The Stuyvesant Town Report: September 2015

Wednesday, September 30, 2015

Dan Garodnick vs. Microbeads

http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/exclusive-nyc-lawmaker-proposes-statewide-ban-microbeads-article-1.2379304?cid=bitly

Dear Dan,

Thank you for taking up the important battle against microbeads.

Please don't forget us here in Stuyvesant Town and Peter Cooper Village. We are dying in a manner of speaking. And certainly Affordable Housing is on life support.

Yours sincerely,

STR

P.S. - I think the current photo of you in the News, showcasing your serious and concerned look, is much more impressive than others of the same type I have seen, as impacting as those photos were. Definitely use this photo for promoting yourself to the voters for a higher office than the one you have already.

Monday, September 28, 2015

ST/PCV Dog Policy is a COMPLETE FAILURE

Seen the other day along the walkway corridor between the 500 East 20 St buildings, a frequent dumping and pissing area for dog walkers:

Now for a closer look at what was left behind: (Apologies for the graphic nature of the photos.)

Left side:

Right side:

Dog piss and shit stains and actual turds all over the complex! Thank you, CWCapital and CompassRock, for maintaining this place so impeccably. And thank YOU, Rob Speyer, who changed the no-dog policy here during his (failed) reign! Wish I could package these turds and send them over your way.

And now the chess tables are gone

Work will also start on the other side of the Oval, where more chess tables exist.

Thursday, September 24, 2015

Adam Purple 1930-2015

Not a Stuy Town story, but a New York one. Long-time New Yorkers will know him by sight. Another piece of NYC gone.

http://thevillager.com/2015/09/15/adam-purple-legendary-gardener-84-is-dead-was-biking-across-williamsburg-bridge/

Saturday, September 19, 2015

NYU Volleyball Event at Playground 11

http://nyugradhalls.tumblr.com/post/129026895485/what-volleyball-in-stuytown-date-sunday

Now, what happens if the volleyball courts are already taken by non-NYU grad students? Will they be asked to leave? Will admittance be only for NYU grad students? Will ST/PCV key-cards be checked?

UPDATE: Sunday, post-5:30pm. Well, it didn't turn out as anyone expected. LOL. Four very nice Asian students, two guys, two gals. That's it. No bros. No shouting. No beer hidden away somewhere. They could have used some more players! All is safe and secure.

That's said, there was NO ONE checking who entered Playground 11. One gets the feeling that CW is trying to save money everywhere.

Friday, September 18, 2015

STR posts, the world shakes

Perhaps my "Stuy Town is a Disaster" post from last week has produced some movement on the part of management. The chess board area between Oval Cafe and Oval Study that I complained about is now under demolition as I write this.

Now, here's the question: What is going to take its place?

Please choose one:

1) New chess tables and chess area.
2) Nothing. Management, pissed, is telling STR and residents: "Take that, bitches!"
3) Vending machines.
4) Student housing.

Sunday, September 13, 2015

Stuy Town is a Disaster

I really think that no one cares. Perhaps some residents do, but that's about it.

Here's the morning Stuy Town sweeper zamboni cleaning up the Oval. Problem is that it does a lousy job (photo shows how lousy: all the leaves still remain after the zamboni's passage) and spreads noxious and harmful fumes in the air.

The photo may not truly tell the tale but this dog is huge enough for a child to use as a horse, fifty pound weight limit be damned. Public Safety has really dropped the ball in enforcing the complex's dog rules. We all know that, of course, but the question is whether the lack of enforcement is due to Public Safety or orders from above.

The chess table area between Oval Cafe and Oval Study is disgusting. Dog urine (pictured in photo), smudges of dog feces, cigarette butts, spilled drinks, food stains, flies, fleas, mosquitoes--it's all there to enjoy! The chess area and chess tables are never properly cleaned, with only Mother Nature's rain providing any type of effort. Management should post signs that no dogs are allowed inside that area, not only to stop the urine and crap stains, but also to prevent dog owners for placing their fidos on the tables!

