Our landlord, BLACKSTONE, can't handle Stuy Town and Peter Cooper Village. There is a lack of enforcement of certain "rules," and no amount of notice to this alleviates the problems. We are continually being told half-truths and fabrications. And we have no viable Tenants organization, despite our TA asking for dues all the time. So far, the politicians have proven to be basically useless. A typical New York story.
Sunday, October 12, 2014
Never on Sunday... Except in Stuy Town
So this Sunday morning work crews were out at the soon-to-be Ice Rink banging, sawing, making a racket. No work order around allowing this on Sunday. I guess no one cares. Another day, even Sunday, in Stuy Town.
123 comments:
Anonymous
said...
Work without a permit in PCVST what a shock! Maybe the TA will report it. LOL
And
Is Gale Brewer the one who signed off on the 6 weeks of After Hours construction we have had? Isn't she one of those who campaigns on 16th? Can't wait to give her a piece of my mind and tell her how many ways she failed us and fails at her job!
You notice that the “Winter Wonderland” text and symbol is no longer being used. I guess it did not focus group well. Now it’s called “The ICE-at Stuy Town”. Get it. Gee, how strong and impressive. Like a Bud-Light commercial. Who writes this shit? No mention at their official website that day visits (not season memberships-they post that requirement) are for the infamous “residents and their guests only” rule.
And if you really want to get depressed, go on over to the official PCVST FB page and see the official management crap and the clueless tenant (probably mostly their ideal demo) posts there. Example. Management shows a picture of Carrie Bradshaw (the role model of the OMGS that infest our community) as an example for neighbor courtesy:
“Good Neighbor Tip: #984: Living in heels might have been okay for Carrie Bradshaw…but she lived on a first floor. Take your shoes off; your neighbors will appreciate it.”
There is no mention of the 80% carpet lease requirement nor is there a mention that your apartment will be inspected as a new lease. BTW, both of these rules are listed at the official PCVST page. Peter Stuyvesant-New York City” responded to one of the tenant posts (the tenants who post there have no idea either of the lease requirements) for a dog QOL issue with this gem:
Tenant “What about dogs? Can't we make a rule about them having short nails? The ones above me keep me up at all hours”.
This was actually written by a tenant. I kid you not.
Peter Cooper Village / Stuyvesant Town - New York City- Unfortunately all we can do is make recommendations and suggestions in cases like that. While it's not a bad idea, it's pretty hard to enforce.’
Again, not a mention of any of the lease regulations that, if they were enforced, would solve most of these tenant issues.
The "TA" Facebook page is reduced to discussions about local sushi and the long-gone flea market. Guess the Marshman doesn't permit posts about the deteriorating QOL in the project. Talk about fiddling while Rome burns!
Hard to find time to add those requirements to the fake and phony leases when you're too busy finding ways to add increases on an almost monthly basis. Gotta go now --- time to take the boys at Dhcr out for lunch again. Buy buy bought them too er, Bye.
What THE f%$#@* is this new "TENANT KING" flyer that was mailed to me, AND, how did they get my mailing address? ANOTHER SCAM! DON'T GET INVOLVED IN THIS! YOU WILL PROBABLY BE "FOLLOWED"
They are soo concerned about this ridiculous bogus new MCI(which will not go through), but are willing to piss away a couple of hundreds of thousands of dollars on this stupid ice skating rink that NOBODY wants in the first place. Makes no sense whatsoever. “Mr. Gorbachev, Tear Down This Wall”
Yes because bikinis, laundry rooms and long gone flea markets are the biggest problems in PCVST. The long gone flea market piece in the Town Village REBNY newsletter they placed was trying too hard to make it seem like this is a community and not a commodity the "TA" is trying to buy. No matter what the "TA" writes and says they can't cover up they are treating PCVST as a commodity and they can't hide the mass eviction of 5000 people since their initial announcement to buy PCVST and the loss of affordable housing with their scheme to increase market rate apartments from 20% in 2007 to 50% in 2013.
To the TENANTS ASSOCIATION: With regard to this new MCI application, when old a/c's are taken out of the windows, bricks and the previous MCI work done on the façade are being REMOVED .Soo an argument can be made that how can you be charged for something THAT IS BEING REMOVED. Eventually, all the old a/c's will removed for these new internal a/c's and a lot of this MCI WORK WILL BE MISSING!!!!!! GOT IT?
I just thought of something: how can the cost of the monthly a/c charge go up when ALL OF THESE UNITS are suppose to be energy-efficient? ENERGY-EFFICIENT? FRAUD 101 PEOPLE. FRAUD 101.
6:59 We know the entire Quinn City Councilmembers, the Commissioner LiMandri DOB, the Commissioner Towns DHCR are all in on the NYU dorm scheme to increase number of market rate apartments by 5000 so banks will agree to give mortgages for purchases.
Does the NYTimes article you link mean that the Attorney General office was in on it all along too? What is your take on the article, and what is your take on the role the AG office played?
No one cares about the ice skating ring. What people DO care about is clean hallways, operable washing machines, 80% carpet enforcement rule, dog rule enforcement,the list goes on. Understood?
A thorough investigation has to done on this separate a/c charge. If electricity is included in my rent, how can their be a separate charge? Is this legal or are we all being overcharged?
2 Washing machines in my building have not been working for the last 3 weeks in an already "overpopulated" building, (these damm students). The porter(Oh yes, he is also the "garbage man" too, who has to sort out the recyclables), has reported this several times and nothing happens. NOTHING HAPPENS! They don't even listen to their own people, and we expect them to listen to us? Now this is Luxury Living. I LOVE living here soo much.
Hey T.A.? This latest MCI(BUILDING FACADE) is CLEARLY for an ORDINARY REPAIR, as stated by the R.G.B.,below. THIS A FACT!
To qualify as an MCI, the improvement or installation must: •Meet depreciation standards of the Internal Revenue Code other than for ordinary repairs; •Be for the operation, preservation and maintenance of the building; •Directly or indirectly benefit ALL tenants; and, Meet the requirements set forth in the Division of Housing and Community Renewal's (DHCR) useful life schedule.
To be eligible for a rent increase, the MCI must be a new installation and not a repair to old equipment.
"If electricity is included in my rent, how can their be a separate charge? Is this legal or are we all being overcharged?"
Longtime tenants have always paid a separate monthly charge per air conditioner. It's laid out plainly in the lease and in renewals. These tenants also purchase their own machines.
Some tenants in renovated apartments may have leases that don't include the surcharge. Management supplied their machines (the cost is probably figured into the rent as an Individual Apartment Improvement, which works the same way as an MCI). Or maybe the lease says that management can decide to collect a surcharge in the future.
Some more recent tenants in renovated apartments may have a surcharge specified in their leases. Their machines were also provided by management.
Everything depends on what your original lease says, so check it before going ballistic. You might not remember what you originally signed. And, yes, the surcharge is legal.
The surcharge is determined every year by the RGB, based on a what they call a price index of operating costs. Are the numbers accurate? That's the real question.
CampusRock needs an After-Hours Variance to do weekend work on the rink and as you said, that needs to be posted so it's visible to the public. You obviously walked by and didn't see a work order. I'm curious, did you call that in to the DOB? If not, why not?
I happen to think that the laundry rooms are important. Sure, there are local laundromats, but many of us don't want to (and some can't) schlep out to these facilities. Laundry rooms have long been one of the "amenities" in this project - long before the stupid so-called Oval Cafe, etc., and it is very, very useful to have a laundry room in the building. The fact that this pathetic joke of a landlord has let the laundry rooms deteriorate into filthy sewers with constantly broken and malfunctioning equipment is part of their overall plan to reduce real services and add nonsense "amenities" like the fucking skating rink, concierge, cafe, etc. They advertise in their lying propaganda that we have laundry rooms and they post glowing, photoshopped photographs of same. This whole place is all about bait and switch.
>>I'm curious, did you call that in to the DOB? If not, why not?<<
I did not call the DoB. 1) Because this work may not qualify for such a work permit (I doubt this, but...) as it's just for something temporary, so that'd have to be investigated. 2) I've called the DoB before on other matters and the response has been to send someone to inspect weeks later, and by that time the work is done. If you want to tackle this, please go right ahead, but unless it's an emergency situation the DoB will not respond in a timely manner. That's just the way it is, and the landlord knows this. (I think we need "new legislation" here. Dan?)
For anybody interested: If construction is going on at the ice rink and there's no permit for weekend or after hours work, you can file a 311 complaint. And you can file it anonymously if that's a concern.
If they were doing work on the weekend, the after hours variance needed to be posted. That, IMO, should have prompted a 311 call first, and a blog post second.
The point isn't to get DOB to do anything about the after hours work on the rink. We all saw in their fake management office forum the DOB lies and is part of the schemes here. Sometimes the point of reporting it is to get it on record each and every time these guys break the rules and laws.
Hold on. If the $36.00 per month per a/c does not include electric, why so high? I'm certainly not using our a/c but a few months of the year. Seriously people. wWhat the F is going on here.
