http://www.humanscale.nyc/
Whereas:
1) We are angered when developers seize our commonly shared light, air, gardens, and iconic views for private consumption.
2) We are aggrieved when we see developers plunder our historic neighborhoods and bury them in a sea of glass, all for luxury housing that destroys more affordable apartments than they create.
3) We are dismayed that small businesses are being hounded out of their premises by an army of banks and chain stores.
4) Many parts of our city are already too dense such that the public infrastructure in those places cannot support more people without a decline in the quality of life, destruction of historic fabric, and deterioration of the urban experience that makes New York so great.
5) Economic growth and affordable housing are indisputably compatible with both a human-scaled city and the preservation of our historic neighborhoods and architecture.
We conclude that reform must take place or the unique character of New York City will be lost forever.
More at the above link, including a link to sign a petition.
I wonder if our councilman Dan Garodnick will sign this petition?
There's also a long list of sponsor organizations. Perhaps the TA can be induced to join this effort???
(If your organization would like to be a co-sponsor, please email coordinator@humanscale.nyc)
27 comments:
Actually, it is on the TA fb page, but not introduced by the TA, but by a fb member.
As for Garodnick sign it - that's funny! He's part of the problem, so I doubt he would want to be part of the [possible] cure!
Well, that was written in jest.... Yes, it's on the TA Facebook, but not an official post, and certainly the TA is not sponsoring this, as yet. Don't hold your breathe, however.
Hahah... Dan goes against all of the things listed in one way or another. There is no way the TA or DG will sign this. If DG does, he will have a lot of questions to answer!
Hey TA.
"(List in formation as of November 10, 2015. If you would like your organization to be on the list, please email us at coordinator@humanscale.nyc)"
No excuse now.
Thank God for this!
>>If your organization would like to be a co-sponsor, please email coordinator@humanscale.nyc.<<
Missed that. Will add to front page post. Thanks!
Excellent bold move. Impressive list of partners. I love this city.
It is time we push back and stand up for ourselves. They are robbing us blind.
According to Bloomberg:
By 2030, Asia Pacific's middle class will account for 66 percent of the world's total, up from just 28 percent in 2009, according to figures and forecasts from the Brookings Institution. By contrast, Europe's share will slide to 14 percent from 36 percent in the same period, with the U.S. more than halving to 7 percent from 18 percent
The US will have more poor, less rich and much less middle class then Asia Pacific because of the things like these developers are doing.
If they keep on building these ugly buildings that scar the landscape, as well as destroying every neighborhood in NYC and replacing it with a bland, gentrified "wherever" neighborhood, what will be the attraction of NYC? May as well stay home in Flyoverlandia. If you change a place to become just a clone of Anywhere, USA, then it is not worth going there. I love the old buildings of NYC, especially the iconic ones like the Chrysler Building, ESB and many, many others. They have character and they look STRONG, like NYC and its people. These ugly over-tall glass things look like something temporary and made of ticky tacky. I would never want to go inside one of those things, especially to the top floor. At least you don't feel like the ESB might keel over in a strong wind! Now THAT'S A BUILDING!!!
These tall, skinny glass buildings that nobody really lives in - they look so flimsy. I always thought the Twin Towers didn't look all that strong and, indeed, they collapsed like a house of cards when the enemy struck. But these new buildings look like they are even weaker and more vulnerable. The Twin Towers were filled with people working and playing. These new and proposed monstrosities don't even have tenants who occupy the premises; they are mainly money-laundering facilities and trophies. Remember that Bill Ackman bought the apartment on the top floor of the monstrosity on 57th Street, not because he was intending to live in it, but because it was, in his words, "The Mona Lisa of Apartments."
If they were struck by a terrorist attack the main casualties would be New Yorkers on the streets in the vicinity, as well as the peons who work in the buildings to keep them maintained, etc. Makes me wonder just who the enemy is and who is pandering to the enemy. Call me paranoid if you like, but I see these things as shells, possibly complicit, that invite attack, but won't hurt anybody except the regular people on the street. Let the Powers-that-Be establish their offices on the top floors of these buildings and then I'll be less suspicious of them and whoever it is who is commissioning them.
