Sunday, April 13, 2014

This is it: THE FUTURE OF STUYVESANT TOWN & PETER COOPER VILLAGE



Read this carefully if you want to know what the future holds for us. Note the amazing similarities between our complex and Parkmerced in San Francisco. This blog has already predicted such a change, as recently as yesterday in the comments section. On occasion, I've been privately contacted by someone in Parkmerced who has followed the events in PCVST and has noted the similarities to Parkmerced, too.

Given the outrageous value of the expansive land here at PCVST, given the gluttony of greedy real estate and their influence over local politicians, this WILL HAPPEN. Parkmerced is the template now. The only thing that will stop this is a severe economic downturn, which some are predicting is a possibility. Otherwise....

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http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Parkmerced-transformation-wins-approval-2370555.php#ixzz1NNmO8fDr

By Will Kane, Chronicle Staff Writer

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors gave the go-ahead Tuesday to a $1.2 billion plan to transform the sprawling Parkmerced area from a car-centric neighborhood to a state-of-the-art sustainable neighborhood. In a 6-5 split, the board voted to replace 1,500 rent-controlled town homes with 7,200 new energy-efficient units over the next 20 to 30 years.

When the project, which currently houses about 8,000 residents, is completed in 2040, an additional 14,000 people will be living in the 152-acre neighborhood, originally built in the 1940s as a suburban outpost in San Francisco. Units where rents are currently controlled will stay that way, but new ones will be rented or sold at market rate. The rebuilt Parkmerced will have a maximum of 3,200 rent-controlled units, the same number it has today.

The new neighborhood will have a school, easy access to transit, and stores within walking distance of homes designed to save water and power, a dramatic change from the expansive lawns and wide streets now found in Parkmerced. All existing garden apartments will be demolished, while the 11 landmark towers will remain.

The vote followed loose ideological lines, with progressive Supervisors David Campos, John Avalos, Ross Mirkarimi and Eric Mar opposing the project. Supervisor Jane Kim also voted against the plan, which, following standard procedure, will be up for what's expected to be routine final approval in two weeks.

Supervisor Sean Elsbernd, whose district includes the Parkmerced complex, said the proposal by developer Stellar Management would improve San Francisco.

"Today is a big day for the city of San Francisco and for the region," he said before the vote. "This is a regional project."

Some residents and tenant groups vociferously opposed the project, arguing that it is a modern-day land grab by a developer hoping to evict tenants and eliminate rent control at the complex.

They promised to fight the board's approval of the project in court or at the ballot box, using the city's voter-initiative process to overturn the board's decision.

"I think it is wrong to demolish 1,538 people's homes," said Mitchell Omerberg, a tenant activist. "Every time we've done that in this city, we've regretted it."

Some supervisors worried that the development agreement, which outlines rent-control guarantees and the details of the project, isn't strong enough to protect renters, despite assurances from the city that it is.

"There are times when going as far as possible is simply not enough, because the law is in such a state that there is still a degree of uncertainty," Campos said.

Hoping to make the agreement stronger, Supervisor David Chiu introduced 14 pages of amendments Tuesday morning that, among other things, give tenants the right to sue if the developer reneges on promises and guaranteed money if rent control is eliminated.

PJ Johnston, spokesman for the developer, said supervisors had no reason to think the developers will not keep their promises.

"We're very heartened by the wisdom and courage of the supervisors who voted for the project," he said in a statement. "We're also mindful of the legitimate concerns of those who voted against it. We intend to live up to the best intentions of all 11 supervisors and to continue to earn the trust of our residents."

But Parkmerced residents at the hearing said they have no faith that the developer or the city has their best interests at heart.

"I think this is a travesty," said Michael Russom, a Parkmerced resident. "There's no guarantee that we're protected."

Early in the meeting, Cathy Lentz, a resident of Parkmerced, had to be dragged out of the board chambers by sheriff's deputies after she began yelling at supervisors.

As three deputies held her outside of the meeting room, her eyes filled with tears.

"I've lived there 50 years," she wailed. "What are they doing?"

