The Stuyvesant Town Report

Guterman Speaks!

2012-01-31T19:31:00.006-05:00

This interview is from 2010, but it's still relevant today. My main question is: "What's in it for Guterman to convert Stuy Town/PCV to co-ops and leave afterward--in 18 to 24 months?"

[Hat tip to one of our anonymous commentators.]

Guterman Gets It Wrong

2012-01-29T11:22:00.003-05:00

The above postcard from co-op advocates, Guterman-Westwood, which tenants have received or should be receiving in the mail, shows buildings that may look like Stuyvesant Town/Peter Cooper Village to the casual eye, but which certainly are not a real depiction of the complex. The photo looks to be a Photoshopped assembly of various New York images, worked on graphically for several layers. What is supposed to be ST/PCV may, in fact, be the Alfred E. Smith complex below Stuy Town. Who knows? But a major fail from whatever departments created and then approved this image (which is surprisingly ugly, too).

The Guterman Site on Co-op Conversion

2012-01-26T20:23:00.009-05:00

The Guterman side of the story. Online now. Questions answered. [?]
Forum, too.

See: www.stpcvfacts.org

From the company's press release:

Guterman Westwood Partners aims to foster a successful working relationship with the residents of Stuyvesant Town & Peter Cooper Village. The co-op conversion plan proposed by Guterman Westwood Partners details and addresses many of the concerns that residents have about the future of Stuyvesant Town & Peter Cooper Village. The firm's goal is to work with the tenants, as well as the broader public, in continuing the tradition of reasonably priced housing and strong community atmosphere that has been present at the property since its founding.

The www.stpcvfacts.org website offers straightforward answers to the tough questions that community residents have been raising and talking about for years. It provides background information on Guterman Westwood Partners and provides a forum for resident and public inquiry regarding the conversion process, and the firm's intended participation therein. Guterman Westwood Partners believes that no conversion of the community can or should occur without the support of the vast majority of its current residents.

Gerald Guterman, Managing Partner of Guterman Partners and one of the most experienced residential property professionals in the City of New York, notes, "When the details of our plan are objectively compared with plans suggested by others, residents will recognize that our firm aims to produce the best value possible for the community in an orderly and efficient conversion process. Of course, no one other than the mortgagees control the property at this stage. But when the mortgagees' disposition process proceeds later this year, we will be deeply involved as a strong voice for the residents of the Stuyvesant Town & Peter Cooper Village community, with the backing and commitment to see an acquisition and conversion through for the mutual benefit of our firm and the residents."

More here.

Dan Garodnick and Vornado Realty and Rising Rents in Manhattan

2012-01-24T18:02:00.014-05:00

The future: 15 Penn Plaza or "Vornado Tower"

First, some background. Vornado Realty, according to its website:

Vornado Realty Trust (NYSE: VNO)("Vornado") is one of the largest owners and managers of commercial real estate in the United States with a portfolio of over 100 million square feet, primarily located in the New York and Washington, DC metropolitan areas. Vornado's core businesses include: New York Office Properties; Washington, DC Office Properties; Retail Properties and Merchandise Mart Properties.

Its Wikipedia page is more detailed, to include properties the company owns in NYC (a lot): Vornado Realty Trust.

Vornado was at the epicenter of a controversy in 2010 regarding the prospective demolishing of Hotel Pennsylvania to be replaced by 15 Penn Plaza. The controversy involved the height of the proposed building (68 stories), which, being so close to the Empire State Building,would forever change the iconic "postcard" view of Manhattan. Not only was this a controversy on an aesthetic, historical and architectural level, but zoning did not allow for the erection of such a tall building in that area. As is known by now, though, zoning laws in NYC can be done away by the powers that be. (Also term limits, landmark designations, you name it.) The City Council, by a vote of 47-1 granted Vornado Realty the rights to build 15 Penn Plaza.

My lengthy, and angry, post when this occurred is here. Bloomberg News' James S. Russell, in this review of the proposed 15 Penn Plaza building, wrote: "A behemoth office tower that may rise opposite Pennsylvania Station would deface New York City’s skyline and cast a pall over surrounding streets already shortchanged on light and air. " Former Parks Commissioner Henry Stern testified that 15 Penn Plaza "could do irreparable harm" to the city and, writing for the Huffington Post, made a blistering attack on the travesty that occurred with the vote: "This is a case of the city making an extraordinary gift, probably worth hundreds of millions of dollars, to one of its richest and most influential developers."

Dan Garodnick voted in Vornado's favor.

Now we move to the present, and the yet unannounced candidacy of Dan Garodnick for City Comptroller. So far he has received over 1 million dollars in donations, a sizable portion of which come from real estate firms--to include, surprise-surprise, Vornado.

According to NYC's Campaign Finance Board Database, Vornado's CEO, Steven Roth has donated twice, once in 2010, for 1K (before the 15 Penn Plaza vote) and then recently (after the 15 Penn Plaza vote) for whopping $4,950. The latter number is the maximum allowed by law, so unless there is some glitch in the accounting or other mistake, that earlier 1K is suspect, as its addition seems to go over the legal amount allowed for an individual donating to someone running for city comptroller.

It doesn't just end there. Steven Roth's wife, Daryl Roth, has also donated money for Garodnick's campaign. Yes, the max: $4,950. So, one household, with clear ties to Vornado (the CEO and the CEO's wife), has donated almost $10,000 to Dan, and over that amount if we include that suspect 1K.

Though I'm sure Dan Garodnick has his public-relations justifications for voting in favor of 15 Penn Plaza (jobs/a city that can't stand still/whatever), the appearance of a quid-pro-quo is troubling. Garodnick is not the only politician accepting monies from real estate interests come election time. The other City Council politicians, like Christine Quinn (who stated she would NOT accept such donations, but has, including over 15K from Vornado in past campaigns) and Scott Stringer (whose coffers have been one of largest and heftiest with real estate money deposits; the guy's running for mayor, may the Lord help us) have all held out their collective hands.

Why should real estate concerns donating to local politicians be troubling? The fact is that real estate enterprises are in the business of maximizing profits. "Affordable" middle class housing does not maximize profits. Housing for the rich, the sons and daughters of the rich, and for tourists spending big bucks in Manhattan, maximize profits. The middle class are only useful as workers and consumers in Manhattan. Live in Brooklyn, Queens or New Jersey, otherwise.

The stark reality is that the middle class is being priced out of Manhattan, both as tenants and as mom-and-pop businesses. And real estate companies, by their very nature, are behind this price-out.

Bloomberg Tower

Let's take a look at Bloomberg Tower, a property developed and owned by Vornado. This NY Times article details the progress of a neighborhood. While the article is very much pro-Vornado, you will find a sentence that hints at another part of the story. The money shot comes near the end of the article: "Other retailers east of Third Avenue, an area that has traditionally had more service-oriented retailing, like restaurants, locksmiths, dry cleaners, cocktail lounges and delicatessens, said they were feeling the pinch of the Bloomberg Tower, either in the form of rising retail rents or more competition for the potential customers in the office tower and in One Beacon Court."

Rising rents.... Rising rents serve only to benefit the real estate entities that own property or build it. When real estate firms maximize profits, rents go up and the middle class gets displaced. Even if the favorable real estate situation goes bust (a pattern when greed runs rampant), the fallout will not bring middle class tenants and mom-and-pop stores back once they have left.

So the real estate people are the major players in what Manhattan is turning into, aside from the influence of a mayor like Bloomberg. And if you had any doubts about these companies lording over Manhattan in a game of real-life Monopoly, actualizing their conquerors' dream of altering a city forever, you may find this of interest, as you recognize some familiar real estate business names. Vornado's CEO, speaking a couple of years ago about the development of mid-town's West Side:

"Much has already happened," Mr. Roth continued, "to increase the value of our Penn Station assets. The Penn Plaza District and the West Side of New York have been discovered and are the beneficiaries of an enormous amount of recent and current activity. A huge swath has already been rezoned as the future growth corridor of Manhattan. Tishman Speyer has won the bidding to develop the Hudson Rail Yards into a 12 million square foot, 20-year, Canary Wharf-type project. Brookfield has announced 5 million square feet…. Vornado was the pioneer here, and owns the best and the lion's share of the real estate surrounding Pennsylvania Station - the gateway to the new West Side….The Hotel Pennsylvania, Seventh Avenue at 33rd Street, generated a best ever $37.9 million of EBITDA in 2007, $10.4 million more than in 2006, a 37.8% increase ….The credit crisis and Merrill's management changes disrupted this deal, but the fact remains that our site was the last man standing in a rigorous citywide search."

To be fair, one must note that some plans for development contain, through political and public pressure, the assurance of middle class housing or rentals "below market rate." So, in such a scenario a real estate entity would be required to provide a percentage of apartments for people of moderate means in any mass development project. How this will play out in reality remains to be seen. We here in Stuy Town/PCV are already getting, possibly, a similar equation brewing with the TA/Brookfield plan which hints at a percentage of apartments being set aside as permanent rentals for tenants of moderate means, with possible financial assistance thrown into the mix. Assuredly, real estate firms will wish to keep this percentage of forced give-aways as low as possible.

The reality was and remains that real estate entities are the natural enemies of affordable middle class housing. Politicians who want to see a different version of Manhattan than the one that we've been speedily heading toward (blocks of high rises w/ground floor banks, chain drug stores, Starbucks), politicians who are 100% sincere about "affordable middle class housing" (a mantra continually repeated by every politician who speaks to Stuy Town/PCV residents), should not be accepting money from real estate companies. If they do, then you know which side they are really on and what their "progressive" vision is for New York.

The Push

2012-01-22T17:00:00.002-05:00

The above may have been slipped under your door, or will be. It's a Tenants Association flyer, printed on heavy stock, promoting "taking control of our future" via the condo conversion plan that's being set up between the TA and Brookfield Asset Management. The quality of the flyer suggests money involved, so I suspect its chiefly, if not exclusively, money from Brookfield that went into printing it.

There's zero new info, however, so it's still the TA/Brookfield trying to get the world out. Attached is a card one mails in (or deposits at the Oval Concierge!) where one can indicate: 1) Notify me about ways to join the conversation, 2) Contact me about helping the TA spread the word about the plan, and 3) Contact me about joining the TA.

The flyer notes that "6,951 units signed pledges in support of the TA exploring options to develop a tenant-led bid." And: "We believe our plan is the best way to protect current residents and to permanently maintain the middle-class character of our community."

As for the buzz word "affordability," used with such carefree smoothness by both politicians and the TA, we have this on what the plan would also do: "Explore avenues for public support with the ultimate goal of establishing a set of permanently affordable rental units for the next generation of tenants."

The flyer admits that "we're just at the beginning of this process" and that "prices for the units have not been determined yet...."

I'm kinda tired of this constant beginning process, however, and the circling of wagons around it, and very eager to learn specifics, just as I'm sure we all are.

Million Dollar Dan

2012-01-20T16:26:00.003-05:00

From http://www.dnainfo.com/20120118/upper-east-side/dan-garodnick-raises-more-than-1m-for-potential-comptroller-race#ixzz1k2J1Exzw:

East Side City Councilman Daniel Garodnick has raised more than $1 million for a run at citywide office, posing a potential challenge to replace embattled City Comptroller John Liu, who is eyeing a run for mayor.

Garodnick raised more than $280,000 over the past six months, according to campaign filings released Wednesday, bringing his campaign war chest to more than $1 million so far.

“That’s a considerable amount of bucks,” said Baruch College politics professor Doug Muzzio. “If Liu does run for mayor and opens up the comptroller seat or needs to resign… Garodnick is in a really good spot," he said.

While the councilman has not yet officially declared his candidacy for any position, sources close to him said he’s eyeing a run for comptroller if Liu leaves the post, setting up a potential challenge with fellow Councilman Domenic Recchia Jr., who currently heads the Council's powerful Finance Committee.

Recchia brought in over $270,000 over the past six months, bringing his total raised to $483,000 for the 2013 race.

If Liu chooses to remain comptroller, some believe Garodnick would also be a strong candidate for Manhattan Borough President, a position that is also being eyed by Community Board 1 chairwoman Julie Menin, as well as Councilwoman Jessica Lappin. Current Borough President Scott Stringer is running for mayor.

Garodnick, who chairs the Council’s Consumer Affairs committee and held a large campaign kick-off event earlier this month, said he was excited by the numbers, which place him among the city’s fundraising elite.

“People have been extremely supportive, and I’m encouraged by that,” Garodnick said of the filings, which were made public Wednesday.

“I think that my approach of trying to solve people’s problems by rolling up your sleeves and getting things done is appealing. I’ve tried to bring that, along with progressive values, to the table,” he added.

In addition to his focus on consumer protection issues, Garodnick said he will continue to push for long-term affordable housing and stability for tenants at Stuyvesent Town and Peter Cooper Village, where he was raised and currenty lives with his wife and young son.

In addition to his cash flow, Garodnick's records show he spent about $34,000 over the past six months, mainly on campaign consultants, voter databases, and a major event at the Mexican restaurant Mojave in Astoria, Queens.

While other candidates like Stringer have courted money from big-names celebs, including actress Scarlett Johansson and Lady Gaga’s dad, Joe Germanotta, Garodnick said he’s relying on longtime supporters, including his family.

“My mom is there,” he joked. “That’s the biggest name I think you’re going to find.” (Records show she donated $200 last week.)

And while he intends to continue fundraising, Garodnick said his energy will remain focused on his current Council gig.

“There’s still two years to go, and I have a list of legislative goals that is extremely long,” he said. "There is a lot to do.”

-------------------------

STR here: That joke about his mom may be cute, but a look at the online records for contributions shows significant donations from Garodnick's former law partners (Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison) and...real estate and investment banking concerns, which tend to donate between 1K and 5K to Dan's campaign.

New Tenant Forum for Conversion Discussions and Information

2012-01-19T14:15:00.002-05:00

Just started:

www.pcvstconversionforum.blogspot.com

Stuy Town/PCV Tenants #43 on Most Powerless New Yorkers' List

2012-01-17T20:24:00.003-05:00

The Village Voice has released a list of "100 Most Powerless New Yorkers." Residents of our complex are placed at #43. At least we are not number 1...or number 3!

Meanwhile, we have some interesting residents (?) parking their cars on the loops:

Placard in ST-parked Car Compares Obama to Hitler.

Stuy Town Placing #3 at Curbed

2012-01-16T18:33:00.006-05:00

Curbed Awards '11

It's not an award one would really want, but it could have been worse. Apparently last year Stuyvesant Town held the unenviable number one position at Curbed's yearly "Sh#tshows of the Year." This time around the frisky real estate commentary site of NYC trounced Stuy Town for several reasons, but things should look up for next year, as the dog rules here have been relaxed so much (together with the bicycle riding rules) that there's no need for ticketing dog owners for any infractions.

I do have to agree with Curbed on its layering into the One Madison Park building--you know, the ugly block upon block spire that hovers over Madison Square Park and seems like it's going to topple over from a strong wind. A monument to Bloomberg's New York and why real estate developers and zoning regulators should be held in check.

January 2012 Odds and Ends

2012-01-13T14:24:00.013-05:00

January isn't over yet, of course, but here are some news items of interest to Stuy Town and Peter Cooper residents:

1) Management uncovered an illegal "hotel" in Stuy Town in which the tenant had hooked up a door release on the foyer floor door that opened the door whenever the apartment was buzzed! Inventive but illegal, of course.

2) NTT's storage units are now going to be charging $10 more per month.

3) According to Town & Village, Guterman Westwood Partners is going to do a second and then a third mailing to tenants about its own plan for the complex, co-op rather than the TA/Brookfield-favored condo. The second mailing, which should arrive soon, will contain a website address where the company will address whatever questions tenants may have concerning the Guterman plan. Boy, these guys really want this property badly!

4) Another article in T & V suggests that lawsuits may have influenced a change in the decades-long no dog policy MET Life had in place for Stuy Town/PCV. This suggestion comes from a lawyer who represented tenants with "service animals" before the policy was changed. I believe this suggestion is mere bs and publicity stunt for this lawyer and his firm, but it does shine a light again on a major divisive issue that Tishman Speyer instigated when it allowed dogs in the complex. The (dog) crap that was coming out of TS' managing director at the time, George Hatzmann (and quoted in the T & V article), is particularly irking in its corporate-spin speak:

"A large number of the residents of this community have sought this change in policy, recognizing the warmth and companionship inherent with keeping and taking care of pets. We listened and are pleased to offer our current and future residents this accommodation. We view this as a natural extension of a community built for and sustained by families."

Perhaps my memory is faulty here, but were we, the residents, ever asked about a change in dog policy by Tishman Speyer?

UPDATE:

5) I had been contacted recently by a writer for the NY Observer who asked about Airbnb and the controversy it generated here in Stuy Town/PCV. I didn't have any pertinent information, as it was Lux who followed the Airbnb situation, and I just didn't (and don't) have the time to deal with this as he did, but the following just fell into my lap, as it were, on the commentary page on the NY Observer website:
http://www.airbnb.com/rooms/301818

Note the "quiet times" above, under "House Rules"... "Come and go as you please. Quiet times are 2am - 8am."

http://www.airbnb.com/rooms/300241

I just don't understand why someone doesn't take in a paid roommate (which is legal), instead of creating a revolving door into one's apartment for a variety of travelers who probably are all strangers.

The Year Gone, the Year Ahead

2012-01-02T12:32:00.013-05:00

It's been another emotionally destabilizing year for Stuyvesant Town/Peter Cooper Village residents, with much of the focus being on the surprising news that the Tenants Association had partnered with Brookfield Asset Management to set the first stage of a condo buyout of the property. The debate, typically vigorous and with little factual information to chew on (the details of the condo plan are being worked on), captivated most tenants who have an interest in the community. Some became worried, some became angry, others suspicious, and then others were thrilled at the prospect of ownership. Whatever happens, one fact seemed lost: CWCapital, the current owner of the complex, has yet to respond to any forthcoming offer from tenants and Brookfield, and may well hold onto the property for a better deal in the future. So all the excitement, pro and con, could be for naught.

This year also saw the Department of City Planning clearly and unequivocally state the food trucks that have been parking at the Oval and the Farmers Market are not zoned to be in this area. The impetus behind clarifying the zoning at the Oval did not, unfortunately, come from either the Tenants Association or our councilman Dan Garodnick, but from online discussions among tenants and subsequent pressure put on the councilman to finally get to the heart of the matter. Which he did by presenting the situation to the Department of Buildings.

