[Updated] Stray voltage warning along Ben Shaoul's Avenue A project

Con Ed has has put up cautionary tape and cones outside the rotting carcass of 98-100 Avenue A between East Sixth Street and East Seventh Street.



So be careful!

As for the address, there hasn't been any much activity in about six months at developer Ben Shaoul's incoming retail-residental complex. There are now approved plans for a 6-floor building with 29 apartments.

Meanwhile, the area under the sidewalk bridge has served as a makeshift shelter for a handful of people...


[Photo by Edward Arrocha]

Updated 7:01 p.m.

The warning signs are gone ...



Previously on EV Grieve:
A little bit of Hollywood on Avenue A

East Village Farms is closing; renovations coming to 100 Avenue A

Inside the abandoned theater at East Village Farms on Avenue A

Reader reports: Village Farms closing Jan. 31; building will be demolished

Asbestos abatement continues at 98 Avenue A, Ben Shaoul's latest East Village trophy

Ben Shaoul's proposed new Avenue A building will be 8 stories with a roof deck

Meanwhile, 98-100 Avenue A is lying in ruins

Con Ed talks stray voltage with concerned residents

[Stray voltage possibility on East 9th Street from Monday via Bobby Williams]

After a winter of numerous stray voltage reports in the neighborhood, Con Ed officials attended last night's CB3 Public Safety/Transportation meeting to hear concerns/answer questions, etc.

BoweryBoogie was there for the presentation. Read their account of it here.

As readers here have pointed out, Con Ed's new warning signs are just a little too small. And low.


[EVG file photo]

Per BB:

For one thing, the little flyers are affixed too low to the ground and with illegible print. Not to mention, the message is not stern enough. Chair David Crane posited alternative wording to the effect of, “Warning: possible electrical shock hazard.” Other suggestions included making the signage at eye level, introducing red lights, or getting pet owner warnings in the advanced weather advisories before storms.

One EVG reader who attended the meeting said Con Ed had plenty of graphs and charts, but too few concrete answers about the stray voltage problems.

Per BB: "Con Edison will take the feedback and allegedly make some improvements. When that will happen is anyone’s guess."

Previously on EV Grieve:
Con Ed unveils new signage to warn pedestrians and their pets of stray voltage

Resident shocked about ConEd's nonchalance over stray voltage

[Updated] Stray voltage warning on Second Avenue

Con Ed is investigating here on Second Avenue between St. Mark's Place and East Seventh Street, via a report by EVG reader Stephen Popkin...





Hey, you're right by B&H Dairy too. Get some soup.

And on the topic of Con Ed... As a reminder:

Con Ed officials will be present to answer any questions or hear any concerns at the CB3 Public Safety/Transportation meeting on March 11 at 6:30 p.m. Location: University Settlement at Houston Street Center, 273 Bowery

Updated noon

Stephen sends along another photo... Con Ed crews are working on the scene now...



And via Stephen, the mushroom barley soup and blintzes were quite good at B&H...

Stray voltage alert on Astor Place

EVG reader Chris F. notes the arrival last evening of Con Ed cones and their new warning signs on Astor Place and Eighth Street…







Per Chris:

"However, despite the cones and caution tape, I didn't see any pedestrians avoiding the area — least of all the crew unloading goods for the Starbucks in back of the newsstand. Their tractor trailer was parked right in the 'danger zone,' and no one nearby seemed to be concerned."



Previously on EV Grieve:
Con Ed unveils new signage to warn pedestrians and their pets of stray voltage

Con Ed unveils new signage to warn pedestrians and their pets of stray voltage

Last night, Con Ed displayed its first, new warning sign in the East Village along an electrified sidewalk in front of the Key Food recycling center on East Fourth Street and Avenue A. Con Ed created these signs to more clearly communicate possible electrical danger (as opposed to some tape and cones and some dude sitting in a car with an orange vest on).



East Village resident Garrett Rosso, a board member of NYCdog (the New York Council of Dog Owner Groups) told us this last night:

Perhaps it's too soon to know whether the new signs will be effective in warning pedestrians and dog owners of the danger of electric shocks in the area. Or perhaps New Yorkers are too busy to even notice.

NYCdog urges dog owners to recognize Con Edison's new signange. People walking pets should change their route whenever they see the signs. The area is usually safe for pedestrians to pass because their shoes provide some insulation. However, dogs can recieve shocks anywhere around the area through their bare paws — especially when the ground is wet.

This past weekend, Bella, an 11-year old pit bull terrier mix, was electrocuted by frayed wiring from a scaffolding light on Clinton Street.

This prompted the following warning from NYCdog:

NYCdog (the New York Council of Dog Owner Groups) has issued a emergency alert for dog owners in all 5 boroughs. There have been numerous reports of dogs and their owners being shocked from sidewalk voltage.

The predicted warm weather combined with street flooding over the next few days are likely to trigger more incidents of dogs and their owners recieving shocks.

NYCdog urges all pet owners to exercise caution and be aware of their surroundings. Avoid manhole covers, sewer caps, metal gratings, Con Edison repair locations as well as all overhead scaffolding at constructions sites. The public is urged to call 911 if you or your dog is shocked.

If you suspect your dog is recieving a shock, dog owners should not touch their pet or the ground. Pet owners are adivised to immediately about face and use their leash or other non-conductive object to maneuver their pet away from the area — voltage may increase as you travel forward.

For more information, please email: info@NYCdog.org

There were several reports of stray voltage around the East Village back in December … The stray voltage reportedly shocked several dogs… and some residents were upset that Con Ed took too long to respond to the issue… as well as did a lousy job of communicating, what, exactly, all the tape and cones were for on sidewalks.

Following this, Community Board 3 officials as well as Councilmember Rosie Mendez's office contacted Con Ed officials about how to better manage and communicate issues related to stray voltage.

Con Ed officials will also be present to answer any questions or hear any concerns at the CB3 Public Safety/Transportation meeting on March 11 at 6:30 p.m. Location: University Settlement at Houston Street Center, 273 Bowery.

Report: Several dogs jolted by stray voltage on East Village streets

[Sunday on East 7th Street]

The Post has more details about the reports of stray voltage on various East Village streets, such as East Seventh and East Second.

In particular, residents were pissed that Con Ed didn't tell residents about the potential danger … simply putting up some cones and yellow tape with a subcontractor sitting nearby in a car. Meanwhile, several dogs were zapped by electrified manhole covers...

Here's the Post with more from East Seventh Street between Avenue C and Avenue D:

It took calls to 311, 911 and, finally, a visit from the NYPD before a Con Ed repair crew arrived ... And while cops were talking to the safety manager, a passing pit bull got jolted.

“The yellow tape is out there to keep people away from the energized objects,” Con Ed spokesman Allan Drury told the Post on Monday.

Con Ed workers discovered the problem early Friday but had limited access to the area because of tightly parked cars, he said.

Repairs were completed on East Seventh Street late Sunday, he said.

Another neighborhood dog, a black standard poodle named Maybelline, was zapped so violently on Sunday that her heart stopped temporarily, said the dog’s owner, Catherine Kord.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Resident shocked about ConEd's nonchalance over stray voltage