amazing photos of Stuy Town doing sidewalk sweeping along the corner of 14th and 1st Avenue during morning rush hour! Yes, that machine can barely fit through the sidewalk by the subway, yet there it goes, blocking pedestrians and creating a nuisance. Even along the rest of 1st Avenue that Zamboni-like vehicle can pose a danger to pedestrians. Hey, buddy, watch out for the stroller!!!
Another reader sent in photos of workers putting in fence posts in the mezzanine area of 15 Stuy Town Oval, which pierced the underground sprinkler hoses, causing geysers to burst forth when the sprinklers were turned on! Yes, there is always something going on in Stuy Town!
This is my favorite photo of the week, perhaps of the month. I actually came across this tenant dumping of garbage along the 20th Street Loop and did not touch or rearrange a thing. The title of this photo surely must be "Giving Up on Roberts"....
A close-up of the book, just in case you can't read the cover:
Condo dreams dashed!
The ONLY thing that isn't going on here is common sense, decency and good management on the part of CW Capital and Rose Associates.
ReplyDeleteTheir constant whoring out of the Oval is very sad. For this kind of crap they have money? They need to explain why we have to put up with the awful washing machines we have when they're spending TONS of money on never-ending plantings on the grounds, events on the Oval and the refreshing of Oval spaces. Adam Rose of Rose Associates? Andrew MacArthur, Vice-president of CW Capital? Care to respond? You've been asked upteen times for an explanation about why these awful washing machines are not being replaced. YOU OWE TENANTS AN EXPLANATION. You call what you're doing good management? Oh, wait. I get it. Why would you replace bad washing machines when you can use them as a way to irritate and infuriate old and new tenants alike. Why you might ask would Rose and CW want to piss off newer tenants paying big bucks? The answer is so they can churn all apartments as much as possible and get 20% vacancy increases on them every time that they do. Churn, churn, churn! They're delighted whenever any tenant - new or old - exits the property.
Adam Rose, Rose Associates, Andrew MacArthur, CW Capital - you are all truly despicable.
The people running this joint prove over and over again that they have no brains and definitely no taste (except in their mouths). One of the things that used to make Stuyvesant Town so unique was the Oval which was filled with and lined by trees. These trees created shade and quiet. That's why it was called an "oasis" in the city. Now it in no way resembles an "oasis" in any way shape or form so that word or description just doesn't apply any more. I don't know what the point of these shabby gimmicks is. The buildings are filthy, the garbage piles up, the packed-in, pressure-walled apartment occupants use more water, electricity and create more garbage than the property can handle. This is mismanagement at its rawest and most obvious.
ReplyDeleteThough I understand the pain, I don't think the washing machines are so easy to replace. (I may be wrong.) There's probably some contract that may be holding up things, or they simply are not a priority. I also am not sure that, by now, the powers that be need to turn over apartments for 20% vacancy increases. Aren't these apartments already maxed out on such increases? I'd like clarity here from someone who may know, not guess, the answer.
ReplyDeleteThe name of the game is the bottom line, financially, and as long as packing in students meets the rent needs, that's what will happen. The events and the "refreshing" of amenities are part of the enticement for prospective renters who, it is felt, are into "something always going on" in the place they live. It's unfortunate that the powers that be can't think out of the box on such enticements, because I'd think most people value the idea of an oasis in the middle of the city, where they can relax and enjoy nature and tranquility. But I guess the powers that be believe that only old people have those desires.
But, yes, it's true that a lot of money is being spent for surface things, while the buildings are in need of paint jobs and better management of the recycling areas, which are fine during normal work hours, but become huge garbage pile-ups when the maintenance crew goes home. And then there are those washing machines....
Well, duh, obviously replacing the washing machines is not a priority, STR, or they would have been replaced by now, given years and years of never ending, legitimate tenant complaints about them. And I doubt there is a contract holding up replacing the washing machines because we don't rent them any longer, we own the current ones, thanks to Tishman Speyer.
ReplyDeleteThe problem is that CW Capitol won't allow them to be replaced. I know that for an absolute fact.
What on earth are they thinking about the new Oval Study pricing? Before for $20 a month you got brunch on Sundays, bagels and coffee on Saturdays, a diverse selection of movies each night, some great events with authors, musicians and others, wonderful wine tastings and a great way to meet neighbors who you most likely would never interacted with.
ReplyDeleteNow, the "exciting changes and improvements to the PCVST OVAL Amenities" are $30 for the right to enter the Oval study - a space where people glare at you for sneezing or coughing - G_d forbid if your mobile phone should ring.
After three months of total lack of communication - this is hoisted upon us?
The only thing I have heard is the experience of several people who spoke to the woman named Amanda involved with the Oval programs - looking for a glimmer of what was happening -- and all discussions with her consistently devolved into arguments and accusations from her - confusion turned into anger with cancelled and suspended memberships.
I must admit, they never listed customer satisfaction as one of the benefits of the Oval amenities program...nor did they surprise us by providing it lately.
Anyone reading this story, should wonder where it came from. I, as well as many of my friends, have had interactions with Amanda, and she is the only one, who has cared and met with members, and listened. The ” boss” Matt, never has time for anyone.,I waited 2 days for a call back and has an attitude that he's above everyone and can't be bothered. If they hired people who care and listened to the residents, I would stay a member. Now I'm just a dollar amount.
DeleteNote also the Phillips Exeter Academy book.
ReplyDelete>>I must admit, they never listed customer satisfaction as one of the benefits of the Oval amenities program...nor did they surprise us by providing it lately.<<
ReplyDeleteI really see little purpose in being an amenity member considering the new changes. And they are charging you $10 more for providing less!
I wonder what the business plan was for all these things. Probably had as much validity as the Speyers' overall plan. Oval Concierge isn't making money, from what I hear, and they've cut back on what they provide without a reduction in fee (natch!). I say bring back the Villager. It was cheaper and offered more and better services (by which I mean things I actually want, not endless email bombardments about movie discounts).
ReplyDeleteFor the money they've spent on the Evil Oval Noise Events, they could have refurbished every laundry room in the complex. They could crow about how great their actual building amenities are instead of pissing away investable funds on these one-off mosh pit embarrassments.
ReplyDeleteWhy being back The Villager? They were dependable. A word foreign to Rose Assiciates and CWCapital!
ReplyDeleteI wish our beloved Manny from Lux Living was still around to tell us to "come see for yourselves" the "refreshed" Oval spaces. The laughs Manny provided dulled the pain brought on by Lady Maya's Oval Stupidities!
ReplyDeleteTishman Speyer BOUGHT these p.o.s. washers and dryers. That's why we're stuck with them. They weren't made for commercial use which is basically what they are doing when you have 90+ apartments sharing six washers. The doors are suppossed to be left open after each wash so the machine can dry out otherwise they get moldy. Yes. Mold is the smell on your clothes.
ReplyDelete