That may be the least of the problems for the extension, however, as a clear horizontal view exposes how much of a slope there is to the extension as it proceeds away from Cafe Kubrick. It may be difficult to see in this photo, but viewed in real life, it's certainly present. Tilt!
It really doesn't pay to underestimate incompetency.
UPDATE, Saturday: A couple of workers bustling in the rain trying to finish up the job now. Fazio Traina, Lawn Sprinklers specialists from Brooklyn, is the company. They also do landscape lighting. I can feel a sense of victory coming up, though the Grand Fissure may still remain so for a better day.
STR, when it comes to incompetency, Rose has cornered the market. If that work was being done by unionized workers who knew what they were doing instead of illegal immigrant day laborers (Bloomie's favorite people next to his wealthy RE friends), then the job would have been done by now and done right. Rose and CW are so incompetent that they couldn't organize a booze-up in a brewery.
ReplyDeletePoor planning and non-union labor: a recipe for success!
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure this is the fault of the laborers. Someone higher up must have planned out the project.
ReplyDeleteIt seems obvious, however, that whoever is doing this planning and work was hired because they were cheap. Skilled craftsmen shouldn't have screwed things up like this or else they wouldn't be skilled!
ReplyDeleteThe only thing Rose and CW are skilled at is squeezing a penny til it bleeds.
ReplyDeleteI think it would be fun to try to guess what they are going to put into the Grand Patio Canyon.
ReplyDeleteHere are my guesses:
1) A water trough for dogs.
2) An extra step for seniors to trip over and send them to the hospital. One more RS apartment opening up!
3) More plants!
4) A fish pond for the kiddies while they are eating chicken fingers.
5) An outside urinal.
I vote for Vomitorium Trough.
ReplyDeleteIs there proof the workers are illegal immigrants?
ReplyDeleteOK - we know you feel the cafe is a waste of money and the funds should be used to address other maintenance issues. We get it, but the constant complaining does nothing.
You should direct all this energy into fixing the cafe - since you all are experienced contractors, builders, masons and building managers. Has anyone spoke with the workers to find out what the problem is?
Since working on the chain gang, I'm experienced with the sledge hammer and will gladly be there to break up the extension patio and return that area to its original state.
ReplyDeleteWell, whatever it IS going to be, it is certainly taking a lot of time to finish. Wasn't the entire extension supposed to be finished over a month ago?
ReplyDeleteWho communicated the patio extension was to be completed a month ago? And why are you obsessed with this patio extension? We know you all hate it and want the money directed to other issues, but management is in control of it. Is there anything you're happy about?
ReplyDeleteYou must not be reading this blog well or Town & Village. Perhaps you are not even a resident here. And, if you read this blog, you will know that I just wrote in another comment that I love the Oval Fountain area (sans concerts nearby). I also very much appreciate other "park" areas of STPCV, which, if you've noticed are gradually being etched out through things like Garodnick Boulevard and the patio extension. I also must add the new restroom facilities near the now-dormant Oval Film as something I find favor with. Stop in there and take a look. That is, if you live here.
ReplyDeleteDid management say the patio would be cometed a week ago?
ReplyDeleteIs there proof the workers are illegal immigrants?
ReplyDeleteWe take patio extensions very seriously.
ReplyDelete"Who communicated the patio extension was to be completed a month ago? And why are you obsessed with this patio extension? We know you all hate it and want the money directed to other issues, but management is in control of it. Is there anything you're happy about?"
ReplyDeleteWho is it that CW is going to replace you guys with?
Management is in control of it? Really???
ReplyDeleteWere they in control of it when they allowed American Leisure to run Kubrick Cafe after TWO previous vendors, ABC Kitchen and Sweetery said 'no thanks" to Lady Maya and signature directionless vision?
Were they in control of it when they rushed to open with a limited, unhealthy menu appealing to the pallet of a three-year-old and then publicly listed 80% of it as 'coming soon'?
Were they in control of the patio they said would be finished a MONTH ago? A patio which, judging by the lack of business at Kubrick Cafe, was CLEARLY not needed.
Are they in control now as they sit and try to figure out if they will A. Fill the hole with something - the above suggestions sound right on par with Lady Maya's idea box of directionless and bizarre suggestions, or B. Rip up the new work and start over again, finishing just in time for the cold weather?