"Hey T.A.? This latest MCI(BUILDING FACADE) is CLEARLY for an ORDINARY REPAIR, as stated by the R.G.B.,below. THIS A FACT!
To qualify as an MCI, the improvement or installation must: •Meet depreciation standards of the Internal Revenue Code other than for ordinary repairs; •Be for the operation, preservation and maintenance of the building; •Directly or indirectly benefit ALL tenants; and, Meet the requirements set forth in the Division of Housing and Community Renewal's (DHCR) useful life schedule.
To be eligible for a rent increase, the MCI must be a new installation and not a repair to old equipment.
If you're quoting from the DHCR fact sheet, you should be aware that it does not contain everything that is eligible for an MCI.
I hope you filled out the form that asks for 60 days to respond to the MCI and returned it to DHCR. Gotta slow it down.
>>You're making excuses. If they were doing work on the weekend, the after hours variance needed to be posted. That, IMO, should have prompted a 311 call first, and a blog post second.<<
Thank you for the advice. The rink is still there, and work continues. There's currently only one work permit. My advice is for you to monitor the situation, or have the TA monitor it, if you are not part of the TA, and then call 311, etc. Seriously, I spend too much fucking time on all this, and it would be nice if instead of getting advice to do MORE, someone else could take a proactive role.
>>The a/c surcharge is NOT legal if the charge is already in our base rent.<<
The air conditioner charge is not already in the base rent, unless your lease says it is. Check your lease.
>>Hold on. If the $36.00 per month per a/c does not include electric, why so high? I'm certainly not using our a/c but a few months of the year. Seriously people. What the F is going on here.<<
You know what would be good? Every person in every building near the rink or anyone at all, for that matter, bombarding 311 with calls. Potentially more effective than venting here or waiting for the TA to act.
The a/c charge is already added into the base rent of Market Rate apartments so there should be no charge above that for a/c. If there is then file a complaint with DHCR to get it on record they are fraudulently double charging.
DHCR said something interesting. They said the room count applied to Stuyvesant Town and Peter Cooper Village is challenge-able as the definition of a legal room has the one bedroom apartments being 2 rooms and not the 3 that the MCI charges are calculated against.
NO.1 This latest MCI(BUILDING FACADE) is CLEARLY for an ORDINARY REPAIR
END OF STORY!
NO.2 To the OCD comment, my laundry area is an absolute disgrace. So, people have a right to complain. Maybe YOUR building is ok, but most are not. Try doing your laundry twice a week and see what's it like.
NO.3 Is any other building getting this new MCI application notice other than the two building numbers mentioned in T&V a few weeks ago? And does anyone actually care anymore about this? Your feedback would be helpful.
To the TENANTS ASSOCIATION: With regard to this new MCI application, when old a/c's are taken out of the windows, bricks and the previous MCI work done on the façade are being REMOVED .Soo an argument can be made that how can you be charged for something THAT IS BEING REMOVED. Eventually, all the old a/c's will removed for these new internal a/c's and a lot of this MCI WORK WILL BE MISSING!!!!!! GOT IT?
Thinking of buying? REBNY fix is in. Easier, less regulations for developers - harder for inhabitants to protect selves. Legislation benefits landlord/developers - not renters/condo owners.
REBNY ANNUAL REPORT 2013
"...Financial benefit for building-wide work increased to offset benefits building owner no longer receive on apartment upgrades. WIN FOR REBNY, pols brag victory for people while actually benefit landlords with offset, People lose.
RPIE BILL
"We were very successful in having bill modified to eliminate several serious and costly changes proposed. Changes would have required owners to submit certified income and expense statements, extremely costly and time-consuming to prepare and review..would permit Commissioner to impose penalties on properties that fail to certify theyre exempt from filing and eliminate cure period for properties that fail to file.
SPONSOR PERSONAL LIABILITY/ RESIDENTIAL CONVERSIONS (eg Brookfield has no liability)
REBNY 2 issues of importance to condo builders and owners of residential rentals with State AG’s office. 1. alarmed by lower court rulings that pierced corporate veil of condo builders and open sponsor to personal liability. These discussions with AG’s office productive and many concerns can be addressed by including specific language in an offering plan. (pcvst watch out for this language!)
2. with rising RE taxes making operation of residential rental buildings economically challenging (ah financial challenges of wealthy) — and lack inventory of units for sale renews interest in residential conversion.
(pcvst conversion benefits developers NOT inhabitants!)
Review of rules for conversion, REBNY concluded must be modernized ease and speed of offering plan info exchanged between owners and tenants. More market-rate rental units avail today than 20 years ago when rent-regulated units were regulated permanently.
Rules intended to protect regulated tenants appear to have less applicability to market-rate tenants and seriously impede conversions of market rate rental buildings. Preliminary discussions (with AG) we hope produce beneficial changes in 2014. (instead of AG implementing rules to protect the market rate inhabitants they implemented rules to eliminate rent stabilized so no inhabitants have any protections)
ILSA REBNY had significant federal legislative achievement led by Congress Carolyn Maloney, Grimm, Nadler, McHenry, passed Suspension Bill H.R. 2600, ILSA Update bill exempts condo developments from ILSA filing, registration requirements, subsequently provide condo developers and lenders certainty as economy recovers. (hey Maloney how about a bill providing certainty to inhabitants to afford to keep homes instead of certainty to REBNY to increase their billions in profits by pricing us out and evicting!)
ILSA first passed in 1969 to protect consumers from being sold property fraudulently due to misleading advertising. (sound familiar - fraudulent property due to misleading advertising!)
When the RE market crashed in 2008, purchasers put it to the "unintended" use of escaping pre-crash contracts by claiming technical violations of ILSA. By exempting condominium developments from portions of ILSA, Congress is closing this very damaging loophole (damaging loophole my ass - a protection of inhabitants, the people)and providing tremendous bureaucratic relief from substantial filings that are duplicative—and sometimes contradictory—to state disclosure requirements. Schumer Gillibrand introduced corresponding legislation in 2012, to reintroduce 2014, lead passing in Senate.
For those affected who noted STR's plea for people to be more proactive: If there's no permit posted for after hours work and after hours work is going on, anyone who observes that can MAKE A CALL TO 311. If the observer is feeling extra ambitious, note can be taken of the complaint number and forwarded to CB6 for them to monitor as that's more or less their reason for being. That's all that's necessary and it should take all of about 5 minutes.
Community Board 6 contact info: Phone: 212-319-3750 Email: office@cbsix.org
You know what would be good? Every person in every building near the rink or anyone at all, for that matter, bombarding 311 with calls. Potentially more effective than venting here or waiting for the TA to act.
Is the Tenant King letter a scheme by the Buyers Contingency (Brookfield CW et al) to divert us away from productive actions as individuals or small groups?
Wow. So conversion benefits developers. In past 3 years legislation passed to ease way for developers while eliminate protections for inhabitants (condo owner and renters). No one protecting renters in MCI negotiations as all, parties at the table were working in the best interest of the developers Brookfield and Compass Rock. Politicians passing bills to increase prosperity of developers and decrease homeowner protections. Politicians efforts with Fannie and Freddie this year to protect the developer Brookfield deal disguised as in the name of the tenants. Developers 100% of benefits Inhabitant Constituents Zero.
A winter roof over playground 11, info from a neighbor: I just spoke with some workers doing lots of digging between Playground 11 and 16 Oval. This is the basketball playground, which is on the Avenue C Loop and surrounded by 6, 8, 10 Oval on the south and 14, 16, 18 Oval on the north. I was told that the electrical work they are doing now will be for installing a winter roof over the playground for sports - basketball and tennis. Are we tenants entitled to receive advance notice of these large physical changes?
More OVERALL electricity is possibly being used around here for the following:
1. Ice skating rink 2. Oval concerts 3. Oval fitness 4. Oval concierge 5. Oval kids 6. Oval study 7. Oval café 8. AND, as reported on PCVST Facebook(1hr ago,) a ROOF to be installed over playground 11.( I can't believe it!)
Why should I have to pay for EVERYONE ELSES ELECTRICITY? WHY? WHY? WHY?. It just does not stop around here! There is ALWAYS something going on. No peace and quiet anymore. Could this be a reason why for the 31% increase? YES, 31 P E R C E N T increase?
“A winter roof over playground 11, info from a neighbor: I just spoke with some workers doing lots of digging between Playground 11 and 16 Oval. This is the basketball playground, which is on the Avenue C Loop and surrounded by 6, 8, 10 Oval on the south and 14, 16, 18 Oval on the north. I was told that the electrical work they are doing now will be for installing a winter roof over the playground for sports - basketball and tennis. Are we tenants entitled to receive advance notice of these large physical changes?”
It really is fucking over here. CWC/Fortress is not going anywhere. They will buy, it will be a dorm style rental property skewed, of course to the college/post college millennial transient turnover crowd. With the soon to be patio apartments for Bro fests, they won’t have to throw their trash (another STPCV FB post) on to the current roofs , they can lust leave the crap there. Escape plan now being seriously formulated.
1:44 is that a joke? A roof over the playground is a sleazy way of getting away without saying a new building. An indoor sports arena. Thanks Marsh - know you knew about it.
