Saturday, May 26

A number of newsworthy items for Stuy Town/Peter Cooper tenants....

This week's Town & Village reported that we have a new general manager, Sean Sullivan, replacing Jim Yasser, who will stay on as a consultant.  Sullivan is "a former Marine and 20-year real estate veteran who previously worked for Avalon Bay Communities, Inc. as well as Tishman Speyer."  Yes, Tishman Speyer, but not to worry, Sullivan wasn't working for TS during that company's reign here. Still, a small world, at least in Manhattan.  Sullivan is quoted in the article, from an official CW Capital/Rose Associates statement: "Peter Cooper Village/Stuyvesant Town is celebrated for its strong sense of community within this city. I am proud and honored to join the effort to make PCVST a place that this community is happy to call home."  I'm not sure about our current "strong sense of community."  Nowadays, this complex seems made up of various differing and at times mutually combative communities.  It's not the homogeneous one it was years ago.  The internet tells us that "Mr. Sullivan received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and English Literature from Iona College, graduating summa cum laude and ranking first in his class. He went on to receive his Master of Science degree in Real Estate Finance at New York University." Yes, a small world in Manhattan!  This blog wishes Sean Sullivan success in ensuring that this community, or these communities, are happy to call this place home.

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The official word finally arrived about the landscaping that's already started about the complex and which this blog previewed in past entries.  Here's some of the work:

Temporary fencing will be installed around newly seeded areas until the turf is well-rooted and dense (approximately 4 months).

New planting beds will receive 28” black, PVC-coated, welded wire fence for about two years until the plantings are well-rooted and established enough to withstand the abuse from dogs and foot traffic. 

Approximate total number of new plants added as part of Phase 1: 1,500 Trees, Shrubs, Grasses, and Perennials and over 100,000 groundcovers.

Approximate number of plants to be transferred within the property and off-site. Approximate number to be transferred within:

Trees – 25

Shrubs – 482

Perennials – 700

Total number of plants/species on the Property:

Total existing species on the property (both PCV & ST): 223

Tree Species – 70

Shrub Species – 96

Perennial Species – 57

Normal landscaping activities: Weeding, Mulching, Grass cutting, Trimming, Plant relocation, Annual planting, Tree pruning, etc.

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Town & Village speculates at the transformation occurring to the former Oval Lounge.  For some reason this is a semi-official secret, but various clues point to a new entity: Oval Cafe.  (The official PCVST website mentioned an "Oval Cafe" a while ago.)  T&V notes that "an employee at Oval Amenities said this week that whatever the space winds up being used for, it will be open to all residents."  While this is a smart idea, it will mark, if true, the first time that a commercial enterprise will be open permanently and daily inside Stuy Town.  So the slippery slope that some warned about with the introduction of temporary commercial enterprises (the greenmarket, the ice-rink) may now come to pass.

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Town & Village also did a survey of some residents to find out their top concerns.  The proposed condo/co-op conversion was on people's minds, with a good number of those queried about it, balking at getting involved as buyers.  Remarkably, a few dog owners are disappointed about the lack of a dog run in PCVST.  What, most of the grounds being at the disposal to you and your dogs is not enough?

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Boy, the powers that be love their students (and want to fill up Oval Fitness)!  The push is on to give students discounts for membership at Oval Fitness....

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The Oval Lawn is now open, as is Playground 10 (with new astro turf). Enjoy, though beware that starting Wednesday, June 6th, the Oval will be periodically taken over by movie showings, an outdoor screening of a baseball game, and, yes, concerts.  Residents may wish to plan ahead, either for attending these events or, if they live around the Oval, leaving the complex for some peace and quiet.  Rumor is that some residents are planning rain dances early morning on the day a concert is scheduled.

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The other day I did spot Public Safety talking to two dog owners who may have been disobeying a dog rule near the fountain area, or about to disobey one.  So the stepped-up effort is appreciated.