Lentz, 60, was escorted out of the building and not arrested, said Eileen Hirst, a Sheriff's Department spokeswoman.

Elsbernd said that while he appreciated the concerns of Parkmerced residents, they weren't considering what would happen if the project was not approved and the 1940s-era development continued to slip into disrepair.

"We talk about what the risk is to the tenants if the project moves forward," he said. "What about the risks to the tenants if the project does not?"

Rents could increase to fund maintenance and residents could be evicted so chunks of the land could be turned into student housing for neighboring San Francisco State University, he said. While the current proposal requires some upheaval, it is better than doing nothing, he said.

Craig Hartman, an architect with Skidmore, Owings and Merrill who designed the new Parkmerced neighborhood, said many other cities would model their new developments after Parkmerced.

"What I really hope for is a neighborhood that will be really, truly of San Francisco," he said. "It is an example of what can be done to make new, intelligent forms of human settlement."

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STR here:  Yes, I've noted "residents could be evicted so chunks of the land could be turned into student housing for neighboring San Francisco State University."  Just replace SFSU with NYU. Voila!

Find out more about Parkmerced, and see more similarities (Met Life built the place, too) at the Wikipedia entry for that complex:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parkmerced,_San_Francisco

And read what this blog said over a year ago about the future of this complex:

http://stuytownreport.blogspot.com/2013/01/the-future-of-stuy-town-and-peter.html

64 comments:

Giovanni said...

Anyone who can't see this land grab coming to PCV/ST is either not paying attention or delusional. There is just too much valuable land available with river and city views located next to the East Village, which is one of the hottest neighborhoods in the city for development.

Maybe they will do it through a condo conversion and land lease of the open spaces like the Oval,, or maybe they.will suddenly find out that all that toxic gas in the ground from the old gas plants the place is built on is a health hazard, and so the whole place gets evicted to tear it down and clean it up. The stretch on 1st ave both north and south of Beth Israel is rumored to all be redeveloped soon, which will only increase the value of Stuy Town.

It's just a matter of time before the bulldozers arrive. Unfortunately PCV/ST Is a commodity, not a community, at least as far as the developers are concerned.

Stuy Town Reporter said...

I would think a TENANT buy-out of PCVST is dead, however, as it probably always was. This place is going to be owned by the Big Boys in real estate and banking. Not the tenants.

Anonymous said...

I agree with sTr. Very very big boys in RE. The fun is just beginning folks….. And we're not going to win --- RS Tenant here.

Anonymous said...

I think you are correct STR, and with the deafening silence from the TA regarding everything, I believe it even more. Personally speaking, I really couldn't care less anymore. The good old days aren't coming back. The bastards wore me down. A tenant led conversion would have been preferable, but as you indicate, it ain't happening. Seven more years until I can escape this pig sty. It can't come soon enough.

Anonymous said...

Agree 10:45 - but its not only developers treating PCVST as a commodity, its also the politicians, community boards, dob, ta.

Stuy Town Reporter said...

It's time to rethink the present and the future. I hope to post on this soon, but there are two primary goals now: 1) to make sure our current Quality of Life is taken care of, which it is not, and 2) to make sure that we, as tenants, are in the best position for the change that will eventually come, even if it's years down the line.

Taking a look around the complex, and seeing its present shape, the devastation of the Oval, the crumbling stairwalks, the dog crap and urine stains, the overpopulation, etc, I'm not against a radical transformation of PCVST, but we have to fight against being abused and shafted in the process, and against the property being so radically altered that PCVST's open spaces will be diminished. We also have to make certain that affordable middle-class housing will not be completely eradicated.

Ultimately, if the politicians are with us (big question mark), we have whomever buys this place by the short hairs.

Anonymous said...

History repeating itself.

Remember, they bulldozed the lower east side in order to build ST/PCV 65 years ago.

Anonymous said...

STR I couldn't agree more.
Time to file any and all lawsuits that are brewing or pending.
Time to get on record any, every, all complaints on anything and everything.
Just get it on record.
Doesn't matter if the city or the politicians drop the ball again and again or pay lip service with no action backing it up.
Just get it all on record. It takes little effort to get it on record.
And go to Vote Smart and see who REBNY is donating large sums to in the 2014 elections and decide your vote from that.

