Thursday, January 23, 2014

Photos....

There's been a decimation of trees where the new management office is being extended, near 1st Ave and by the "train playground." Anyone have good photos?  (My camera needs some repair work.)

Please send to: stuytownreporter@gmail.com

Thanks!

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UPDATE: A couple of pertinent photos have turned up on the TA Facebook page.  Here's a shocking one sent in by a STR reader, to whom I send many thanks.


UPDATE: More photos, but from a different time, during the summer, before the current work was begun. These will be the barometer by which the look of the area in the future can be measured. And a jog to the memory as to what was lost. Thanks to another STR reader for the photos.









88 comments:

  1. Anonymous said...

    Into the STR CW Hall of Shame On top of the Oval Park Massacre where healthy tress were cut down

    - The First Ave Loop Massacre - This morning construction workers cut down over 50 healthy trees including
    a 9-story Oak tree,
    2 7-story trees,
    2 4-story (dogwood or magnolia blossom trees)
    14 25ft new trees,
    All trees from toddler playground 8 (with train)
    All trees and landscaping the size of 1 city block
    Over 50 Trees were torn down and put through a wood chipper this morning.

    Or as the Tenants Association put it
    "Steinberg added that management conceded some trees will have to come down in order to extend the back part of the building."

    "some trees"
    Gee Susan what's a few more trees when you've already removed hundreds if not thousands?!

    The First Ave Loop is massacred. Tree trunks and limbs were strewn all over the ground.

    John Marsh and Susan Steinberg and the TA knew and approved
    http://town-village.com/2013/10/18/cw-talks-plans-for-new-management-office/

    conceded "some trees" Susan?!?

    A strip mall is now where once a Park thrived.
    Disgusting.

    January 23, 2014 at 10:46 AM

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  2. Just came home to see they bulldozed the land - the entire block! Both cobblestone walkways, all landscape over 50 trees and the tall Oak that gave us all shade. This isn't some bullshit loophole of an "accessory" that Garodnick used to clear the Oval. This is an entire city block of landscape wiped out! Does that mean they got the approval to change our buildings from Residential to Commercial?
    Thanks TA for the god-awful offices in my home.

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  3. Awful. really awful. and no one doing a damn thing about it.

    When do we get to charge CR for MCU…

    major capital unimprovements.

    We paid for grass and green space and trees. We ain't getting anything but increases now.


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  4. And where is Weasely Dan on this?

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  5. This place sure gone crazy.

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  6. And they are "renovating" the leasing office, as if it needs renovation. Perhaps they will build a sample "model apartment" there, so no prospective renter will need to head over to the grounds.

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  7. they are spending money recklessly. on first ave loop steinberg had nerve to say "new office building will have a green roof" and cw had nerve to say "hey we could have given you a black tar roof"
    steinberg and cw are responsible for spending millions of dollars recklessly on unnecessary cosmetic construction to increase the purchase price - cosmetic construction to cover up the infrastructure body that is falling apart and absent of any park and trees.
    first ave loop park is gone forever - thanks to hoylman puppet steinberg's community board 6, garodnick puppet marsh's ta. and who is going to pay for this construction? the tenants in an inflated purchase price.
    scam.

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  8. STPCV will go the same way as St Vincents in the West Village - demolished, turned into luxury condos if Hoylman has his way with the Brookfield conversion. Hoylman destroyed the West and East Village homes for developers $. An accomplishment almost single handedly.
    STPCV DO NOT VOTE FOR HOYLMAN!

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  9. Per the latest Campus Crock email news letter:

    "We are pleased to report significant progress on our Corridor Refresh Project, which aims to refresh all common corridors throughout the community and provide an updated, clean look. This project will continue over the next two years"

    Two more years! Two more years!
    Agggggggggggggggggggggggggg.