While it is understandable that a portion of tenants do not mind or even favor these commercial enterprises inside Stuy Town, the legality of the situation had to be made apparent and not remain nebulous, as, in the case of the Farmers Market, it had been for years. Worrying is that NOTHING was done until certain tenants demanded, and kept on demanding and demanding, an answer as to the zoning of the Oval. The overall issue is, then, what other illegalities, small or significant, are occurring in this complex that neither the TA, nor Garodnick, are looking into or even questioning. Oh, things like the years of housing "dorm" units in the complex and refurbishing apartments, with possible "extra rooms" (ie, pressurized walls) that may--or may not--be questionable in the strict eyes of the law. And we still await one more word on the ice rink, though this issue now seems to have evaporated. And how in the hell did the Roberts victory, which reverted previous market-rate apartments in ST/PCV to rent-stabilization status, not mean a significant reduction in rent? And when are the overcharges going to be returned?

With the TA and Garodnick's focus being now on the condo conversion plan, it is hoped that other, perhaps more crucial, tenant issues will not be neglected. Again, it seems, it will be up to the tenants themselves to be on the alert.

At the tail end of this year, we saw Lux Living close down his site and Facebook, which was a real loss for tenants, as both were very useful and important.

This coming year will see more battles, more uncertainties, I think. I do hope that finally this place will pick up in maintenance. Yes, it's gotten better, but when I see the T-Level of my building finally looking spic and span, with a new paint job, I will shout my hosannas.

Holiday Wishes

2011-12-23T16:15:00.005-05:00

Merry Christmas, Happy Chanukah, and Happy Holidays!

(Your ST or PCV apartment can look like that, too...with a few modifications!)

STR

TA Telephone Town Hall Meeting

2011-12-19T08:48:00.005-05:00

The idea was certainly novel and well executed while I was on the phone: A "town hall" meeting conducted via telephone, with the Tenants Association and several politicos, including the Senior Senator from New York, Charles Schumer. Listeners were allowed to send in their questions, but with over a hundred questions quickly lining up in the queue, most would not have a chance getting answered. Despite this, it was a valiant and probably necessary effort by the proponents of the TA/Brookfield plan (which still hasn't been clarified) to push the process of conversion along and stave off outside interruptions from real estate entities who may want to get in on the bidding.

Senator Schumer hit all the right notes, stressing the middle class and affordability, even making those as part of the "bigger picture" of what this fight is all about.

Still not answered (while I was on the line) is the question of how can one talk of the middle class and affordability when the conversion plan means that people will voluntarily give up their rent stabilized status and enter the market rate, with a significant mortgage (despite being drawn from an insider price), high maintenance fees, high real estate taxes, etc.

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UPDATE 12/20/2011

Official release from Berlin Rosen, the media firm hired by the TA/Brookfield to publicize and promote the condo conversion plan:

Thousands of Stuyvesant Town-Peter Cooper Village Tenants Participate In “Tele-Town Hall” To Get Information On Tenant-Led Bid

New York – 2,450 tenants participated in a Tele-Town Hall Sunday evening hosted by The Stuyvesant Town-Peter Cooper Village Tenants Association with special guest Senator Chuck Schumer.

The town hall, moderated by Council Member and Peter Cooper resident Dan Garodnick, provided facts and answered tenant questions about the TA’s recently announced proposal to partner with Brookfield Asset Management on a tenant-led, non-eviction conversion plan that would protect current residents and permanently maintain the middle-class character of this historic community.

Senator Tom Duane and Assemblymember Brian Kavanagh joined Senator Schumer in participating in the event.

Brookfield representative Jonathan Moore, Tenants Association professional advisors Meredith Kane and Alex Rubin, and elected officials were on hand to answer nearly 25 tenant questions during the 1hr 15 minute town hall. Tenants submitted questions online during the registration process as well as posed them live during the event.

The Tele-Town Hall was sponsored by the entire Tenant Association Board of Directors. On hand to facilitate the event were Tenant Association President Al Doyle, Executive Vice President Susan Steinberg and board members John Sheehy and Jennifer Kops. Other board members monitored the call from their homes and from as far away as California.

“The fact that over two thousand of our neighbors joined the town hall indicates the tremendous level of interest and excitement in our plan to take control of our own future, protect current residents and ensure that Stuyvesant Town and Peter Cooper Village remain affordable to middle class families for the long haul,” said Alvin Doyle, President of the Stuyvesant Town-Peter Cooper Village Tenants Association. “Over the next several months as we put together our bid, we will continue to provide opportunities for tenants to get more information, offer input and get involved in this historic process.”

In addition to the elected officials who participated, the town hall was co-sponsored by Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney and Borough President Scott Stringer.

Background:

This November, the TA announced an agreement with Brookfield to develop a bid over the coming months to submit to CW Capital – the special servicer that represents senior bondholders. The bid would allow tenants who wish to buy their apartments at reasonable rates while offering protection from harassment or eviction to those who wish to remain as rent-stabilized renters. The proposal would also aim to create a set of permanently affordable rental units with help from government sources, improve maintenance and upkeep across the development, and preserve the community’s existing open space.

Key Card Charges Reversed

2011-12-15T13:16:00.004-05:00

From the Tenants Association:

Rose Associates has reversed course and discontinued the new $8.00 per key card charge for key cards provided to tenants for their visitors and employees and they stated that they have credited the accounts of all tenants who may have been charged for a visitor card prior to reaching the four free cards threshold.

The reversal came in response to the Tenants Association’s December 1, 2011 predicate notice sent to Rose Associates by the TA’s Counsel, Tim Collins of Collins, Dobkin & Miller charging that the implementation of an $8.00 per card charge was a reduction in service under the Rent Stabilization Code. News of management’s reversal came in a letter to Mr. Collins, dated December 14, 2011, from management’s General Counsel.

New Stuy Town Facebook Page Dedicated to Noise

2011-12-13T18:53:00.008-05:00

Noises from loud neighbors, heels with no carpeting, parties past midnight....

STOP NOW, the Obnoxious Loud Noises from a Neighbor

UPDATE 12/14: Adam Rose of Rose Associates is advising residents who have extreme noise problems that are not resolved with calls to the management office/pubic safety to contact him directly via email. He needs to have names and apartment numbers and has a solid track record of handling these troublesome issues. He can be reached at: adam@rosenyc.com

Statement from Tenants & Neighbors on TA/Brookfield Partnership

2011-12-12T19:39:00.003-05:00

STATEMENT FROM TENANTS & NEIGHBORS ON STUYVESANT TOWN-PETER COOPER VILLAGE TENANT ASSOCIATION'S PARTNERSHIP WITH BROOKFIELD ASSET MANAGEMENT

Maggie Russell-Ciardi, Executive Director of New York State Tenants & Neighbors, one of the city's largest tenant's rights groups, said:

“Tenants & Neighbors believes in the power of tenant organizing. We know that, working together, tenants who live in housing that is at risk of loss of affordability can build consensus around an alternative vision for their building and then spearhead a campaign to make that vision a reality. We commend the tenant association on having taken their community’s future into their own hands and identified a tenant-endorsed preservation partner. There may still be a long and hard fight ahead to ensure that Stuyvesant Town Peter Cooper Village is preserved as affordable housing. But the tenants have both an incredible determination and the power that comes from intensive and relentless organizing and mobilizing- as was made evident by their historic victory in the Roberts case - and we have every confidence that they will continue to succeed. We support them as they strive to ensure that their building is taken out of the speculative market and instead preserved as decent, affordable housing for the long term.”

The NY Times on the Ice-Skating Rink

2011-12-12T13:15:00.005-05:00

The story took a while to brew in the offices of the NY Times and seems, therefore, not that relevant regarding the deep concerns tenants had about the ice-skating rink, concerns which seem to have vanished (for the most part), as the rink is nearly noise free and very much enjoyed by kids and their parents.

Anyway, there is more to this piece than just a review of the rink:

Skating Rink Spurs Stuyvesant Town Residents' Latest Fight with Management

Holiday Best Wishes from that Old Gang of Ours

2011-12-09T21:10:00.004-05:00

Aside from mailings from Guterman and the TA, Stuy Town and Peter Cooper residents should be getting this card in the mail this week:

Guterman Attacks!

2011-12-09T11:03:00.007-05:00

By now you all should have received a letter from Gerald Guterman of Guterman-Westwood Partners. Guterman is interested in STPCV, too, and is, to put it mildly, pissed at the deal between the TA/Garodnick and Brookfield. Among the several accusations leveled against the TA/Garodnick is that the TA assured Guterman that there would be no alliances formed with the TA "until CW was ready to commence a sales process" (which hasn't yet occurred). The TA also had directed Guterman not to directly communicate with tenants while talks were underway.

In case you haven't received the Guterman letter, click on the pages below to read it.

I'm not a fan of any condo/co-op proposal, but it is interesting to see how people are already screwing each other in private, non-transparent deals that concern all of us residents. Let the fighting begin!

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Update 12/9/2011. The TA responds to the Guterman letter.

TA Comments on Guterman-Westwood Letter

Dear Neighbor:

This has been an exciting week for all of us as we begin to put together a bid to CW Capital to protect the long term stability and affordability of Stuyvesant Town and Peter Cooper Village. We feel confident that our partnership with Brookfield will give us the ability to deliver a plan that is both commercially viable and also satisfies our goals.

You may have received a letter recently from Guterman-Westwood Partners LLC describing an alternative partnership with tenants to bid for Stuyvesant Town and Peter Cooper Village. It is important that our community have the facts, and that is why I am sending this follow-up letter.

During this extensive process, we met with the representatives of Guterman-Westwood, as well as with dozens of other potential partners. After consulting with our advisors from Paul Weiss and Moelis & Company, we decided to select Brookfield Asset Management over all the others because they have both the credibility in the real estate market and the commitment and ability to live up to the principles and goals of the Tenants Association. Those goals are clear: to allow residents the choice to either purchase their apartment at an affordable price or to stay on as rent-stabilized tenants; to improve the maintenance and upkeep of our community; to prevent new development on open space, and to ensure that the middle-class character of Stuyvesant Town and Peter Cooper Village continues for the next generation.

There are some important facts about the Guterman-Westwood proposal that the T.A. and our Advisors find worrisome and that our community needs to consider.

1) Financial Commitment- Guterman-Westwood has outlined a “pricing plan” for tenants to purchase their apartments. We are concerned with the plan’s ability to raise the amount of capital needed to purchase the property from CW Capital. It is critical that any bid put forward by Tenants have the capability to engage CW Capital.

2) Short-Term Partner – When we began this process, the TA committed to finding a long-term partner to help our community buy the property – and then to stick around to help us improve it. Guterman-Westwood has made it clear that they would convert the property and have no continuing involvement

3) Converting to a co-op, instead of a condominium. Guterman-Westwood’s proposal calls for converting Stuyvesant Town-Peter Cooper Village into a cooperative. After careful review of this issue, we believe, along with our professional advisors, that a co-op conversion could present problems. For example, a co-op would mean a common tax lot and a master mortgage, increasing the chance of systemic financial distress that could impact every resident in the community. The risk of such financial headaches could make it difficult for residents to find lenders willing to help them buy their apartments during the conversion process. In addition, the costs of repaying a property-wide “master” mortgage would mean higher monthly maintenance charges for residents. A condominium conversion would avoid all of these challenges, allow for more flexibility when we choose our community’s governance structure, and allow us to target property tax abatements directly to rental or “affordable” apartments on a unit-by-unit basis.

We are now at the beginning of what will be a long process of listening to our neighbors, gathering feedback and input, and preparing to put forward a tenant-led bid that will put us in charge of the future of our community. I want to thank the volunteers of the Tenants Association whose work has been critical to our effort, and the thousands of Stuyvesant Town and Peter Cooper residents who have offered their support and ideas throughout this process.

I hope that you will continue to stay informed and involved as we move forward. For more information, please visit our website at www.ProtectSTPCV.org, or feel free to call us at (646) 403-9747.

Sincerely,

Alvin Doyle

Q & A at Saturday's STPCV Tenants Association Meeting

2011-12-09T08:24:00.007-05:00

Watch live streaming video from stpcv at livestream.com

Part 1; other parts available here.

Just listening to several minutes of answers makes me depressed. If this plan is accepted, that's it for the struggling middle class and certainly "affordability." I think there is no way to look at this plan otherwise. And, yes, for those who wish to make money off their STPCV apartments by flipping them at good profit, you will be able to do so, except you'll pay some extra tax on the deal. Really, this is a plan for STPCV residents who have money or who want to make money. That's the reality. This is surrender on permanent rent stabilization and the affordable rental unit in Manhattan.

I guess the good news is that it may take years for this plan, if it's accepted by the required amount of tenants and by CWCapital, to be activated. So we wait. And worry.

The STR Plan for Stuy Town and Peter Cooper Village

2011-12-06T18:50:00.001-05:00

When it came out that the Tenants Association has been brewing a tenant co-op/condo plan for Stuyvesant Town and Peter Cooper Village with Brookfield Asset Management, several real estate big sharks began circling again around this complex, offering up their own plans or willingness to get into the mix. Well, in the spirit of "if they can do it, why can't I?", this is my plan for Stuyvesant Town/Peter Cooper Village:

1) Senior lenders are "owed" 3.5 billion dollars. Says who? And if so, who is to pay? Let's get this straight: Institutions took a financial risk in investing in the biggest real estate deal of the century, the investment tanked and now residents of this complex are to be burdened with a debt of 3.5 billion? Sorry, your mistake for trying to make a killing here, so you LOSE and won't be able to get anything for your loss except perhaps a tax break. Take it up with Tishman Speyer if you have a problem. Sue them if you like for 3.5 billion. But in no way should residents of this community be burdened with paying off the senior lenders in high rents, packed-in apartments for students, gimmicky non-zoned commercial activities, a reduction of services, benign neglect, or some future "deal" to be made with CWCapital. Once residents are free of this burden, even by implication, then our financial future in this complex becomes clearer and more breathable.

2) The city has to take over the running of the complex, at least financially, and establish a partnership with the Tenants Association. Before the Met Life sale, Stuy Town and Peter Cooper Village used to turn over a modest profit and the complex can still do so. For their pains, the city would gain something for their coffers. (Let's see the politicos of NYC, the people who so eagerly appear at tenant rallies and meetings, vote against the idea of the city making sure ST/PCV is truly run for the ideals of "the middle class" and "affordability" by letting the city become the complex's owner.) The TA would be charged with selecting someone to manage the actual day to day workings of complex, and that entity would be responsible to the TA, and by extension, to the tenants, for the quality of the work they do, which includes the quality of the security force.

3) Full and genuine rent stabilization in this complex has to be a right and tenants have to focus on working toward strengthening tenant protections across the board in New York. No more of this "realistic" bs (convenient as a scare tactic to get tenants to give up current rent-stabilized apartments) that tenant protections are going to disappear, so we may as well go for the best deal we can, which includes voluntarily accepting rent-stabilized units turning into market rate apartments. Tenant protections laws, to include permanent rent stabilization, have to be the primary goals of every rent stabilized tenant living in the city and every tenant association that represents them.

4) All apartments in ST/PCV are apparently rent stabilized, but at the same time we have market rate prices on many apartments. How in the hell did that happen? There has to be a complete revaluation of high-priced apartments with pricing that reflects the general pricing of apartments that have not turned "market rate." The only allowance would be a modest addition fee of living in a refurbished apartment. Even an extra $300-500 per month charge would be a savings for tenants paying market rate prices, as their monthly rental bill would be cut in half from its current high. If the rents here were truly in the rent stabilized category, there'd be a complete occupancy of rental units here, with a waiting list to get in, and a decent selection process of prospective tenants, just like in the "good old days."

5) No more transient tenants from schools. Transient tenants create garbage, pressurized wall mazes, and destabilize the community, creating a class of people who do not care about the past, present or future of ST/PCV. Bye-bye NYU, New School, etc. We want families and working people here, whose intentions are to stay for a good number of years and preferably for a much, much longer time, setting up roots in this place as many of us have done. Such tenants, replacing the transients, will create a vigorous new body that will become active in tenant affairs and fully support rent stabilization because this is their home and not a dorm or a hotel. These are people we want here, the solid middle class who will fight for the middle class and not take bull from anyone--politicos and monied real estate/asset management companies combined.

Any other plan that deviates in large part from the above, to include co-op and condo conversions, spells the end to the true middle class here and affordability and paves the way for the complete transition of Manhattan into a Bloombergesque vision of highrises fronted by chain drug stores and banks--a Manhattan inhabited by the wealthy and/or their student sons and daughters--and the eradication of the charm, gusto and fighting spirit of what still is the greatest city in the world.

Power to the 99% or to the 1%: The Partnership Between the TA and Brookfield

2011-12-02T08:38:00.016-05:00

Once again, the ST/PCV Tenants Association is trying to place a bid on acquiring Stuyvesant Town/Peter Cooper Village. This time, the TA has a partner: Brookfield Asset Management.

At the public press conference on Wednesday, November 30th, Councilman Dan Garodnick struck all the right notes: much was mentioned, and stressed, about a "non-eviction" plan and "the middle class" and "affordability." But is a deal that will require of tenants a six-figure number in mortgage loans, with maintenance fees that could equal or surpass their current rent, really affordable and a secure base for whatever middle class remains in Stuyvesant Town and Peter Cooper Village?

Let's admit from the outset that self-interest plays the most important role for everyone concerned--tenants, buyers, non-buyers, and asset management companies. While the arguments can be buttressed by lofty ideals about the middle class and apartment affordability, the bottom line is that everyone will be looking after their own interests when it comes to the sale of ST/PCV. If you are a ST/PCV resident with money to burn and believe that acquiring an apartment here at a low insider rate is good for you as an investment or for your family's future, you will be for the deal; if you are a tenant who cannot afford to pay for, or get a mortgage for, whatever the final asking price will be, or if you don't see any value in paying so much money when you are in a rent stabilized situation, then you will be against the deal. As for asset management companies...sorry, but I don't believe in the tooth fairy or beneficent benefactors. These companies want to make money, and the complex that's Stuy Town/Peter Cooper Village, stretching from 14 st to 23 st and 1st Ave to the FDR Drive, is, despite all the troubles and turmoil here, a huge prize that many are after, and NOT because they want to maintain rent stabilization and the middle class in Manhattan. At the Wednesday press conference, Barry Blattman, the senior managing partner of Brookfield, stated that ST/PCV is "the kind of real estate that our company covets." Thanks for warning us.

Brookfield's Barry Blattman

(I have to mention that I have no hardcore distrust of Brookfield, aside from my tempered cynicism regarding any real estate/asset management company being on the side of tenants. Barry Blattman seems like a nice guy and Garodnick believes that Brookfield's intentions toward tenants are "benevolent." I did a check of Brookfield's donations to NYC candidates for the past decade, and the company appears fairly reputable in who they give their money to. Note: They donated considerable money to Thompson in the last mayoral election and completely stiffed Bloomberg, though such a face-slap could be based on some personal/business clashes in the past.)