Anonymous said...

I am really glad news articles are printing names of all involved and all who vote against their constituent's well being. Those politicians should be loudly publicly shamed and this should haunt them throughout all their endeavors with loud reminders of their greed over their constituent's homes.
They are not worthy of public service in any political office.

Stuy Town Reporter said...

>>History repeating itself. Remember, they bulldozed the lower east side in order to build ST/PCV 65 years ago.<<

And the same arguments were used on both sides!

Anonymous said...

http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2014/04/12/3426152/wealthy-lobbyists-policy/

The old ways won't work. Buses to Albany and bright green post cards are no match and wasted energy(see article).

Hit hard. Hit fast. Just throw all your punches in the ring!

Real action in every way with out of the box thinking!

Be BOLD!

Anonymous said...

They are building additions on a house that is crumbling. This once beautiful world famous development studied by architects from all over the world is destroyed. Any buyer will be getting a money pit created by all those named already in this blog.

They are nothing more than Money Pit Makers. Same players making all the zombie homes across the state.

Bankers RE Capitalists Politicians

They don't develop anything admirable or respectable. They leave a wake of destruction in their paths.
Destroyed land. Stolen Homes. Destroyed Families.




Anonymous said...

Poster at 4:04 pm: What would you suggest we do?

Anonymous said...

studied by architects? is that a joke? no really. I love it here, but it looks like tenement housing projects.

lol

Anonymous said...

chase and dimon made a mess of parkmerced. everything dimon touches he destroys to line his pockets.

Anonymous said...

We are grad students and FTR respectful tenants. We've been awake since 6 am and this is an almost daily occurrence.

While most residents here complain about students, I just want to state that we live in a one BR underneath a one BR with a family of 3 kids, 2 parents and a Nanny. Our lives here are a living hell. It's not always 'the students' who create the living hell.

Stuy Town Reporter said...

You should go to your upstairs neighbor, if you haven't already, and address the problem. I once had a slightly similar situation, and the mother apologized and promised to take care of the situation. It wasn't 100% rectified, but most of it was. If that fails, then contact Public Safety.

Anonymous said...

To the grad students in the living hell:
If talking to your upstairs neighbor doesn't help, call Public Safety and call often--it helps your case if this situation is constant. Make sure, if you can, that PS actually comes, and get the name of the officer. Sometimes they respond but don't file a report.
Make a sound recording, if possible.
If you complain often enough, it's more likely that management will take action, but document everything--date, time, type of noise.
And see your lease for what you're legally entitled to--the quiet enjoyment of your apartment.

Anonymous said...

Family with 3 kids and a nanny in a 1BR--paging the Tenement Museum.

Anonymous said...


It's the same in a lot of the one bedrooms. And even if the family was attempting to be quiet, it's a lot of people in the space. They must be bouncing off the walls there. Is it carpeted?

We have same underneath us though. There is a baby that screams her head off every night so loud for sometimes hours. What can you do though? These families should put lots of carpets and pad the walls with furniture and more. How awful to live 5 or 6 people in a one bedroom. WTF

Anonymous said...

"The stretch on 1st ave both north and south of Beth Israel is rumored to all be redeveloped soon ..."

Real estate media was calling it the "Tishman Speyer Effect"

Didn't happen.

What are they calling it now?

Anonymous said...

Well, I can understand the concerns ala Parkmerced but I wouldn't be 100% sure. First, note the huge gap from 38th to 41st on 1st ave. That space is super valuable and has remained empty for the past 7 years so the fact that the property is valuable doesn't necessarily lead to only one conclusion. Also, what you suggest wouldn't be a CW plan. CW is still making ready to sell the property as is...working on buildings & grounds and creating demos. A plan like the change to Parkmerced would have to be advanced by the winning bidder and subsequently would have to be approved by the state attorney general. Given the upheaval this would cause, I don't believe Schneiderman's office would approve it. And I'm sure there are huddles that would have to be cleared with the city council and the mayor. It's a very different situation when you have a distressed property essentially in receivership and opposed to an ongoing owner (such as MetLife once was) that wants completely re-do a property of which it is the sole owner.