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  10. I have sent an email to EVERY address in my email address book (and it is a very sizeable address book with literally hundreds of emails ranging from friends and family to doctors, business and everyone who every somehow got into it). I have warned them and asked them to forward my email to everyone they know, warning them, not to even think of renting here. I've told them what a rotten, disgusting apology for a management company we have; how we have no heat when the temperatures are in teens and single digits; how many buildings have had no laundry facilities since Sandy, and how "management" raises rents mid lease and adds MCIs for so-called "improvements" that are anything BUT improvements. I feel I am doing a public service.

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  11. A freakin' disaster!!!




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  12. The same lack of care and protection the TA is giving to the property and to our quality of life before the tenant bid is the same level they will give to the property and residents after a tenant purchase. ZERO.
    They do NOT deserve to own the property and they do NOT deserve to have residents finance their tenant bid by purchasing our apartments in their secret negotiated brookfield deal. The photo is appalling. the first ave loop is complete destroyed by their greed. I will miss those trees that walkway that tall oak that gave us all shade.

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  13. 6:36 PM
    2 more years?! of the TA CW wrecking STPCV. Awful. I can't believe the photo! The First Ave Loop is gone. 50 Trees!
    Nasty.

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  14. It was bulldozed without permits. Tenants filed complaints with the DOB. The TA did NOTHING.

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  15. I am so disgusted. I have to say something. Our neighbors here in the First Ave Loop along with some in PCV and some in the Oval have been fighting and opposing this office building with Department of Buildings Inspectors for over a year. Our neighbors fought to save First Ave Loop never asking anyone for money, never complaining. They just kept fighting to save our open space. Last summer one of the females fighting for us, opposing the offices, was harassed by a man on the Tenant's Association who tried to get her to stop opposing and to give the names of all who were opposing. This has gone too far. I couldn't stay quiet. I'm disgusted by Compass Rock and the Tenants Association.

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  16. Ok, now it can be officially said. NYCHA Baruch Houses has better landscaping then PCVST. And to all the people who said, I love the Oval CafĂ©, I love the Winter Wonderland, I love the Greenmarket, I love the concerts, etc., etc., well you reap what you sow. ALL open space here is now ripe for development because many tenants here, long and short term, sad to say, love this type of shit. And this constant insane ragging on the TA, Dan, and Brad (STR has his 4 legitimate talking points about Dan that need to be answered, the TA has some major issues as well), what’s your plan except to say the TA sucks and don’t vote for Dan. Or don’t vote for Brad. And the TA is in cahoots with CWC/CR? WTF? Break out the foil hats. When TA board positions open up for an election vote, I can’t wait for you to run. ……………Cue in tumbleweeds and crickets. Again, what is your plan?

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  17. Wouldn't it be nice to get some thought or comments from the TA regarding this? Anything? I check their website daily and nothing...

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  18. What does the TA have to do with all this? I agree that they do fuck all to protest the atrocities being perpetuated in this dump (just like their hero, Garodnick), but I don't see why they are being blamed in this instance.

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  19. Here's the story.

    In the spring of last year, Compass Rock announced the mgmt office would be moved to 276 1st Ave in the space occupied by Oval Concierge. Some tenants in the 6 affected buildings complained to the TA about it. The TA began monitoring the Dept of Buildings website for any new plans for 272-274-276-278 1st Avenue.

    By 9-26-13 there were still no plans found and so the TA thought it was time to organize residents of the buildings surrounding the proposed site to share info and gather ideas. The meeting was held on October 7. Invitees included  CompassRock Real Estate, Council Member Dan Garodnick, State Assembly Member Brian Kavanagh, and
    State Senator Brad Hoylman.

    I know all this because it's all straight from the blast email I got on 9-26-13 at 6:10pm from the TA, as did everyone else in affected buildings on the TA email list. Flyers announcing the meeting were slipped under the door of every apt in every affected building. I got one of those too.

    I went to the meeting. So did about 20-30 other residents, at most. I am not gonna go over again what went down at said meeting. It's all on the other two posts/threads on this site devoted to the mgmt office expansion. But I will say this. Every single person who attended that meeting knew the trees were coming down. The Compass Rock people spelled that out clearly. So this came as no surprise to me.