All this said, it would be petulant to dismiss outright whatever plan is still brewing amongst the key players here. According to the Town & Village, the TA and Brookfield share these goals: "a conversion plan that would allow tenants to remain on as stabilized renters if they choose and give those who wish to buy an attractive insider's price." Other goals: "maintain affordability and stability of the community with tenants free of harassment, keeping the open spaces open and improving maintenance and upkeep of the property." T&V adds, "To maintain stability, the plan includes keeping some of the apartments permanently affordable through funding from government sources." Remarkably, this latter point contradicts all the politico and TA speeches about the "middle class" and "affordability" and proves that the complex will NOT be affordable should the plan go through. Another source mentions a figure of 10% for the number of apartments being kept in affordable range. If that pathetically low percentage is true, and tenants accept the deal, then the death of the middle class and "affordability" will come to this complex much sooner than was ever anticipated.

Garodnick, Stringer, Quinn, Duane

A significant part of the plan involves Brookfield, a company that owns over 20 million square feet of property in Manhattan. According to T&V, Brookfield would be the sponsor of the plan, "putting together the money for the purchase, offering the units for sale, and then remaining the landlord and manager of the unsold apartments." At first and even second glance this arrangement means that Brookfield would be in charge, much like Tishman Speyer was in charge, but with the TA's blessings and some (?) input from a co-op/condo board should tenants win the right of apartment ownership.

For tenants wishing to make money, the TA and Garodnick are pushing for some type of cap on tenant owners flipping an apartment for considerable profit. While seemingly good for "affordability," such a stipulation will, no doubt, dampen the enthusiasm of some tenants who are already envisioning making a killing on the deal.

But right now, there is no detailed plan, just a vague template with several constructs ready to be argued over, filled in, amplified.

Center: TA's president, Al Doyle, talking with Brookfield's Barry Blattman

What concerns me most is that I see no way as to how "middle class" and "affordability" can be mentioned in the same breath with Stuyvesant Town and Peter Cooper Village if this still-brewing plan goes through. Whoever pays off 3 billion plus to the original senior lenders that CWCapital represents will be stuck with making up that 3 billion somehow, and I get the feeling that tenants and prospective tenants will be the ones ultimately footing the bill, while at the same time paying high maintenance costs on a property and buildings that are not deluxe or luxury living.

We also have to ask ourselves this question: Do we see, in the distant future, Stuyvesant Town and Peter Cooper Village as it is now? Do we see the same buildings standing here, the ones without central air-conditioning or heating, no doormen, fabricated ugly project-style after the Second World War? Or do we see something else: almost a mini-city of sleekly designed high-rises with doormen and the most contemporary modern conveniences? If the latter picture IS going to be the reality, then is it much better to start now and approach it in a straight line? Or are we going to approach this reality (if such it will be) in a zigzag line with continual squabbles, buy-ins, buy-outs, this management/that management, tempers flaring, blood pressures rising, and continual lack of certainty with tenants separated by rental status and potentially fighting each over a variety of monetary and maintenance issues? Ultimately, will everything that's here get replaced by eminent domain, either the genuine kind (upon which ST/PCV was built) or the more devious kind where the property or chunks of it will be bought out by monied interests who will, after offering tenants a sizable buyout, start knocking down the buildings one by one to erect a city of the future. (If we don't want to see this vision a reality, then the TA's efforts to have ST/PCV landmarked may not be such a mad Quixotic idea, after all.)

There is this thing called "progress" and Stuyvesant Town/Peter Cooper Village, in the judgement of some, may be standing in the way. But that other thing, "self-interest" is going be continually in the game, whether people want to admit it as the most vital component or not.

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Read into these photos what you will:

(Thanks to NoSpinZone for the photos.)

DON'T FORGET THAT TOMORROW, SATURDAY, DEC. 3rd, the TA will hold an important meeting at Mason Hall, Baruch College, 23rd St. & Lexington Ave. at 1pm. Politicos and a Brookfield representative will be present! For more details visit www.stpcvta.org

Press Conference Today - 11AM, 1st Ave & 16th St.

2011-11-30T09:41:00.001-05:00

TENANTS TO BID FOR STUYVESANT TOWN - PETER COOPER VILLAGE

Partnership with Brookfield Asset Management Aims To Keep Historic Community Affordable for Middle-Class

NEW YORK – The Stuyvesant Town-Peter Cooper Village Tenants Association will announce on Wednesday a partnership with Brookfield Asset Management to submit a tenant led-bid to purchase the storied development, protect current residents and permanently maintain the middle-class character of the historic Stuyvesant Town-Peter Cooper community.

The proposal from the Tenant Association and Brookfield Asset Management would allow tenants to buy their apartments at reasonable rates while protecting those who wish to remain as stabilized renters from harassment or eviction. The proposal would also aim to create a set of permanently affordable rental units with help from government sources, improve maintenance and upkeep across the development, and preserve the community’s existing open space.

Stuyvesant Town-Peter Cooper Village is home to more than 25,000 residents.

The tenants and leadership of Brookfield Asset Management will announce their partnership at a press conference at 16^th and First Avenue at 11:00 a.m.

Who: The Stuyvesant Town-Peter Cooper Village Tenants Association, Councilmember Dan Garodnick, and Brookfield Asset Management

When: Wednesday, November 30^th, at 11 a.m.

Where: At the corner of 16^th St and First Avenue

What: Tenants of Stuyvesant Town-Peter Cooper Village and Brookfield Asset Management announce partnership for a tenant-led bid to buy Stuyvesant Town-Peter Cooper Village, protect residents, and keep community affordable

Oh-oh....

2011-11-29T22:21:00.005-05:00

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/30/nyregion/stuyvesant-town-and-peter-cooper-tenants-hope-to-buy-apartments.html

For the second time in six years, the tenants at Stuyvesant Town and Peter Cooper Village are seeking to buy the financially troubled complexes, which have served as a leafy refuge for generations of middle-class families in high-priced Manhattan.

The tenant association hopes to convert the adjacent complexes, with 11,232 apartments, into a condominium or cooperative under a plan in which residents could buy their apartments or remain as rent-regulated tenants.....

The tenant association is holding a forum on Saturday to solicit recommendations and to explain the plan to residents of the complexes, which sit between 14th and 23rd Streets and First Avenue and the East River. The association and Brookfield have not worked out the details of a proposal, but several people involved in the discussions said that an unspecified number of apartments, perhaps 10 percent, would permanently remain as rentals. Residents could buy their apartments at a discount with restrictions on reselling, or at near-market rates with fewer restrictions.....

MORE AT THE ABOVE LINK.

Another article about Brookfield and the Tenants Association:

http://blogs.wsj.com/metropolis/2011/11/29/brookfield-making-a-go-for-stuyvesant-town/

Kips Bay Ex-Con Arrested for Stuy Town Muggings

2011-11-28T11:14:00.000-05:00

NY Daily News:

A brazen mugger who attacked two elderly men in Stuyvesant Town this month has been arrested, police said Monday.

Ex-con Henry Huggins, 51, was charged with robbery and burglary in the two crimes, which left one victim with a fractured shoulder.

Huggins is a career criminal with 11 prior arrests for robbery, forgery, selling drugs and criminal trespassing, among other counts, records show.

Huggins, of E. 30th St. in Kips Bay, was most recently released on parole in July after serving a sentence for grand larceny, according to the state Department of Correctional Services website.

Huggins is to be arraigned Monday in the Nov. 23 attack on William Shafer, 71, of Stuyvesant Town and the Nov. 3 mugging of a 77-year-old resident of the same Manhattan housing complex.

Stuyvesant Town Residents On Edge After Violent Muggings

2011-11-27T19:02:00.002-05:00

NY1 REPORT:

Residents were on edge in Stuyvesant Town in Manhattan on Sunday, following violent attacks on two elderly men there earlier this month.

Police released surveillance video of one of the incidents that happened Wednesday.

The suspect is seen attacking a 71-year old man in the building's lobby.

The older man's money was stolen and he suffered a broken arm.

Police say they believe the same suspect also grabbed a 77-year old man in a building entrance on November 3, attacked him and robbed him.

Some residents told NY1 the neighborhood needs better security, while others said it was a matter of vigilance.

"They have money to spend on ice skating rinks and things people don't need, but apparently they don't spend it on security," said a Stuyvesant Town resident.

"We need foot guards, the patrolmen around again," said another resident.

"The basic thing is you have to be careful and you have to watch what's happening around you," said a third.

"This is one of the safest places you could live in New York City," said a fourth resident. "I feel comfortable, in spite of the report of the robberies. I would think to be more aware of what is happening around you."

According to crime statistics, robberies have increased 5.6 percent in the neighborhood in the last year.

The suspect is described as in his 40s, about 5-feet-8-inches tall and 180 pounds.

Anyone with information on the attacks should contact the Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS, or text CRIMES and then enter TIP577, or visit www.nypdcrimestoppers.com.

Winter Wonderland Ice Skating Rink Feedback

2011-11-25T18:12:00.012-05:00

It's beginning tomorrow, from 9am to 9pm (with filming around the area, no doubt, so beware if you don't want to be used for promos.) Comments are welcome, pro or con. I'm particularly interested in hearing from those residents who live around Playground 10 and may be affected by any noise coming from the rink.

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11/26/11 UPDATE: A STR reader sent in these following photos from today's activities. I've cropped a few and whited out faces.

First off, the important "Filming Taking Place in This Area" notice:

No refunds in case of weather conditions. And don't forget you are skating at your own risk:

Security abounds, but no checking of key cards for "residents and their guests":

More security, on the other of the rink:

This banner will look beautiful in the video promo:

Please tell me they played at least one ABBA song:

Skates, anyone? $7 rental:

OMG, junk food vending machines! I predict these and their brothers are going to find a place in refurbished former trunk rooms once that issue gets settled in favor of CWCapital.

More photos!!!

Spiderman trying to get info from penguin about the recent muggings of senior citizens in Stuy "Gramercy Park" Town:

Not to worry. Stuy Town's Public Safety (ie, Security) is on the case:

Councilman Dan Garodnick (in orange shirt and blue tie) performs in front of the crowd at opening day celebrations.... (Oh, just joking, Dan.)

That's it for now. Have a Happy Winter Wonderland!!!

Guest Key Card Charges

2011-11-22T09:26:00.002-05:00

As if the troubles here in Stuyvesant Town/Peter Cooper Village were not enough, we learn that now guest key cards will cost $8 per card. When the key card system was set up, a certain amount of guest key cards were to have been issued for free.

According to the TA: "This policy is counter to the DHCR order and will need to be looked at." The DHCR is the Department of Housing and Community Renewal.

However... Farmers Market Still There

2011-11-20T10:39:00.003-05:00

If you thought that the disappearance of the Joyride food truck this week indicated that the Farmers Market would also be missing this Sunday, as a result of compliance with what the Dept of City Planning and Councilman Garodnick stated weeks ago that such commercial enterprises are not allowed inside Stuy Town--you were wrong! The only thing missing from the photo above is a giant middle finger sign to the city's zoning regulations.

Joyride Truck No More

2011-11-18T07:30:00.008-05:00

It may be too early to tell, but it looks as if we will not be seeing Joyride any more at the Oval. The company's main page used to list Stuy Town in "Our Spots" for six of seven days of week, but now every location on that list is "Closed 4 Winter." The last Tweet on the company's Twitter page (about the truck's presence in Stuy Town) is from eleven days ago. There have been no new Tweets since then. I didn't notice Joyride here yesterday, and the truck was scheduled to be present at Stuy Town for the rest of the week.

Stay tuned.

Letter from the Department of City Planning

2011-11-11T20:15:00.017-05:00

Just so everyone knows the legalities here. Letter from the Department of City Planning to Councilman Dan Garodnick. Dated November 1st. (Click on letter to increase size.)

The TA has a PDF link to this letter here.

Stuyvesant Town/Peter Cooper Village Zoning Map:

Joyride food truck doing commercial business in R7-2 zone inside Stuyvesant Town. Date November 11:

By now, everyone (CW Capital, management, Joyride and concerned tenants) are aware of what the Department of City Planning wrote and Councilman Dan Garodnick's response on Tuesday, November 8th -- ("With regard to other commercial activities – such as food trucks and greenmarkets – that are not permitted in an R7-2 residential zone, we expect CW Capital/Rose Associates to bring themselves into compliance with the law.")

So the question stands: Why is a food truck allowed to continue to operate in a zone that does not allow for its presence???

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UPDATE, 11/12/11. We live in interesting times here in Stuy Town. Re: calling the 13th precinct. The police claim there is nothing they can do, as long as management accepts the presence of a food truck or any other commercial activity taking place within Stuyvesant Town. The only other option is to take the issue to civil court. The ball is now very much in the hands of our councilman, Dan Garodnick.

I have to say that it's pretty startling to have "the powers that be" (CW Capital and/or management) purposefully go against the zoning of Stuyvesant Town and NYC Department of City Planning and this district's councilman, elected by the people of this area. Says it all, I think.

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UPDATE, 11/12/11. The Stuy Town Living site has more information about calling 311:

Continue to call 311 when you see a Joyride truck and then call Dan Garodnick’s office with the complaint number. Today a tenant advocate called 311 regarding the presence of the Joyride truck in the Oval and asked to speak with a supervisor regarding any confusion over the calls. When filing a complaint your request should specifically say: Commercial activity in a residential zone. Additionally, tell them to file a complaint with the Department of Buildings.

The Department of Buildings does not work as quickly as Dan Garodnick’s office but don’t be discouraged. You’re not throwing a message in a bottle out to sea, these complaints DO count.

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Update, 11/13/11. So in the morning I hear Joyride's hum from hell across the Oval, but I don't see the truck. Where is Waldo? Well, after a tour of the Oval, I see Joyride parked, its engine idling, in front of 521 14 St and fuming up the place.

Later the truck joins the Green Market, the other commercial activity taking place in Stuy Town's non-commercially zoned area.

I note a couple of management big shots around, too, very protective of Joyride, as if concerned that the truck may vanish through some magical wand waving from a councilman or cranky resident. All is right with the world in Stuy Town, however. Market and Joyride in place. Business as usual.

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Another contact for zoning complaints: the Dept of Buildings Commissioner, Robert LiMandri, at robertl@buildings.nyc.gov.

It's Melting ... and Autumn Leaves ... and JoyRide

2011-11-11T10:38:00.014-05:00

Reportedly the NYPD turned up last night at Playground 10, where Stuyvesant Town's controversial new ice-skating rink is being finished, and whatever noise complaint was the impetus, it mandated the shutting off of a generator that kept the ice inside the rink solid. This morning the ice-rink was flooded, with water seeping out beyond the rink's actual walls.

Another problem: Autumn leaves. Yes, they do fall, and they fell all over the rink. Clean-up time and expense.

If this ice-rink has a fixed budget, the budget will certainly go over, with what is turning out to be a fiasco for CW Capital in both financial and publicity terms. (NY's newspapers are carrying articles about the controversy, and yesterday the city's local CBS News aired a segment about the rink twice.)

Oh, and despite the pronouncement from the Department of City Planning and Councilman Dan Garodnick that the interior of Stuy Town is not zoned for food trucks, the Joyride truck turned up both yesterday and today.

Regarding the presence of this food truck, residents should contact Dan Garodnick's office at 212-818-0580. If the food truck is making noise, you can also call 311. You will receive a Service Request number, and the matter will given over to the 13th precinct.

Location-wise, the food truck is currently near 1 Stuyvesant Oval, 10009. You can also call the precinct direct at 477-7411 and ask to speak to the Community Affairs Officer. Management is trying to make sure that the Joyride truck is not making noise, but at this point the issue is not noise, per se, but the illegal nature of a commercial enterprise like this food truck being situated in a residentially zoned area. That is the primary complaint.

What's Next

2011-11-09T11:37:00.004-05:00

With a win for tenants who are against the commercialization of the Oval, we can expect some type of pushback from “the powers that be.” The most obvious one will be to try to get Stuyvesant Town rezoned for commercial use. We, as well as our representatives, have to be vigilant to make sure that there will be no zoning change in the R7-2 classification this complex now holds.

The powers that be will try to gain tenant support by rallying around the “Green Market flag,” but it must be remembered that the only way the Green Market can make a comeback in southern grass area of the Oval is if Stuy Town’s zoning is changed. While having the Green Market move to another location, or disappear altogether, may be an inconvenience to some, having the Green Market legally remain where it was situated will mandate a zoning change. The greater picture is that, if such a zoning change becomes successful, commercialization of Stuyvesant Town's open spaces will become legal and the powers that be will have no restraint in introducing newer ways of inserting commercial entities within Stuyvesant Town and Peter Cooper Village. Indeed, such a “green light” will surely see more of our open free spaces, which we value greatly, reduced to money and publicity making gimmicks, furthering the aesthetic devaluation of our environment.

Though our Tenants Association has taken some criticism, I think it's imperative that we, tenants, have to stick together so that we can present an organized front and speak with a greater voice to the powers that be and even to our political representatives. Ultimately, it was the cooperation of several entities (from voices on websites, to the TA, to Councilman Garodnick and his office) that led to this current victory over the commercialization of Stuyvesant Town.

Food Trucks and Green Markets NOT Permitted in Stuy Town! Ice-Rink May Not Be Considered "Accessory" Use if Paid Admission and Open to Outsiders

2011-11-08T13:12:00.006-05:00

STATEMENT FROM COUNCIL MEMBER DAN GARODNICK

Re: Commercial Activity in Stuyvesant Town

The Department of City Planning (DCP) has responded to the questions I posed to them about commercial activities in Stuyvesant Town.

With regard to the planned ice skating rink, DCP has advised that, due to “the unusualness of this circumstance,” we should seek the review of the Department of Buildings (DOB), which enforces zoning regulations. My office has already reached out to the DOB for a final word on whether an ice skating rink, for a fee, conforms to the R7-2 zoning regulation applicable in Stuyvesant Town.

Further, I have asked the DOB for a complete review of the construction permits and the work that is actively being performed – including the electrical wires being strung through trees – to ensure that any construction activity is being conducted without risk to residents or workers, and within appropriate hours of the day. We expect the appropriate enforcement of any violations.

I have also asked the Department of Environmental Protection to conduct a test of the sound that will be emitted from various ice machines in order to ensure compliance with the noise code, and to confirm the safety of chemicals that appear to be used in connection with the rink.

With regard to other commercial activities – such as food trucks and greenmarkets – that are not permitted in an R7-2 residential zone, we expect CW Capital/Rose Associates to bring themselves into compliance with the law. I am happy to offer the assistance of my office in helping to relocate the Stuyvesant Town Greenmarket to an area around the property that would be both legal and convenient for the many residents who enjoy making use of it.

Residents who want to know what you can do to expedite enforcement on the ice rink or any other issue are advised to call 311 and to contact my office with your 311 reference number which will be helpful to us in following up. Residents should also feel free to contact my office at (212) 818-0580 with questions or concerns on any of these matters.