Yeah, they are REALLY in control of it.
I find it quite disconcerting that Andrew MacArthur, who I might remind you is only in his early 40s, is running Stuy Town like it's his own private game of Sims. I might also remind you the ice skating rink, the one that drew SO much negative attention to Stuy Town and got EVERYONE talking about the zoning laws of the Oval, was HIS KIDS IDEA!
This 'throw it to the wall and see if it sticks' way of running Stuy Town and Peter Cooper Village is offensive to those us who want only to live in clean buildings and enjoy the property. Instead we walk through broken fire doors, step over garbage in the lobbies, run past the bed bug infested mattresses on the sidewalks, only to be greeted with the Carnival Cruise Ship theme park that is The Oval, rumbling away with rock concerts and inflatable TVs.
So no, I don't feel like ANYONE is in 'control of it' around here!
Guess where all of the water is going to go when it rains heavily. Right into Cafe Kubrick!
ReplyDeleteLet's get real here. Illegal immigrants, or undocumented if you prefer, do many hard low-wage paying jobs in NYC, a sanctuary city. No one is saying anything against them, but pointing out that this labor force is probably doing work in Stuy Town and has been doing work in Stuy Town in the past. If that's true, then Stuy Town hires the cheaper companies who employ a low wage-paying crew, one that's obviously not unionized. It wouldn't surprise me if the current stoppage of work at Cafe Kubrick has to do with some of these workers needing to take care of this first:
ReplyDeletehttp://articles.cnn.com/2012-08-15/us/us_immigration-deferred-deportation_1_immigrants-line-immigration-laws-immigration-services
Noone seems to get that what looks to you like unfinished sloppy work is actually CW's attempt at the latest in "installation art"
ReplyDeleteThere is no proof the workers are illegal, only your assumptions.
ReplyDelete>>what looks to you like unfinished sloppy work is actually CW's attempt at the latest in "installation art"<<
ReplyDeleteYou may be right. If we still see this a month from now, you will have guessed correctly!
Has anyone spoke with the workers to find out what the problem is?
ReplyDeleteNo need to speak to the workers. The problem is, as others have noted, the incompetence of the management that dreams these things up. But that is what you get when your management company, like its predecessor (Tishman Speyer,)is run by someone who earned his position by dint of hard work and birth.
From the pecking order here, it's CW Capital that calls the shots and dreams up, or okays, these things. Maybe Lady Maya is in charge of designing Cafe Kubrick, however, or at least preparing the menu.
ReplyDeleteThe rumors are that Rose is on his way out because he and Andy Mac are butting heads constantly. Rose wants to run a decent property, Andy Mac wants to run a theme park. The next few weeks will be interesting. One thing is for sure if CWCapital Asset Management and Andrew MacArthur are at the helm of the ship we are all fucked.
ReplyDeleteMister Reporter, Lo accept your humble apology.
ReplyDeleteAfter we look at patio mess, we all sorry!
New tenant activity this weekend. Everybody get pick axe to break up rocks. We see who can hit gas line under patty-o!
Immediate follow by firework display. Bring lawn chair early to get good seet near blast.
First off the patio snafu is merely an active illustration of incompetency, I'm not sure any immigrant would own up to this boondoggle. If I recall correctly the weekend non-union workers were on this, probably upsetting the regular non- union work force.
ReplyDeleteDon,t raise the bridge just lower the water, pretty soon the monkey will be in charge and that's when things will get better. This work is an embarrassment to whoever is in charge, a sane, prideful person would fix this ASAP to install a sense of confidence with the current administration/mgt.......but alas we can only wallow in others misery
"The rumors are that Rose is on his way out because he and Andy Mac are butting heads constantly. Rose wants to run a decent property, Andy Mac wants to run a theme park. The next few weeks will be interesting. One thing is for sure if CWCapital Asset Management and Andrew MacArthur are at the helm of the ship we are all fucked."
ReplyDeleteI believe that. I think Rose would run the property a lot better if the idiot at CW would leave them to it.
