Honoring Puerto Rican freedom fighter Pedro Albizu Campos with a mural on 12th and C

Brooklyn-based artist Danielle Mastrion finished her mural yesterday on the SW corner of Avenue C and 12th Street that pays tribute to Puerto Rican freedom fighter and spiritual luminary Pedro Albizu Campos ... and directly across the street from Campos Plaza...

The mural is the first outside the newly renovated 656 E. 12th St., which the city officially unveiled on Tuesday. The renovation will provide some affordable housing options for the neighborhood.

For several years, the walls outside No. 656 housed the 12C Outdoor Art Gallery, which featured a rotating batch of murals curated by East Village-based artist and speaker Robert Galinsky.

Expect more new murals on the wall in the months ahead.

This work was unveiled via Galinsky Coaching, the Loisaida Center and L.E.S. CommUnity Concerns.

Report: Police arrest suspect in the murder of Jaden Stokes at Campos Plaza

Photo from Oct. 29 

Police have arrested a suspect in the deadly shooting on Oct. 27 inside Campos Plaza, 635 E. 12th St. at Avenue C. 

According to published reports, Lindell Cox, 31, was charged with murder in the death of 21-year-old Jaden Stokes. 

Surveillance footage shows a man, who police have said is Cox, wearing a mask and firing multiple shots inside the NYCHA's building lobby while Stokes and a 24-year-old man were waiting for the elevator. The other man was wounded by a gunshot in the leg. A motive for the shooting wasn't revealed.

A GoFundMe established to help the Stokes family pay for funeral expenses states that Jaden had just started a new job as a School Youth Mentor. He received his first check on the day he was killed.

Deadly shooting reported at Campos Plaza

Updated 11/7

Police have arrested a suspect in the deadly shooting.

Updated 8 a.m.

The shooting victim was identified as Jaden Stokes. His brother Dujon, one of Jaden's seven siblings, launched a GoFundMe campaign to help the family pay for funeral expenses. You can find that link here.

----

A 21-year-old man was killed, and a 24-year-old man was wounded tonight in a shooting at Campos Plaza at 635 E. 12th St. at Avenue C. 

According to the Daily News, the two men were in an elevator around 7:30 p.m. When the elevator doors opened, a man waiting in the lobby fired several shots and took off. 

A worker making a delivery in the NYCHA building told the News: "The guy in the lobby started shooting the guys in the elevator. There were three, maybe four shots," he said. "It was crazy scary. I didn't want him to shoot me."

No other information was immediately available as the investigation got underway. 

Updated, more coverage: The Post ... CBS 2 ... ABC 7 ... NBC 4 ... 

Screengrab via Citizen

Report: Man dies after gun accidentally discharges in waistband inside Campos Plaza

A 36-year-old man died last night after the gun he was carrying accidentally discharged in his waistband while in the lobby of Campos Plaza on 12th Street and Avenue C, according to published reports. (PIX11 and the Post.)

The man was reportedly adjusting his pants inside the apartment building at 635 E. 12th St. when the gun fired, striking him in his upper left thigh around 7:30 p.m. He died later at Bellevue.

Screengrab outside Campos Plaza via the Citizen app

Report: Neglected puppies found in 13th Street apartment are finding new homes

[Image via ASPCA]

Earlier this month, 33 malnourished Shih Tzu-Terrier mixed puppies were reportedly found in a resident's Campos Plaza apartment on 13th Street.

The Post reports today that at least half of the puppies have been adopted, and the rest are in good care.

“ASPCA Animal Hospital and Adoption Center staff have worked diligently over the last two weeks to provide each dog with the medical attention and socialization they needed,” said Howard Lawrence, vice president of ASPCA’s Human Law Enforcement, in a statement to The Post. “We’re pleased that nearly half of the dogs have already been placed in loving homes.”

The resident, named as 57-year-old Ivan Paredes, was charged with torturing, injuring and/or not feeding an animal and neglect of an impounded animal, according to the Post.

Tenants have claimed that NYCHA officials ignored their complaints about the mistreated puppies for months.