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STR here: Thanks to Dan Garodnick and his office for pursuing the legality of commercial activities inside Stuyvesant Town. It appears that the ice-skating rink WAS the straw that broke the camel's back. The powers that be just went too far on this. A strong spotlight came on not only the rink, but the other commercial activities that have been going on in the Oval. The ice skating rink issue is not yet settled, but it appears that if admission is charged and the rink is open to outsiders, the rink cannot be considered "accessory" usage.

The pity is that the relatively popular Farmer's Market is a causality here (at least within the confines of R7-2 zoning), but the blame rests purely on the powers that be who were speeding up the commercialization occurring inside Stuy Town while ignoring the concerns of tenants or the Tenants Association.

As for the Food Trucks, I'm going to send off a message to Joyride, who can now take a joy ride someplace else.

In summary, this is a substantial victory for what Stuyvesant Town has stood for and what it can hopefully stand for again.

Please, to whomever is "the powers that be"--all tenants want is for their buildings and the property to be clean and attractive, and for the traditional duties of a landlord to a tenant (heat, water, neighbor noise control, etc) to run smoothly. That's it! And so simple, without excessive expenditure.

Stuy Town Robber Wanted by Police

2011-11-07T20:12:00.003-05:00

Click on sheet to make larger.

And now for something completely different....

2011-11-06T15:21:00.010-05:00

Today was a wonderful autumn day in which one can take pleasure in the nature surroundings that we still have in Stuy Town.

And during this time, I sat down by the fountain and couldn't help but be thankful that there was no intrusive noise coming from an ice-skating rink or even a food truck, which was absent from the Oval.

More from Councilman Dan Garodnick

2011-11-06T12:48:00.003-05:00

A reader spoke with Garodnick and sent in this message:

I spoke with Councilman Dan Garodnick this morning and here is a summary of what he had to say.

He is addressing the skating rink issue on all city fronts. He has contacted The Department of City Planning (zoning) and The Department of Buildings (permits) and will be going to the City's Department of Environmental Protection, which enforces the noise code, shortly. There is some sort of a permit on file with The Department of Buildings. He said that he expects to hear back from The Department of City Planning and more fully about the permit from The Department of Buildings sometime this week.

He is suggesting that everyone contact 311, make your complaint, get a complaint number and send it or call it in to his office so he can follow-up/track complaints, if necessary. You can telephone 311. You can go online to www.nyc.gov/311. You can also text your complaint to 311NYC (311692). The City does not charge for this service but your wireless charges may apply.

I just called 311; 311 tried to transfer me to 911, but 911 turned me over to the Fire Department instead. I made my complaint about the electrical wiring that is being run out of 19 Stuyvesant Oval - and also out of the EXPOSED OPENING of a LIGHT POLE in front of 19 Oval - and strung up into the trees and snaked over to Playground 10. The Fire Department said that it would send someone to investigate.

Saturday 11AM Meeting at the Oval

2011-11-04T16:00:00.008-04:00

From the Lux Living Facebook, an e-mail he received:

Is the new ice skating rink the last straw for tenants already upset with commercial activities in Stuyvesant Town’s parks? Stuy Town and Peter Cooper Village tenants who are tired of businesses operating in the property’s park space are meeting by the Oval fountain Saturday morning at 11AM to discuss what they can do to stop these noisy and intrusive gimmicks.

UPDATE: A good crowd of tenants gathered around in front of the ice-skating rink to listen to speakers address the commercialization that's happening inside Stuy Town, and particularly what's going to be occurring at the forthcoming ice-skating rink. The main speaker for most of the time was Bill (Otto?), the apparent ringmaster of the event, along with his wife, who was passing out petitions to sign. The crowd got larger as the event proceeded, as passerby residents (who knew nothing of the meeting beforehand) stopped to listen and sign petitions. (Flyers posted in lobby buildings alerting tenants to the meeting were quickly taken down by maintenance staff.)

Unfortunately, I didn't bring my camera with me, but other residents did, so I'm sure we will see photos from the event turn up soon. Town & Village's Sabina Mollot was present, too, taking photos, jotting down what was being said, and interviewing protesters. Expect a T & V article on this meeting.

Two-sheet handouts were available, listing "Good Neighbor" policies concerning the ice-skating rink based on management's own "Good Neighbor" definitions.

A few people questioned why there were no work permits posted anywhere around the forthcoming ice-rink. Perhaps a temporary (albeit lasting 3 months) structure doesn't need one, but it was an interesting query I hadn't heard before.

A couple of suggestions from yours truly that may already be under consideration:

1) This newly-formed group should have a web presence, where basic info can be posted. Even a no-cost blog would be beneficial.

2) There are several online petition sites that can harbor a "Say No to Commercialization of the Oval"-type petition.

3) Have volunteers go door-to-door in their buildings to sign the paper petition.

Contact for this new group is quietoval@gmail.com

On a personal note I was very heartened to see this event actualized and that tenants are concerned about what has been happening in this complex with its ever-expanding commercialization. We need to get the word out to more tenants, many of whom are unaware of the issues involved and that the commercialization of the Oval will continue and expand even more. As if to stress the point of the importance of reining in such commercial activity, the awful hum from the Joyride food truck across the Oval could be heard while the meeting was in progress. (This truck has not been hooked into Stuy Town's electricity for a number of days now, whether by malicious f.u. intent or some other factor like a malfunctioning cable.)

I want to also add something else. I noticed that Bill and his wife have a dog, and that at some point in the life of my blog, the both of them must have gotten pissed off at my dog postings. I will also note that there was once a rift between Lux and myself (now healed completely, btw). Despite whatever disagreements the group of us may have had, the issue of the commercialization of this complex has united us, as it is beginning to unite tenants. And that is a very good thing, indeed.

What the Rink is Going to Look Like

2011-11-03T20:39:00.009-04:00

As progress continues on Stuy Town's ice-skating rink, we are beginning to see the design take shape. At the southern end a covering structure is being put in place that, I assume, will house the skate rental space and perhaps the cafe that's being promised. This structure takes up about a third of Playground 10, making the skating area that much smaller.

The space for skating may be even smaller than that as there's a cooling system at the northwestern corner:

So that leaves this space for actual skating:

And in other news....

2011-11-03T15:22:00.003-04:00

STATEMENT FROM COUNCIL MEMBER DAN GARODNICK

Re: Victory on Retroactivity in Roberts v. Tishman Speyer Case

“The court today made official what we have known all along – that the Roberts v. Tishman Speyer case can be applied retroactively. The harm done to Stuyvesant Town and Peter Cooper Village residents extends years into the past, and today’s victory will help ensure that they can be made whole for their landlords’ flouting of the law.

“Recent precedents, such as Gersten v. 56 7th Ave, prepared us for this result, but making it official still comes as a moment of relief and celebration for the thousands of tenants whose apartments should never have been deregulated, and who never should have been forced to pay market rents to stay in their homes.

“Today’s win will add great weight to the damage claims of those residents. With this most recent round of vindication in court, we hope and expect that the parties can come to a resolution on that matter so that the tenants can finally get the appropriate compensation for their landlords’ years of overcharges.

“I congratulate Amy Roberts and her co-plaintiffs and their attorneys for securing this important decision for our community.”

Council Member Dan Garodnick represents Stuyvesant Town and Peter Cooper Village, where he is a lifelong resident.

--------------------

And from Bloomberg.com:

A New York state appeals court affirmed a lower court’s decision to deny a motion by MetLife Inc. (MET) to dismiss a class-action lawsuit brought by tenants of Stuyvesant Town and Peter Cooper Village.

The decision, by the state’s Appellate Division, First Department, affirmed an Aug. 5, 2010, ruling by New York State Supreme Court Justice Richard Lowe III to deny a motion to dismiss the case against MetLife, the complex’s former owner.

The 80-acre Stuyvesant Town-Peter Cooper Village development is Manhattan’s largest apartment complex with more than 11,000 units. MetLife sold the complex in 2006 to Tishman Speyer Properties LP and partner BlackRock Realty LP for $5.4 billion.

Tenants sued MetLife and Tishman in 2007, claiming the companies improperly forced at least a quarter of the apartments to pay market rates while receiving more than $25 million in tax breaks.

Lowe dismissed the tenants’ original lawsuit in 2007, and the appeals court later reinstated the suit and ruled on the tenants’ behalf. The tenants are seeking more than $215 million in damages.

Tishman Speyer and BlackRock missed a $16.1 million debt payment due in January 2010 and said they would cede control of the complex to lenders after the value fell and they were prevented from >raising rents.

------------------------

And this.

The Straw that Broke the Camel's Back?

2011-11-03T10:03:00.007-04:00

An ice-skating rink is a pretty big straw, but it seems it has had the effect of mobilizing tenants and making both residents and politicians hyper aware of zoning and the commercialization occurring inside Stuyvesant Town. This week's Town & Village carries a front page article, "Garodnick Questions Legality of Commercial Activity in ST/PCV." Though commercial activities have been happening inside the complex since Tishman Speyer took over as owner and manager, though we've seen the Farmer's Market, Food Trucks, tables for Verizon and Zip Car, charges for the Oval "Essentials," etc, make their way into Stuy Town with some push-back from tenants, this ice-skating rink may just have tipped the balance into getting residents finally fed up with the commercialization inside this property. Or perhaps not. To be seen.

The T & V article carries quotes from councilman Garodnick and management's Adam Rose. Garodnick: "People want to make sure it is legal and I am currently exploring that question. There's a lot of concern over the variety of commercial activities, including the food trucks and now an ice rink and the paid storage facilities." Rose contends that "We believe the minor commercial activity in Stuy town such as food trucks and the ice rink are completely legal, and provide additional amenities and attractions to the vast majority of our residents, especially families." While the legality of commercial activities is yet to be determined by the Department of City Planning (I'm not holding my breath), it has to be stated that the "vast majority" of residents are not using any of the amenities being offered at Stuyvesant Town. We're talking about a resident population of anywhere from 25K to 30K, and certainly you don't even see a tenth of that number using the Oval Essentials, the food trucks, etc, or attending the summer concerts and events, which, at best and on rarer occasions, can draw in a few hundred people.

It can't be stressed enough in these discussions (even T & V skips this point) that these amenities are being used to sell the place to prospective renters, and it must be admitted that some amenities are directed at prospective renters with families, which is a good thing, as we'd like to increase a more stable population rather than the transient student one we see continually growing.

The T & V article reveals more of what Garodnick asked of the Department of City Planning: "Does zoning allow for food trucks to be positioned within the Stuyvesant Town Oval? Management recently announced that they would be installing and opening an ice rink in a Stuyvesant Town Playground. Does the present zoning allow for an ice rink on the property? And if so, would charging for admission or equipment change that?" These are pivotal questions.

Garodnick also stated to T & V that he believes the ice-rink should be complimentary to residents. "An hour a day in a playground that is normally open and free is not a good policy and it will not have a good outcome." Dan must be really hopping mad now, as the updated schedule for free use of the ice-rink allows for just two hours of free use to residents per week, not the previously publicized seven hours per week. (Perhaps I'm wrong, but I smell a slight set-up here, with a "generous" gesture forthcoming that will go back to the one free hour a day schedule.)

A bulging letters column in T & V contains responses from tenants. A couple of tenants are for it, including a familiar voice who calls the rink's detractors "cranky" and "better suited to a gated community in Florida than apartment living in a dense urban environment."

Other letter writers share their concerns, which have also been addressed repeatedly on this blog and Lux's website and Facebook.

The heart-warming surprise comes from an opinion piece by Steven Sanders, who had been our state assemblyman for 28 years. As someone who grew up in Stuy Town, Sanders takes a nostalgic journey in his piece, writing about Playground 10.... "Every kid growing up in Stuy Town or Peter Cooper had 'their' playround and #10 was mine." His article is well worth reading as giving insight into what that playground means and meant. He begins to finish it off this way:

"There are just some places, which are just really special, that corporate America, in such a hurry to make a buck, just does not really get." And: "I may be entirely wrong but I am not sure that there has been an outcry from the residents demanding an ice skating rink which is a very specialized activity that only a relatively few will participate in." Finally:

"When Tishman Speyer bought this community five years ago and over spent literally billions of dollars, they did so in the belief that they could make big changes to our already successful and iconic community that would make it more profitable. In hindsight I am sure they wish that they would have just let well enough alone. So a word to CW Capital and Rose management... 'If it ain't broke don't fix it.'"

Residents should hurry out and get this week's issue of T & V before it gets sold out.

2011-11-02T15:43:00.009-04:00

The prices for entry to Stuy Town's Ice-Skating Rink have just been posted on the pcvst.com website. First impression: They are somewhat troubling. For one, Town & Village reported that "residents would get to skate for free for an hour each day the rink was open." This was a verbatim rendering of what, purportedly Adam Rose told T & V, so either the newspaper got it wrong or there was a change in pricing structure since the paper came out. Big surprise then. Also the free times are placed at odd hours. Sunday from 9-10 AM. That's not too bad if you are up that early and ready to go on a Sunday, but the other free time period, Wednesday 3-4 PM, is simply insulting. You may as well not give out any free time.

Otherwise, the cost of entry is $7 per day, which is not bad, I think. (I don't ice-skate, so I'm not familiar with typical rink entry fees. The rink at Bryant Park charges no fee, while Rockefeller Center does.) But I do wonder if "per day" will really be "per day" or if once you leave the rink you will have to pay again to go back in. There's something called a "season pass" going for $100. Three and four season passes are mentioned, so that means, yes, the rink will be a regular feature in Stuy Town as long as CW Capital is calling the shots.

Ice-skating lessons are costly, it seems to me. $40 for a 25 minute session, which includes admission, but not rental of skates. A "cafe area" is also mentioned, which will not be giving away free food, obviously.

The rink is open (for a fee, excepting those two hours already mentioned) to PCVST residents and their guests. No mention, however, of key cards being checked or any other filtering of outsiders who are not guests.

Then there are those waivers of legal action against "Ice Rink Events, ST Owner LP and Rose Associates, Inc., and their respective subsidiaries, affiliates, partners, officers, directors, employees, agents, equipment suppliers and volunteers arising out of the Skaters' use of the ice skating rink and all surrounding areas."

And, of course, no Oval event could exist without its publicity purpose: "Skaters permit Ice Rink Events to use any photograph or video recording taken while in or around the ice skating rink venue for publicity, advertising, or any other commercial purpose."

2011-11-02T14:23:00.014-04:00

Aggreko Event Services are working now at Playground 10.

Here's what they do.

Aggreko is, according to the company's website, "the global leader in providing temporary power generation, temperature control, and oil-free compressed air systems." It's a British company, with "over 100 locations in 29 countries, and over 50 in North America alone." The company has dealt with football stadiums, and has powered and cooled the U.S. Open for many years.

This Stuy Town Ice-Skating Rink is going to be costly, for sure, and from the looks of it, very professionally done. It's hard to foresee how the money spent here will turn a profit in just three months. According to Adam Rose in the last issue of Town & Village, the venture will "break even at best, but that was never the point. The point is to provide a wonderful new amenity for residents and their guests." Pricing has just been revealed at the pcvst.com website. (More on the pricing in the next blog post.)

With pricing for residents, councilman Dan Garodnick's admonition ("that should not be open to debate") about the commercial use of previously free open space is not being heeded to its full extent.

Residents have still yet to see, and experience, how this will all play out. Will the noise coming from the rink be bothersome to the tenants living in that area? Will temporary commercial shops be set up around the rink? Does it make any difference? Or is using free areas of Stuy Town for commercial ventures a diminution of services? Will residents, in the majority, even care? Or even use the rink? Will free hot cocoa with floating mini-marshmallows be served on opening day? And more commercial ventures are looming, if Garodnick's communications director is correct.

So we wait.

Dan Garodnick in 2013

2011-11-01T17:44:00.017-04:00

In one of my previous comments, I mistakenly stated that Dan Garodnick, because of term limits (flexible term limits according to the dictates of the Mayor and the City Council), wouldn't be able to run again. I was wrong, however. Despite the voters' wishes three times at the ballot box to limit the Mayor and the City Council to two-terms, the powers that be sneaked in a provision in the last vote, in 2010, that would allow the city councilmen/women to go for a third term! (Read about this travesty here.)

That said, it is instructive to take a look at the companies and people who donated to Dan's campaigns in 2005 and 2009 and who are already donating to his as-yet undeclared candidacy in 2013.

You can view the lists here.

You will see investment firms, real estate firm, hedge funds, etc, even the president of the Tenants Association and the heads of Rose Associates donated to the cause of getting Dan elected.* I don't mind the president of the TA or Rose donating, but ask yourselves why are investment/real estate/hedge fund firms donating to a city councilman? (BTW, donations from these firms are not exclusive to Dan; other city councilmen/councilwomen also receive similar donations.) These donations are not of the mom-and-pop type either. Thousands of dollars are being dropped into the coffers for Dan's and other city council members' elections.

The story of Stuyvesant Town and Peter Cooper Village is just one part of the mosaic of the story of New York City and how the middle class is gradually being squeezed out of Manhattan, to be replaced by the rich and the sons and daughters of the rich. It seems these contributions are being well spent.

This is not to say that Dan Garodnick, or other City Council members, are in the pockets of the people who wish to make a huge profit from the real estate in Manhattan (Dan has fought on the right side in the Roberts decision, for instance), but the infiltration of large sums of investment and real estate money into the City Council is troubling, particularly when it's the City Council that deals with zoning regulations.

*Note: I've been informed that the contributions from a couple of people connected to Rose Associates were because of Dan's support of the Park Avenue Armory, of which Elihu Rose is philanthropically Vice-Chairman. Rose Associates has not donated to Dan's campaign since becoming manager of PC/STV.

Dan Garodnick's Office Responds

2011-10-30T23:09:00.001-04:00

We saw your post asking Dan's position on the ice rink, and what sorts of activities Stuyvesant Town's zoning allows. At the request of the Tenants Association leadership, we recently sent a formal letter to the Department of City Planning asking about whether Stuyvesant Town's R7-2 zoning designation allows for any or all of the new commercial activities taking place or contemplated. For what it's worth, we had investigated the Oval Amenities as they were introduced, and concluded that there was no actionable zoning violation. Since these zoning questions are frequently rather complicated (as you undoubtedly learned from your call to our office), and since there are newer commercial activities contemplated, we thought it made most sense to nail down a clear articulation of the rules, in writing, from the appropriate authorities.

We will try to get an expedited response that we can share with you.

Dan Pasquini
Communications Director
City Council Member Dan Garodnick
(212) 788-7393
www.garodnick.com
www.twitter.com/dangarodnick

Where Does Dan Garodnick Stand on the Issue?