It's an ugly world we live in.
these destructive towers are happening everywhere thanks to corrupt albany and city council and city hall! illegal chopped apartments are happening everywhere too. let us hope mr bharara is successful with his court cases and then goes further into cleaning out the corrupt!
observer.com/2015/01/law-firm-at-center-of-silver-scandal-donated-huge-sums-to-dems/
2007 - Harlem same scheme scams tricks PCVST Tishman Speyer Knapp and all aka
NYC middle class under strategic attack in an all out dirty war waged
FRAUD AGGRESSION TARGET PURSUE STEAL MIDDLE CLASS MARKET ASSETS FOR LUXURY HOUSING QuinnViverito council NYS housing authorities law enforcement politicians DELIBERATELY fail to protect NYC citizens. They could have written home protection laws years ago but intentionally helped REBNY pursue, ruin NYC Middle Class Citizens
http://therealdeal.com/issues_articles/pinnacle-group-one-big-city-landlord-and-many-little-headaches/
"reputation for “systematic evictions”
"aggressive tactics"
"investments in urban areas “once purchased, objective is achieve positive cash flow within 12 months.”
"long-term goal says Kochis Fitz “significantly increasing rent rolls,” while managing tenant turnover, focusing on tenant relations, making “cosmetic improvements.”
"making cosmetic improvements to attract higher rents..then passing charges along to existing tenants"
“Our strategy,” company wrote on its Web site, “centered on pursuing middle-market assets"
RENOVATION OVERCHARGES
"In one instance, Pinnacle allegedly recorded using 160 light bulbs, 75lbs of grout, 130 gallons of paint for renovation of a single two-bedroom apartment in Harlem in order to justify raising unit’s rent to $1,900."
"Pinnacle lawyers acknowledge they made mistakes...couple occupying apartment was awarded $10,000 in rent credits, though they claim they are owed $15,000 more."
"recent account of Pinnacle’s actions by NYTimes detailed alleged cases of fraud — including false billings and cost of renovations that were exaggerated — that are being examined by district attorney and state attorney general’s office."
“Our allegations have been overcharging in rent and capital improvements,” said Powell, whose tenants’ group raised $6,500 for independent engineer’s assessment.. which they determined will require an additional $2.8 million dollars worth of work.
(good thing we didn't tenant purchase and get stuck with $millions of PCVST infrastructure work after cosmetic work raised purchase price to $5.4 billion)
“Flags, gold paint and security cameras,” she noted, “are not for the benefit of the tenants.”
to be continued
http://therealdeal.com/issues_articles/pinnacle-group-one-big-city-landlord-and-many-little-headaches/
"..business models seek to upgrade properties well beyond level they had been operating..owner Joel Weiner appeared publicly to address tenant issues..responded positively to pressure from media, Prana made itself completely inaccessible to public; every single one of their publicly listed numbers is fax machine. Repeated calls to offices in San Fran went unanswered."
(same bad landlord tactic used by PCVST TA!)
Extell recently bought 5 buildings..tenants..received notices new ownership in rent slips..office number given always goes to answering machine..spokesman George Arzt said company had no intention, so far, of turning those buildings into condos, and would make itself more accessible to tenants in future.
"other landlords who engaged in same, or even worse, practices in area."
"It’s also about the system"
“Many of the cases that Pinnacle brings are not legitimate,” Ken Rosenfeld, director legal services Northern Manhattan Improvement Corp, nonprofit organization that provides legal services to tenants.. “They just sue.”
(PCVST too, illegitimate cases using courts to intimidate harass force out tenants)
"But while tenants’ rights advocates, elected officials and lawyers..stated repeatedly they loathed Pinnacle’s tactics, sources noted state Legislature created the platform for a company to bring action against tenants who know little about how to navigate landlord-tenant court."