Report: Man sentenced to 40 years in 2011 shooting death of teen outside Campos Plaza

Hockeem Smith, who gunned down a teen outside the Campos Plaza Housing Complex on 12th Street near Avenue C in October 2011, has reportedly been sentenced to 40 years in prison.

Smith, who was 24 in 2011, received a 25-year sentence for manslaughter and an additional 15 years for criminal possession of a weapon, as Town & Village reported.

The victim, 18-year-old Donovan “Keith” Salgado (pictured), was a senior at Washington Irving High School who lived on Ninth Street, a block away from Smith.

The Lo-Down reported at the time that Salgado's mother was the leader of an anti-violence youth group. The shooting reportedly occurred following a game of late-night dice. Smith attempted to rob Salgado prior to the shooting, per DNAinfo.

[Photo via the Daily News]

[Updated] Arrest made in last week's shooting death on East 12th Street

[Reader-submitted photo of a memorial for Elliot Caldwell on East 12th Street]

The NYPD has reportedly arrested and charged a man in the shooting death last Thursday night outside Campos Plaza on 12th Street near Avenue C.

ABC 7 reports that Theodore Holloway, 23, of Manhattan, has been charged with second degree murder in the death of Elliot Caldwell, 23.

Caldwell, who lived nearby on 12th Street, had a 3-year-old son. "He was a great father. He changed his life for his son. He just got caught up in a bad situation," his aunt told DNAinfo.

Police have yet to release a motive for the shooting.

Updated 8:30 p.m.

DNAinfo has more details. According to their report, Holloway, who fired from the backseat of a parked car, "has been arrested 11 times before, most recently for robbery and assault."

Reports: Man shot and killed on East 12th Street outside Campos Plaza last night

[Photo from last night by DR]

A man was shot and killed last night in front of Pedro Albizu Campos Plaza I on East 12th Street near Avenue C, according to published reports.

As PIX 11 reported, police received a 911 call around 10:44 pm. Elliot Caldwell, 23, had been shot in the back, polices sources said. He died later at Bellevue.

A neighbor told the Daily News that Caldwell grew up in Campos Plaza, and would return to visit.

Police haven't made any arrests and the investigation is ongoing, per PIX 11. CBS New York reported that a witness reported seeing a man in a red hoodie running from the scene.

Back in January, according to a report in the Post, an unnamed 23-year-old man had been shot in the left leg. Police said that the victim, who was trying to leave the scene in a cab, "was uncooperative and refused to give them a description of the suspect."

An NYPD patrol tower (SkyWatch) arrived on the scene shortly after the January shooting. The NYPD had recently removed the tower.


[EVG photo from February]

Updated 11:30 a.m.
DNAinfo reports that Caldwell, who lived nearby on 12th Street, had a 3-year-old son. "He was a great father. He changed his life for his son. He just got caught up in a bad situation," his aunt told DANinfo.

Report: Deal finalized to create public-private partnership for 6 public housing developments

[File photo of Campos Plaza]

The New York City Housing Authority reportedly finalized a deal earlier this week to sell a 50-percent stake in six Section 8-subsidized developments to L+M Development Partners and BFC Partners for $360 million, plus another $100 million in additional renovation investments.

The sale comprises 10 buildings and 874 units, including Campos Plaza on Avenue C and East 12th Street and East 4th Street Rehab between Avenue B and Avenue C in the East Village.

The Observer has more on the deal, made final on Tuesday:

The sale, which places the properties in the hands of the newly-formed Triborough Preservation Partners, a public-private partnership ... was carried out as a means of opening a variety of funding streams to address the Section 8 facilities’ decrepit condition — they are estimated to require some $113 million in maintenance and repair over the next 15 years — in the absence of federal dollars, which mostly dried up in the 1990s.

And!

Without the establishment of a public-private partnership, the new funding sources, which will supply financing for construction, operations and maintenance of reserves, would not have been available to NYCHA, which as a public entity is ineligible for the loans, tax credits and other financial instruments responsible for the fresh funds.

Shola Olatoye, the chair and CEO of NYCHA, said that her organization will retain approval and oversight rights with respect to all major decisions.