This work is an embarrassment to whoever is in charge, a sane, prideful person would fix this ASAP to install a sense of confidence with the current administration/mgt.......but alas we can only wallow in others misery.<<
ReplyDeleteNobody can accuse Andy Mac of being sane and prideful, especially in the sense of taking pride in the stewardship of the largest houseing complex in New York and one that is being watched very closely by many different entities, including those of us who are enjoying the Three Stooges-type efforts at renovations and installations! Maybe some enterprising television producer can turn this into a reality show! It would be a hoot!
Residents posting on a blog does not equal fact. There is no proof the workers are illegal immigrants.
ReplyDeleteIf you read the blog more carefully, you would have noted that only one person has come forth with the statement that these workers are illegal immigrants.
ReplyDeleteWho said the patio extension was to be completed a week ago?
ReplyDeleteThe patio extension was to have been completed WEEKS ago. If I come across the article in T&V, I'll post the pertinent reference here.
ReplyDeleteWho cares if the workers are legal or illegal immigrants or not even immigrants at all? One thing is clear: they are not unionized skilled workers (kinda like the dopes who installed the windows a few years ago) and are no doubt the cheapest labor that Rose/CW could find. If I had me druthers, I would welcome 1000 illegal immigrants for one Wall Street Bankster or Real Estate Vulture. If we could only trade those people to the countries where the illegals come from we would be so much better off. E.g., one Dick Fuld for 1000 hardworking, ethical illegals; one Rob Speyer for 1000 hardworking, etc., etc. Get the picture? Some people we would be so much better off without and some people we are so much better for. Immigration status doesn't make a person good or bad. What they do makes them good or bad. How about we trade Michael Bloomberg or 100,000 sunbaked Mexicans who just want to make a living and work hard? Mexico, Cameroon, Chad, WheretheHellEver can have little Mikey and keep him!
ReplyDeleteThe Kubrick Cafe "great Divide" is an example of how they figure the square footage here. Coming Soon at the the Oval : Competence (or competency) is the ability of an individual to do a job properly
ReplyDelete"If we could only trade those people to the countries where the illegals come from we would be so much better off. E.g., one Dick Fuld for 1000 hardworking, ethical illegals; one Rob Speyer for 1000 hardworking, etc., etc. How about we trade Michael Bloomberg or 100,000 sunbaked Mexicans who just want to make a living and work hard?"
ReplyDeleteBrilliant! Or maybe we could hire the people who do the work on Adam Rose's estate. I'm sure it looks a lot better and is a lot cleaner than this place.
Speaking of civil engineering projects: STR have you walked by the new Roman Aqueduct next to the flagpole near 21 Oval?
ReplyDeleteCome see for yourself! It's a sloping viaduct, about maybe 33 yards in length made of concrete and cobblestone. Trouble is the drainage basins are higher elevation than the viaduct, thus creating new mosquito breeding area aka standing water! The rainwater can't enter the drain unless it's about a 3 inch high stream.
ReplyDelete"Come see for yourself! It's a sloping viaduct, about maybe 33 yards in length made of concrete and cobblestone. Trouble is the drainage basins are higher elevation than the viaduct, thus creating new mosquito breeding area aka standing water! The rainwater can't enter the drain unless it's about a 3 inch high stream."
ReplyDeleteDo you ingrates have to complain about everything! Rose goes to all that trouble and expense to install a new Mosquito Farm (Oval Malaria) and all you do is poke fun at it! Go pay your $6k per month rent; it's going up $45% next month. And for you rent stabber peasants: the Mosquito Farm will cost you an extra $35 per room per month. Retroactive, of course.
Never signed up for Oval Malaria. Figured it was just a sting operation...
ReplyDeleteYes, I did notice the new Roman Aqueduct near the 20th street loop. A massive engineering fete after last years sub-contracted bumper car snow removal crew.
ReplyDeleteIt appears during the day that ongoing construction traffic has hit an all time high, total disregard for pedestrians. It appears some sort of target date is afoot!
Please keep us updated, Thanks
Definitely illegals doing the grounds work here.
ReplyDeleteNever mind all this schlocky "grounds work" and "landscaping" (that is a joke!), clean the fucking buildings. My hallway never gets vacuumed except maybe once every two or three months; the "laundry" room is knee deep in shit and slime and dead roaches. I wish the health department would visit the buildings and see, along with the FDNY, what a totally NON-job Rose is doing. Rose isn't up to this. They might as well be working for NYCHA where all Bloomie deadbeats go to doze for dollars.