2011-10-27T21:05:00.005-04:00

No, it's not a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the opening up of the Stuy Town ice-skating rink...yet.

On the issue of the commercialization of Stuyvesant Town? This includes, of course, the ice-skating rink, whose construction will close Playground 10, one of the most frequently used playgrounds by children and young people, this November 1st.

When I contacted our councilman's office, I was told that the money-making ventures inside Stuyvesant Town, from food trucks to the ice-skating rink, were not clearly against the residential zoning laws because of this or that, or something or another. ("Accessory use" was mentioned once.) A recent letter that Dan Garodnick sent to CW Capital and Rose Associates made demands that the rink be open for free to residents and that the noise levels coming from the rink to those residents living near Playground 10 should be minimized. Not one word about zoning, as if Garodnick doesn't feel it's an issue to be even explored.

It seems that ever since the beginnings of construction of the Oval "Essentials" several years ago, Dan Garodnick has had plenty of opportunities to check with whatever legal counsel is available to him about the zoning for Stuy Town, and whether the Essentials, the Farmer's Market, the food trucks, the Verizon/Zip Car/etc tables set up at events, and now the forthcoming ice-skating rink, break the zoning laws for this community. Whether or not zoning laws are being broken, we, the tenants of this community, NEED TO KNOW. Instead, we get vague responses, as if no one in the councilman's office, to include the councilman, has seriously investigated the zoning laws for Stuyvesant Town.

So if Dan Garodnick, a lawyer himself with lawyer friends from his old firm (which represents tenants, btw), still does not know if commercial enterprises inside Stuy Town break a zoning law--the question becomes: Why he doesn't know? What is he waiting for? His term limit to run out?

P.S. It should be noted that Garodnick and the City Council he is part of are responsible for the zoning laws of NYC. So, to plead ignorance here or a lack of clarity.... Well....

Answers from Adam Rose - 2

2011-10-26T10:04:00.002-04:00

STR: Do you take frequent tours of PCVST, including its buildings? What do you personally see that you feel needs improvement?

Adam Rose: I am at PCVST a minimum of two days per week as it is the largest and most important assignment that we have. Yes, I regularly walk around the grounds as well as make random visits to buildings in both Peter Cooper Village as well as Stuyvesant Town. About once a month I am asked to arbitrate the most difficult cases of tenant unhappiness, whether it is about a neighbor issue that can’t be solved by the normal process or regarding some defect in an apartment that the resident services and construction supervisors cannot get to completion to the satisfaction of the tenant. As a result, I regularly interact with residents and hear their opinions, something that is very useful to our getting better and better at what we do at the property.

It is clear to me that the public areas need to be refreshed. For example, at Stuy Town, the common hallways are ready to be repainted in a brighter and fresher color. If I can get approval from the owner, I would also be very happy to replace the carpets which are nearing the end of their useful life. Peter Cooper would benefit from similar work. One of my pet peeves is light bulbs, and I am pleased to report that we in the middle of a light bulb replacement project that will unify the color (regarding cool white vs. warm white) and improve the corridors. We are also working on a mock-up in Peter Cooper Village of a better way to handle recyclables. You will hear more about this as it is completed.

We know that bulk garbage (and even regular garbage) are issues that need to be improved. This requires a multi-pronged attack since tenant behavior is one aspect, and staffing and supervision is another. We are working with some of the elements of the union contract of our porters to improve flexibility, supervision, and staffing in order to do a better job at cleaning. Unfortunately, I cannot say more about this topic until the contract is fully negotiated. But I am not happy with the overall state of cleanliness. I realize that people wonder why this can’t be solved overnight, but the reality of a complex of this size is that things take more time than we would like them to take.

I also look at the landscaping and grounds, and have a plan to complete the “greening” of the property in 2012. It is unfortunate that Tishman Speyer planted millions of dollars of the wrong things at PCVST, and that the actual solution to many of the issues is the removal of some of that material. But plant beds that are naked dirt are unacceptable, and I know that these will be corrected in the coming year.

Answers from Adam Rose - 1

2011-10-25T19:14:00.004-04:00

Adam Rose is the co-president of Rose Associates, which is charged with managing Stuyvesant Town and Peter Cooper Village. There's been a lot of confusion in recent months as to what Rose Associates does and is responsible for, and I thought it would be beneficial to ask Adam Rose a series of questions, with the answers providing greater insight into the management of this complex. As part of this format, I will not be making any editorial commentary afterward, nor will comments be allowed in response. This is the manager of Stuyvesant Town and Peter Cooper front and center, with the stage (excepting the question) all his. I thank Adam Rose for this opportunity.

STR: What do you think are some of the major misconceptions tenants can have about your job here in PCVST and about the work that management is doing here?

Adam Rose: First, I want to thank you for providing me with an opportunity to respond to questions about the work that Rose Associates is doing at PCVST. The question is an excellent one, because it goes to the heart of many of the complaints that we receive. The single largest misconception is that we are the enemy. Nothing could be further from the truth.

A quick word about Rose Associates: we are an 85 year old firm that has done business in New York City through every kind of cycle and downturn. We would not have thrived if we viewed tenants as the enemy. In fact, we work hard to meet the needs of our tenants and to provide professional service. We do this for 37,000 apartments in Manhattan with some buildings in Brooklyn, Riverdale, and White Plains. Our buildings are full in good times and bad because of the way we do our job.

We do not own PCVST. Some people seem to be confused about that. If I may, I would like to briefly provide some history to put things in perspective. As is well known, Stuy Town and later Peter Cooper Village were built by Met Life. They seemed to have done it more as a public service than as an income producing investment, but that obviously changed in the 1990’s. Pressure was put on insurance companies to earn more income, and those that owned real estate started to run them in a more businesslike way rather than as subsidized housing. Ultimately, it led to the sale of the entire property for $5.4 billion.

The new owner was an experienced office building developer and manager, but knew nothing about residential real estate. The results were not successful, either from a financial standpoint as well as from a tenant relations view, and the property defaulted. The owner is now the Bondholder Trust representing the first $3 billion of debt. The Trust is represented by the Special Servicer, CW Capital.

As you know, PCVST is an 80 acre property with over 25,000 residents. It is one of the most complicated pieces of real estate in the world, and any change or improvement requires a complex coordination of many moving parts. We are well aware of the major problems and have done a lot to solve them, contrary to some of the comments that appear on your blog. There is much more to do, and we are working on that. I will write more in response to additional questions.

Planning Your Rink

2011-10-21T21:43:00.007-04:00

While we wait to see what develops with the ice-skating rink that's scheduled to open up in late November at Playground 10, it may be helpful to understand the challenges of building or putting up a rink. The info below is from the Custom Ice Rinks website and NOT meant to indicate exactly what Stuy Town will be getting, so please let's not assume that the challenges will be the same. (For instance, our skating rink could be a comical companion version to the now deceased mini putting green.) But what's below does make for interesting reading, that's for sure.

Private ice rinks are relatively new to most everyone. Here is useful information to help you choose the rink you want and to get it when you want it. Alternatively , please feel free to call Custom Ice anytime, toll free (866) 887-8840.

START EARLY - We get very busy with outdoor ice rinks in the late summer and fall. To ensure your rink is ready to go in November we urge you to book it before the end of June each year. Permanent outdoor rinks (in concrete) are typically constructed in the spring and summer so it is wise to plan far ahead. Lead times vary with season and are 8-10 weeks in spring and summer, but 12-14 weeks in late summer and fall. Call Custom Ice and book well in advance before it's too late.

DETERMINE THE SIZE - Custom ice will custom fit the rink to your available space and needs. While portable rinks can always be made bigger, permanent rinks cannot. When selecting a permanent rink, remember the kids will keep getting bigger. Portable rinks cannot only be enlarged; they can also be installed in concrete later. For families with smaller children (2-6 years), it may be better to start with a smaller portable "Roll-Out-Rink ™ and expand it later. Snow removal, ice maintenance, and installed costs are also important considerations when determining the size of rink best suited for you. See our "Choosing Your Rink Size" bulletin to help you compare Custom Ice rink sizes. We also publish some optimum size rinks that best match the refrigeration equipment sizes. Call Custom Ice for budget pricing or simply to help you decide.

FIND A LOCATION - Sometimes the choice is obvious, and other times there are many possibilities. If you are trying to decide the best location for your rink be sure to consider the following:

a) A more level area will minimize ground leveling and excavation work
b) A nearby or underground water line will reduce effort when flooding the rink
c) Proximity to a warming area or skate change hut can be important
d) Keeping away from large tree roots saves excavation work and prevents damage later
e) If space permits, choose a suitable location off to the side rather than overpowering your yard with the rink in the middle
f) Keep space on all sides for ground maintenance and snow removal

ELECTRICAL POWER - In smaller homes, older home or for larger rinks, your residential electrical service may need to be upgraded for the refrigeration equipment. Check with Custom Ice about the electrical needs of your preferred rink size and then have your electrician compare to what you have. Generally larger rinks require an electrical service upgrade and these costs can vary.

CHECK WITH THE CITY/TOWN - Check with your local municipal permit or by-law office. Every town is different, but you would typically require at least one or more of the following.

a) Electrical permit and inspection - for refrigeration equipment
b) Construction permit - for permanent rink floors
c) Building permit - for rink warming huts or change rooms
d) Green space approval - for permanent concrete rinks replacing grass areas
e) Environmental approval - if the rink antifreeze is an issue
f) Something else - its always safe to check just in case

MORE AT THE ABOVE LINK.

OMG - It's True! An Ice-Skating Rink is coming to Stuy Town!!!

2011-10-13T09:54:00.003-04:00

It's official!... From the Events people at PCV/ST:

The fall and winter season will feature exciting new programs. The PCVST holiday season will be enhanced by a new seasonal ice-skating rink! The new open-air ice rink facility will serve residents of all ages and will feature a variety of special events including ice dancing, figure skating and skating lessons.

The ice rink is scheduled to open on Saturday, November 26th and will remain in operation through February. Additional information on the rink will be made available soon on pcvst.com, including hours of operation, tickets, and a schedule of lessons and events.

A Tale of the Christmas Tree and the Guardbooth

2011-10-02T18:29:00.008-04:00

This is a typical Stuy Town story to warm the heart.

First, came a new guardbooth, cute and nice. And then came the cutting and pulling out of plantings that obstructed the view from the guardbooth--not so nice and leaving the area on the bare side, but probably a necessary evil if you are going to have a guardbooth where once stood a mini putting green with fauna and trees embracing it....

Unfortunate about the loss of what makes the Oval inviting--greenery, foliage, trees--but what can one do? Progress. Next comes the long-promised fir "Christmas" tree, an addition to the plantings on the Oval....

Okay. Fine. Should be very nice. Will grow. But where does management place this baby Christmas tree? Nearby the guardbooth and blocking a view of the Oval and beyond!....

Photo taken near guardbooth, looking out.

So, on one hand, foliage is removed that obstructed a view, and then a tree was set up that obstructs the view. Makes sense, doesn't it?

Pimping Failed NFL on the Oval Event

2011-10-01T10:32:00.010-04:00

If you've received your deluxe Oval Essentials brochure or your weekly update from Stuy Town management or if you've walked around the Oval, you'll recognize the push: NFL ON THE OVAL. As reported before, this was another event FAIL for Lady Maya and crew, and a waste of resources (including the use of about 5 security personnel).

There's also this poster for the event, the photo from which amusingly proclaims fail on its own:

As you can see, there's not much of a crowd present, and of the crowd that's there, some are ignoring the screen, like the kid to the right, who's more interested in whatever gadget is in his hands.

But, wait, there's more to the story.

I've wondered for a while about the relationship between management and Town & Village, our area newspaper. T & V is a valuable resource, as it not only writes about and reaches our community, but is able to get actual responses and quotes from management on a number of issues, even if those responses are full of annoying spin and bs.

Well, this week, the last page of T & V contained this photo:

Kinda looks familiar, no? It also shows more of the "crowd" that gathered for this silly event, and tells how the image in the poster was cropped to not give away too much dead space. LOL.

Of course what's not funny is that my building, as well as many buildings in ST/PCV, needs a good interior paint job and some plastering. But I guess that takes second or third or fourth place to running events like NFL ON THE OVAL.

Management Spins Bad Survey Reports: Yes, Stuy Town is Happy with Rose Associates!

2011-09-30T11:13:00.010-04:00

If you listen to the spin from Adam Rose, co-president of Rose Associates (our management firm), you'd think most people are happy with the way things look and are being run here.

This weeks Town & Village's front page article, "Residents Rate Changes in ST/PCV," contains the following mind-blowing statement in its introductory paragraph:

"... the firm has said tenants have responded most positively when asked about the conditions of the grounds and buildings as well as their quality of life." [Emphasis mine.]

The justification for such a statement?

First off, there were two surveys conducted a while back, around May. One was done by Dan Garodnick's office and the other by the Kingsley company for Rose Associates. Over 400 tenants responded to the Garodnick survey, while 2,400 responded to the Kingsley one. There are over 25,000 tenants in ST/PCV, with some knowledgeable people stating the number is over 30,000 if every single tenant, legally here or not, is included. Already, in these two surveys, we have a very small pool of tenants upon which to base a generality on, but, whatever.... Let's try to glean from the article the numbers. Unfortunately, a detailed listing of the results and the questions asked were NOT presented in T&V article, so we have to do a little detective work here and guessing at the precise questions, as we extrapolate the info found in the T&V article.

Garodnick Survey:

Condition of grounds: 44% Improved greatly or somewhat. 20% Gotten worse. 36% No difference. Summary: Less than half of the respondents thought the grounds had improved.

Response to service calls: 32% Improved since Tishman Speyer. 12% Gotten worse since Tishman Speyer. 56% No change. Summary: Only a third of respondents felt there was an improvement in service calls responses since Tishman Speyer days. (Remarkably, the T&V article spins this as Rose getting "a passing grade.")

Cleanliness: 19% Improved. 38% Worsened. 43% No change. Summary: Only 19% of respondents thought that Rose Associates had cleaned up Stuy Town/PCV better than Tishman Speyer.

Noise: 13% Improved. 38% Worsened. 49% No change. Summary: Only 13% of respondents thought that Rose Associates had dealt with the noise issue better than Tishman Speyer.

Dog Policies: 16% Better. 51% Worse. 33% No change. Summary: Only 16% of respondents thought that Rose was dealing with the dog issue better than Tishman Speyer. (Adam Rose's response to this is completely dumbfounding! "It seems very clear that the dog policy is fair and rational, and that most residents do not object to the way that it is being run." WTF!!!)

Laundry facilities: 8% Better. 55% Worse. 37% No change. Summary: Only 8% of respondents thought that the laundry facilities had improved since Tishman Speyer days.

Now let's head over the Kingsley survey, which was only mentioned by Rose AFTER the Garodnick survey was released.

Cleanliness: 2/3 of respondents stating that the state of cleanliness is either "good" or "excellent." (I'd love to see the breakdown here. Fat chance, I know. My hunch is that the majority of this 2/3 stated "good." From this, Adam Rose opines: "We are pleased to noted that two thirds of the PCV/ST tenants express happiness about the state of cleanliness...." [Emphasis mine.] Of course, it should be remembered we are talking about "respondents," as his survey is missing over 23,000 tenants voices, the vast majority of tenants living in ST/PCV.)

Security: More than 50% stating it was a major factor in their likelihood of renewing their lease. (It's not clear if this comes from the Kingsley survey, but I assume so.) On this survey, dogs were not an important issue as regards whether a tenant would renew a lease or not.

Bottom line is that both surveys, when combined, do no paint a favorable picture of the current management of Stuyvesant Town and Peter Cooper Village. I'll be doing a "grade report" on management soon, and I will be fair and balanced. Believe it or not.

Oval Football Showing: Another FAIL

2011-09-25T15:29:00.009-04:00

About 30 people when I was there. Mostly kids, who were already fidgeting and will get quickly bored. Terrible quality, btw. You may as well stay home or go to a bar.

Another dumb idea from Rose Associates and Lady Maya (who was around for the set-up).

And another waste of resources, including the overuse of security, about five of whom were stationed inside the playground.

With all that security inside the playground and watching the game, they couldn't see the woman with the pitbulls who took a tour of the Oval with her dogs around the same time:

Yup, she's back!....

Non-Stuy Town Resident Terrorizes....

Also seen: A couple with one pitbull and a dog-walker with a German shepherd, another illegal dog in Stuyvesant Town, and all on a tour of the Oval also.

BTW, a note to Security: I've received reports and have seen it for myself that someone in 510 East 20 St (near Lenz's) is housing a pit or a pit-mix. The owner feeds his dog chunks of meat on a bone right in front of the building!

NYU Sugar Babies and Stuyvesant Town

2011-09-24T08:46:00.005-04:00

So what are NYU students like? If you go to the NYU blog, NYULOCAL, you'll see an interview with Brandon Wade, head of company for sugar daddies and sugar babies. (NYU has more "sugar babies" than any other college in the United States.):

NYU and Sugar Babies

Other points of interest:

The hopes of getting an island for NYU's expansion. (Doesn't NYU already have most of Manhattan?) NYU and Governors Island

And the joys of mixed drinks, of course: NYU and Drinking

What would an NYU blog be without a mention of Stuyvesant Town:

NYU and Stuy Town .... And here's the important paragraph with some surprising money figures:

"In my search, I’ve found that the more bedrooms (and therefore, roommates) you have, the better deal you’ll get. For example, 1-bedroom flex units (meaning the units either have or are equipped for pressurized walls that cut into the living space with additional bedrooms) in the apartment community Stuyvesant Town will very comfortably house two people for around $7,000 per semester. However, a 2-bedroom flex unit in Stuyvesant Town, which will house three people comfortably, rents for around $6,000 a semester each. Stuyvesant Town also includes all utilities in the price of rent, so the only additional fees you need to worry about are cable and internet."

You Just Know That Oval Strippers Are Coming Next

2011-09-22T20:47:00.005-04:00

It keeps getting better. Lady Maya is really inspired these days.

That Oval Lounge is fairly small. If the frat boys crowd in, this could really get interesting. Admit it, this is not your grandma's Stuy Town anymore.

Desperate Times Call for Desperate Measures

2011-09-21T18:04:00.006-04:00

I can't think of a better time to be had than kicking the kids out of Playground 10 and watching televised football outside from 12-8pm. I guess it's a better use of Stuy Town personnel than dealing with furniture dumping and the poor interior maintenance of buildings! And there just have to be a couple of artisanal food trucks around. Way to go! And pump up the volume, boys! Make the ground shake. We need to feel every grunt and tackle!

Update. The question of broadcast copyright laws has been brought up, and here are some links of interest, so that people can make there own determination.

http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/news/2010/01/will-your-big-screen-super-bowl-party-violate-copyright-law.ars

http://www.spurstalk.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-145672.html

http://www.nfl.com/contact-us

The Carnival Comes to Town!