Anonymous @ Oct 14, 2014 at 8:52 AM said... "To the TENANTS ASSOCIATION: with regard to this new MCI application, when old a/c's are taken out of the windows, bricks and the previous MCI work done on the façade are being REMOVED. Soo an argument can be made that how can you be charged for something THAT IS BEING REMOVED."
Funny and Sad is the futility of posting a message to the TA on STR.
Here's at tip guaranteed to evoke TA attention and response. Inserting the word "guterman" anywhere in a comment elicits multiple, amazing TA responses flooding in from all directions.
Moved in on 10/3/2014. Quite sure the a/c was installed prior to that. Do we have to pay the increase as well? Just curious why I'm paying 76 dollars a month all year, when we do not use the air cone but just a few months. Anyone? hello?
Compass Rock and the Brookfield "TA" team are trolling heavy trying to quickly dispel the good points being made here by tenants. Tenants are onto something so Keep it up tenants!
7:14 posting the REBNY definition of room count implying PCVST residents should abide by what REBNY defines as room count is WRONG. REBNY, who spends millions on lawyers to oppose us on Roberts, milions on lobbyists and politicians to pass bills and make laws to oppose us in NYC gov't, Albany, and Washington DC, and who feeds their spew to us via their Real Estate Weekly newsletter sister publication Town&Village and those who are often quoted there - is spewing a definition that makes them a lot of money off our hard working backs. Technically a decent lawyer who is not a part of the purchase scheme could easily argue that room count is based on square footage and window size.
1:58 you are paying for a/c because current politicians are making laws to increase developers profits and not making common sense laws for the people. It is outrageous NYC tenants pay at that rate for a/c and more outrageous the politicians protect developers profits with laws against people.
Most residents don't need to be fearful of the announced apartment inspections. They aren't as broad as the TA said. They are only targeting a few apartments. Probably those trying to save our lost-cause community. If you know anyone being inspected warn them the inspections are to look for things to find out what those fighting for the community are up to.
Great Landlord. UH, excuse me, acting more like the Lord of the Land. I thought we were all done with these MCI'S? We just got through negotiating(getting ripped off) 2009 MCI'S? You mean there are more? A COMMUNITY UPROAR WILL HAPPEN!
The slow inexorable death march of Stuyvesant Town continues. Never ending MCI's, quality of life destruction, noise, filth in the hallways and laundry rooms, dog sh*t everywhere, college bros partying at 3:00AM...the list goes on and on. The plan of CW Cap is so very simple. Slowly by attrition they will clear the buildings of the old RS tenants and then there will be 80-acres of prime land just waiting for development. Even if it takes 25 years, as an earlier poster wrote, that's OK. A corporation has all the time in the world. Alas, we mere mortals don't. Don't waste your energy believing in quixotic schemes like condo or coop conversion...AIN'T GONNA HAPPEN...the fix is in. Meanwhile as a old time RS tenant I ain't leavin'...except feet first...lol...hopefully not too soon. A ROYAL F U to the ghouls who destroyed this place.
"Moved in on 10/3/2014. Quite sure the a/c was installed prior to that. Do we have to pay the increase as well? Just curious why I'm paying 76 dollars a month all year, when we do not use the air cone but just a few months. Anyone? hello?"
You didn't say whether your lease specifies that you will be paying the monthly surcharge. It should have language about it on the first page. You are a rent-stabilized tenant (despite your high rent), and if your lease says you must pay a surcharge, then it will be the amount determined every year by the NYC Rent Guidelines Board, which also sets the annual increases to rents. Previous posts contain links about this. Each year on October 1 the RGB sets the surcharge for the year commencing on that date. The new surcharge (occasionally the amount goes down) appears on the November rent bill, along with the retroactive amount for October.
As for why we pay every month instead of only in the months we actually use the A/C, I think it's because the apartments aren't individually metered so the total cost is spread over the entire year. That's why lots of people just run their A/C without worrying about getting hit with a whopping bill only in the hot months. This surcharge is determined for apartments where the other electrical costs are included in the rent. But check out the links others have posted. And welcome to the community.
"To the TENANTS ASSOCIATION: with regard to this new MCI application, when old a/c's are taken out of the windows, bricks and the previous MCI work done on the façade are being REMOVED. Soo an argument can be made that how can you be charged for something THAT IS BEING REMOVED."
When it comes to MCIs, layman's logic doesn't apply much. Check out the DHCR fact sheet on MCIs and delve further into the RS law if you want an answer. In any event, the latest MCI does not apply to this through-the-wall A/C work. It's for other exterior restoration on a couple of buildings a couple of years ago.
MR tenants already have the a/c charge in the base rent so there should NOT be a charge on top of the base rent for MR tenants. If there is then file an overcharge complaint with DHCR to get it on record and corrected.
TO: October 15, 2014 at 11:45 AM You misunderstand my point. Please read slowly. I think I make sense. "when old a/c's are taken out of the windows, bricks and the PREVIOUS CLAIMED MCI work done on the FACADE are being REMOVED. Soo an argument can be made that how can you be charged for something_(PREVIOUSLY FACADE WORK) THAT IS AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE REMOVED, until all the exterior a/c's are removed".
Again MetLife did not charge residents an MCI for the exterior pointing. Either this is not allowed or this is what the earlier comment was saying where the local pols recently passed bills for landlords to charge us on exterior work to cover the interior work deemed no longer able to pass onto residents. Screwed again by the pols helping their RE buddies. Check and see if this is a newly allowable charge the pols, dhcr and re concocted.
Seriously everyone? We had a way and good RE expert lawyers willing on contingency to file a lawsuit like the Riverton suit opposing the MCI charges and applications and the overcharges on the MR apartments with the double charging for a/c and the outrageous charges (probably 5X) on the renovation work and we all did nothing. Could have been a landmark case and this time we would not have let it be sabotaged with a corrupt settlement. Watch, our maintenance fees will rise higher than the rents with MCI charges ever would have.
A roof over the playground for indoor tennis and basketball games and tournaments has been long planned as has all the construction and buildings past present and future. Planned long before Hurricane Sandy so that excuse does not fly. Its part of the deal Brookfield CW Compass Rock made in 2010. More to construction and lack of transparency from the so called "TA" to come. Those operating expenses are climbing higher and higher along with the increased overpopulation and the large increase in foot traffic. Safety is long gone and our children can no longer roam as freely and play as safely. This is no place for children.
Do the poor souls who now move in even ask what the F the lease is about, what is a REAL rent and what the increases will be in a year/ two years and what happens in between? Poor souls are clueless. ASK PEOPLE, ASK, READ, SEE A LAWYER. Your rent is not your real rent.
"Meanwhile as a old time RS tenant I ain't leavin'...except feet first...lol...hopefully not too soon. A ROYAL F U to the ghouls who destroyed this place."
2:39 You may be right - you mean the fellow who pulled a temper tantrum? SERIOUS red flag in his behavior there. While I agree with you 100% , we need a grown up to take this on. GET ONE.
FTR - the tenants in the new renovated units are getting royally screwed. they pay $$$ for a/c and get Mci as well. And when the bulbs burn out they have to order 'special' bulbs that are way overpriced and expensive. If there is a tear or break in shades, those are billed to replace as well.
His RE friends attend a common event book signing at Union Square as audience fillers including his buddy Rudin to whom he gave our Greenwich Village St Vincents Hospital for luxury condos. Rudin and Cuomo took away our middle class employer St Vincents hospital and community healthcare provider so Rudin could build luxury condos. And Rudin returned the favor being lowly audience seat filler.
THE CIRCUS IS IN TOWN!! Isn't everyone thrilled? This is going to look HORRIBLE!! Landscape ruined along with Ice skating rink!
From: THE TA WEB:
Residents in buildings around Playground 11 in Stuyvesant Town have noticed workers digging near it. This is the playground surrounded by 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, and 18 Stuyvesant Oval.
Wonder what is happening? The digging is in preparation for a tent to be constructed over the playground, and the trench in progress is for electrical wiring to provide light and heat, so that sports can take place during the winter.
While we all would have appreciated it if CWCapital had advised and consulted with the community in advance about this project, it could be a positive addition provided that (1) the noise from the heating equipment is not disruptive; (2) the hours do not extend to a time when it disturbs residents around the playground; (3) it is limited in use to residents and their guests and that use is enforced; and (4) that there is free and convenient open time for all members of the community.
At this time, we don’t know precisely when the project will be open and other relevant details. We understand management will be communicating with tenants in the near future, and expect them to address these questions.
"No 11:25 no need to wait 25 yrs - a conversion is an immanent inevitability. Get ready."
I agree, the only issue is whether or not the offering prices will only make sense for the fake R/S renters and not the real R/S renters. Obviously I'm not going to assume a mortgage if that mortgage is going to be substantially greater than my rent. Even with the built in unaffordability of real R/S, I would just prefer to move out of the projects in 6 years.
I can't wait for Oval Pool. Right smack in the middle of our Oval. All of our playgrounds are slowly being taken away from us people. Watch for something being done at playground 11. Everything is always hush hush around here until an "event" happens. SOO SNEAKY!!!! Soo trustworthy, don't you think!