You can find more background on the story at Curbed. And The Wall Street Journal.

Report: City taking different approach to leasing space on public housing property

City officials have apparently rethought plans to lease space on public housing property for luxury development, the Times reports today.

In February, New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) revealed plans to lease playground and community center space for luxury high-rises ... an announcement that brought about immediate criticism from residents and politicos alike.

Yesterday, NYCHA officials announced that "instead of requesting formal proposals to build on the grounds of eight housing projects in Manhattan, as previously envisioned, they would first solicit ideas from private developers — so-called expressions of interest — before choosing any construction projects."

Also!

"Officials are now encouraging proposals that would incorporate retail stores, community facilities and other uses on the ground floors, which many public housing residents favor."

The NYCHA originally said that the new development would generate $31 million to $46 million in annual lease payments, "all of which will go toward fixing up deteriorating buildings. The agency currently has a backlog of 420,000 repair orders and faces a $60 million budget gap annually," the Daily News reported in February.

Perhaps those trees adjacent to the Max Meltzer Tower will be safe after all.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Outrage over proposal to turn the green space at the Meltzer Tower into private development (35 comments)

52 new security cameras arrive at Campos Plaza

News release from the EV Grieve inbox...

New York City Council Member Rosie Méndez, New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) Chairman John B. Rhea, and Campos Plaza Resident Association President Dereese Huff formally announced the completed installation of closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras in targeted areas of NYCHA’s Campos Plaza I and II. The cameras should greatly enhance security and reduce the likelihood and incidence of crime at the development. NYCHA is only able to provide this additional security because of discretionary funding provided by elected officials such as Council Member Méndez.

“The safety and security of our residents is of great importance to NYCHA, and installing CCTV cameras deters crime and enhances the quality of life of our residents,” said NYCHA Chairman John B. Rhea. “Through our roadmap for providing safe and secure housing for our residents, Plan NYCHA, we have been actively working with all public housing community stakeholders, including the NYPD, to ensure that issues of safety and security are addressed through a more collaborative approach.”

The City Council capital funding at Campos Plaza provided for 52 new cameras located in all 4 buildings and the infrastructure to connect all the cameras to a Security Operations Center, where all cameras can be viewed in one place. NYCHA, the NYPD, and Resident Association leaders worked together to determine camera locations at each building. The CCTV security systems are strategically placed to monitor key areas such as building entrances, street corners, elevators, and equipment rooms. The NYPD can access footage in cases of reported criminal activity.

Serena Solomon at DNAinfo covered the event today at Campos Plaza between East 12th Street and East 13th Street off of Avenue C. You can read her report here.

Report: a battering ram on East 5th Street; big drug bust at Campos Plaza

A reader passes along the following... the incident occurred 8:30 last night ...

I was walking home on 5th between A and B and there were lots of police trying to get into an apartment building using a battering ram and then rushing in and yelling "we have a warrant!" or something to that extent. It was like a movie scene honestly.

The reader said that it was an apartment building next door to the Ace Bar.

Meanwhile, there have been other reports of heavy law-enforcement activity in the area. The Associated Press reported this afternoon that 41 members of two drug trafficking rings have been indicted.

They include 33 members of the "Blocc Boyz" street gang, based in the Baruch Houses on the Lower East Side.

The gang members reportedly used car services to deliver cocaine to its customers across the city.

Also.

A separate indictment charges eight members of the "Money Boyz" street gang, based in the Campos Houses in the East Village. They're accused of trafficking cocaine, including crack.

You can read the press release from the District Attorney's office here.

And here's more from that press release:

Money Boyz

According to documents filed in court and statements made on the record in court, since approximately November 2011, members of the “Money Boyz” gang, based at or near Campos Plaza in the East Village, are charged with selling large quantities of cocaine to undercover police officers. Acting as its manager, CHRISTIAN/CHRISTOPHER SLATER, 23, is accused of overseeing the operation.

Here's what's in store for Campos Plaza under the city's land-leasing plan

More details are emerging about the city's controversial plan to lease playground and community-center space to developers within public housing areas.