Anonymous said...

Poster at 5:57 maybe we can ask the TA for an answer to your question. They must have ways. Has anyone heard from them on this?

Anonymous said...

What's the update on these 3 MCI'S which we are paying for, the last 4 months?

Anonymous said...

Schneiderman does a great job for people. His work may not always get the press coverage it deserves - but he always fights for the people's rights.

Anonymous said...

I'll just add that Parkmerced is layed out totally differently than ST/PCV. It's a mix of low rise and mid rise housing. Again one of the problems with DeBlaaio's "build taller" vision is that the infrastructure won't support the greater density. You can hardly board an L Train as it is. Imagine doubling the population of the neighborhood.

Anonymous said...

2:40 pm: I think it is going to be absolute hell around here when they develop the two blocks from First Avenue to Avenue B. There will be lotteries for getting on an L train. The First Ave station is dangerously crowded most of the time and even if they build another entrance/exit near Avenue A or Avenue B, the train will still be packed like a sardine can.

Don't City Planners ever think about these things? What qualifications do you have to have to be a City Planner? They can't be the sharpest knives in the drawer, judging by NYC.

Anonymous said...

PS. The Oval Fountain is broken. Runs for a few minutes then completely shuts off for up to 1/2 hour. Management denies that there's anything wrong. Yeah yeah I know about if it's too windy......but it's not supposed to turn completely off!! The wind sensor is supposed to just lower the flow until the wind dues down and it can go back to full blast. They won't fix this BUT you'll be sure to have Oval Bar and Grill.

Write an email to property manager Dave Bernhardt
Dbernhardt@compassrock.com.

I sent him a note of concern last week. As per management these days I haven't heard back from him.

This place is shot.

Anonymous said...

TA has been silent for a long time. Recently a tenant asked when the next TA meeting is being held and the answer from "Peter Stuyvesant" was that none is currently scheduled. Didn't they have an "election" recently for some of the Board seats?
What will it take for the TA to mobilize?

Anonymous said...

Don't think there is much point in looking to the TA for anything when it comes to this. Think the TA has found out over the last 2 years that its deal with Brookfield means nothing and it has no influence whatsoever with CW when it comes to a sale.

Anonymous said...

Good Lord do not COMPLAIN ABOUT THE fountain. If they have to fix it or adjust it, they will charge us with another MCI. Think people. Think.

And I am totally serious.

Anonymous said...

604p You may be right.

Tommyboyardee said...

The fountain only works when the Oval Cafe toilets are flushed.

Anonymous said...

WHEN ARE WE GOING TO GET SOME KIND OF UPDATE FROM THE T.A. REGARDING THESE OUTRAGEOUS MCI'S?

Anonymous said...

WHEN ARE WE GOING TO GET SOME KIND OF UPDATE FROM THE T.A. REGARDING THESE OUTRAGEOUS MCI'S? .......


Good Question! These MCIs are absolutely criminal. So unjustified as to be outright larcenous.

Anonymous said...

WHEN ARE WE GOING TO GET SOME KIND OF UPDATE FROM THE T.A. REGARDING THESE OUTRAGEOUS MCI'S? .......

Don't hold your breath.

I contacted the old DHCR folks and told them I want to file a PAR and object to ruling and that I don't care about any possible solution being negotiated. They have to get back to me because they didn't know what tenants could do since TA was working on it. They seemed very disturbed when I informed them that the TA represents less than 10% of tenants in PCVST. To quote " what a waste of our time if TA isn't legally allowed to negotiate for tenants". I don't know what that means but ....whatever...

Anonymous said...

I think the longer it goes, the more beneficial it will be for us.

Anonymous said...

http://nypost.com/2014/04/15/centurion-dumping-tenants-in-conversion/

Anonymous said...

http://ag.ny.gov/press-release/ag-schneiderman-secures-more-1-million-relief-tenants-living-1700-nyc-apartments

Anonymous said...