Every open space will be utilized to draw more and more people to live here. It will become more and more congested. This is no more than a "fishing" game, and many will be suckered into it, as the quality of life here diminishes by the day. This is where it is all going. This has to be stopped.
The amount of misinformation and crazy talk on this blog is mind boggling and unfortunate. And, no, I am NOT a TA shill, just an ordinary tenant like most people reading/posting here.
Re: the major construction of the so-called Management Office:
They gave the tenants who were inconvenienced and subjected to toxic dust, noise and all kinds of shit, $200 gift certificates to eat at a local restaurant! LOL! I hope they gave each one of them a party hat and lolipop to go with it!
What a fucking insulting and contemptuous way to treat people. These bastards should be strung up by their balls.
6:24 am why? Because it's by far the most efficient way for a new owner to turn a huge profit. Got nothing to do with anyone's wishes. If you think a new owner will pursue a rental business model post TS - you're the one wishing on a star.
7:16 - Why keep posting about a conversion. You honestly believe that CWC is not making money with the rental property as is? You WANT a conversion but it is not to be.
Read the 2013 REBNY Annual Report link the commentator posted.
1. When RE needs to do something for their excessive greed the city, state, and federal Politicians with REBNY filled coffers will pass a bill for them.
If the politicians can't get a bill passed for RE fast enough the politicians will build RE a loophole after asking REBNY for the dimensions of how big, how wide to open up that loophole.
The city agencies with commissioners appointed by the REBNY owned politicians will write rules and regulations favoring RE.
Corrupt greedy wannabe purchasers and politicians will pose as tenant-friendly in photo ops set up by their entities posing as a Tenant Association to keep the tenants in the dark and to tell tenants to obey the rules and regulations and laws written by REBNY and to shut up about Oval destruction because their are loopholes (designed by REBNY).
RE REBNY makes the rules and laws as they wish. RE REBNY changes the rules and laws as they wish. RE REBNY opens loopholes as they wish. RE REBNY closes loopholes as they wish.
Its all laid out in the 2013 REBNY annual report.
Until tenants stop obeying the Dans of the world who tell us to shut up because RE has an accessory loophole to build Oval crap ...
and to shut up on all the construction increasing the electrical use, the operating costs, the carbon footprint, and decreasing the quality of life here
...
until we stop obeying the Dans of the world, we will be ruled by REBNY.
REBNY obeys no one.
Everyone is obeying REBNY until we stop obeying the coffer filled pols and commissioners who are REBNY owned.
I also don't get the constant posting of conversion fears and conversion plan. What a joke and an obvious distraction from the serious problems tenants face here. We all know there will never be a conversion. I'm old and they've been talking about it for 35 years. Let's stop this nonsense and focus on stopping the added charges and rolling back rents for ALL of us.
The TA is pretending AGAIN to not already know about construction occurring on our resident open spaces with that post on Playground 11 and again is going along with the construction and telling tenants to only be concerned with how the new construction work is conducted and how the new constructed building is operated.
AGAIN THAT IS NOT WHAT THE TENANTS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT. But that is what the TA wants to tell us to be concerned about.
This TA does not represent tenant concerns!
NO NEW BUILDINGS NO LOSS OF OPEN SPACE NO CONSTRUCTION NO DANGEROUS WALKWAY CORRIDORS DUE TO BUILDINGS CUTTING OFF VISION OF WHAT IS UPCOMING (NEW BUILDINGS ARE CREATING SMALLER, FEWER AND NARROWER WALKWAYS WITH CORNERS FOR CRIMINALS AND DANGER TO HIDE AROUND THE CORNER OF THE NEW BUILDING AND JUMP OUT - WITH NOWHERE FOR TENANTS TO RUN BUT IN REVERSE DOWN A LONG NARROW WALKWAY IF THEY CAN OUTRUN THE CRIMINAL. NO MORE LOSS OF OPEN SPACE NO MORE DIMINISH OF QOL
Dear TA We are NOT concerned about how the construction is conducted or how the new buildings operate - we ARE concerned that you are allowing the construction in the first place!
If Compass Rock and Brookfield are allowed to now pass on costs for pointing of exterior bricks it is because the is a brand new rule change a gift to RE courtesy of the politicians who are not on our side.
REBNY ANNUAL REPORT 2013
"...Financial benefit for building-wide work increased to offset benefits building owner no longer receive on apartment upgrades. WIN FOR REBNY, pols brag victory for people while actually benefit landlords with offset, People lose.
Yes, the loss of playground 11 (you know, like the rink, is will be a pay for facility or a reserved event situation like that ZogSports BS they tried to pull over some time ago) and the construction of a new playground on green space in PCV is truly "Hellacious". The PR propaganda issued by CWC/CR makes "Baghdad Bob” (remember him?) look like Thoreau. “Coming soon!”. Indeed.
The "TA" did a crap job keeping the construction noise, dust, dirt, jackhammering, toxic debris, hours, etc on their new office building. A real crap job.
A sale is pending. This will be the 2nd sale in stpcv's 67 year history. If you think the new owners will attempt another all rental business plan for the property after the TS debacle - you're crazy. Forewarned is forearmed.
The same person who wrote the press release for CW wrote the press release statement for TA. The new office building was in the works long before Hurricane Sandy hit. The plans were drawn years ago. The TA and CW think tenants are stupid and will believe Hurricane Sandy is the reason for the multi-million dollar office building just because they both write it in their press releases. Even Compass Rock doesn't always tell the company line and already admitted they wanted nice new offices for their employees in a new office building to increase the property value (despite that it severely decreased the open space.) Nice coordinated press releases guys, in timing of the release and in language.
1:26 you keep posting trying to get tenants to explain themselves to you - as if you are entitled.
The reasons are clear and many for why Dan is pro construction and has been since he gave us the weak excuse of the Oval construction.
So whomever you are addressing with your demand for explanation, your many demands these past few weeks, I would advise them to keep up the good work exposing all that is going on here and don't bother to explain yourself to 1:26.
A sale is pending. This will be the 2nd sale in stpcv's 67 year history. If you think the new owners will attempt another all rental business plan for the property after the TS debacle - you're crazy. Forewarned is forearmed.
you are so very wrong. You want a coop, does not mean it happens here. Head up to 24th street and north.
The TA does NOT own STPCV. In most instances, it has little to no influence or control over what happens here. I know a lot of people on this blog simply do NOT want to hear or accept this fact, but it's true.
STR- why do you allow comments from people who insult those who ask pertinent questions? IT'S my right to ask questions about the landlord, the community, Dan and whatever the hell I want to if one makes a statement regarding any of the above.
123 comments:
Work without a permit in PCVST what a shock! Maybe the TA will report it. LOL
And
Is Gale Brewer the one who signed off on the 6 weeks of After Hours construction we have had? Isn't she one of those who campaigns on 16th? Can't wait to give her a piece of my mind and tell her how many ways she failed us and fails at her job!
Gale Brewer gets an F
You notice that the “Winter Wonderland” text and symbol is no longer being used. I guess it did not focus group well. Now it’s called “The ICE-at Stuy Town”. Get it. Gee, how strong and impressive. Like a Bud-Light commercial. Who writes this shit? No mention at their official website that day visits (not season memberships-they post that requirement) are for the infamous “residents and their guests only” rule.
And if you really want to get depressed, go on over to the official PCVST FB page and see the official management crap and the clueless tenant (probably mostly their ideal demo) posts there. Example. Management shows a picture of Carrie Bradshaw (the role model of the OMGS that infest our community) as an example for neighbor courtesy:
“Good Neighbor Tip: #984: Living in heels might have been okay for Carrie Bradshaw…but she lived on a first floor. Take your shoes off; your neighbors will appreciate it.”
There is no mention of the 80% carpet lease requirement nor is there a mention that your apartment will be inspected as a new lease. BTW, both of these rules are listed at the official PCVST page. Peter Stuyvesant-New York City” responded to one of the tenant posts (the tenants who post there have no idea either of the lease requirements) for a dog QOL issue with this gem:
Tenant “What about dogs? Can't we make a rule about them having short nails? The ones above me keep me up at all hours”.
This was actually written by a tenant. I kid you not.
Peter Cooper Village / Stuyvesant Town - New York City- Unfortunately all we can do is make recommendations and suggestions in cases like that. While it's not a bad idea, it's pretty hard to enforce.’
Again, not a mention of any of the lease regulations that, if they were enforced, would solve most of these tenant issues.
There's a work permit out in front, but nothing about allowing Sunday work.
The "TA" Facebook page is reduced to discussions about local sushi and the long-gone flea market. Guess the Marshman doesn't permit posts about the deteriorating QOL in the project. Talk about fiddling while Rome burns!
Hard to find time to add those requirements to the fake and phony leases when you're too busy finding ways to add increases on an almost monthly basis. Gotta go now --- time to take the boys at Dhcr out for lunch again. Buy buy bought them too er, Bye.
ALL rules are meant to be broken in this place. What a joke.
Was totally faked out by Gail brewer. Would never vote for her again.