    Again, I live in a directly affected building. I am active in my building and in this community and yet am unaware of any year-long organized opposition to the mgmt office expansion. I was one of a number of hostile questioners, but there was absolutely no organized opposition at the poorly attended meeting four months ago.

    Maybe this opposition began sometime after the meeting. But what's the oppo strategy? Getting stop work orders? That will drag this on, I guess. Even if it were to drag on so long that CW Cap is no longer in the picture, that still leaves the question of where to put the new mgmt office with most of ST-PCV sitting on a flood plain.

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  20. What steps has CW taken to lessen or eliminate the disaster that struck the east side of PCVST during Hurricane Sandy?

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  21. Dear 11:07 please stop pretending your Oct 7 meeting was anything other than to expose those of us opposing the construction in a long list of aggressive acts to expose our identities and stop us from opposing.
    The politicians knew it was a fake meeting and none showed. CW ran the meeting as reported in the press. The construction company answered the questions per the press. The TA sent out invitations saying it was a TA meeting but it was a CW meeting so CW and Fred Knapp could retaliate against those of us fighting the construction.
    Your meeting was a sham! And shame on you. Wake up!
    We are organized. If you were not invited to join us its because you were identified as one of those trying to stop us from opposing. Did you even do anything on your own to oppose? Meet with DOB? Inspectors? File complaints on any of the many illegal construction acts in your building? File your opposition in a challenge to the changing of first ave loop occupancy from residential to commercial? Have you done anything on your own to convince anyone you actually do oppose?
    Because your sham meeting was to throw us under the bus. We have been yelled at by the Tenant Association for opposing the construction. And most grotesquely, one of our female neighbors was harassed by the Tenant Association to intimidate her into giving our names and telling our plan so we could be stopped. If any of you go near her again you will answer to all of us.
    Wake up 11:07!

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  22. The offices could and should go in the space on 14th near 1st and near a garage for their vehicles to come and go safely.

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  23. I was at that meeting in October. The Tenants Association and Compass Rock CW did NOT bring plans on purpose to hide number of trees to be ripped out (both the Tenant Association and CW said "a few"), land destroyed, real size of building. They lied in the meeting and concealed plans they all had and spoke to but refused to show. They lied to tenants in that meeting and now it is crystal clear it was a sham meeting.

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  24. "Because your sham meeting was to throw us under the bus. We have been yelled at by the Tenant Association for opposing the construction. And most grotesquely, one of our female neighbors was harassed by the Tenant Association to intimidate her into giving our names and telling our plan so we could be stopped. If any of you go near her again you will answer to all of us."

    Wow! Am I to understand from this that the TA approves of this destruction and construction? Why? Why would they? If they did/do approve of it then they are obviously no better than CW and the odious and evil Fred Knapp. I wasn't aware of this meeting because I don't live in any of the affected buildings, but I do resent the destruction of the once-beautiful grounds by these bastards. I am absolutely at a loss as to why the TA isn't jumping up and down with rage at what is going on here. I wouldn't expect much from Dan Goradnick because he is Big RE's Blue-Eyed Boy (even if his eyes aren't blue) and his little token acts of support aren't worth a tinker's gob, but I definitely would expect the TA to be bent out of shape over this.

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  25. To January 25, 2014 at 11:07 AM
    You are criticizing the efforts by residents fighting for us. WTF
    What is your grand plan - except to stop our neighbors from fighting and criticizing what they are doing.
    I would say shut up but that would stop you from showing your true colors defending construction.
    Dont give 11:07 the plan and don't tell them who you are!
    Keep up the good fight FIGHT FIGHT!

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  26. "And this constant insane ragging on the TA, Dan, and Brad (STR has his 4 legitimate talking points about Dan that need to be answered, the TA has some major issues as well), what’s your plan except to say the TA sucks and don’t vote for Dan. Or don’t vote for Brad. And the TA is in cahoots with CWC/CR? WTF? Break out the foil hats. When TA board positions open up for an election vote, I can’t wait for you to run. ……………Cue in tumbleweeds and crickets. Again, what is your plan?"