A homeless man finds a nice place to sleep in Stuy Town. I don't begrudge him the sleeping quarters, but the question becomes how is it that our award-winning camera system and the eagle eyes of Public Safety did not see this?

I dunno. If it were my job to make sure Stuyvesant Town and Peter Cooper Village is maintained as best as possible (meaning, professionally), I would be supremely embarrassed with results like these, which are NOT atypical. And if I were a renter paying 5K or so for my apartment, I'd be furious. Even so, at 2K or thereabouts, we should demand that something be done to make ST/PCV more of a nice clean place to live instead of a slum. And where's the TA in all this? Its officers live and walk around the complex, no?

Wednesday, September 9, 2015

So is Our Man Dan for These or Against These?

In Dan Garodnick's district, forthcoming.

"YIMBY can now reveal the latest plans for the site, which have changed significantly, and the entirety of the building above the retail base will be condominiums. The project has also received a significant height boost, and is now slated to stand 64 stories and 803 feet tall, with Pelli Clarke Pelli serving as the design architect."

http://newyorkyimby.com/2015/09/revealed-138-east-50th-street-803-foot-tall-midtown-condo-tower-designed-by-pelli-clarke-pelli.html

A reminder of Dan's history on these excessively tall buildings:

http://stuytownreport.blogspot.com/2015/07/is-this-crazy-or-what.html

Friday, September 4, 2015

Well, at least we have a home...for now

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3218600/Four-thousand-sleeping-streets-New-York-homeless-crisis-caused-beggars-making-75-day-cheap-drugs-end-tough-policing-cleaned-city.html

All comments to posts have to await approval. Approval does not happen immediately. NOTE: Comments reflect the opinions of the person writing them and should not be assumed to reflect the opinion of the blog.

FALSEHOOD: No one has won against our landlord in court. Our landlord, this case Blackstone, would like nothing better than for residents to think that anything legal is hopeless. Management wants residents to go away on certain issues and be forever quiet. The "fact" that no one has won in court is a FALSEHOOD. I know of an individual who won in court when she proved that her ST apartment had loud noises outside that prevented her from doing her job, which took place in said apartment. Also, please remember that the new rents laws passed in NY and landlords are not pleased. Also, remember that there was a case, about the tax break J-51, where the landlords charged more than they should have. The landlords had to pay up. (Of course, they crafted the situation to their advantage, but that is another issue.) The fact remains that you, as a resident of Stuy Town, have legal recourse, but you need documentation, the more documentation, the better.

Management has two priorities: 1) Making sure money is made, hence upgrading and filling up apartments is their goal. "Amenities" are important in selling the place, though few residents use them. 2) If someone needs medical attention, Public Safety will be there, if alerted.

Quality of life issues are not that important, however. Things like the carpet rule or outsider dogs. These "rules" tend to be ignored, on purpose it seems. So you will see a lot that isn't taken care of properly, and complaints will be met with a creative excuse and a smile.

Though money was always important, it is now more important than ever. Money rules many things, as you will find.

At this point, 30 years into living here and seeing many things, I can state that Management and their reps are BS-ing us. I can't say that loudly enough: We are being BS-ed. I don't see any genuine change, though the "selling" of this place is intense. Few of the "rules" will be enforced, as Management doesn't want to lose customers or potential customers. Where personal integrity is a hallmark of an excellent management style, this integrity is not seen in enforcing some of the rules.

Our Tenants Association is, basically, null and void. Oh, it is still around, but it lacks the will power to confront much of anything. The TA will ask for your dues, however. By now, the TA is a charade.

Life in Stuy Town

I write this on May 3, 2018: Since this year, there have been three suicides in ST/PCV. Aside from silence by almost everyone, there occurred a suicide where sulfuric acid was used and the city had to be called in, including the Fire Dept. As of now, there has been a general state of silence about this suicide, even though other resident lives were at danger. Yes, our councilperson is silent. The TA is silent. Obviously, Management is silent, too.