2011-09-17T14:38:00.010-04:00

Today saw Family Carnival arrive to the Oval! We had a circus before, so why not a carnival? Actually, it seemed a nice affair for kids and parents. I expected more crowds, but since families are in the decrease here, with single Urban Young Professionals and students becoming more the norm, it's understandable that one wouldn't see as many families as probably would have been present even ten years ago. Music was playing, but not blasting throughout the Oval. The food offered was something First Lady Michelle Obama would not approve off, however--sugary and fatty.

Of course this is one more event to be used to sell the place to prospective tenants. (Warning signs about filming were placed about the Oval.) The positive element: At least such a promo will be directed at people with families, something Stuy Town needs to see an increase in.

Korilla BBQ Truck Gets Kicked Out!

2011-09-13T09:02:00.006-04:00

Unfortunately, not out of Stuyvesant Town.... Amusing story, nevertheless:

From the Gothamist:

In last night's "very strange and heartbreaking" episode of the Food Network's reality TV show The Great Food Truck Race, beloved NYC food truck Korilla BBQ was kicked off the show for allegedly cooking the books, as it were.

At the end of the Memphis-set episode, host Tyler Florence announced that Korilla, who already made it to the top four contestants, would be asked to leave because they added over $2,000 of their own money into their cash drawer. Producers apparently noticed when the sales receipts didn't match up to the final count.

While Midtown Lunch writes that the Korilla guys looked "defeated" but offered no explanation on the show (hmn...could it be...the magic of editing?), Korilla's recent tweets imply that there's more to the story: "1st Amendment Rights went on a hiatus and won't be back till Spring. We <3 you guys and will never forget all the memories! #itaintoveryet" says one, and another reads "WE WOULD NEVER CHEAT ON YOU NEW YORK." A rep from the truck told us "The only thing I can tell you is that I can't talk to you." While we wait six months for their non-disclosure agreement with the Food Network to expire, here's where to go grab a delicious bulgogi taco.

---------------------

Will Lady Maya still be inviting these losers to make money, no rent paid, in Stuy Town? Think of the children and the bad influence!

No, You Can't Look Anymore!

2011-08-31T19:25:00.006-04:00

Remember the shocking photos of the interior of 522 East 20 St that a resident sent us recently:

Reader Photos

Well, it seems Management is reading this blog as--no, they didn't clean up the place--they placed a lock on The Dump room, so that no one could see the mess of stacked junk and furniture that's inside anymore! Our resident sent us this photo today, stating that he wanted to see what was inside because there was a "horrid stink coming from there."

Now we won't know the source of that horrid stink. Has anyone tried to do a horror film with Stuyvesant Town as the haunted madhouse?

Update 9/1. Before and after photos (click on photo to get larger one)

Hurricane Aftermath

2011-08-28T11:42:00.012-04:00

Photos taken this morning. A number of trees down, including a massive one across the 20st Loop. Flooding in the tennis and bocci courts! Damn!

East River high tide rise:

Any News from Stuy Town/PCV About the Hurricane That's Coming?

2011-08-26T12:55:00.014-04:00

Zone A, in deeper orange, are under a mandatory evacuation order from the Mayor. Stuy Town/Peter Cooper Village are in Zone B, which carry a potential flooding warning. Click on map to make it larger.

Some info about the forthcoming hurricane and New York City:

www.dnainfo.com/20110825/manhattan/live-hurricane-evacuation-zone-heres-what-do

So far, I've not come across any management plans for this hurricane, which is supposed to hit us on Sunday. I assume they are making some plans.

I do feel that, structurally, ST/PCV will do fine, though there may be flooding and trees downed. Obviously, everyone should stock up on water (most important) and non-perishable food items.

Update: A commentator alerts those who have cars parked on the east side of Stuy Town that it may be best to move your cars before the hurricane descends upon us, as those areas will probably be flooded if the storm lives up to the worst expectations.

Also: Lux Living has new page up with valuable info on the hurricane and ST/PCV. There's a map present of the various zones Stuy Town and Peter Cooper Village are in.

Update: Here it is, from management:

Click on flyer to enlarge.

August 27, 7:20pm Update: By now, hot water, at least in the kitchen, should be shut down throughout most of ST/PCV. From news reports, it appears Irene has lessened in intensity, but it is still a dangerous storm, as lives have already been lost (some due to falling trees). There is a possibility that Con Ed will be turning off electricity throughout parts of Zone A, and maybe even into other areas, so it is NOT ADVISABLE TO USE ELEVATORS. This is not an official warning, but my own. If you are indoors already, stay indoors, and "enjoy" the weather.

NYU's Stuy Town Check-In

2011-08-26T12:14:00.005-04:00

At the northern end of the 1st Avenue Loop, by building 300, NYU has its own Stuy Town check in for incoming NYU students. About says it all regarding how Stuyvesant Town has become part dormitory. Of course, this fits in with the initial grand scheme to deregulate apartments and increase turn-over for future profits. Now that is something that should have been illegal on its own, regardless of the Roberts decision.

And where there are NYU students, there are going to be pressurized walls....

(All photos take today.)

Reader Photos

2011-08-21T17:20:00.016-04:00

On occasion I receive interesting photos from Stuy Town Report readers, and here's a bunch that arrived in my mailbox in the last couple of weeks or so.

A reader sent in several photos of Security vehicles parked in a No Standing zone that's close to 14th St. I see this all the time, too. I guess it's better than seeing them parked near a food truck on the Oval. (BTW, there's been an absence of food trucks the last couple of days, but I don't think we should breathe freely just yet.) The photo below shows one car in the No Standing zone. On occasion I see more cars behind the sign.

Some controversy arose as to just how popular the Summer Oval events were. Photos don't lie, and here's another set, but not from me. I didn't take any photos of this particular event, held on July 16, but I did pass it by, and, yes, it was poorly attended, as the photos show. Only a couple of the summer events were successes; the rest were a big FAIL and a waste of money and energy.

The Green Market area badly impacts the southern part of the Oval Lawn. Remarkably, we've had a commentator think it looks okay. Perhaps that was Adam Rose or Maya Autret. A reader sent in a photo showing how okay it is. When it rains, it's mudsville.

The 522 East 20 St. building has been mentioned before. (That's the one maintenance staff carts furniture and other bulky tenant garbage out of, waking up the entire neighborhood in the process.) A resident of that building sent us photos of just what a dump that place is. Remarkable.

The terrace level. I've been informed that this is the door you see when you wait for an elevator. Can you imagine bringing in company to your 4K market rate apartment and having them see this? How about a paint job at least?

Walk through the door and you'll find The Dump. Did someone say "fire hazard"?

A couple of months ago, the pipe in the stairway was redone (or some such thing). Happened in other buildings, too. But gaping holes, with wads of insulation (hopefully not aesbestos-related), still haven't been plugged up and painted over.

A couple of holes in the wall on the M level. Apparently they are too high up to be glory holes.

That's all, folks! At least for now.

Rose Associates vs. Union Painters

2011-08-14T10:43:00.004-04:00

Portion of a flyer being distributed by union painters of District Council 9. Click on graphic to bring it up larger in another window.

For a few weeks, former ST union painters and other union members have been protesting outside of the Stuyvesant Town rental office on 1st Ave. (Joining them in the protests has been a hilarious big inflated cockroach.) The contract with painters of District Council 9 expired in May, but a new contract agreement with manager Rose Associates failed to produce a resolution, with both sides pointing the finger at the other. What seems to be the bottom line after the bs is swept away is that Rose Associates would not settle on an almost 25% reduction in the current wage of union painters that the painters' union was offering, but insisted the cut would be 50%. (Benefits would also be cut.) As explained by management in Town & Village, the July 28th edition, "Management offered painters an hourly rate that is in line with the hourly rare paid to other skilled unions at the property." Perhaps so, but shouldn't pay be related to the specific work being done? Should a painter be getting the same salary as a grounds person gets to blow leaves off a lawn? Should a painter be getting the same salary as a plumber gets to fix a faucet? Should Adam or Daniel Rose be getting the same salary as a receptionist at Rose Associates?

A startling $60 an hour figure has been mentioned as the pay for union painters, but Jack Kittle, a spokesman for the union, claimed in the August 4th issue of T&V that the average pay for workers was $35, with a median salary of 45K-50K. T&V did mention that "projects don't necessarily last throughout the year," which signifies to me that some workers at least were getting the larger hourly rate. Regardless of whatever the hourly rate was, a reduction of 50% is very steep and surely something that most union workers could not accept.

If you wish to support the painters, the union requests that you call Rose Associates at 212-253-3660 and Chairman Daniel Rose at 212-210-6666.

Furniture Dumping Alive and Well Despite Rose Associates Threats

2011-08-07T16:25:00.008-04:00

Sunday morning, at opposite north/south ends of Stuyvesant Town. Still there at midday:

After a couple of months of blatant furniture dumping by departing residents at incorrect hours of deposit along Stuy Town walkways, Rose Associates informed Lux of the Lux Living Facebook and Stuy Town Living website that the company would take the tough measure of back charging those residents' security deposits for this violation. Said Adam Rose: “We are checking the cameras for people dumping garbage on move outs, and then back charging their security deposits."

The problem still persists, as can be seen by these photos (which also show a couple of exposed stained mattresses).

Now here's what I don't understand. If our award-winning security monitoring system is catching these activities, why are they not being stopped as they occur? Typically, the furniture dumping is of several items that take many minutes to place on the sidewalk from inside a building. Could it just be that no one is really paying attention to the security monitors? Or is our security team just not up to the task? Or is this just another way to make money for a disposal service that used to be done by maintenance once upon a pleasant time?

Whatever the case, it's a persistent FAIL.

Thank You Adam Rose, Maya Autret and Joyride for Once Again Ruining a Stuy Town Weekend

2011-08-06T12:08:00.008-04:00

That months-old caption from Town & Village is now particularly ironic and cruel.

Saturday. Stuyvesant Town. The Oval. The damn Joyride truck. Not hooked up to electric. The hum from hell is being heard all over the Oval. Lord knows about the fumes. No place in the Oval area to sit down and relax and not hear that hum. I wonder if Adam and Maya have a perpetual hum where they live? Thanks, guys, for taking residents' peace and quiet seriously.

What a dump.

Oh, and let's not forget the Yelp comment page for Joyride:

Yelp comment page for Joyride Trucks.

(BTW, the Stuy Town negative reviews on Yelp have been bounced to "filtered reviews." You can still read them going through a link, but they do not count now in the overall ratings for Joyride. So I guess the moral of this lesson is that one shouldn't mention Stuyvesant Town in the review or anything to do with the noise and pollution their truck causes in this residential community.)

Stuy Town to Adam Rose and Maya Autret: We're Not Interested in Your Summer on the Oval Events

2011-07-30T18:59:00.017-04:00

How do I know the above is very true? Look at the figures. I've monitored several Summer on the Oval events this past summer, including the last one (thank heavens) today, and none of them had an attendance that I would call impacting. Today, when I was there after 3:30 pm, I counted heads and came up with about 125-130 (difficult to do an accurate count with people moving around, etc). I will grant that maybe another 50 may have turned up later, but the number still is shy of 200. Even if another 100 turned up, that still is a low number considering that ST/PCV has a population of over 25,000 and probably much more considering all the pressurized walls here. And let's not forget that about 75 of those initially "in attendance" were already there, young folks sunbathing themselves hours before the concert began.

This low turnout happens all the time, this after the e-mails, the deluxe brochures slipped under the door, the signs all over the complex listing the events--and the clear invitation, with outside promotions, for ALL New Yorkers to attend Summer on the Oval.

Here are some photos from these events. This one from when the circus came to Stuy Town:

Battle of the Paint Brushes, or whatever the hell that event was called:

Today's grand finale!....

A close-up of the same shot, zeroing in on the performer. Note the disinterested sunbathers in the foreground:

And another shot of the packed crowds:

From the other side, a closer shot of people on the lawn listening to the concert. (You can click on the photo to see its larger size):

So, Adam and Maya--a BIG FAIL.

But, perhaps, it is not that big of a fail, because one of the chief reasons, if not the supreme reason, for Summer on the Oval is to present Stuyvesant Town and Peter Cooper Village as a happening place for outsiders, the potential renters that management is hoping to attract. This is why the rental office on 1st Ave has this facing the street and passersby:

The photo right above, btw, is of a new monitor placed at the rental office window. Pretty nice, isn't it? You may see yourself there in the future if you attended any of the events and were photographed.

So Rose Associates is spending CW Capital's money on this nonsense, while areas of the complex (especially now Peter Cooper!) look lousy, and buildings need cleaning and painting, and the laundry rooms are appalling, and there's still furniture being dumped all of the place, and dog urine smells wafting up from the new designated dog areas (most of the complex), and gaudy and smelly food trucks (the newest brilliant idea) mar the Oval. Ace, you've done your job and you've done it well!

Contact Joyride Trucks

2011-07-29T09:04:00.006-04:00

The Joyride Truck has probably been the most obnoxious and persistent of the food trucks to descend on Stuyvesant Town. The truck is there this morning, humming away throughout the entire Oval. If you wish to make your displeasure known to Joyride, this is their contact page:

www.joyridetrucks.com/contact/contact_joyride_trucks.html

There, you will find the following:

Phone number: 646.450.1569.

The emails of the guys who run Joyride:

David Belanich: david@joyridetrucks.com
Adam Belanich: adam@joyridetrucks.com
Lev Brie: lev@joyridetrucks.com

Please let them know that you do not want their trucks in this residential neighborhood. Let them also know that you can and will let all New Yorkers know about your continued dissatisfaction at the Yelp review site. (There are already a couple of Stuy Town protests there.)

Yelp comment page for Joyride Trucks.

If you wish to call Stuy Town management about the presence of food trucks on the Oval, this is the number:

212-420-5000

Food Trucks, The Answer: They ARE Promoting Them!

2011-07-24T18:17:00.005-04:00

I was wondering just why we are seeing these nasty food trucks descend on Stuyvesant Town every day till nighttime. Well, I was just sent a copy of the mailing that residents get who sign up for official e-mail notifications from Management. And, sure enough, "Food Trucks on the Oval" are being promoted as part of the charm of living here:

"Enjoy gourmet treats and artisanal snacks right on the Oval with the best of NYCFTA's food trucks!"

Gourmet? Artisanal? This has to be the work of Lady Maya!

Rose Associates Requests City Park Status for the Oval and the Conversion of the Oval Fountain to a City Pool

2011-07-22T10:46:00.005-04:00

In a dramatic Friday morning announcement, Adam Rose of Rose Associates and manager-in-chief of Stuyvesant Town/Peter Cooper Village, announced that he has requested the City Council and the Mayor, the Honorable Michael R. Bloomberg, to fast track the legal conversion of the Oval in Stuyvesant Town, hitherto private property, into a city park and the Oval Fountain into a city pool.

"We've been heading in this direction anyway," stated Rose, "and I think this will balance the needs of the community and also give CW Capital, holders of the 3 billion dollar senior mortgage, a financial break and me some breathing room to deal more effectively with all the furniture dumping that's happening here."

According to the plan, the city will take over the entire Oval area, including its upkeep, dramatically alleviating the financial burden and administrative strains placed on CW Capital and Rose Associates, respectively.

Lady Maya Autret, Director of Programing for the complex and the person whose motto is "let no space be unused," had already set in motion the conversion of the fountain into a pool, irregardless of the outcome in the requested city park status of the Oval grounds and pool. "The fountain was a useless, completely underused space. By converting it into a pool, both residents and now hopefully all New Yorkers, will be able to refresh themselves in the hot summer months. Oval Essential members will be able to participate in special swimming classes and the occasional game of water bocci, a sophisticated non-rough sport that is played by Parisians in the know."

Of course, like anything else in Stuyvesant Town, the plan is sure to be opposed by certain residents, who have noticed more and more an influx of outsiders to the Oval grounds and for Oval events and concerts. But Lady Autret says that the time has come to keep up with the times. "There has been a great demand among PCV/ST residents for an outdoor pool, and so this conversion was a no-brainer. The water and plumbing were already there, after all. We are, however, trying to balance everybody's needs, so we will add one more small geyser to the mini-fountain in Peter Cooper Village to satisfy PCV/ST fountain fans."

While Rose Associates waits for a positive response from the City Council and the Mayor, work on the Oval fountain will begin in the fall, as well as on the installation of ATM machines at four corners of the Oval to meet the increasing demand for change needed for the twelve food trucks that have descended on the Oval grounds since the summer, day and night.

Note: This is a parody, but at times it doesn't seem like one.

How Ghetto Can You Get?

2011-07-20T18:03:00.006-04:00

Two food trucks on the Oval at the same time! BBQ and Pizza!!! Gourmet, of course. Good for your heart and your weight. What a high-class place this is! And here I thought Stuyvesant Town was turning into a dump.

Thanks, Rose Associates!

BTW, I wonder how the surrounding stores that pay lofty rents to Rose Associates feel about these food trucks? Surely these food trucks are taking business away from them? Rent free. They probably won't complain for fear of Rose jacking up their rent come lease renewal time.

ST/PCV Hot Weather Precautions

2011-07-20T13:54:00.010-04:00

Click on notice to get larger view.

With temperatures nearing 100 in the next three days (Friday could be the worst), stay-at-home residents without air-conditioning who may be affected by the weather should note that the air-conditioned Community Center off the 14 St Loop, by First Avenue [449 East 14th St], will be open from 10am to, probably, 10pm, if the above notice is accurate.

While this is a positive and thankful use of the Center, the center itself is small and almost at the corner end of the ST/PCV complex. I wonder if management has ever considered opening up the Oval "Essentials" to non-members during such times of an intense heat wave. Oval Lounge and Oval Film are particularly underused during the day and very frequently empty, except for a lone American Leisure staff member.

RIP: Stuy Town Golf Putting Green

2011-07-20T09:52:00.008-04:00

On a hot, humid July 20th, 2011, Stuy Town's renowned mini putting green was put to rest. It will only be missed by the babes who sunbathed there and the perverts who drooled.

RIP

(But, please, don't put a Food Truck or a concession stand in its place!!!)

Update: A commenter wrote about the possibility of there being a new addition to the lovely Oval surroundings--Oval Compost.

Well, the Oval already has Oval Compost, right by Oval 19. Nice, rich, aromatic smells....

Update July 24: I've a hunch that the former Oval Golf will now be a security guardhouse.

Are You Ready for "The World Music and Food Fair"!

2011-07-15T17:07:00.008-04:00

Preparations are already underway for Stuy Town's World Music and Food Fair.

