Wednesday, February 20, 2019

EVG Etc.: The Strand's landmark battle; Cooper Union's Chrysler Building situation


[Outside Josie's the other morning on 6th Street]

An in-depth look at NYC's post-Sandy flood protection plans along the East River (City Limits... previously)

How NYC restaurant owners and operators are reworking their budgets and operations to cover the minimum-wage increase (Eater)

Tensions over landmarking 828 Broadway, home of the Strand (Gothamist ... Curbed)

The longterm financial outlook for Cooper Union, who owns the land where the Chrysler Building sits. Per this article, "Cooper Union will make more than $50 million in rent and tax income off the Chrysler Building — its main asset." (Commercial Observer)

Mayor releases the city’s 2019 "Borough Pedestrian Safety Plans" (Streetsblog ... amNY ... ABC 7)

Primer for NYC's public advocate special election (Curbed)

Legal drama involving Rosario Dawson's family in renovated 13th Street building (New York Post ... previously)

A few more chances to see Nicky Sunshine's one-woman show "Confessions of a Massage Parlor Madam" this weekend at the Wow Cafe Theatre on East Fourth Street (Official site)

Buzzy Geduld, who started Donut Pub in 1964, discusses his new outpost, opening soon on Broadway at Astor Place (Grub Street ... previously)

"Polylogues" — described as "a theatrical investigation into nonmonogamy" created and performed by Queer|Art Fellow Xandra Clark – plays at Dixon Place tomorrow night and Friday night (Official site)

Journalist Jacob Margolies recalls growing up in the 1960s and 70s on the playground of East Third Street, with a brief postscript on memory and mythologies about the city (Vol. 1 Brooklyn)

TV and movie productions find many of their vintage electronics through the Lower East Side Ecology Center (Gizmodo)

New Essex Market signage arrives (The Lo-Down)

Upcoming special screenings at the Village East on Second Avenue and 12th Street include "Poetic Justice" (tomorrow night), "Easy Rider (Monday) and "The Color Purple" (Feb. 27) (Official site)

... and the House of LaRue, the style, glam and drag boutique, moved out of its storefront on East Houston at Clinton (on to Metropolitan Avenue) at the end of January ... the space is now home to a psychic...

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

That Dawson family UHAB scam at 13th Street just gets worse and worse, those poor homesteaders that have to deal with UHAB borrowing money to make a cut and dealing with the schemey developer, will no elected official help out over there?

sophocles said...

"Thin margins" do not necessarily means the Strand's existence is threatened by landmark status. Amazon is known for its thin margins, but it's not going away. The Strand pays no rent and is always busy, how threatened can it be? You won't convince me that they are on the precipice without showing me some confirmed numbers, including Nancy Bass Wyden's salary and benefits. And speaking of Alex Urbelis, their attorney and lobbyist: Why is he using the WBAI airwaves to promote the private interests of the Strand?

Anonymous said...

Isn't the reason the Strand doesn't pay rent is because it owns the building? Doesn't that mean they pay all the property taxes associated with owning the property?