Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Someone is vandalizing the glass at 51 Astor Place



The other day, EVG regular Terry Howell noticed that workers were gluing sheets of clear plastic to the ground-floor windows on the Fourth Avenue side of the currently empty 12-story office building ...

"I asked them what's the purpose of the sheets, thinking that maybe the owners wanted to tone down the blinding glare and reflections from the building," said Terry, learning that "nothing civic minded was going on."

Turns out that people are scratching graffiti and what not on the windows. The sheets are a "protective covering" to prevent such acts from happening again in the future...







Apparently the abandoned building look isn't really in fashion here…

13 comments:

THE NOTORIOUS L.I.B.E.R.A.T.I.O.N. said...

Let's shutter the popular newsstand people use and protect the empty piece of garbage we don't. Makes perfect sense.

Anonymous said...

This could be the actual gates to hell but it still doesn't give someone the right to damage another's property. I really dislike vandals and I include tagging and graffiti on that list.

Gojira said...

@Notorious - what a true, chilling comment on what this city has become; no more room for the blue collar workers that once made it great, and everything for the heartless rich that have robbed it of its soul.

Anonymous said...

This building is far more attractive than the outdated Cooper Union structure that preceded it. Vandalism is inexcusable, it's not a political statement. Hope some surveillance cameras caught the creeps who did it.

uncle Pete said...

word. Death to 51 Astor! bring back that cute little coffee shop they tore down! Oh wait that was a Starbucks.... :rolleyes:

Anonymous said...

Do not underestimate the force of the Ewoks.

Gojira said...

What this thing needs is a prolonged assault from Imperial Walkers. And Anon. 9:37, please explain how a small, one-story building surrounded by lovely old trees, an outdoor seating area, a garden that at one point had stone eagles from the old Penn Station in it, and good coffee and snacks is less preferable than this empty, cold, sun-, light- and air-blocking monstrosity? Who are you really, its owner Edward Minskoff?

Anonymous said...

Complaining that a building reflects light in a dense urban environment is stupid. The only saving grace of the reflective glass buidings is that they do not rob as much light. In one instance (mine), the building of a glassy structure on the opposite side of the street from my north-facing windows actually dramatically improved the lighting in my apartment.

Building Glare is Harmless said...

London skyscraper melts cars, fries eggs

Anonymous said...

Anonymous 12:00 --
Complaining that a building reflects light in a dense urban environment is not stupid. You're stupid.

Laura Goggin Photography said...

We need Christo to come in and wrap the entire thing in gold lamé.

Anonymous said...

Light reflects of all surfaces (okay except a black hole) shiny reflects more light. Sunlight changes as the day progresses so it is unlikely that some is blinded for hours by reflective light. I have not read any theories on Death Stars and their reflective value.

Ken from Ken's Kitchen said...

9:37 AM

I guess somebody's got to stand up for the big guys. Maybe you'll get a bonus.