Via The Lo-Down, we've learned that the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) finally posted details on the spaces that will be earmarked for private development.

Here's what's planned at Campos Plaza (image above) via the NYCHA website:

East 12th Street Site

Site Area: 26,122 SF (Approximate)
New Construction: 90,000 SF of Residential Floor Area (Approximate)
Note: 20% of proposed residential units will be available to households at or BELOW 60% of Area Median Income (AMI)*

Current Uses on Land Lease Site(s)
• 45 Parking Spaces
• Compactor Yard
• Basketball & Handball Courts
Note: NYCHA will continue to provide parking spaces for all NYCHA residents with a current legal parking permit.

Benefits for Campos Plaza Residents
• Central Plaza redesign with resident consultation
• Preference for new low-income apartments
• Emergency power generation for critical building systems
• Temporary and permanent job opportunities
• Enhanced security for development

According to the Lo-Down, the plan would see "a total of 2,026 new apartments on the Lower East Side — about 400 of them designated as permanently affordable."

Of course, all this info arrives with about a month to go before the city will issue Request for Proposals for eight NYCHA properties in NYC.

Meanwhile, tonight, Smith Houses reps are boycotting the "public information" meeting about the plan. Per their news release:

“The Tenants’ Association Exec. Committee asked NYCHA to reschedule the meeting in order to give residents at least a 10-day notice and opportunity to review the proposals, but NYCHA is deciding to go ahead anyway. The Authority is making it seem as though their plan is a done-deal and residents just have to put up with it.”

As the Daily News first reported in February, the NYCHA expects to generate $31 million to $46 million in annual lease payments, "all of which will go toward fixing up deteriorating buildings. The agency currently has a backlog of 420,000 repair orders and faces a $60 million budget gap annually."

'War' is declared as city plans luxury development in the middle of public housing

Here we go.

The Daily News reports today that the cash-strapped New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) is planning on leasing playground and community center space for luxury high-rises

Per the article:

[T]he agency plans to lease out land to private developers who will then build some 3 million square feet of luxury apartments smack in the middle of Manhattan housing projects.

Internal documents obtained by the Daily News show the planned 4,330 apartments in eight developments are all in hot real estate neighborhoods, including the upper East and West Sides, the lower East Side and lower Manhattan.

Of the new units, 20 percent will be set aside as "affordable" — designated for families with net income of $50,000 or less.

But will the richies want to live so close to the poors? Not to worry! Per the article: "The new luxury towers will face away from the old, deteroriating affordable housing."

As the Daily News put it: "The housing authority is planning its very own Tale of Two Cities."

On the Lower East Side, a parking lot at the Baruch Houses will be redeveloped into luxury towers. There are also plans to lease a parking garage at Campos Plaza on Avenue C.

Meanwhile, residents are mobilizing against the plan. The Lo-Down has details from last night's CB3 Land Use Committee meeting, where Smith Houses Tenant President Aixa Torres warned: "This is a travesty," she said. "We are not going to take this… When no one wanted to live here, we stayed… if you want a war, you got a war."

The upside for the NYCHA: They expect to generate $31 million to $46 million in annual lease payments, "all of which will go toward fixing up deteriorating buildings. The agency currently has a backlog of 420,000 repair orders and faces a $60 million budget gap annually," the Daily News reported.

The 'despair' at Campos Plaza

WNYC has a report on the "despair" at Campos Plaza on Avenue C at East 12th Street...

Reader reports: Shots fired at Campos Plaza II early this morning

[VH McKenzie]

The EV Grieve inbox is full of reader reports of a shooting last night at Campos Plaza II on 13th Street between Avenue B and Avenue C. V.H. McKenzie said that the police helicopter started circling the area around 12:30 "Just timed it — making a full revolution over the neighboring bldgs every 39 SECONDS, with search lights." Readers described hearing a series of explosions — or shots in a few cases — before the helicopters arrived. EV Grieve reader AC said that police at the scene wouldn't say what was happening.

Another reader claimed "that this kind of shit happens there all the time."

On Wednesday, The Lo-Down reported that security cameras would be installed at this public housing complex.