I am soo happy I live here. NOT!!!
Any other building receive this new "laughable" so-called MCI application yet, which WILL be repealed?
What THE f%$#@* is this new "TENANT KING" flyer that was mailed to me, AND, how did they get my mailing address? ANOTHER SCAM! DON'T GET INVOLVED IN THIS!
YOU WILL PROBABLY BE "FOLLOWED"
They are soo concerned about this ridiculous bogus new MCI(which will not go through), but are willing to piss away a couple of hundreds of thousands of dollars on this stupid ice skating rink that NOBODY wants in the first place. Makes no sense whatsoever.
“Mr. Gorbachev, Tear Down This Wall”
Yes because bikinis, laundry rooms and long gone flea markets are the biggest problems in PCVST. The long gone flea market piece in the Town Village REBNY newsletter they placed was trying too hard to make it seem like this is a community and not a commodity the "TA" is trying to buy. No matter what the "TA" writes and says they can't cover up they are treating PCVST as a commodity and they can't hide the mass eviction of 5000 people since their initial announcement to buy PCVST and the loss of affordable housing with their scheme to increase market rate apartments from 20% in 2007 to 50% in 2013.
To the TENANTS ASSOCIATION:
With regard to this new MCI application, when old a/c's are taken out of the windows, bricks and the previous MCI work done on the façade are being REMOVED .Soo an argument can be made that how can you be charged for something THAT IS BEING REMOVED. Eventually, all the old a/c's will removed for these new internal a/c's and a lot of this MCI WORK WILL BE MISSING!!!!!! GOT IT?
I just thought of something: how can the cost of the monthly a/c charge go up when ALL OF THESE UNITS are suppose to be energy-efficient? ENERGY-EFFICIENT?
FRAUD 101 PEOPLE. FRAUD 101.
6:59 We know the entire Quinn City Councilmembers, the Commissioner LiMandri DOB, the Commissioner Towns DHCR are all in on the NYU dorm scheme to increase number of market rate apartments by 5000 so banks will agree to give mortgages for purchases.
Does the NYTimes article you link mean that the Attorney General office was in on it all along too? What is your take on the article, and what is your take on the role the AG office played?
No one cares about the ice skating ring. What people DO care about is clean hallways, operable washing machines, 80% carpet enforcement rule, dog rule enforcement,the list goes on.
Understood?
A thorough investigation has to done on this separate a/c charge. If electricity is included in my rent, how can their be a separate charge? Is this legal or are we all being overcharged?
2 Washing machines in my building have not been working for the last 3 weeks in an already "overpopulated" building, (these damm students). The porter(Oh yes, he is also the "garbage
man" too, who has to sort out the recyclables), has reported this several times and nothing happens. NOTHING HAPPENS! They don't even listen to their own people, and we expect them to listen to us? Now this is Luxury Living. I LOVE living here soo much.
Senator Chuck Schumer, please help us here.
******EXCELLENT POINT******
To blogger October 13, 2014 at 8:56 AM
Hope the T.A is looking at this as well.
Hey T.A.? This latest MCI(BUILDING FACADE) is CLEARLY for an ORDINARY REPAIR, as stated by the R.G.B.,below. THIS A FACT!
To qualify as an MCI, the improvement or installation must:
•Meet depreciation standards of the Internal Revenue Code other than for ordinary repairs;
•Be for the operation, preservation and maintenance of the building;
•Directly or indirectly benefit ALL tenants; and, Meet the requirements set forth in the Division of Housing and Community Renewal's (DHCR) useful life schedule.
To be eligible for a rent increase, the MCI must be a new installation and not a repair to old equipment.
"If electricity is included in my rent, how can their be a separate charge? Is this legal or are we all being overcharged?"
Longtime tenants have always paid a separate monthly charge per air conditioner. It's laid out plainly in the lease and in renewals. These tenants also purchase their own machines.
Some tenants in renovated apartments may have leases that don't include the surcharge. Management supplied their machines (the cost is probably figured into the rent as an Individual Apartment Improvement, which works the same way as an MCI). Or maybe the lease says that management can decide to collect a surcharge in the future.
Some more recent tenants in renovated apartments may have a surcharge specified in their leases. Their machines were also provided by management.
Everything depends on what your original lease says, so check it before going ballistic. You might not remember what you originally signed. And, yes, the surcharge is legal.
The surcharge is determined every year by the RGB, based on a what they call a price index of operating costs. Are the numbers accurate? That's the real question.
CampusRock needs an After-Hours Variance to do weekend work on the rink and as you said, that needs to be posted so it's visible to the public. You obviously walked by and didn't see a work order. I'm curious, did you call that in to the DOB? If not, why not?
I happen to think that the laundry rooms are important. Sure, there are local laundromats, but many of us don't want to (and some can't) schlep out to these facilities. Laundry rooms have long been one of the "amenities" in this project - long before the stupid so-called Oval Cafe, etc., and it is very, very useful to have a laundry room in the building. The fact that this pathetic joke of a landlord has let the laundry rooms deteriorate into filthy sewers with constantly broken and malfunctioning equipment is part of their overall plan to reduce real services and add nonsense "amenities" like the fucking skating rink, concierge, cafe, etc. They advertise in their lying propaganda that we have laundry rooms and they post glowing, photoshopped photographs of same. This whole place is all about bait and switch.
>>I'm curious, did you call that in to the DOB? If not, why not?<<
I did not call the DoB. 1) Because this work may not qualify for such a work permit (I doubt this, but...) as it's just for something temporary, so that'd have to be investigated. 2) I've called the DoB before on other matters and the response has been to send someone to inspect weeks later, and by that time the work is done. If you want to tackle this, please go right ahead, but unless it's an emergency situation the DoB will not respond in a timely manner. That's just the way it is, and the landlord knows this. (I think we need "new legislation" here. Dan?)
Someone is really OCD on the laundry rooms. Please stop - we have huge issues here not pertaining to our clothes.
Hahahahaha. Wait, so you're saying that tenants pay over $800 a year just for a/c and this is for just a/c?
I use it 3 months of the year. so, i'm confused.
For anybody interested: If construction is going on at the ice rink and there's no permit for weekend or after hours work, you can file a 311 complaint. And you can file it anonymously if that's a concern.
STR at 3:59 PM
You're making excuses.
If they were doing work on the weekend, the after hours variance needed to be posted. That, IMO, should have prompted a 311 call first, and a blog post second.
The a/c surcharge is NOT legal if the charge is already in our base rent. They are double charging us.
The point isn't to get DOB to do anything about the after hours work on the rink. We all saw in their fake management office forum the DOB lies and is part of the schemes here. Sometimes the point of reporting it is to get it on record each and every time these guys break the rules and laws.
Hold on. If the $36.00 per month per a/c does not include electric, why so high? I'm certainly not using our a/c but a few months of the year. Seriously people. wWhat the F is going on here.
"Hey T.A.? This latest MCI(BUILDING FACADE) is CLEARLY for an ORDINARY REPAIR, as stated by the R.G.B.,below. THIS A FACT!
To qualify as an MCI, the improvement or installation must:
•Meet depreciation standards of the Internal Revenue Code other than for ordinary repairs;
•Be for the operation, preservation and maintenance of the building;
•Directly or indirectly benefit ALL tenants; and, Meet the requirements set forth in the Division of Housing and Community Renewal's (DHCR) useful life schedule.
To be eligible for a rent increase, the MCI must be a new installation and not a repair to old equipment.
If you're quoting from the DHCR fact sheet, you should be aware that it does not contain everything that is eligible for an MCI.
I hope you filled out the form that asks for 60 days to respond to the MCI and returned it to DHCR. Gotta slow it down.
>>You're making excuses. If they were doing work on the weekend, the after hours variance needed to be posted. That, IMO, should have prompted a 311 call first, and a blog post second.<<
Thank you for the advice. The rink is still there, and work continues. There's currently only one work permit. My advice is for you to monitor the situation, or have the TA monitor it, if you are not part of the TA, and then call 311, etc. Seriously, I spend too much fucking time on all this, and it would be nice if instead of getting advice to do MORE, someone else could take a proactive role.
Like the TA. Whose job it is to monitor situations like this.
>>The a/c surcharge is NOT legal if the charge is already in our base rent.<<
The air conditioner charge is not already in the base rent, unless your lease says it is. Check your lease.
>>Hold on. If the $36.00 per month per a/c does not include electric, why so high? I'm certainly not using our a/c but a few months of the year. Seriously people. What the F is going on here.<<
If you want to know what is going on, READ THIS.
You know what would be good? Every person in every building near the rink or anyone at all, for that matter, bombarding 311 with calls. Potentially more effective than venting here or waiting for the TA to act.
The a/c charge is already added into the base rent of Market Rate apartments so there should be no charge above that for a/c. If there is then file a complaint with DHCR to get it on record they are fraudulently double charging.
DHCR said something interesting. They said the room count applied to Stuyvesant Town and Peter Cooper Village is challenge-able as the definition of a legal room has the one bedroom apartments being 2 rooms and not the 3 that the MCI charges are calculated against.