(Politicians give appearance they loathe landlord tactics while empowering them with platform of systemic support)
"state Legislature created platform for a company to bring action against tenants who know little about how to navigate landlord-tenant court."
THROWING PEOPLE OUT BY FORCE FRAUD FALSE LAWSUITS
“They want to throw out people with rent-controlled apartments..people here can’t pay more rent"
"Pinnacle..repeatedly under sting of NY Daily News’ reporter Juan Gonzalez, who discovered Pinnacle sent out 5,000 dispossess notices for 21,000 units the company owns, a figure the company has not denied.."
Anonymous Anonymous said...
It is time we push back and stand up for ourselves. They are robbing us blind.
ABOVE COMMENTATOR:
According to Bloomberg:
By 2030, Asia Pacific's middle class will account for 66 percent of the world's total, up from just 28 percent in 2009, according to figures and forecasts from the Brookings Institution. By contrast, Europe's share will slide to 14 percent from 36 percent in the same period, with the U.S. more than halving to 7 percent from 18 percent
The US will have more poor, less rich and much less middle class then Asia Pacific because of the things like these developers are doing.
November 25, 2015 at 6:29 PM
Bloomberg's Wilde's Partnership for NYC college campus is causing the desecration of NYC and America middle class assets that you post from Bloomberg news themselves, because Bloomberg himself says he wants to beat China at Research & Developmemt so he and the Partnership for New York are sacrificing the American middle class people's livelihoods to stay competitive in business billionaire R&D. Mike Bloomberg considers himself smarter than all of us, can't he figure out a way to stay competitive in business without stealing and wiping out American middle class citizens?
Which seems a pointless endeavor to use an Applied Sciences master campus to outdo China in business when at the same time NY is allowing billions of Chinese cash to buy NYC and NY state land through Canadian purchases.
China will have a stronger middle class, a stronger economy, a stronger American real estate portfolio, but Bloomberg vision is for a mega profit center from education. Education is a future mega profit center, but at what cost? The costs outweigh the benefits.
That is bad business just for a namesake legacy.
This is from mikebloomberg.com
http://www.mikebloomberg.com/news/mayor-bloomberg-announces-next-steps-for-applied-sciences-nyc/
Mayor Bloomberg Announces Next Steps for Applied Sciences NYC
By NYC.gov - OCT. 31, 2011
"This is especially true as other countries continue to invest heavily in research and development, with Asia, for example, now predicted to overtake R&D expenditures in the U.S. within the next five years, thanks primarily to striking growth in R&D investment in China."
American government has got to Grow Up, stop the childish tit for tat internally with other states and externally with other countries and start investing in Americans, America's destroyed Middle Class, America's near decade long Housing Crisis, and America's crumbling Infrastructure.
well then the landlord can let us out of our lease. The apartment is not habitable if we are plagued with noise 7 days a week nearly all day/night. post on yelp.
Sorry. I just accidentally removed the last comment. Not sure if I can retrieve it. Apologies again.
Here is the comment I accidentally deleted:
PCVST Stuyvesant Town Bloomberg Applied Sciences Campuses
2015
The 2015/6 school year MHP—Stuyvesant Town Converted Two-Bedroom Apartments
Thanks to the DOB Dan and Tenant Association board these illegal dorms are partying hard! Thousands upon thousands of these NYU "Previously one-bedroom units, these apartments were converted into two-bedroom units" in a scheme to eliminate affordable housing stock to turn this Bloomberg hated middle class community into an applied sciences campus.
The Graduate School is pleased to offer converted two-bedroom apartments in Stuyvesant Town. Previously one-bedroom units, these apartments were converted into two-bedroom units. Each MHP participant is assigned a private bedroom. The approximate size of these apartments is 580 square feet.
http://gsas.nyu.edu/page/grad.financialaid.mhp
Housing
Doctoral students in the Neural Science program are eligible to receive housing benefits while they are enrolled full time and in good standing:
1) First year students are offered the opportunity for subsidized, furnished housing, through the MacCracken program, located in Stuyvesant Town, which is approximately 1 mile from the Center and served by a free campus shuttle bus. More information on the MacCracken Housing Program can be found at gsas.nyu.edu/page/grad.financialaid.mhp
http://www.cns.nyu.edu/doctoral/
On the TA Facebook, two posters have urged the TA to join up with this organization. So far, nothing. Perhaps the heads have to talk it over for a week or so (though why, I don't know), or perhaps they need an okay from Dan?