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I had to laugh at this one.  In a previous post I remarked how the "For Residents and Their Guests" tag on the greenmarket promo banners could be hidden if the plantings in front grew high enough.  I was kinda joking....  Well, the plantings in front of the banner near the Peter Cooper Village guardbooth, already hide the information!  The tag is clearly visible on all other banners, btw.

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This Saturday morning TA president Al Doyle and our councilman Dan Garodnick turned up at the Oval Fountain to have their picture taken.  What, no photos at Garodnick Boulevard?  (Garodnick Boulevard is the lengthy patch of newly-placed gravel on which sits the greenmarket every Sunday and which has been named in honor of our councilman, soon to be city comptroller.)

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Speaking of that area, I do like the bamboo sticks and string that have been placed on the other side of the fence along Garodnick Boulevard.  (Don't laugh, I'm serious.)  They partition off the area in a pleasing rustic way.  I almost expect to see sheep nearby.  I'll try to get a better picture. Or maybe not.

Stuy Town Showdown

Interesting online article about the "battle" between older residents and college students.

changingneighborhoods.journalism.cuny.edu/2012/05/21/round-one-stuyvesant-town-residents-vs-college-students/

Stuy Town Fountain Dogs

You just knew that the dog rule forbidding dogs in the fountain area would be broken, again and again.  Even with a sign at the entrance to the Oval fountain blaring the message.  And you just knew that Public Safety would be no place around to catch this rule being broken...

Today, lovely day at the fountain.  Noon.  One dog was there, then another joined in the fun:

No Public Safety to be seen in the Doll House Booth or anywhere else.

Half an hour goes by.  The dogs are still there.  A Public Safety car circles the Oval, but, of course, doesn't see anything.

Soon afterward, another dog joins the two already at the fountain. That's three dogs.

An hour goes by.  One more dog at the fountain, making a total of four dogs in an area off limits to dogs.

Not once did a Public Safety officer step into the fountain area to check around.  For dogs.  Or hookah parties.  Or whatever.

Let's revert to the policy that if you can't enforce the rules, or don't feel compelled to regularly check if they are being enforced, get rid of the rules.  It's much better that way.  Less aggravation, less trouble, more freedoms for dogs and dog-owners everywhere.

UPDATE: ca. 4:15-4:45pm. Five (different) dogs at the fountain plaza!  Guys, forget about enforcing this rule and just remove the standing no dog sign.  Seriously.  The non-compliance of this rule just advances the concept that rules aren't followed here in general and dismays those that do follow the rules.

Saturday, May 19

Given time and opportunity, I'd like to do short weekly reports on the state of things in PCVST.  So, without further ado....

Peter Cooper Village residents who felt left out of the upgrade in landscaping that's already started in Stuyvesant Town have reason to cheer, as upgrading work has already begun in PCV....

 

 

Meanwhile the southwest corner of Stuy Town, where the landscaping started, is looking very good indeed. I urge residents to take a walk there and see for themselves.  Of course, this area is the one prospective tenants first see when they exit the back of the First Avenue leasing office, so who knows how far this improvement and maintenance will extend.

 

The Stuyvesant Town greenmarket is now being promoted along the perimeter of the complex.  Here's the banner:

 

And it does carry the "For Residents and Their Guests" tag at the bottom.  Yeah, I know it's smaller print and will become concealed if the plantings in front of the banner rise any higher...And one does wonder just for whom this banner is meant for?

 

 A Con Ed emergency truck, using compressed gas, has turned up at the Oval. Gossip away!

During this time Stuyvesant Town and Peter Cooper tends to look its best with everything in full bloom, so enjoy. On a negative note, I must mention that in my walk about the complex, I saw several dog violations. It always happens. One guy in Peter Cooper was taking out three dogs (!) and Public Safety inside their car didn't do a thing, even as they passed him right by...and slowly.

Oh, and finally, finally, Playground 10 appears to be heading to reopening very soon. Brand new astro-turf is being vacuumed and made shiny pretty.

It's a Secret!