NO.1 This latest MCI(BUILDING FACADE) is CLEARLY for an ORDINARY REPAIR
END OF STORY!
NO.2 To the OCD comment, my laundry area is an absolute disgrace. So, people have a right to complain. Maybe YOUR building is ok, but most are not. Try doing your laundry twice a week and see what's it like.
NO.3 Is any other building getting this new MCI application notice other than the two building numbers mentioned in T&V a few weeks ago? And does anyone actually care anymore about this?
Your feedback would be helpful.
To the TENANTS ASSOCIATION:
With regard to this new MCI application, when old a/c's are taken out of the windows, bricks and the previous MCI work done on the façade are being REMOVED .Soo an argument can be made that how can you be charged for something THAT IS BEING REMOVED. Eventually, all the old a/c's will removed for these new internal a/c's and a lot of this MCI WORK WILL BE MISSING!!!!!! GOT IT?
The tenants association is keeping us all in the dark? Hello?
Where are you?
Anyone know what this "tenant king" letter is all about?
Thinking of buying? REBNY fix is in. Easier, less regulations for developers - harder for inhabitants to protect selves.
Legislation benefits landlord/developers - not renters/condo owners.
REBNY ANNUAL REPORT 2013
"...Financial benefit for building-wide work increased to offset benefits building owner no longer receive on apartment upgrades.
WIN FOR REBNY, pols brag victory for people while actually benefit landlords with offset, People lose.
RPIE BILL
"We were very successful in having bill modified to eliminate several serious and costly changes proposed.
Changes would have
required owners to submit certified income and expense statements, extremely costly and time-consuming to prepare and review..would permit Commissioner to impose penalties on properties that fail to certify theyre exempt from filing and eliminate cure period for properties that fail to file.
SPONSOR PERSONAL LIABILITY/
RESIDENTIAL CONVERSIONS (eg Brookfield has no liability)
REBNY 2 issues of importance to condo builders and owners of residential rentals with State AG’s office. 1. alarmed by lower
court rulings that pierced corporate veil of condo builders and open sponsor to personal liability. These discussions with AG’s office productive and many concerns can be addressed by including specific language in an offering plan. (pcvst watch out for this language!)
2. with rising RE taxes making operation of residential rental buildings economically challenging (ah financial challenges of wealthy) — and lack inventory of units for sale renews interest in
residential conversion.
(pcvst conversion benefits developers NOT inhabitants!)
Review of rules for conversion, REBNY concluded must be modernized ease and speed of offering plan info exchanged between owners and tenants. More market-rate rental units avail today than 20 years ago when rent-regulated units were regulated permanently.
Rules intended to protect regulated tenants appear to have less applicability to market-rate tenants and seriously impede conversions of market rate rental buildings. Preliminary discussions (with AG) we hope produce beneficial changes in 2014. (instead of AG implementing rules to protect the market rate inhabitants they implemented rules to eliminate rent stabilized so no inhabitants have any protections)
ILSA
REBNY had significant
federal legislative achievement led by Congress Carolyn Maloney, Grimm, Nadler, McHenry, passed Suspension Bill H.R. 2600, ILSA Update bill exempts condo developments from ILSA filing,
registration requirements,
subsequently provide condo
developers and lenders
certainty as economy recovers.
(hey Maloney how about a bill providing certainty to inhabitants to afford to keep homes instead of certainty to REBNY to increase their billions in profits by pricing us out and evicting!)
ILSA first passed in 1969 to
protect consumers from being sold
property fraudulently due to misleading advertising. (sound familiar - fraudulent property due to misleading advertising!)
When the RE market crashed in 2008, purchasers put it to the "unintended" use of escaping pre-crash contracts by claiming technical violations of ILSA. By exempting condominium developments from portions of ILSA, Congress is closing this very damaging loophole (damaging loophole my ass - a protection of inhabitants, the people)and providing tremendous bureaucratic relief from substantial filings
that are duplicative—and sometimes
contradictory—to state disclosure
requirements. Schumer Gillibrand introduced corresponding legislation in 2012, to reintroduce 2014, lead
passing in Senate.
http://www.rebny.com/content/dam/rebny/Documents/PDF/News/AnnualReports/2013_REBNY_Annual_Report.pdf
For those affected who noted STR's plea for people to be more proactive: If there's no permit posted for after hours work and after hours work is going on, anyone who observes that can MAKE A CALL TO 311. If the observer is feeling extra ambitious, note can be taken of the complaint number and forwarded to CB6 for them to monitor as that's more or less their reason for being. That's all that's necessary and it should take all of about 5 minutes.
Community Board 6 contact info:
Phone: 212-319-3750
Email: office@cbsix.org
You know what would be good? Every person in every building near the rink or anyone at all, for that matter, bombarding 311 with calls. Potentially more effective than venting here or waiting for the TA to act.
Bingo.
Is the Tenant King letter a scheme by the Buyers Contingency (Brookfield CW et al) to divert us away from productive actions as individuals or small groups?
Wow. So conversion benefits developers. In past 3 years legislation passed to ease way for developers while eliminate protections for inhabitants (condo owner and renters).
No one protecting renters in MCI negotiations as all, parties at the table were working in the best interest of the developers Brookfield and Compass Rock.
Politicians passing bills to increase prosperity of developers and decrease homeowner protections.
Politicians efforts with Fannie and Freddie this year to protect the developer Brookfield deal disguised as in the name of the tenants.
Developers 100% of benefits
Inhabitant Constituents Zero.
OH! That's right. We do have a
tenants association. But where ARE they now?
October 14, 2014 at 7:45 AM
Please elaborate.
FROM PCVST FACEBOOK:
A winter roof over playground 11, info from a neighbor: I just spoke with some workers doing lots of digging between Playground 11 and 16 Oval. This is the basketball playground, which is on the Avenue C Loop and surrounded by 6, 8, 10 Oval on the south and 14, 16, 18 Oval on the north. I was told that the electrical work they are doing now will be for installing a winter roof over the playground for sports - basketball and tennis. Are we tenants entitled to receive advance notice of these large physical changes?
More OVERALL electricity is possibly being used around here for the following:
1. Ice skating rink
2. Oval concerts
3. Oval fitness
4. Oval concierge
5. Oval kids
6. Oval study
7. Oval café
8. AND, as reported on PCVST Facebook(1hr ago,)
a ROOF to be installed over playground 11.( I can't believe it!)
Why should I have to pay for EVERYONE ELSES ELECTRICITY? WHY?
WHY? WHY?. It just does not stop around here! There is ALWAYS something going on. No peace and quiet anymore. Could this be a reason why for the 31% increase? YES, 31 P E R C E N T increase?
This is the post from the STPCV FB page:
“A winter roof over playground 11, info from a neighbor: I just spoke with some workers doing lots of digging between Playground 11 and 16 Oval. This is the basketball playground, which is on the Avenue C Loop and surrounded by 6, 8, 10 Oval on the south and 14, 16, 18 Oval on the north. I was told that the electrical work they are doing now will be for installing a winter roof over the playground for sports - basketball and tennis. Are we tenants entitled to receive advance notice of these large physical changes?”
It really is fucking over here. CWC/Fortress is not going anywhere. They will buy, it will be a dorm style rental property skewed, of course to the college/post college millennial transient turnover crowd. With the soon to be patio apartments for Bro fests, they won’t have to throw their trash (another STPCV FB post) on to the current roofs , they can lust leave the crap there. Escape plan now being seriously formulated.
Str - i don't understand many of the posts. Just saying.
annoyed tenant here.
1:44 is that a joke? A roof over the playground is a sleazy way of getting away without saying a new building. An indoor sports arena. Thanks Marsh - know you knew about it.
Way to go de Blaiso / DOB making pcvst less green, more carbon polluting, and in a major flood zone nonetheless.
2 - 11: it's the charge for ac, not electric.
lmao - 72$ a month for a/c. 12 months a year. What a scam.
TA WTF ARE YOU. T A WHOOOhooo???
Except except except in Stuytown where there are no rules protecting tenants - only management, special servicer and DOB and DHCR.
To the poster concerned about room counts and MCI's, here's a link that talks about how to count them.
http://www.nycblogestate.com/2007/09/apartment-room-count.html
BTW, it says a 1BR is either 3 1/2 or 4 rooms depending on if it has a dining "room" or dining alcove.
>>Str - i don't understand many of the posts. Just saying.<<
A few threads interchanging.
Anonymous @ Oct 14, 2014 at 8:52 AM said...
"To the TENANTS ASSOCIATION: with regard to this new MCI application, when old a/c's are taken out of the windows, bricks and the previous MCI work done on the façade are being REMOVED. Soo an argument can be made that how can you be charged for something THAT IS BEING REMOVED."
Funny and Sad is the futility of posting a message to the TA on STR.
Here's at tip guaranteed to evoke TA attention and response. Inserting the word "guterman" anywhere in a comment elicits multiple, amazing TA responses flooding in from all directions.
Moved in on 10/3/2014. Quite sure the a/c was installed prior to that. Do we have to pay the increase as well? Just curious why I'm paying 76 dollars a month all year, when we do not use the air cone but just a few months. Anyone? hello?