    One has to be a member of the TA in order to run for a position on the board or vote. Since 9 out of every 10 apartments here has no TA members that rules out the vast majority of tenants. Given the fact that the TA is less than useless it would be silly to join. I wouldn't give them a plug nickel, in fact I would like a refund for all the 20+ years I was a member. I await their upcoming audit.
    Many of us are doing things behind the scenes that go unrecognized because unlike the TA we don't need to let everyone know every time we squeeze one out. Still TA shills like you love to shout about how everyone except the TA is doing nothing. This simply isn't true. In fact the TA is negotiating over the MCI's rather than filing PARs because they were informed in no uncertain terms that they would be sued by the tenants if they blow the rebate deal CW offered. Their behind the tenants back deal with Brookfield will also be challenged in court if it ever sees the light of day. The best thing the TA could do is step down. Period! As for Dan and Brad as you so lovingly refer to them, well, they're Democrats and short of committing mass murder they will continue to be re-elected time after time because NYers are idiots and they keep re-electing trash. 30% for Garodnick's unknown Republican opponent is a clear rebuking of Dan and his lack of leadership, but only in NY. Elsewhere, he would be voted out, here we need term limits to evict him. Sad but true.

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  27. Please let's tone down the back and forth between sides here. No threats.

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  28. You are pretty handy with the insults, accusations, and innuendo 12:35 PM. The "if any of you" threat you directed at me was pretty bad salesmanship if you're recruiting for your group and the part about my being "identified as one of those trying to stop us from opposing" leaves me wondering what the hell is wrong with you and your group - if there actually is a group.

    I am going to be as clear as possible. I distributed flyers under doors in my building for the TA and attended the meeting to find out WTF was going on in my backyard. That is all. Period. I am not now a member of the TA board nor was I ever a member of the TA board. I am not now and have never been in any position of responsibility with the TA. I know nothing about your group or how it intends to stop construction of the mgmt office and at this point do not want to, thanks to you. I can totally understand why you've apparently gotten the brush off from the TA and elected reps.

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  29. Good point 1:27 That the Tenants Association is not enraged at the destroyed First Ave Loop shouts louder than anything they can try to back peddle now.

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  30. STR

    To be clear about both sides. Both sides mostly appear to be me and another poster who's also using an army of sock puppets.

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  31. 2:04
    Thanks for the information. Thanks for fighting for residents. Thanks for letting us know you are out there.
    We are here too fighting for residents. I think there are a lot more of us as you say - we just don't brag or twitter about our efforts and accomplishments.
    So in answer to the guy who keeps asking us to tell you "our plan" - hahahahhahahaahhahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah Thanks for the laugh.

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  32. Do we get to have a good ole mci for the tree decimation? just moved in and got a nice new and fairly large rent bill!!!!

    Awesome. Will post on my company website the practices and ongoings of Compass Rock and CW C.

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  33. Who's the property manager (name) for pcv and for stuy. We are writing and phoning.

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  34. STR when the time comes please let us all know how to join 2:04 in the court challenge to the Brookfield deal.
    BTW love the Brookstone commentor who really pissed off someone who is obviously with the Brookfield scam deal!

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  35. "When TA board positions open up for an election vote, I can’t wait for you to run. ……………Cue in tumbleweeds and crickets. Again, what is your plan?"

    Seriously?! I have not read a single comment saying anyone wants to run to be a part of the Tenant Association. Who would join such an ineffective and deceitful organization? Whoever said that needs to reread the threads. I don't think anyone wants to be on your team.

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  36. I'm calling a time out here on the anti-TA or pro-TA (if any) comments... I just don't have the patience to deal with squabbles at this point. Sorry.

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  37. I am totally lost on this! None of it makes any sense. I just know that CW/CR are destroying the grounds, ruining the quality of life for tenants, harassing tenants in various and sundry ways and we have nobody fighting for us who doesn't have some kind of agenda. Nobody is fighting for us for the sake of saving the grounds and the quality of life and I'm pretty sure political ambition and the almighty dollar have a lot to do with that sad fact.