3:59 good article. The loss of family homes replacing them with "investment properties" is another way of saying all cash payments on million dollar NYC real estate by Russia, China, Brazil with no questions asked on where the money came from.

Anonymous said...

To 3:59...can you explain the purpose of posting this link? The article points out that the building being converted is 100% market units. No stabilized apts. Not the same situation as STPCV.

Anonymous said...

8:32 was about to post the same comment. The article is not us at all. All tenants in pcvst are RS.

Hippo said...

Here is marketing technique which will SURELY hasten the sale of Stuy Town. While walking around the Oval today I saw three plies of freshly laid dog sh*t. Nice! Gives the place a certain ambiance wouldn't you say?
I politely confronted one young lady as her canine defecated and mentioned that the Oval is off limit to dogs. Her reply, "But, he has to go." Then she stalked off leaving her pet's droppings as if she had deposited gold on the ground. Guess it's just another Oval Amenity...hahaha...so sad.

Stuy Town Reporter said...

I'm beginning to firmly believe, as opposed to just guessing, that the dog policy around here is being willfully ignored by Public Safety. Don't know who is behind this lack of enforcement: CW, the chief of PS, or the individual officers, but I see this lack of involvement almost daily. The other day, I saw a woman from outside of the complex walk her German shepherd right past the guard booth in PCV, and the officer in there was looking right at her and said nothing. She walked around PCV, had her dog defecate or piss, and strolled back out the same way she came in--and nothing from the officer inside the booth.

Who is responsible for this negligence?

I don't have a cellphone, but if I did, I'd be calling the PS office every time I'd spot something like this.

Tommyboyardee said...

Let me first declare I have a dog. I am mortified of the disrespect that other dog owners show this property. That stated, littering is also against the law, yet mgt. has street sweepers, custodians, etc., keeping the property clean. However when dog sh*t is discovered! it is documented! commented on, viewed, discussed! & more. Much like the blowing in the wind plastic bags, candy wrappers, etc., are eventually corralled and disposed of properly.
If it takes issuing tickets, so be it. The law is clear, just enforce it.

Anonymous said...



Dog Issues and bombs on walkways: But it's just another selling point! There are thousands of people needing apartments here, with dogs. Since so many buidlings are coops and /or not allowing dogs, it's a win win for new tenants.

They really don't care about the bombs on the sidewalks. It's a welcome home message. ;)

Anonymous said...

Darwin may have said it best,"Survival of the fittest".
Everyone else can go scratch.

Anonymous said...

OK. Here's my dog-public safety story.
About 1 wk ago I was walking toward the Oval from 1st Ave. Someone in front of me (probably not a resident) had come in from 1st Ave with a black dog. As we were starting to pass the basketball courts, I realized the dog was a full bred pit bull. And about midway I looked up and saw a PS guy heading right toward them. Needless to say, he walked right by. As he started to pass me, I thought..."do I tell him about the dog and watch him do nothing or do I say something, knowing full well there will be no good response?" I decided it was best to try at least once, so I turned, stopped him and pointed out the dog & owner who were now about 40-50 ft away.
The PS guy said: "I didn't even notice."
Me (pointing ahead): "Well, there they are."
PS guy: "Now you're telling me...when they're so far past me."
Me: "Well, there just over there. We could catch up."
PS Guy (in puzzling hurt tone): "Thanks a lot, sir. Thanks a lot for caring."
Me: (As PS guy walks away quickly): "Hey wait they're just..."
PS Guy (Over his shoulder): "Thanks a lot for caring, sir.
Thanks a lot for caring."
The End. Nothing about the guy's response computes except he was determined not to do anything. So what does that tell you? Tells me they'll come up with any bullshit not to enforce the rules. Also tells me that the only way this will change is if there there is a conversion and the governance board stipulates that any security guard reported and warned 2x-3x about not doing his job will be subject to dismissal.

Anonymous said...

8:32 and 11:03

I am not 3:59 but I see the comment's sensibility.

Victims don't have to be similar for understanding perpetrators.