Compass Rock and the Brookfield "TA" team are trolling heavy trying to quickly dispel the good points being made here by tenants. Tenants are onto something so Keep it up tenants!
7:14 posting the REBNY definition of room count implying PCVST residents should abide by what REBNY defines as room count is WRONG. REBNY, who spends millions on lawyers to oppose us on Roberts, milions on lobbyists and politicians to pass bills and make laws to oppose us in NYC gov't, Albany, and Washington DC, and who feeds their spew to us via their Real Estate Weekly newsletter sister publication Town&Village and those who are often quoted there - is spewing a definition that makes them a lot of money off our hard working backs.
Technically a decent lawyer who is not a part of the purchase scheme could easily argue that room count is based on square footage and window size.
1:58 you are paying for a/c because current politicians are making laws to increase developers profits and not making common sense laws for the people. It is outrageous NYC tenants pay at that rate for a/c and more outrageous the politicians protect developers profits with laws against people.
Most residents don't need to be fearful of the announced apartment inspections. They aren't as broad as the TA said. They are only targeting a few apartments. Probably those trying to save our lost-cause community. If you know anyone being inspected warn them the inspections are to look for things to find out what those fighting for the community are up to.
THEY can't get away with EVERYTHING!!!!
Great Landlord. UH, excuse me, acting more like the Lord of the Land. I thought we were all done with these MCI'S? We just got through negotiating(getting ripped off) 2009 MCI'S? You mean there are more? A COMMUNITY UPROAR WILL HAPPEN!
The slow inexorable death march of Stuyvesant Town continues. Never ending MCI's, quality of life destruction, noise, filth in the hallways and laundry rooms, dog sh*t everywhere, college bros partying at 3:00AM...the list goes on and on.
The plan of CW Cap is so very simple. Slowly by attrition they will clear the buildings of the old RS tenants and then there will be 80-acres of prime land just waiting for development. Even if it takes 25 years, as an earlier poster wrote, that's OK. A corporation has all the time in the world. Alas, we mere mortals don't. Don't waste your energy believing in quixotic schemes like condo or coop conversion...AIN'T GONNA HAPPEN...the fix is in. Meanwhile as a old time RS tenant I ain't leavin'...except feet first...lol...hopefully not too soon. A ROYAL F U to the ghouls who destroyed this place.
"Moved in on 10/3/2014. Quite sure the a/c was installed prior to that. Do we have to pay the increase as well? Just curious why I'm paying 76 dollars a month all year, when we do not use the air cone but just a few months. Anyone? hello?"
You didn't say whether your lease specifies that you will be paying the monthly surcharge. It should have language about it on the first page. You are a rent-stabilized tenant (despite your high rent), and if your lease says you must pay a surcharge, then it will be the amount determined every year by the NYC Rent Guidelines Board, which also sets the annual increases to rents. Previous posts contain links about this. Each year on October 1 the RGB sets the surcharge for the year commencing on that date. The new surcharge (occasionally the amount goes down) appears on the November rent bill, along with the retroactive amount for October.
As for why we pay every month instead of only in the months we actually use the A/C, I think it's because the apartments aren't individually metered so the total cost is spread over the entire year. That's why lots of people just run their A/C without worrying about getting hit with a whopping bill only in the hot months. This surcharge is determined for apartments where the other electrical costs are included in the rent. But check out the links others have posted. And welcome to the community.
"To the TENANTS ASSOCIATION: with regard to this new MCI application, when old a/c's are taken out of the windows, bricks and the previous MCI work done on the façade are being REMOVED. Soo an argument can be made that how can you be charged for something THAT IS BEING REMOVED."
When it comes to MCIs, layman's logic doesn't apply much. Check out the DHCR fact sheet on MCIs and delve further into the RS law if you want an answer. In any event, the latest MCI does not apply to this through-the-wall A/C work. It's for other exterior restoration on a couple of buildings a couple of years ago.
MR tenants already have the a/c charge in the base rent so there should NOT be a charge on top of the base rent for MR tenants. If there is then file an overcharge complaint with DHCR to get it on record and corrected.
TO: October 15, 2014 at 11:45 AM
You misunderstand my point.
Please read slowly. I think I make sense.
"when old a/c's are taken out of the windows, bricks and the PREVIOUS CLAIMED MCI work done on the FACADE are being REMOVED. Soo an argument can be made that how can you be charged for something_(PREVIOUSLY FACADE WORK)
THAT IS AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE REMOVED, until all the exterior a/c's are removed".
Again MetLife did not charge residents an MCI for the exterior pointing. Either this is not allowed or this is what the earlier comment was saying where the local pols recently passed bills for landlords to charge us on exterior work to cover the interior work deemed no longer able to pass onto residents. Screwed again by the pols helping their RE buddies. Check and see if this is a newly allowable charge the pols, dhcr and re concocted.
@8:26 AM Re: Room count.
The URL I posted was from a real estate broker who uses REBNY guidelines for room counts. Here is the DHCR methodology, and you can compare them.
http://www.nyshcr.org/Rent/PolicyStatements/orap903.pdf
TO:October 15, 2014 at 11:45 AM
What makes you believe it is on a select number of buildings and not all, and what building numbers are you referring to?
I think everyone knows "the latest MCI does not apply to the through-the-wall A/C work"
The application filed is for façade work.
Seriously everyone? We had a way and good RE expert lawyers willing on contingency to file a lawsuit like the Riverton suit opposing the MCI charges and applications and the overcharges on the MR apartments with the double charging for a/c and the outrageous charges (probably 5X) on the renovation work and we all did nothing. Could have been a landmark case and this time we would not have let it be sabotaged with a corrupt settlement. Watch, our maintenance fees will rise higher than the rents with MCI charges ever would have.
A roof over the playground for indoor tennis and basketball games and tournaments has been long planned as has all the construction and buildings past present and future. Planned long before Hurricane Sandy so that excuse does not fly. Its part of the deal Brookfield CW Compass Rock made in 2010. More to construction and lack of transparency from the so called "TA" to come. Those operating expenses are climbing higher and higher along with the increased overpopulation and the large increase in foot traffic. Safety is long gone and our children can no longer roam as freely and play as safely. This is no place for children.
THEY can't get away with EVERYTHING!!!!
WANNA BET!?
No 11:25 no need to wait 25 yrs - a conversion is an immanent inevitability. Get ready.
Do the poor souls who now move in even ask what the F the lease is about, what is a REAL rent and what the increases will be in a year/ two years and what happens in between? Poor souls are clueless. ASK PEOPLE, ASK, READ, SEE A LAWYER. Your rent is not your real rent.
"Meanwhile as a old time RS tenant I ain't leavin'...except feet first...lol...hopefully not too soon. A ROYAL F U to the ghouls who destroyed this place."
I totally concur, Hippo!
How do you put up with us, STR? ;-)
why the hell would CWC convert this to coops? NO WAY. They're doing just fine believe me. Just because you want this, does not mean it will happen.
2:39 You may be right - you mean the fellow who pulled a temper tantrum? SERIOUS red flag in his behavior there. While I agree with you 100% , we need a grown up to take this on. GET ONE.
FTR - the tenants in the new renovated units are getting royally screwed. they pay $$$ for a/c and get Mci as well. And when the bulbs burn out they have to order 'special' bulbs that are way overpriced and expensive. If there is a tear or break in shades, those are billed to replace as well.
We are not buying it
His RE friends attend a common event book signing at Union Square as audience fillers including his buddy Rudin to whom he gave our Greenwich Village St Vincents Hospital for luxury condos. Rudin and Cuomo took away our middle class employer St Vincents hospital and community healthcare provider so Rudin could build luxury condos. And Rudin returned the favor being lowly audience seat filler.
http://mobile.nytimes.com/2014/10/16/nyregion/for-governor-cuomo-a-low-key-book-signing.html?partner=socialflow&smid=tw-nytmetro&_r=1&referrer=
http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304640104579485840796072468
THE CIRCUS IS IN TOWN!!
Isn't everyone thrilled?
This is going to look HORRIBLE!!
Landscape ruined along with Ice skating rink!
From: THE TA WEB:
Residents in buildings around Playground 11 in Stuyvesant Town have noticed workers digging near it. This is the playground surrounded by 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, and 18 Stuyvesant Oval.
Wonder what is happening? The digging is in preparation for a tent to be constructed over the playground, and the trench in progress is for electrical wiring to provide light and heat, so that sports can take place during the winter.
While we all would have appreciated it if CWCapital had advised and consulted with the community in advance about this project, it could be a positive addition provided that (1) the noise from the heating equipment is not disruptive; (2) the hours do not extend to a time when it disturbs residents around the playground; (3) it is limited in use to residents and their guests and that use is enforced; and (4) that there is free and convenient open time for all members of the community.
At this time, we don’t know precisely when the project will be open and other relevant details. We understand management will be communicating with tenants in the near future, and expect them to address these questions.
Yeah! I'll take that bet?
and, I'll give you 2 to 1 odds on top of that.