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  38. "And most grotesquely, one of our female neighbors was harassed by the Tenant Association to intimidate her into giving our names and telling our plan so we could be stopped. If any of you go near her again you will answer to all of us."

    12.38 here. This is one hell of a charge. I'm just a grunt TA member. If true (details needed), I would quit the org as well. I hope your "behind the scenes" works out for all of us. It seems to me that the DOB is just as corrupt as the G and H men (as you claim), so unless you have some major legal firepower backing you up, where do we go from here?

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  39. Good call STR. There wouldn't be any squabbling if we were all on the same side.
    There is a clear division of goals and priorities.
    To the guys standing up for the woman who was intimidated and harassed, chivalry is not dead. Why do people get angry when someone protects a woman? Can we all just agree that no one should be harassed, intimidated especially a woman by a man.
    Call me old fashioned but you just don't do that no matter how angry a woman makes you, you do not do that.
    For what it is worth, my two cents, I didn't take the "if any of you" as directed to 11:07 but instead to the group that participated in the intimidation and not "the under the door slipper guy 11:07.
    Lastly, let's call a spade a spade, politicians don't care if they like you or not. When politicians are not supporting the cause its because they don't support the cause as it has no benefit to them. Politicians will support even their arch enemy if there is a benefit.
    If politicians say they are not joining because they "don't like you" then they are covering up that they don't support the cause.
    Been around the block long enough to know that through many Mayors and Presidents.
    11:07 you are angry at the wrong people.

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  40. Can someone tell us how to challenge the office construction with the DOB?

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  41. Doesn't it sound like everyone, even those fighting with each other, want the offices on 14th street where security is holding up? Why don't everyone do everything they can to make that a reality.

    I saw the tree-less site today and am as appalled as everyone. We don't have to work together. We just have to work. So everybody keep working, keep fighting, don't let anything or anyone stop you!

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  42. "I would just like to say something, ladies and gentlemen. Something that I think is very important. It is that, you, we - we own this country. We - we own it. It is not you owning it, and not politicians owning it. Politicians are employees of ours."
    Clint Eastwood

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  43. Looking at the before and after shots posted here on this tread, I think we all need to take pictures right away for the STR achieve for all the main levels and any other pertinent area that have not been “improved” so that an historical comparison record can be established, even the areas that TS/CWC/Rose/CR have already impacted but not to the extent of what has gone on at the Oval and the main level at Playground Eight.

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  44. Have they changed our zoning? Can we still protest that? How?

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  45. I'd like to be involved with your challenge to the Brookfield deal in court when the time comes. So do some of my neighbors. Let us know when we can help.

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  46. STR
    Thank you for posting the photos or the court yard.
    It was beautiful and our favorite part of walking through Stuyvesant.
    Sad it is gone.
    Thank you for memorializing it forever.

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  47. Everyone who doesn't like stuy town improvements , please break your lease and move and stop crying . Thank you

    - stuy town mayor

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  48. Jesus Christ! They cut down ALL of the trees?!?!?!?!

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  49. >>Thank you for posting the photos<<

    And thanks to the STR readers who pass these on!

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  50. 6:41 PM

    A number of us at the meeting in October were not happy about this plan and went over alternate sites at length with CW's PR flacks. 14th between B&C was the first obvious option brought up. It lies on the flood plain, so it was discounted.

    Trust me, I do not want this eyesore in my backyard and neither did anyone else attending that nite. I haven't done any surveys but can probably safely assume my neighbors will be pretty unhappy about it too when they find out the mgmt office roof will be jutting up out of the ground and will extend out to where the cobblestones used to be. The builders will attempt to mitigate the horror by covering it with grass. The roof will also have skylights. And there will be an exit. It's not good. But the CW PR flacks made the case that their only option was putting any new office off the flood plain which meant somewhere off 1st Ave.

    I do not want this thing, but it has not been made clear to me by anyone here how it can be stopped. The DOB OKed it and now it just looks like details like sprinkler systems have to be straightened out and construction will begin. If I am wrong about this, please fill me in. Preferably without insults.