This one actually does sound interesting--well, at least the food sounds interesting, though it's listed as "gourmet," when it seems to be just "ethnic" food. But we can't have this being promoted as ethnic food cause that just doesn't sound as pretentiously snotty (no doubt, courtesy Lady Maya Autret, ST's Director of Programming) as we'd like all our future residents to be, so "gourmet" it is. The food will come from Petite Abeille, Balade, Veselka and Wacky Wok. Would be nice if residents received free samples.... And maybe some free ethnic beer--no, better make that, "gourmet wine." I just hope those food-dive food trucks don't turn up and spoil this upscale food fair atmosphere.

I may have trouble with some of the music, though. The Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra is all wrong for an event like this. Brazilian fusion music--from Nation Beat--is not my thing (though I like regular Brazilian music). While Meklit Hadero, a truly impressive talent, needs the intimacy of a club rather than the sweaty open Oval with people pigging out on food and dribbling it over the Oval grass. Anyway, you are guaranteed to hear some "foot-stomping global flair" at the Oval this Saturday. What I've been waiting for all summer. And you seniors, get yer asses off those benches, and join the fun!

Now, here's the kicker, this event is "Free to all residents and their guests." Yup, only residents and their guests will be allowed to participate in this World Music and Food Fair. Says so, right here:

So, unless this is typical Rose Associates promotional BS, non-residents will have to either pay for entry or be stopped by Security from entry. Right, Adam?

-----------------------

Update: What was I thinking!?!? I just did a google on this, and the above event is being promoted all over the place on the web. Didn't management state that there was no outside promotion of events supposedly meant just for "residents and their guests"???

Here's a sampling of what a quick Google search uncovered:

Hey New York! Come on over! We're having a party! It's on us!

Our Security System Wins an Award!

2011-07-12T10:59:00.002-04:00

Read it here: Stuy Town's Security Management System Award

This must mean that furniture dump violators, graffiti tagsters, speeding delivery bike riders, people who leave cigarette butts, underwear and condoms lying near buildings, bench board breakers, dog owners who let dogs off leash, outside dog owners who walk their pit bulls through the complex, and the occasional rapist and mugger--are all being caught thanks to the "over 1,100 video cameras, 950 access control points, VOIP emergency phones, and parking controls for six garages." This also must mean that Lux and his spies can take a well deserved break and stop monitoring furniture dumping and other garbage inside and outside buildings because it's all under control via our deluxe security operation. And here I thought we had a problem!

Congratulations!

Here's Mud in Your Eye!

2011-07-10T16:43:00.009-04:00

Today. Not as loud as Joy Ride, but kicking in with the exhaust/refrig/whatever system. Doesn't belong here, either way.

BTW, I've noticed that a LOT of young NYU-type Lower East Side residents are using the Oval on nice sunny days like today. I see them flocking in from below 14th St, bringing their chairs and blankets and water bottles. I guess these food trucks are for their pleasure as well--and they don't care about what the trucks do to the complex because--hey--they don't live here and it's super having snacks and soft drinks/coffee at your disposal a few yards away from where you sunbathe or kick back with a book.

Of course, Rose Associates bullshits about the Oval and who is allowed to be in it, as they imply on the official Community site that the Oval and its events are for "PCVST residents and their guests." Yet what has happened is that now the Oval is a not very well "best kept secret" of where young white folks can head for a safe and relatively relaxing afternoon, for free and without paying any rent. I wonder if our rent checks help out in the public access use of this complex and its cleanup afterward? Perhaps Adam Rose can lower our rents if so, because we shouldn't be paying for this.

It's War

2011-07-09T10:31:00.009-04:00

Joy Ride Truck back again and now at the southern end of the central Oval area where the Farmer's Market resides on Sunday. So the truck is actually ON the Oval. (Perhaps they are looking for that electrical outlet that will make them stop their Hum from Hell and continual exhaust refuse. If you are a jogger running past the truck, don't inhale until they turn their motor off.) You can contact Joy Ride here and/or write a review of what you think of Joy Ride on Yelp.

Oh, if you don't want to be used for Rose Associates' publicity, don't go to the Oval later because Rose will be filming! ALL DAY!

I'm thoroughly disgusted with what's happening here in Stuyvesant and with Rose Associates and the bullshit that's coming from them, as they try to SELL, SELL, SELL the apartments here to the detriment of the complex. Rose Associates now officially enters my book as the true inheritors of Tishman Speyer's presence here. And that's not a compliment.

So Just What is the Rug Policy?

2011-07-08T23:24:00.005-04:00

I was going to post on something else (will do tomorrow), but in checking the official PCVST website for anything about the new dog policy (no success), I came across a few "sales pitch" photos I've not seen for the complex, the above of a Peter Cooper Village "Classic" living room and bedroom. We've seen photos like this before, which say one thing, but the reality is different (or should be different according to one's lease). If anyone gets into trouble for not having appropriate rug covering in their apartment, they should bring up these bs photos.

Stuy Town Residents Prepare to Evacute Stuyvesant on Saturday

2011-07-06T13:01:00.013-04:00

Many residents who live around the Oval area or partake of its garden-like surroundings have learned their lesson this year and are making plans to flee the complex this Saturday, a weekly occurrence that should be happening for the rest of July at least.

Yup, it's another "Summer on the Oval" event invading the quiet space of the Oval grounds this Saturday. Ovalicious Mambo ["Ovalicious"?--who thought that up?--yech!] "follows the lives of 10 dynamic young New Yorkers as they experience love, loss, hope and redemption against the urban backdrop of the lower east side in the summer." Oh, good, just what I can see with a five-minute walk down from 14 St, but then again some ST/PCV residents may be too lazy or too fearful of heading down Avenues A, B or C after playing bacci ball or sipping their Joy Luck coffee near the Oval Fountain to experience the LES as it really is. Much better to take in this bullshit art-farted-up performance of clean and non-smelly street life, where, instead of tattooed and pierced gutter punkers, drug lords with their non-muzzled pit bulls and flea-ridden panhandlers reeking of Thunderbird and Night Train Express, you will find spiffy-dressed American Leisure staff giving away balloons to your kids and application forms for Oval Essentials. There will be dancing from the Roschman Dance Company (dancing which looks more like gymnastics to me, but what do I know about the art form) and a freaky salsa band of musicians who can't afford the high rents in Stuyvesant Town or Peter Cooper Village. From 4 to 8pm. And don't forget that "Food Trucks on the Oval" will also be making an appearance. (Residents are advised to keep their children away from the exhaust pipes.)

Event and Food Trucks courtesy Rose Associates.

No More Taim Mobile Trucks

2011-07-04T10:02:00.010-04:00

Angry residents of Stuyvesant Town sent e-mails to the Taim Mobile/Joy Ride Trucks businesses, protesting the presence of one of their loud and obnoxious trucks inside Stuyvesant Town. The responses from Taim Mobile were revelatory. Here is one such response, similar to other responses. (Thanks to Lux Living and original e-mail senders.)

Stuy town property management has been inviting us and begging us to come .

If you have any issues you should take it up with them .

Incidentally yesterday was our last day there anyway but it is my understanding they want to have trucks on a regular basis ...

So again , sorry for the inconvenience , but I think you are complaining to the wrong party

As a matter of fact we didn't really want to come there (I didnt really think it was a great idea for numerous reasons) but the management kind of sold us on the idea and we came ...

And like I said , doubt we would be back again anyway , but it is my understanding that they want to have other trucks regularly ..

So I suggest you contact them

------------

So, the good news is that the Taim Mobile Truck will not reappear in Stuy Town (we hope!), but the bad news is that management is really pushing the commercial trucks idea, even to the point of "begging" such services to come into the complex.

PS: I've been reading the by-now lengthy thread over on Lux's Facebook concerning the presence of commercial enterprises and "events" at the Oval. I'm stupefied and dismayed by one of the commentators and her position.... You don't know what you are losing by wanting these enterprises and events. You really don't. I do think you represent a minority. Hopefully. Otherwise, we'll have food and coffee trucks at all four points of the Oval, concerts every week, a carnival or two, and so many event "battles" that it'll seem we are being attacked by the Transformers. More on this in a future post.

6AM Sunday Wake-Up Call for 20th Street Loop Residents

2011-07-03T10:38:00.004-04:00

Photo taken about 6:20am by a 20th Street Loop resident who just couldn't take it anymore.

So you think you have it bad with those loud Oval concerts and coffee trucks? Are they disturbing your peace?

Well, consider yourselves fortunate that you don't live around the 20th Street Loop, which saw Stuyvesant Town work crews bringing out bulk items from the surely nasty 522 building, and at what time? 6AM!!!

Yes, in the noise-gift-that-keeps-on-giving here lately, some brain decided that it would be good to wake up residents living nearby 522 at this early hour with the banging, throwing, crashing of junk being piled up for the disposal truck that came by later.

So Stuy Town, how's your 4th of July weekend so far?

Rose Asssociates Surrenders on Dog Policy

2011-07-02T10:13:00.007-04:00

I was wondering what was up with those designated no dog signs. Lux Living's Facebook gave the answer. (No flyer drops by the management yet to inform residents of this major change in policy.)

Seems that the areas pictured above in dark orange are off-limits to dogs, but everything else is a go: dogs can urinate and defecate wherever they want, though I'm assuming that the garden areas are still prohibited, even if they are not shown in dark orange. (Ah, as if this new freedom is going to stop dog owners from letting their pooches "stray" into the gardens!)

Though management can spin this as a compromise to make dog owners happy, I've a feeling based on past experience since dogs were allowed by Tishman Speyer (may that company name be permanently etched in the Hall of Landlord Shame) that security was just not up to catching and ticketing all the dog rule offenses that happen around here. Major FAIL, in other words.

What does this new policy mean? Well, things are just going to get worse with dog shit piling up in the green areas (why pick up when no one will see that turd hiding in the grass?) and the pungent smell of dog urine spreading throughout Stuyvesant Town and Peter Cooper Village. Shame on Rose Associates.

The fight about caring about this place is lost. Three sucker punches in a row. Game over.

The Hum from Hell: Yogurt & Coffee Truck Destroys Atmosphere of Oval

2011-07-01T20:12:00.008-04:00

It's really amazing. Really amazing. So, Rose Associates spends time, energy and work hours to make the Oval look reasonably decent and then they screw it up by having a yogurt and coffee truck (Joy Ride Trucks!) parked near the playground, its AC/refrig system giving off an awful hum that is heard no matter where you go (or try to sit) around the Oval. Besides the exhaust smells, too, but at least that is limited to the near vicinity.

The truck has been there all evening, as it was earlier in the day, and will be there till 9-ish. Hummmm, hummmm, hummmm. The evening ruined. Thank you, Rose Associates!!!

July 2nd Update:

In Stuy Town again, at the other side of the Oval now. Pictured: The noise maker. Blowing a perpertual and annoying hum. Enjoy the Oval. Courtesy Rose Associates.

Seriously, what is this doing in the middle of a residential area?....

Are you ready for a relaxing July 4th weekend at Stuy Town?

2011-07-01T11:12:00.007-04:00

I swear, it's a couple of steps forward and a couple of steps backward with Rose Associates. And by now I'm suspecting that the "brains" behind some of the Tishman Speyer "ideas" for this complex is working for Rose now.

Prepare yourself for ArtBattles! (Why is everything "battles" here, btw.... "Battle of the Bands"... "ArtBattles"....)

Yeah, ArtBattles returns to Stuyvesant Town this weekend....

You, the Stuy Town/PCV resident is encouraged via this e-mail sent to residents to click on the video below to entice you to ArtBattles at the Oval:

Man, that oughtta get you geezers attending!

And what the hell is that noisy coffee truck doing at the Oval today when there is no event? Another Tishman Speyer idea. (Remember the Mud truck?)

So, if you are not leaving ST/PCV this weekend, you may want to consider an outing to Tomkins Square Park, which will probably be quieter than here, as residents from the Lower East Side head up for ArtBattles!

July 3rd Update:

ArtBattles was a bust. The event was supposed to start at 4pm, but by 4:25pm hardly anyone was there, and the people that were, seemed more interested in just chilling on the grass:

Much later on, ArtBattles was in full swing. Kids were given ST/PVC balloons and encouraged to watch. Some families gathered around, but the crowd could not have numbered more than a hundred, if that. Hipsters and LESers stayed away. The art stuff looked quite good, but was wasted in such a low turnout:

I'm still waiting to see evidence of thousands attending Summer on the Oval events, a number suggested by one pro-events commentator to this blog.

Battle of the Mellow Bands... and Security Still Not Catching Dog Violations

2011-06-26T18:10:00.015-04:00

Yesterday's "Battle of the Bands" at the Oval turned out to be a mellow affair, thankfully. No intrusive and noisy soundchecks that start two hours before an event, too. [I posted this before reading Lux Living's Facebook. It seems that some residents did complain about the noise level of the soundchecks. Adam Rose and Security Chief McClellan were, however, monitoring the sound levels and that seems to have worked. I certainly didn't hear anything excessive during the times I was at the Oval, before and during the event.] However, there wasn't much interest on the part of Stuy Town/PCV residents and Lower East Side residents who come here on the weekend. Crowds were very small, perhaps numbering 200 or so, with most already there earlier for picnics, sunbathing, etc.

Passing by the Stuyvesant Town rental office, one couldn't help notice that the crowds were there--packs of young folks with their daddies or mommies guaranteeing financial backing. A placard was placed inside the office promoting the Summer on the Oval events. So that's about the best giveaway that these events are meant to draw in prospective renters.

Meanwhile, bunches of these crowds head for the tour of a Stuy Town apartment and grounds....

And as they exit the back of the rental office, they are meet with beauty indeed....

A Garden of Eden, though, truthfully, the further you get away from 1st Avenue, the less of Eden you see.

Ah, but what do we have here, in back of the 400s of 14th St....

People sunbathing on the grounds (I guess, okay) and a Fido with them on the grass (okay? or not okay?). Well, certainly okay if one judges that a security guard (safety officer) passed by and didn't say a word.

You also may have noticed new dog signs around the complex about areas being not "designated" for dogs. Does this mean that other areas, grass areas, are designated for dogs? Why the new signs?

And, please, despite that lone security officer walking in the back of these buildings, the presence of walking security guards at all back areas of ST/PCV, with any regularity, is sorely lacking. I know I can't be just a magnet for seeing multiple dog violations when I step pass through areas of ST/PCV for just five minutes. The dog rule violators are still winning.

The Deal?

2011-06-23T11:37:00.004-04:00

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/22/nyregion/deal-on-rent-laws-and-property-tax-cap-in-albany.html

Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo and legislative leaders struck a tentative deal on Tuesday paving the way for a vote on issues that affect millions of New Yorkers — renewing regulation of rent-regulated apartments, capping property taxes for homeowners and raising tuition at state universities — but reached no agreement on whether to take a vote on legalizing same-sex marriage....

The rent deal appeared to fall well short of what many Democrats and tenant activists had hoped for, though Democratic lawmakers will probably vote for it. And the modest strengthening of rent regulations came at a high price for Democrats from New York City — a commitment to pass a property tax cap, which many Democratic lawmakers fear will exacerbate disparities in education spending between wealthy and poor school districts.

The renewal of rent regulations would leave in place laws that allow landlords to deregulate apartments when tenants’ rent and income reach certain thresholds, but would raise those thresholds, to $2,500 from $2,000 in monthly rent, and to $200,000 from $175,000 in annual household income. Tenant advocates had sought for more than a decade to abolish the deregulation laws, and they hoped finally to achieve that goal under Mr. Cuomo, a popular Democrat.

The proposed rent deal also requires that landlords document more of the money they spend to improve rent-stabilized apartments before they can pass along those costs to renters.

But with Senate Republicans, whose districts have relatively few regulated apartments, unwilling to make further concessions, Assembly leaders appeared ready to settle for what they could get.

Teen Punks Spraying Stuy Town

2011-06-12T17:09:00.006-04:00

Photos from Lux Living's Facebook.

Lux Living was alerted to a hate and vandalism crime that was committed, remarkably, still in broad daylight outside of 271 1st Ave, in Stuyvesant Town. Three white teens in sleeveless t-shirts (one of which had "FUCK YOU" written on it) spray painted, in fluorescent bright green no less, a swastika on a walkway and then a racist comment on a mattress left outside the building. The teens are probably Stuy Town residents or friends of residents.

You can read more about this incident by going to Lux's Facebook. The photos above are from Lux's page.

If you have an info, please call Stuy Town's Public Safety at 212-598-5233.

Several quick comments:

1) While we tend to bitch about the college/post-college crowd that lives here, I've always suspected that a portion of our "home-grown" tenants and their offspring are to blame for the crap that goes on here. If these kids are Stuy Town residents, this will affirm my suspicion.

2) Okay, how are those high-tech security cameras working for ya? How's the monitoring? If security can't catch these kids using these costly gizmos, it will be another pathetic sign of what's wrong with this complex.

3) If and when these kids are caught, they should be charged with as much as they can. They should also--and please let this happen--be forced to scrub CLEAN every inch of that paint from the walkway. And we, the tenants of this community, should be able to watch.

A Walk Around the Oval

2011-06-10T12:16:00.005-04:00

Don't sit there. You'll either get a splinter in your ass or a Stuy Town rat is going to take a bite out of it.

Someone lost his/her underwear:

Nice plantings, fighting with the surroundings.

Permanent Ugly:

Another Fuckin' Concert to Disturb the Peace!

2011-06-05T11:30:00.013-04:00

The sound checks are already happening. The Green Market is here, the concert is here, the cautions that if you walk around the Oval, you may be used as a marketing gimmick on some video or photo are here. If you thought you could get some peace and quite amid nice Stuy Town greenery today, you were mistaken. Thanks, Rose Associates!

Why is it that managements past and present cannot understand that the biggest value of Stuy Town is that it is a refuge from the noise and crowds of the city? We don't need Green Markets or concerts here. That's not why, historically, people have desired to live here. Yeah, we know what the game plan is: Trying to make this place "happening" for the young people you are trying to bring in, but you are ruining it for the rest of us and, believe it or not, many young hipsters just don't give a damn about your concerts, Green Markets, Oval Essentials, etc. At most, they want to chill on the Oval lawn.

Give a loud concert on the Oval and you are, in effect, making people here a prisoner of it. Usually, with concerts, people elect to go to them; here they are trapped and must leave their homes if they live too close to the Oval area. Tishman Speyer was and Rose Associates is aware of this fact, but they don't GIVE A DAMN, because their primary motive was/is to sell this place. Again, thanks, Rose Associates!

Reminder: This is a residential area, not a concert venue.

I guess today, to get some peace and quiet, I have to head to Tomkins Square Park!

Don't Fence Me In - A Necessary Evil?