Has any other building received an MCI notice? Please indicate your building number
"No 11:25 no need to wait 25 yrs - a conversion is an immanent inevitability. Get ready."
I agree, the only issue is whether or not the offering prices will only make sense for the fake R/S renters and not the real R/S renters. Obviously I'm not going to assume a mortgage if that mortgage is going to be substantially greater than my rent. Even with the built in unaffordability of real R/S, I would just prefer to move out of the projects in 6 years.
I can't wait for Oval Pool. Right smack in the middle of our Oval.
All of our playgrounds are slowly being taken away from us people.
Watch for something being done at playground 11. Everything is always hush hush around here until an "event" happens. SOO SNEAKY!!!! Soo trustworthy, don't you think!
Every open space will be utilized to draw more and more people to live here. It will become more and more congested. This is no more than a "fishing" game, and many will be suckered into it, as the quality of life here diminishes by the day. This is where it is all going. This has to be stopped.
There will most likely be a ""usage" fee for the new improved weatherproofed playground 11.
Much the same as they did to the playground now a 5 month ice skating rink.
The amount of misinformation and crazy talk on this blog is mind boggling and unfortunate. And, no, I am NOT a TA shill, just an ordinary tenant like most people reading/posting here.
Re: the major construction of the so-called Management Office:
They gave the tenants who were inconvenienced and subjected to toxic dust, noise and all kinds of shit, $200 gift certificates to eat at a local restaurant! LOL! I hope they gave each one of them a party hat and lolipop to go with it!
What a fucking insulting and contemptuous way to treat people. These bastards should be strung up by their balls.
Check out the T&V blog. Management has been surveying a lawn in PCV as a potential playground site. http://town-village.com/2014/10/16/peter-cooper-lawn-could-become-another-playground/
Anyone remember the old Con Ed slogan "Dig we must"? All this work by CW smacks of OCD.
6:24 am why? Because it's by far the most efficient way for a new owner to turn a huge profit. Got nothing to do with anyone's wishes. If you think a new owner will pursue a rental business model post TS - you're the one wishing on a star.
Omfh - there won't be a conversion -
str why do you post such BS.
7:16 - Why keep posting about a conversion. You honestly believe that CWC is not making money with the rental property as is? You WANT a conversion but it is not to be.
Thanks Dan G. The flood gates have officially been opened. If you think management will be considerate of existing nearby residents, I think not!
6:26 PM
How they get away with everything
Read the 2013 REBNY Annual Report link the commentator posted.
1. When RE needs to do something for their excessive greed the city, state, and federal Politicians with REBNY filled coffers will pass a bill for them.
If the politicians can't get a bill passed for RE fast enough the politicians will build RE a loophole after asking REBNY for the dimensions of how big, how wide to open up that loophole.
The city agencies with commissioners appointed by the REBNY owned politicians will write rules and regulations favoring RE.
Corrupt greedy wannabe purchasers and politicians will pose as tenant-friendly in photo ops set up by their entities posing as a Tenant Association to keep the tenants in the dark and to tell tenants to obey the rules and regulations and laws written by REBNY and to shut up about Oval destruction because their are loopholes (designed by REBNY).
RE REBNY makes the rules and laws as they wish.
RE REBNY changes the rules and laws as they wish.
RE REBNY opens loopholes as they wish.
RE REBNY closes loopholes as they wish.
Its all laid out in the 2013 REBNY annual report.
Until tenants stop obeying the Dans of the world who tell us to shut up because RE has an accessory loophole to build Oval crap ...
and to shut up on all the construction increasing the electrical use, the operating costs, the carbon footprint, and decreasing the quality of life here
...
until we stop obeying the Dans of the world, we will be ruled by REBNY.
REBNY obeys no one.
Everyone is obeying REBNY until we stop obeying the coffer filled pols and commissioners who are REBNY owned.
Time for Civil Disobedience.
I also don't get the constant posting of conversion fears and conversion plan. What a joke and an obvious distraction from the serious problems tenants face here. We all know there will never be a conversion. I'm old and they've been talking about it for 35 years. Let's stop this nonsense and focus on stopping the added charges and rolling back rents for ALL of us.
Great letter in the 10/16/2014 T&V:
" believe the phrase most often used in T&V is “A spokesperson for CWCapital did not respond to a request for comment.”
No questions, please."
The TA is pretending AGAIN to not already know about construction occurring on our resident open spaces with that post on Playground 11 and again is going along with the construction and telling tenants to only be concerned with how the new construction work is conducted and how the new constructed building is operated.
AGAIN THAT IS NOT WHAT THE TENANTS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT. But that is what the TA wants to tell us to be concerned about.
This TA does not represent tenant concerns!
NO NEW BUILDINGS
NO LOSS OF OPEN SPACE
NO CONSTRUCTION
NO DANGEROUS WALKWAY CORRIDORS DUE TO BUILDINGS CUTTING OFF VISION OF WHAT IS UPCOMING (NEW BUILDINGS ARE CREATING SMALLER, FEWER AND NARROWER WALKWAYS WITH CORNERS FOR CRIMINALS AND DANGER TO HIDE AROUND THE CORNER OF THE NEW BUILDING AND JUMP OUT - WITH NOWHERE FOR TENANTS TO RUN BUT IN REVERSE DOWN A LONG NARROW WALKWAY IF THEY CAN OUTRUN THE CRIMINAL.
NO MORE LOSS OF OPEN SPACE
NO MORE DIMINISH OF QOL
Dear TA
We are NOT concerned about how the construction is conducted or how the new buildings operate - we ARE concerned that you are allowing the construction in the first place!
If Compass Rock and Brookfield are allowed to now pass on costs for pointing of exterior bricks it is because the is a brand new rule change a gift to RE courtesy of the politicians who are not on our side.
REBNY ANNUAL REPORT 2013
"...Financial benefit for building-wide work increased to offset benefits building owner no longer receive on apartment upgrades.
WIN FOR REBNY, pols brag victory for people while actually benefit landlords with offset, People lose.
As per the PCVST Living email blast:
"Hellacious Halloween Happenings!"
Yes, the loss of playground 11 (you know, like the rink, is will be a pay for facility or a reserved event situation like that ZogSports BS they tried to pull over some time ago) and the construction of a new playground on green space in PCV is truly "Hellacious". The PR propaganda issued by CWC/CR makes "Baghdad Bob” (remember him?) look like Thoreau. “Coming soon!”. Indeed.
Another construction building approved by the TA that they kept secret from tenants.
More to come from the Buers Association aka Brookfield "TA".
The "TA" did a crap job keeping the construction noise, dust, dirt, jackhammering, toxic debris, hours, etc on their new office building. A real crap job.
Look, Brookfield, the TA, Compass Rock, Dan, Community Board 6, the DOB all know about all construction long before work starts.
All these liars are keeping construction projects secret from residents until we physically see workers and it is too late to oppose.
Brookfield wants the construction.
"Hellacious Halloween Happenings!"
Inappropriate language for a family community
Appropriate language for a college campus
Just saying.....
Are they tearing down all the tall trees to install the circus tent?
Please tell us all why Dan would want construction? The paranoia is taking up a lot of space here str.
A sale is pending. This will be the 2nd sale in stpcv's 67 year history. If you think the new owners will attempt another all rental business plan for the property after the TS debacle - you're crazy. Forewarned is forearmed.
The same person who wrote the press release for CW wrote the press release statement for TA. The new office building was in the works long before Hurricane Sandy hit. The plans were drawn years ago. The TA and CW think tenants are stupid and will believe Hurricane Sandy is the reason for the multi-million dollar office building just because they both write it in their press releases. Even Compass Rock doesn't always tell the company line and already admitted they wanted nice new offices for their employees in a new office building to increase the property value (despite that it severely decreased the open space.)
Nice coordinated press releases guys, in timing of the release and in language.
1:26 you keep posting trying to get tenants to explain themselves to you - as if you are entitled.
The reasons are clear and many for why Dan is pro construction and has been since he gave us the weak excuse of the Oval construction.
So whomever you are addressing with your demand for explanation, your many demands these past few weeks, I would advise them to keep up the good work exposing all that is going on here and don't bother to explain yourself to 1:26.
A sale is pending. This will be the 2nd sale in stpcv's 67 year history. If you think the new owners will attempt another all rental business plan for the property after the TS debacle - you're crazy. Forewarned is forearmed.
you are so very wrong. You want a coop, does not mean it happens here. Head up to 24th street and north.
Even Charles Dickens could not have come up with such a wicked, mean, manipulative scenario than this management company presents.
Please pinch me. Am I having a nightmare?
A whole lot of "poppy-cock". I must have eaten a bad potata.
4:26 wants has nothing to do with it. Hiding your head in the sand won't change the metrics on this issue.
The TA does NOT own STPCV. In most instances, it has little to no influence or control over what happens here. I know a lot of people on this blog simply do NOT want to hear or accept this fact, but it's true.
STR- why do you allow comments from people who insult those who ask pertinent questions? IT'S my right to ask questions about the landlord, the community, Dan and whatever the hell I want to if one makes a statement regarding any of the above.
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