    I am not afraid of a fight, but as far as I can tell, what they are doing in my backyard, as shitty as it is, is perfectly legal. If there are legal ways to stop construction, I'd *really* like to hear them. And if I could help, all the better. But at this point, my impression that someone is really mad at a lot of people for not waving magic wands and making the bad go away.

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  51. My assumption is that CWCapital, or whoever eventually owns this place, can do anything they want to the property, except (at this point) start knocking the buildings down. So if a landlord wants to build something on the central Oval field, they can do so. Or cut down all the trees in PCVST.

    The only possible pushback is to fight them on zoning and other DOB infractions. But even there, tenants will probably lose. (Re: the commercialization of the Oval.) Particularly when we have politicians who talk the talk,but don't walk the walk. (We'll see how it goes with De Blasio, but I'm not that hopeful.)

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  52. BTW: Let me stress that from now on any comment that contains an insult at another poster or tenants in general will not get approved, even if the majority of the comment is of interest and even spot on. Please let's keep to civility among each other. Thanks for your consideration in this matter.

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  53. If the new management office is being built out of the flood zone, what happens to the buildings and garages that are in the flood zone? Can CWCapital assure tenants in those areas, and prospective renters for commercial space, that another disaster won't occur should there be another Hurricane Sandy? I've not heard anything from CW about this, which should be a major concern.

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  54. 10:18 a.m.: Thank you for being the voice of reason.

    The only way CW could avoid this construction is by using existing retail space on First Avenue, but they don't want to give up that income, although I don't see why the leasing office needs so much street frontage.

    STR: Agree--why is there no plan for protecting the buildings that were severely damaged?

    Right now all we know is that electrical panels have been moved, which is nice. But the reconstructed basements (still waiting for a laundry room, bike storage, and indoor recycling, by the way, for anyone in ST who thinks things are back to normal in PCV and they're the only ones suffering) are still likely to flood, as far as I know. Then we'll start the process all over again. Or maybe CW thinks that will be someone else's problem.

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  55. STR 11:06 AM

    I think the the skating rink is pertinent here. I recall a commenter on this site who sounded like (s)he knew what (s)he was talking about argued against challenging it via zoning, that (hope I have this part right) the better avenue was challenging on environmental impact or maybe it was QOL on surrounding buildings. But people here were hot to pursue the zoning route and that commenter got regularly shouted down. My understanding from some research at the time is that in zoning disputes, compromise is always the route taken, that rulings obviously favoring one over the other is avoided if possible. Why not look into it? It might make for an interesting post.

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  56. ""I would just like to say something, ladies and gentlemen. Something that I think is very important. It is that, you, we - we own this country. We - we own it. It is not you owning it, and not politicians owning it. Politicians are employees of ours.""

    Great quote. I wish we could somehow make these politicians realize that THEY work for US!

    Any suggestions as to how to fight the filth that is ruining this place, will be gratefully accepted and considered. Very soon, there will be no trees left. They seem to have a hatred for trees. These carpet-bagging vermin have turned out once-lovely complex into something resembling old Warsaw on a bad day.

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  57. "Everyone who doesn't like stuy town improvements , please break your lease and move and stop crying . Thank you

    - stuy town mayor"

    And you would be? Hitler, maybe?

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  58. "14th between B&C was the first obvious option brought up" as an alternative location for the new management office. This has now been brought up by several commenters.

    There is already a business occupying that location - Manhattan Kids Club. As a parent of two children who go to MKC (and is very happy with it), what don't I know that everyone else pushing for 14th between B&C seems to know??

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  59. Management couldn't give one rat's ass about how the tenants feel about the on-going construction / destruction projects.


    Their attitude "If you don't like it, leave".


    Sad but TRUE!!!

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  60. "Everyone who doesn't like stuy town improvements , please break your lease and move and stop crying . Thank you

    - stuy town mayor"

    STR, as per your post: "that contains an insult at another poster or tenants in general will not get approved". This one must have slipped through. So I will respond. This type of post says it all, whether you hate the TA, Dan G., Brad H, or not. Empathy? I think not.