Yeah, I know.  That's the way "things are done."  But why is everything a secret around here?  Why was the Tenants Association decision to go with Brookfield kept a secret until the deed was done?  Why are the discussions Councilman Dan Garodnick had with the Dept of Buildings over the Greenmarket and zoning not available anywhere in a spirit of transparency?  Why are the negotiations on the Roberts' decision, and any movement on it or non-movement, merely a persistent "no comment" from the principles involved in these negotiations? Why are those tenants waiting for the financial resolution of the Roberts' decision (for some, important as to whether they renew their lease) being kept continually in the dark? Why is CW Capital silent on its intent regarding this complex and whether it welcomes, or not, a tenant bid on the complex?  Why does CW Capital and management not send out timely press releases, with details, on what is going to be developing/built/"refreshed" in Stuy Town/PCV and what residents can expect to see in a month or a few months' time or later?

Most everything is a damn secret around here until it gets actualized.  Secrecy like this compels tons of gossip (which can veer off into tangential ridiculousness), and destabilizes and demoralizes a tenant body that is on edge over what changes may or may not be around the corner. Tenants--young, old, new renters, long-time renters--are being treated like little children who must not know unless there's a critical need to know.  Not good.

Missing Person Alert - UPDATE: FOUND!

UPDATE: Jake Seaton has been found, and his parents are on their way to see him.  Happy Mothers' Day!

You may have seen the signs posted about the complex and outside of it, but I just received this also in an email, so I'm posting the info and photo, as every little bit may help. Info has been updated/corrected since being first posted here.

 

Jake Seaton, 16, went missing on Thursday, May 10, 2012. (NYPD)

MANHATTAN — Police are urgently searching for a missing Kips Bay teenager.

Jake Seaton was last seen outside his Kips Bay apartment about 2:30 p.m. on Thursday.  

Jake, of 141 E. 33rd St., is described as 5-feet-9, 135 pounds with green eyes and black hair. 

He was last seen wearing a blue sweatshirt, dark jeans and black sneakers.
He had a navy "hoodie" with NEW YORK across the front.

Jake was carrying his guitar in a large black case.

He was also wearing a backpack — black and grey, with some orange, that had been mostly covered over with black magic marker.

Seaton's family has set up a Facebook page to to spread the word about his disappearance and share information.

Anyone who has seen Jake or has information is asked to call the 17th Precinct Detective Squad at 212-826-3206.

The public can also call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477).  Tips can be submitted by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website, www.nypdcrimestoppers.com, or by texting tips to 274637 (CRIMES), then entering TIP577.

All calls are strictly confidential.

Public Safety Breaks Up Hookah and Booze Party at the Oval

Okay, I get it. You're young, smug, in an expensive college, mommy/daddy are paying for your expenses, and it's party time and an opportunity to show off your gym bod to the girls on a nice sunny Stuy Town day and pretend you are something you are really not.  But do you have to be an asshole and think it's cool to bring a hookah onto the Oval Fountain area for party time with your friends?

Thankfully, Public Safety came along to tell you to put out your hookah and dump the booze, or whatever you and your friends were drinking. And then, when you were just waiting for Public Safety to disappear so party time could resume, Public Safety doesn't walk away but stands and stands around until you get your ass and your hookah out of the area.











Meanwhile, some other entitled students haven't yet learned to read signs, or obey rules, and bring in a dog right up to the fountain, past the very visible NO DOG sign....

Public Safety kicks them out (unfortunately not literally).  As for the dog, is it a breed not allowed in Stuy Town....?

 

As predicted, certain people will bring dogs onto the fountain area despite the signs and will only move if Public Security tells them to.  (In a space of 15 minutes, PS had to inform two more dog owners who made a straight line to the fountain that dogs are not allowed in the area. Absence Public Security, and there would have been three dogs at the fountain, one being a suspected breed not allowed in Stuy Town.)

Oh, did I forget to mention that it was a really lovely day in the complex....