Don't Fence Me In - A Necessary Evil?

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!

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

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....

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

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!

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

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.