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  61. When Foot Locker left they used the space for the leasing office. Why couldn't they wait until the end of a lease and not renew it and open the new management office in that space? Of course, they would be losing rental income but they're losing rental income at the leasing office.

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  62. Of course CW always had the alternative of using some of the commercial space on First Avenue. Years ago, the whole administrative operation was housed on 14th Street in the space now occupied by Associated. I don't mean to suggest that Associated should be moved. I point out the old location only to illustrate that there were alternatives to the OC location and the decimation of one of the nice quiet spots of the community at Playground 8.

    Also, one might wonder why the new security command center being built on the oval could not have gone in the space currently used by security on 14th street, adjacent to Associated.

    As to the TA, perhaps Ms. Steinberg or Mr. Marsh could take a few minutes to set forth on their website the TA's views on this and their interaction with management on the issue. Continued silence will only feed the perceptions that have been expressed in the commentary here on this issue.

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  63. >>STR, as per your post: "that contains an insult at another poster or tenants in general will not get approved". This one must have slipped through.<<

    I thought it was a joke since the signature was "stuy town mayor."

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  64. The space occupied by Associated
    used to be occupied by Beth Israel offices, not ST management.

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  65. Actually years ago the management office was located on East 14 Street between Ave. B and C , not where Associated is located. As I recall the facade of the office was beige colored brick which distinguished it from the rest of STPCV

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  66. Management used to be where Manhattan Kids Club is now. 14th between B & C. That's where I signed my lease 25 years ago.

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  67. There was a time when most ST offices were in the Met Life building on 23rd street and Madison Avenue.

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  68. There was a time when most ST offices were in the Met Life building on 23rd street and Madison Avenue. >>>

    They might as well be in Bismark, North Dakota for all the good they are. Useless bunch of idiots. There should be a special cage for Habersham the Horrible.

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  69. The real question, of course, is whether CWCapital is going to actually buy the property themselves. God help us all if they do.

    If not, the next question is, WHEN ARE THEY GOING TO LEAVE? They earn many millions of dollars in fees here every year so what exactly is their incentive to go? None, as far as I can see.

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  70. thinking same. CW has a real chance to buy it and why not?
    they're making money.

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  71. TO the person asking for a way to fight the shitty construction on first ave loop - there is a link on an earlier thread to oppose the "Change in Occupancy" they applied for to build the offices.

    Tenants are fighting and would not allow them to build this with the loophole used to destroy the Oval, "accessory".

    Tenants won that battle because these Oval and First Ave Loop buildings are not by definition accessories.

    The Occupancy that was established in 1948 was to protect STPCV by keeping it Residential - to protect it from this very act of offices in an Open Space.

    So if you have not already, go to the link and file your opposition to the Change in Occupancy that will rezone 272-274 to commercial use.

    Several tenants have filed their opposition and are awaiting to be posted.
    No one from the Tenant Association has filed an opposition to the Change in Occupancy of PCVST buildings from residential to commercial use.
    That says it all.

    Go to the link and file your opposition today as the deadline is this week.

    At the very least you will get your voice heard on record!

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  72. To the guy asking for a way to fight the office construction.

    Here is a link from the DOB for anyone who wants to oppose the rezoning Change of Occupancy from Residential status to Commercial status of the buildings on the First Ave Loop.

    Tenants are opposing this on their own. Without help from the TA and without help from the politicians who say they oppose commercializing STPCV but don't match their words with actions because they too do not oppose the commercialization of PCVST.

    The TA has not opposed CW changing our buildings from residential to commercial so now there is no doubting their position.

    Here it is:
    This week is the deadline.

    Please follow the link below to review the Development Challenge Process.



    http://www.nyc.gov/html/dob/html/homeowners_and_tenants/development_challenge.shtml

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  73. There is no incentive for CW to go because until now no one was standing up to them.
    Last summer I was at a mini press rally for Bill de Blasio on 16th street when he was campaigning and I heard a tenant ask if anyone there was a Tenant Association Board member at the press rally and then asked about the tearing down of the open space and trees for offices and a blond woman with a big ponytail flipped around nearly hitting me with her ponytail, and said I am Tenant Association Board they have permits so there is nothing you can do. Then she flipped her thick ponytail around and flitted off.
    Our jaws dropped.
    This was last summer long before they had any permits!