2011-05-30T18:51:00.003-04:00

The fence is permanent, it seems. At first I didn't like the idea of a permanent fence around the grass area of the Oval, but upon reflection it is the only way to go in a community where certain people just don't obey rules, and either use the lawn area as a path to get to the other side of the Oval (causing multiple dirt paths) or bring their dogs onto the lawn, with the resultant Fido pee and turds deposited here, there, and everywhere.

So far, things seem to be working, though I did spot a slob with a cigar sitting on a bench right near the open "gate" area of the lawn and letting his pooch meander inside the lawn from his illegally long leash. No doubt, there will be some ill-mannered dog owners who will try to get their dogs fully onto the lawn, and this is where we must speak up, even if it's just to inform security. Let's keep the lawn free of dog droppings and urine! The human and rat residue we can't do much about.

One beef: The presence of outsiders on the lawn. My estimation is that the lawn contains at the very least 20% sunbathers from the Lower East Side. Really, the lawn should just be for the use of Stuy Town/Peter Cooper residences. It gets very crowded on sunny hot days and the overuse of the Oval is a visual blight and contributes to the destruction of the grass.

Lenz's Closed by Health Department!

2011-04-29T10:04:00.014-04:00

Popular Stuy Town and PCV deli, Lenz's, has been shut down by NYC's Department of Health. Two official yellow signs were plastered onto Lenz's windows indicating the forced shut down. Meanwhile, a handwritten sign from Lenz's stated that the deli was "Closed for the Day--Cleaning!" That's an understatement.

Lenz's was already in trouble by receiving a "B" grade rating for its store. A re-inspection on Thursday, April 28th, determined that conditions inside the deli warranted its closure, with the deli receiving a whopping 70 points in this inspection. (The higher the points, the worse the conditions.)

Here's the official word from the Department of Health:

Violation points: 70

Establishment Closed by DOHMH. Violations were cited in the following area(s) and those requiring immediate action were addressed.

Sanitary Violations
1) Hot food item not held at or above 140º F.
2) Cold food item held above 41º F (smoked fish and reduced oxygen packaged foods above 38 ºF) except during necessary preparation.
3) Evidence of mice or live mice present in facility's food and/or non-food areas.
4) Filth flies or food/refuse/sewage-associated (FRSA) flies present in facility’s food and/or non-food areas. Filth flies include house flies, little house flies, blow flies, bottle flies and flesh flies. Food/refuse/sewage-associated flies include fruit flies, drain flies and Phorid flies.
5) Food not protected from potential source of contamination during storage, preparation, transportation, display or service.
6) Facility not vermin proof. Harborage or conditions conducive to attracting vermin to the premises and/or allowing vermin to exist.
7) Food contact surface not properly maintained.
8) Accurate thermometer not provided in refrigerated or hot holding equipment.
9) Non-food contact surface improperly constructed. Unacceptable material used. Non-food contact surface or equipment improperly maintained and/or not properly sealed, raised, spaced or movable to allow accessibility for cleaning on all sides, above and underneath the unit.
10) Proper sanitization not provided for utensil ware washing operation.
11) Other general violation.

I suspected that Lenz's was over-peppering their food and that the pizza had extra ingredients!

Happy Easter, 2011

2011-04-24T10:14:00.038-04:00

Except for two photos, which are indicated as from last year, all photos were taken today, April 24th, Easter Sunday.

An Easter morning walk around Peter Cooper Village and Stuyvesant Town reveals the poor condition of many areas of the complex, particularly (and surprisingly) in Peter Cooper. In both properties one comes across many large patches of bare ground and wide man-made paths that residents prefer to use over the regular walkways. The general impression is that the money just isn't there to maintain the property grounds in consistently nice condition.

Here are photos of Peter Cooper Village, taken today:

And, now, photos of Stuyvesant Town:

Despite this depressing reality, another reality is seen. Some attention has been paid to the Oval area, with lovely plantings scattered about. This is still far, far removed from the days when this property was being prepared for sale (and looked its best), but it is an attempt to beautify the Oval grounds that former management Tishman Speyer nearly ignored.

As a reminder, here are two photos from the disgraceful Happy Easter 2010 of Tishman Speyer:

Now let's jump to the present, Rose Associates managing:

Disappointing is the obvious intention to not do anything for the south section of the Oval grounds in preparation for the Farmer's Market coming later in the year:

New grass struggles in birth. We'll see how much of a success this becomes once the Oval grounds are open to traffic and sunbathing:

Management is considering putting up chain-link fencing here and there. Such an action should be clearly done to prevent (or make the attempt to prevent) people cutting across grass areas of the complex--and not just the Oval. I also think it's a good idea to return to the days of hedges in Stuy Town/Peter Cooper to further block unwanted traffic flow. It would also be potentially beneficial to alert all residents that it's important for people to respect the grounds. Our grounds are vital to the look and feel of this place, and one of the great perks we having living here.

BTW, whose bright idea was it to wake everyone up at 10am this morning by having an Easter Concert for kids at the Oval? I guess some revenge on the party animals who returned past 2am last night and wanted to sleep till way past noon, but really.....

Sorry, but the Security "Watchdogs" are NOT working, and other matters....

2011-04-13T19:10:00.006-04:00

I was going to let commentary on Security's response to infractions of the dog rules in Stuyvesant Town and Peter Cooper Village wait for a few more weeks, but I've had enough. Admittedly, there has been some improvement over previous manager Tishman Speyer's non-action in this regard. I've seen security "walk the beat" behind buildings on occasion and monitor dog walkers, and doing this in the morning hours (though not too early in the morning). But I've also seen instances where dog rule violations were occurring right near a security officer and he did absolutely nothing. I put this down to these officers being occupied with other, more important matters (like texting or placing those hideous dark-green barriers in the Oval), but today I witnessed a dog owner letting his unruly dog (who looked like some bull mix) run over garden areas of the Oval to include the area right by the guard-booth, and the guard inside (yes, there was one inside!) saw all this and did squat. Not one word.

This place is never going to work properly if this is the response we get from our security force, whether or not they are yet able to write tickets.

I return to my building and what meets me inside is filth, and hallways where the paint is peeling off doors and the rugs stink of use and whatever fluids may have been left there by man or beast.

Meanwhile the priority by Rose Associates is to push aggressively activities in the Oval Essentials. Better use that money (for instance, the costs of printing all those quality monthly Oval Essential booklets we get shoved under our door) to buy some paint and beautify the interior of buildings, no?

I'm just about convinced that Stuyvesant Town and Peter Cooper Village are doomed from an aesthetic point of view, and that the promises we have been made are just promises, made sincerely perhaps, but very wanting in the application department. Do any of us really think that the Oval lawn will regain its beauty with the current management already promoting public-access musical events for the summer and that Farmer's Market on the south side of the lawn? Does anything think that Security will start being diligent about dog rule infractions or bicycle riding infractions, the latter which management has been strangely--and tellingly--silent about?

During Tishman-Speyer's reign this complex started to rot. And now it's still rotting.

That's the way I see it, and many others who have lived here for years see it.

A restoration will be believed when we witness it with our own eyes, not before.

Stuyvesant Town Welcomes the First Day of Spring

2011-03-20T11:06:00.012-04:00

These photos around the Oval area were taken a little before 11am. Yeah, some of the people who live (and visit) here are pigs. But where are the grounds-keeping and maintenance crews? Sleeping? Where are the promised foot-patrol security officers who would have easily spotted that broken wine bottle hours ago, blocked off the spot, and called someone to remove the pieces of glass? As for the pathetic condition of the Oval and environs, the photos speak for themselves.

Forget Ikea NYU Chic -- This is a Stuy Town Apartment!

2011-03-11T22:33:00.005-05:00

It's a three-bedroom, but it shows you just what you can do with a Stuy Town apartment. I wonder how James deals with those ugly ceiling beams?

Speck by Speck, Dust Piles Up - NY Times

RIP: Stuyvesant Town as it Used to Be

2011-03-05T05:07:00.034-05:00

What Stuyvesant Town is "about," according to the newly refurbished official Stuy Town website.

IT'S OVER FOR AFFORDABLE MIDDLE CLASS HOUSING IN STUY TOWN & PETER COOPER VILLAGE.

What the refurbished Stuyvesant Town Website tells us about the future of our complex.

If you thought that the return of Rose Associates would be a return to the "good ole days" of Stuyvesant Town & Peter Cooper Village, you would be wrong. The newly refurbished Stuyvesant Town website clearly indicates that we will be seeing the same Stuy Town/PCV that was instituted by Tishman Speyer: an aggressive sell to student transients, the overuse and continual destruction of the Oval grass grounds, the absurd and costly promotion of "amenities," and rental prices that start at $2840 (assuredly for just a one-bedroom apartment) to $4,000.

Whatever Adam Rose or anyone in his organization personally think about affordable middle class housing or the selling of rental apartments to packets of young people is a moot point. The company answers to a higher authority than tenants or any by-now idealistic concept of affordable middle class housing and life in Stuy Town and Peter Cooper Village.

The new website is just a jazzed up version of the one crafted by our previous overlords, the despicable Tishman Speyer.

"Look around"--and what do you see....

Why it's another public access party time at the Oval! Attended by? Well, aside for a couple on the upper left (who look like they are just walking through), all twenty-somethings. Probably a good number coming in from below 14th St.

Look around some more and you'll see the wonderful "Music on the Oval" events, which will now be either part of or incorporated into a "Summer on the Oval" program. In another cost-cutting American Leisure measure, much like the removal of Sunday Brunch at Oval Lounge for tepid coffee and a bagel, this time around residents will be able to participate as performers. Why pay a professional band, when you can get your performers for free from neighbors and students living in the complex? These events will be scheduled for Saturdays, rather than Wednesdays, making the Oval grounds that much more impacted by even more non-residents who will be encouraged to be in attendance. And if you work all week and want to enjoy the Oval grounds in luxurious peace and quite on a nice sunny Summer weekend--forget about it! You may as well go to Tomkins Square Park, which I guarantee you will be quieter than our Oval grounds during "Summer in the Oval."

And if you continue to look around, you will see that the Green Market will be back--I assume at the same location on the south part of the Oval grounds--which means the absolute ground destruction of that area, with mud replacing the grass that was once there--what?--five years ago?

THE SAME DUPLICITOUS SPIN

I thought so before, and I still think so: Promoting the pathetic "putting green" is beyond clownish and absurd. I mean, seriously, when was the last time you saw this tiny space being used for putting? Either dogs are taking a piss or a crap on it (within site of the guard booth) or, in the summer, hot thong babes are sunning themselves on the mounds (which is something Rose Associates should promote along with photographic opportunities).

I've been inside the Oval Lounge and never saw it looking so football field long:

Apartments? You wanna see apartments? Well, this one will surely dazzle you, despite the ugly ebony stain used on the floors. (Ikea furniture not included, btw.) Oh, you may want to remember that, technically, you'll need far more carpet covering than shown, but Rose Associates is keeping that requirement out of their promotion (which, admittedly, is a duplication of Tishman Speyer's promotion). Note: This "photograph" was taken by the same guy, or gal, who took the one of the Oval Lounge.

Below is Stuy Town's "classic" look apartment. Nicer natural wood finished floors. Not much carpeting, of course, so be careful when you walk around in those stiletto heels, girls. Don't forget there's probably a grumpy senior citizen living below you who will complain and complain. Not to worry, however. The Lord giveth us senior citizens and then the Lord taketh them away--and giveth Stuy Town another turnover apartment to market rate and you a complain free downstairs neighbor, much like yourself.

And below is one of Stuy Town's bedrooms. Curious, no carpeting in sight. What's worse, as I just noticed, that hot chick on the rocking chair (whose squeaking noise will easily drive the downstairs senior citizen crazy) is trying on those stiletto heels! Buy, hey, it's a cool scene that any transient student would like to be a part of. But let's get real: Where are the pressurized walls?

Wifi? Bullshit. I've yet to find a good, non-amenities costing hotspot on the Oval.

There's something very strange about the people in this playground below. I actually do not think they are people, but rather aliens. Do not disturb them; they may move and attack you.

Love jogging? Well, jogging used to be a pleasure in Stuy Town, but not anymore, with the green barricades put up at opposite sides of the Oval (to ostensibly stop bicyclists because our security team can't) and the possibility of one of the numerous dogs around the complex jumping at you when you pass them by. BTW, it looks as if the aliens in this photo below are running in place.

Speaking of security.... This is an odd scene below. We actually see security "on the beat"--something that rarely happens, though we have been promised that will change.

Adam Rose Steps Up to the Plate

2011-02-20T15:30:00.002-05:00

Hi—well, I have seen the error of my ways and have started responding to ALL complaints, even anonymous ones. Since I am truly committed to improving the management of Peter Cooper as well as Stuy Town, I realized that legitimate complaints, regardless of from what source, are helpful to me doing my job effectively.

You and your readers can provide high-quality information, by virtue of having more eyes and ears on the property than we ever could have. I welcome your input. Unfortunately, not being the owner and not being privy to many ownership issues, I will respond to anything that fits my job description. I can’t comment on issues that are not in my area. Reasonable?

I look forward to working with you and your readers. By the way, you will see the uniformed foot patrols that you have commented on. They are, in fact, the best form of community safety.

Sincerely,

Adam R. Rose

Rose Associates, Inc.
Adam R. Rose
Co-President
200 Madison Avenue
New York, New York 10016
Direct: (212) 210-6789
Fax: (212) 210-6799

Rose Associates Inc Gets Tough

2011-02-11T10:42:00.010-05:00

By now all of you should have received and read your "PCV/ST Community Update" (February 7th edition) from Rose Associates Inc (RAI). According to the update, Rose is "committed to enhancing the quality of service for all residents," etc, etc. Sections of the update deal with "Quality of Life Issues," dog problems, security hirings, noise, apartment renovations, water value replacement, etc.

Rose should be commended for, at least, reaching out to residents in this manner, because certainly the stone wall of Tishman Speyer did not. Yet, despite Rose's reach out and the stated goals, color me doubtful that the problems here will be dealt with as expeditiously and professionally as the intention seems.

Regarding dogs, I will believe it when I see it, but so far I have seen the same old/same old, with residents letting their dogs off leash or on the grass (though, now in the winter there's admittedly little grass around). If Rose is serious about the dog problem, it has to get the security force walking the grounds and in places, like the M level areas of buildings, where dog owners do what they want because no one is watching. Security also has to be around at the times when dogs are typically walked--morning and evening. Even the Oval area in the early morning is lacking security, and that's when many of the dog violations occur. The test here will come with warmer weather. If there is no progress with the dog problem, then Rose has to look into shaking up the security force and the person(s) who runs(run) it. So far, this security force has been pathetic regarding enforcement of dog rules.

The latest Town & Village spoke to Security Chief Bill McClellan about some of the quality of life problems in ST/PCV, and his responses were stupefying on occasion, if not revealing a gross irresponsibility on the part of security.

T&V on dog summonses: "Of course, as was the case before, the tough part will be catching people in the act. Since being deputized to give $250 dog poop summonses, McClellan said only a few have actually been written since people tend to be on better behavior when security's around." This sounds like almost zero summonses were issued, and, of course, security is rarely around--which is the reason dog owners get away with this behavior.

Curiously, while the attached "Resident Notice" flyer mentions that dog leashes cannot be longer then six feet, there is no prohibition against retractable leashes. A prohibition against such leashes would have been the easiest way out of this problem and the quickest to check, so this lack of insight is troubling. Also of concern is that there is no mention of non-resident dog owners using the grounds in whatever way they please and parading dog breeds through the complex that are not allowed here, including pit bulls.

Dan Garodnick's assistance in getting security the authority to issue summonses for leash violations is mentioned, but--hey--considering how fast Garodnick got those dumpsters out of Stuy Town's loops, we may have to wait for this authority for years.

Regarding noise--well, it's unclear just what Rose will do differently than what's been done before. This sounds fine: "Excessive incidents and related inappropriate conduct will be addressed by the Management through an aggressive notification and response process." But there is no explanation of this process.

And, again, here's T&V speaking with Security Chief McClellan: "... McClellan said this week there have been six recent hires. The officers are now using newer security vans, and a new system to help keep track of quality of life complaints. Previously, if there was a shift change, security wouldn't necessarily be aware that it was visiting the same apartment more than once a night to respond to issues like noise."

Huh??? You mean that security was so disorganized that they had no system that would tell them about a repeat noise offenders at night? And this bit about "newer security vans"... Guys, how many times do residents have to tell you, it's BOOTS ON THE GROUND that are needed, not new security vans or a couple of guys watching monitors in the Management office.

Left out of the quality of life concerns are bicycles. There is a no bicycle-riding rule in Stuyvesant Town and Peter Cooper Village that gets violated very second it seems, and many complaints. Yet this update has not one word on the subject. Possibly too difficult to enforce? Or would it be too obvious that there is no enforcement?

Anyway, let's see how this plays out. I'd love to be proven wrong about my pessimism.

Adam Rose Doesn't Take Tenants Seriously

2011-01-22T11:15:00.004-05:00

A few months ago, T&V noted that Rose Associates were "seeking tenant feedback." Apparently they are not seeking it hard enough.

The title of this post may seem an exaggeration, but it really is not.

Two days ago, Lux Living of the blog Lux Living, sent Adam Rose, manager of Stuyvesant Town and Peter Cooper Village, an e-mail asking why a building's water supply must be shut down due to the renovation of one apartment. The message was respectful and speaking for the tenants who have commented about the situation on Lux's blog.

Adam Rose's response was this:

Dear Lux Living:

This is the first and last email that you will receive from me. As a company, Rose Associates does not respond to anonymous emails or letters. There are 550 people on site at Peter Cooper Village and Stuyvesant Town, trying to do a professional job to improve conditions at the property. Every single one of those people has a name and reports to someone. You, on the other hand, wish to hide behind an anonymous blog and email address.

There are many residents of your community who interact regularly with the Management Office and its senior managers on an adult and disclosed level. These people are treated with respect and are taken seriously.

We do not take you seriously, and will not respond again to emails from you as long as you are identified as “Lux Living.”

I am sure that you are a wonderful person, and that you have many fine qualities. Certainly you devote an awfully large amount of time to maintain a blog (I am told, not being a reader). Perhaps you could channel that energy into something more productive. I would welcome your input on issues at the property…….but not to an anonymous voice.

Sorry,

Adam Rose

------------

I will let pass the comment that Adam Rose is not a reader of the blog (at any time?), as the "I am told" and the snarky response do not pass the smell test, but surely anyone who manages this property should be willing to listen, if not eager to listen, to tenants' voices, whether these tenants are anonymous voices or not. When Adam Rose states that he does not take the Lux Living blog seriously, he is, in fact, stating that he does not take Stuy Town and Peter Cooper tenants seriously, because tenants do speak out from the blog and about problems and issues that concern them in this community. To respond the way Adam Rose did does not speak well of the current management of this complex and its supposed seriousness in tenant relations.