They TA will not sign. It goes against everything they believe in!
Perhaps they can't because it would be hypocritical to protest towers while keeping PCVST on track for constructing towers at the same time.
STR, they have to have the get the OK from Dan before they can take a piss.
looks like the associated lease is no more. done deal.
How in good conscience can Mayor Bill De Blasio remain silent and not condemn Tushman Speyer, with a real estate portfolio worth $68.1 billion, for causing Inequality, mass loss of house and home, safety and sanctity for tens of thousands of New Yorkers, because they did not feel like making their mortgage payments anymore despite they could have. Albany has no moral conscience so no need to ask this of them.
2015
Tishman Speyer
Tishman Speyer, run by Jerry Speyer and his son Rob Speyer, oversees a portfolio of $68.1 billion of real estate around the world, according to the company’s website. Holdings include New York’s Rockefeller Center, Yankee Stadium and Paris Bourse in France.
In 2010, Tishman Speyer defaulted on a $3 billion loan on Stuyvesant Town and Peter Cooper Village, Manhattan’s biggest apartment complex, in one of highest-profile real estate busts to follow the last boom.
From where does Alica Glen get her income amounts for Middle Class
Here is the definition of Middle Income according to McKinsey and used by The Partnership for New York
there is no way 2 years later this has doubled to Alicia Glen's numbers. The Middle Class is decreasing, not doubling.
“Middle-income” is defined as households with incomes between
$35,000 and $75,000
SOURCE: McKinsey analysis of data from the U.S. Census Bureau, American
Community Survey
The middle class in New York City is statistically defined as the 60% of all residents earning between $35,000 and $75,000 a year.
Almost half of this group cannot afford the median rent in the city, which was $1,300 in 2010, based on the standard of 30% of gross income as the definition of what is affordable.
With average home or apartment sales prices reaching $775,000 in
2012, the middle class is also priced out of home ownership in the city.
THAT BEING SAID
Page 53
The Partnership for New York is kicking empty nester seniors out of homes where they raised their families in typical 1000 - 1500 square ft apartments because middle class seniors and singles are taking up too much Housing space according to the Partnership for New York (seniors whose adult children and grand kids visit and sleep over).
At the same time, the wealthy seniors, singles and families can take up as much space as they want and more space than they need eg ONE 57, Time Warner Towers,
The Partnership for New York and Alicia Glen are allowing the wealthy to take up as much space as they wish and forcing the middle and working class to be displaced,, forced out and felt like they are taking up too much space on the planet despite they are taking up much less space then the wealthy.
Equality not Inequality.
We are all taking is too much space on the Planet. Our population is exploding. NY is allocating unlimited housing space for the wealthy and even empty spaces and multiple housing for them while squeezing the middle class, $35,000 - $75,000, into smaller and smaller spaces.
The Housing policies of those who run the city, the partnership and the committee and the rebny, are discriminatory and a caste system.
http://www.pfnyc.org/reports/2013-blueprint-web.pdf
Equality. Keep seniors in their homes. If it must be done to move seniors, then all, of all levels of wealth should be treated equally. Determine and equally apply square footage allowances for senior living. If the wealthy find this unacceptable, they are correct, it is unacceptable to displace seniors, the wealthy and the not wealthy.
Equality. Not Inequality.
Our lease does not specify penalty for breaking lease early.
Of course there needs to be 7 guys blowing leaves in a 6 x 6 area. What else would they do with the 2000 employees standing by on contract who are unable to visit and snake a sink?
2 weeks to get a plumber here. What in the world and how is this ok with Health Department? My partner and I pay almost $4800 to live here and can't get a plumber until two weeks.
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