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  74. "blond woman with a big ponytail flipped around nearly hitting me with her ponytail, and said I am Tenant Association Board they have permits so there is nothing you can do. Then she flipped her thick ponytail around and flitted off. "

    Was this a little skinny woman? I have an idea as to who it was.

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  75. I am shocked that the Tenants Association is not filing an opposition to this rezoning. Last time I'll ever send them my dues or go along with anything they suggest.

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  76. They paved Paradise and put up a parking lot.

    ...........Joni Mitchell

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  77. For questions on how to do the Public Challenge
    e-mail: publicchallenge@buildings.nyc.

    They are responsive and helpful.

    272 - 278 are considered 1 building by the DOB because technically it is 1 building.

    I went straight to the email for my questions and they answered them and I filed my public challenge last weekend.

    No one was keeping secrets as someone said. We are all smart enough to learn how to do this. It is our city. The DOB is our agency. And as someone eloquently pointed out the politicians work for us even though they are not doing their jobs. We are the bosses. We are responsible for ourselves and smart enough and opinionated enough to know right from wrong and to do something about it without having someone tell us what to do and without getting permission first. We don't need permission from anyone to stand up for ourselves. In case you can't tell I am angry about this mess too. We are on the same page. We are smart. We will learn how and fight for ourselves!

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  78. publicchallenge@buildings.nyc

    I just emailed them. They sent me the link to the challenge form and a link to the instructions.

    Simple. Simple. Everyone do this!

    The job number is 121333958

    Thank you to the tenant that gave us this!

    09/23/2013 121333958 01 A1 Q PERMIT-PARTIAL 01/22/2014 0020939 RA STAND PENDING
    CHANGE OF USE TO ADD MANAGEMENT OFFICES IN THE CELLAR AS SHOWN ON DRAWINGS

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  79. They are digging the hole for the new foundation today. I hate to even think this but it's too late for objections. This is already happening. Thanks to Garodnick, et al for nothing. The TA was absolutely on the wrong side on this too and don't represent me. I've never felt like I needed protection FROM the TA before but I do now. Sad....

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  80. According to the DOB, the challenge opportunity is available until 2/7/14.

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  81. According to the DOB, the challenge opportunity is available until 2/7/14.

    Given the fact hat they have already started the build, good luck with that.

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  82. "According to the DOB, the challenge opportunity is available until 2/7/14.

    Given the fact hat they have already started the build, good luck with that."

    Could maybe get a temporary "stop work" order? Even if we can't defeat them, we can give them all the angst possible!

    ReplyDelete
  83. "publicchallenge@buildings.nyc

    I just emailed them. They sent me the link to the challenge form and a link to the instructions.

    Simple. Simple. Everyone do this!

    The job number is 121333958

    Thank you to the tenant that gave us this!

    09/23/2013 121333958 01 A1 Q PERMIT-PARTIAL 01/22/2014 0020939 RA STAND PENDING
    CHANGE OF USE TO ADD MANAGEMENT OFFICES IN THE CELLAR AS SHOWN ON DRAWINGS"

    I just tried to get onto the public challenge site mentioned above and got a "Phishing Site" warning.

    ReplyDelete
  84. I did eventually find my way onto the site (the phishing warning must have been a fluke of my computer's anti-phishing app). I couldn't find any evidence of objections being filed.

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  85. I did eventually find my way onto the site (the phishing warning must have been a fluke of my computer's anti-phishing app). I couldn't find any evidence of objections being filed.

    I posted the above and want to be clear that just because I couldn't find any objections filed, it doesn't mean that there weren't any. I'm not very good at negotiating .gov pages!

    ReplyDelete


  86. Of course you'll get an MCI for the new office and the hits just keep coming. There will be a non stop flood of m c i s so why bother staying here.

    ReplyDelete

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