ReplyDelete"Definitely illegals doing the grounds work here. "
ReplyDeleteCan this be proved?
"Definitely illegals doing the grounds work here. "
ReplyDeleteCan this be proved? ....
Just look at the quality of the work and ask yourself that question! These guys don't know shit from shine. Rose hires the cheapest labor going and that would be illegals. Doesn't matter though in New York because Bloomberg has declared it a sanctuary city. In Arizona, it would be a different story.
>>Rose hires the cheapest labor going and that would be illegals.<<
ReplyDeleteIf so, then it wouldn't be Rose hiring them directly, but hiring the company that then uses them.
Illegals, Union Labor and others can all do good and bad work.
ReplyDeleteAll we know for sure is that the project has been mismanaged. Place the blame where it belongs--with the entity that is supervising the job and the "campus" in general.
Oh, Rosie...
>>Rose hires the cheapest labor going and that would be illegals.<<
ReplyDeleteIf so, then it wouldn't be Rose hiring them directly, but hiring the company that then uses them.<<<
Whatever. Rose hires the cheapeast contractors/companies it can get. In all likelihood, they use illegals because they work for zippo and don't have to be paid benefits. They also do unskilled labor and the lack of skill is very obvious in all the work they do here.
"Just look at the quality of the work and ask yourself that question! These guys don't know shit from shine. Rose hires the cheapest labor going and that would be illegals. Doesn't matter though in New York because Bloomberg has declared it a sanctuary city. In Arizona, it would be a different story."
ReplyDeleteYou are assuming the workers are illegal. There is no evidence.
You are assuming the workers are illegal. There is no evidence.>>
ReplyDeleteWhy do you care so much about this? I don't give a ff whether they are illegal or not. I strongly suspect that they are illegal, but don't really care except for the fact that they do such bad work that they certainly are not unionized. My son is a construction worker and illegals and those who hire them are the bane of the industry and pose a grave danger to innocent bystanders who get hurt because of the rule-flouting, crap work they do. The evidence is pretty much in the quality of the job they do.
About non union contractors:
ReplyDeletePJ Painting
This company took over the painting work in Stuyvesant Town/Peter Cooper Village after Rose Assoc fired the union painting contractors.
Their work is substandard. They painted my bathrooms and hallway with the wrong type paint and color, did not mask and sand properly, used semi-gloss paint on the hallway walls instead of flat or eggshell, spackled like children and missed many spots and left blotchy areas.
Furthermore the foreman or manager is rude and abusive to his painters. He constantly shouts and uses foul language, walks around the property shouting into his cell phone and shows his employees no respect.
The shop is located in the basement of the building and he and his painters hang out outside the building all day making a racket and smoking. I can hear them with the double pane windows closed and the air conditioner running. If I have the windows open, the cigarette smoke comes into my apartment.
With respect to illegal immigrant workers-
I don't know if they are illegal. I haven't asked them for their papers.
OMG! Did Rose really get rid of the unionized painters? The ones we always had here? They were very good (given the cheap material and short time frames they were allowed to work with). I didn't know that they had gone. My apartment is 11 years overdue for a paint job and I guess it's going to have to stay that way unless I can find a reasonably priced private company to do it. I think I'd rather leave it as it is than have the people you describe come in and do it. Believe me, if that foreman came into my apartment swearing at his men he would be kicked out and a formal complaint filed against him.
ReplyDeleteOff topic, but I just saw a post on the TA Facebook about an illegal sublet by someone calling himself Jeremy Soul of Lovesystems.com. When I clicked on the website my company's browser blocked it as porn! So now we have swingers renting out their apartments for business purposes! Wow! Just when I thought this place couldn't get any worse! To add to the gall of the guy who is doing the renting, he doesn't even live in the apartment; he is "borrowing" it from a friend so that he can rent it out to the porno folks! Adam Rose and Andy Mac, you are now officially landlords of unlicensed brothels as well as illegal hotels! Wonder who are next owner will be? Maybe Heff? Larry Flynt? The mind boggles!
ReplyDeleteDid anyone ever noticed missing valuables/ money after getting their appartment painted?
ReplyDelete