Added April 29, 2019: Another suicide in ST/PCV. That we know of.

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"We'll be introducing a new process to identify registered dogs thus enabling Public Safety Officers to clearly approach offending dog owners. The registration will hang from the leash handle; clearly identifying the dog as registered.

"If the dog is not registered by May 1; a summons will be issued at the point of contact. If we learn the dog owner is not a resident, they will be escorted off the property."

Rick Hayduk, CEO and General Manager of PCVST. Letter to Barry Shapiro, February 2016.

STR here: I have been around since the inception of this dog policy and I have NEVER seen anyone escorted out of ST or PCV with their non-lanyard dog. But I have seen, many times, a dog owner from outside, and his/her dog, casually walking through ST or PCV.

BICYCLES, MOPEDS, SCOOTERS, ETC.

What is legal?

Something for everyone to read:

Motorized vehicles:

The direct link:

https://dmv.ny.gov/registration/motorized-devices-cannot-be-registered-new-york

And...

Of course, "private property" but "public access" - whatever that means! And if a part of it is public access, do the rules of the city apply to our roads and sidewalks? Or does anything give because this complex is "private property"? Who comes here in case of a fire in one of our buildings? The Stuy Town Fire Brigade?

Hint: Look both ways if you are in the complex. Look on the ground, too!

61.03 Control of dogs and other animals to prevent nuisance.
(a) A person who owns, possesses or controls a dog, cat or other animal shall not permit the animal to commit a nuisance on a sidewalk of any public place, on a floor, wall, stairway, sidewalk, lawn, garden or roof of any public or private premises used in common by the public, or on a fence, wall [or], stairway or entranceway of a building abutting on a public place

Banned & Oversize Dog Breeds in Stuy Town

Message from now EX-Landlord Rob Speyer to Stuy Town & Peter Cooper Tenants 11/06

I am writing on behalf of everyone at Tishman Speyer to express how honored we are to become part of your outstanding community. We are a business with deep roots in New York, a true love of our city and a great respect for the neighborhoods that make it special. We are committed to maintaining the unique character and environment that have made Peter Cooper Village and Stuyvesant Town such a wonderful place to live for so long. We look forward to providing you an extraordinary level of service and attentiveness that will be the source of pride and satisfaction for the entire community.

Neighborhood Recommendations

New to Stuy Town/Peter Cooper Village? Here are some basic recommendations.

Best gym: Don't waste your money on the Oval Fitness Gym. Instead go to the earthy but real Asser Levy Recreational Center, right above 23rd St on Asser Levy Place (near the FDR Drive). $75 for a year's membership; seniors are almost free. Contains seasonal indoor and outdoor swimming pools, ping-pong table, two pool tables. Called by some rich people who wouldn't get caught going there "the prison gym," and you know why.

A Stuy Town favorite is Lenz's on 20 St. between the 20 St. Loop. The way New York used to be. Be careful of unwanted "pepper" in your food, however. Lenz's got a B grade rating and was temporarily closed down due to an order from the Health Department. Bruno's on First Avenue is more upscale, with a greater selection of food items (higher-priced, too), but was closed down temporarily by the Health Department. Stuy Town's own cafe was closed, too! And not because of all the dogs that hover and piss outside.

Gracefully has two locations, but we prefer for its size the one on 1st Ave. Prices are high and reflect the new tenants that are currently renting Stuy Town and Peter Cooper apartments. ("Do you have a credit card?") We like Gracefully's lunch specials, which are somewhat affordable.

I priced the CVS on 1st Ave near 14st. The non-aerosol hairspray was 20 cents above CVS' own website price, and one of the highest in NY. (Yes, I have hair.) You can save at least a dollar or more buying at another place. So beware. Look around for a better deal on all your items.

I love warm Quaker Oats in the morning. Gristedes is not the place to get it, nor is Associated, though their price is less. Look around!