Understanding acts perpetrator's commit will assist in protecting potential victims.

Its a money scheme by them.

They change their actions according to victims nuances.

It is a land grab, a home grab, an asset vehicle to hide dirty money.

A luxury condo building isn't about enjoying the good life or providing homes for rich.

It is a tax free haven for foreigners, a money laundering vehicle alias "investment properties" or same.

Anonymous said...

This place is SHOT!

Sad.

Stuy Town Reporter said...

>>So what does that tell you? Tells me they'll come up with any bullshit not to enforce the rules.<<

That's what is seems like, doesn't it? I also suspect that if they have to fill out a report in the more serious incidents, the Powers That Be don't want these reports logged in, because that makes the presentation to a prospective buyer of PCVST less attractive. Basically, CW wants to tell such a buyer "We have no dog problem" or ignore the issue completely. Remember that recent press release article in T&V about the Security Office and the chief minimizing the dog problem because of the bright blue dog tags registered dogs must wear?

Anonymous said...

20th street loop, flyers placed on cars stating upgrade in electrical work will take place for 4-6 weeks. Another MCI on the way? Hello TA?

Anonymous said...

This "upgrade" in electrical work on 20th street loop needs to be audited. Is it an upgrade or maintenance or hazardous conditions being addresses before an buyer inspection? Where would details on this be?

Anonymous said...

To STR...Right. Or at least, that's what I think. The impression CW wants to create is that there are no problems here. The message to prospective buyers is that this is Happyville. Which tells you...the only leverage tenants have here is to kick up a fuss if they feel seriously enough about an issue. What's ironic is that most prospective bidders probably read every blog, more than the tenants do. So they know what's going on here. They're aren't all as out of it as Tishman-Speyer.

Anonymous said...

"They're aren't all as out of it as Tishman-Speyer."

Nobody could be as stupid as Tishman Speyer! Robbie Speyer is the King of Idiocy and Greed.

Anonymous said...

"20th street loop, flyers placed on cars stating upgrade in electrical work will take place for 4-6 weeks. Another MCI on the way? Hello TA?"

How about you take one of the flyers and mail it to the TA. Or scan it and email it to the TA. Or call management and ask what the work is about.

Anonymous said...

Go to the Stuy Town Yelp page, the link can be found at the right side of the banner page of this blog. At the Yelp site, click on the Yelp sort by date feature for the reviews. The last 15 reviews are one star reviews. The next 11 are a combination of two and one star reviews, the vast majority which are one star reviews. Everyone needs to click on "useful” for these horror show reviews.

Anonymous said...

Does anyone know the true reason CW and Compass Rock are closing the loops? They lied about the reasons on everything else. The people in the buildings at the First Ave loop construction site had their plumbing turned off, and the electric turned off and CW Compass Rock says its for maintenance when we all know it is for the construction work on their offices. They had to file paperwork for this somewhere. Where can we see that?

Anonymous said...

I apologize,the flyers were actually placed on the 18th street loop, not the 20th street loop. Workers mentioned this is for the NEW office being built.

Anonymous said...

"How about you take one of the flyers and mail it to the TA. Or scan it and email it to the TA. Or call management and ask what the work is about."

We have a TA?

Anonymous said...

OH YEAH. Management will surely let you know what is happening.
Get real.

Anonymous said...



9:25. Ha. not sure Robbie is stupid at all. Quite possibly brilliant. We are the stupid ones. Robbie walked away without a scratch and did not lose a dime.

Who are the stupid ones here? We're pretty much staying in a burning building, tons of signs to leave safely and here we all are.

Anonymous said...

"'How about you take one of the flyers and mail it to the TA. Or scan it and email it to the TA. Or call management and ask what the work is about.'

"We have a TA?"

Which means people should do some of the work themselves instead of always looking for someone else to do it.

Anonymous said...

"OH YEAH. Management will surely let you know what is happening.
Get real."

Information, not endorsement: CW posted the notice on the News page of pcvstliving. I wonder how many people check there (rhetorical).

http://www.pcvstliving.com/news