Washington Heights

[infoshare]

What a beautiful day! If you have questions about any of them, let me know:

Has the pumpkin house been sold? It has recently been featured in the TV series 'selling New York' and here on 'Curbed.com'. I know it wasn't in your photos, but any news on that WaHi property would be greatly appreciated.


Slideshow here.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000...bs%3Dslideshow

[RoldanTTLB]

To answer everything at once -

1. I do not believe the pumpkin house has sold yet. Last I heard, the price was down to 3.1m.

2. There is a great deal of variation throughout the building stock in the neighborhood, but all of it is very subtle. anything different is generally fought pretty hard by the locals. And by locals I mean a small, but vocal group of seniors who would like the heights to be much more suburban than it is. The craziest stuff proposed for the neighborhood, such as 1 ft tryon died, and I fear the wild 4 tower complex will be killed. I think if something unique were to happen in the neighborhood, it would be a single family home of modern pedigree on one of the few empty lots available for such. Alternately, someone could tear down one of the trashier single family homes and do the same.

[Snackbar21]

Before they proceed with this development, can't they get the tower at 184th & overlook back on track?
http://www.newyorkshortsaleexperts.c...osure-process/

Looks like it might be back on track
http://www.dnainfo.com/20110421/wash...-signs-of-life

[Merry]

One Bennett Park Shows New Signs of Life

Developer Ruddy Thompson confirmed that the stalled One Bennett Park development site is moving again.

By Carla Zanoni


A rendering of what developer Ruddy Thompson hopes to finish building in Washington Heights. (One Bennett Park)

WASHINGTON HEIGHTS — A long-stalled real estate development project on Bennett Avenue is seeing new signs of life, according to residents and the developer.
Ruddy Thompson, president of Thompson Development Group, confirmed construction is set to begin again at One Bennett Park, the development that was halted in 2009, because funding dried up.

Thompson did not provide further details about the future of the project located at 33-55 Overlook Terrace, but residents said that the site has been buzzing with activity over the past several days.

Approximately three years ago, 60 feet of bedrock was removed to make way for a 23-story, 114-unit apartment complex that was originally slated to open in 2009.


The construction scene at 33-55 Overlook Terrace
has been quiet since the summer of 2008.

But since construction halted that summer, all that has remained is a hole in the ground and a displaced congregation from a local Jewish center, which had originally been promised a new space in exchange for the right to build a condo entrance on Fort Washington Avenue.

The Fort Tryon Jewish Center is now sharing a space with the Hebrew Tabernacle Congregation in Washington Heights, but could not be reached by telephone.
A lawsuit between the banks that originally funded the $95 million deal is still being duked out in court.

Community Board 12 chair Pamela Palanque-North said she was excited to hear that construction will soon move forward, but said she first hopes to meet with Thompson to make sure no changes to the original development plans have been made.

Palanque-North said the community and board spent much time at the beginning of the project addressing safety and noise concerns and need to know that the same agreements brokered in the past would remain.

In 2008, residents complained of little to no soundporrofing during the removal of bedrock to make way for the development, according to the New York Times and said the work had become a public nuisance.

"We need to be talking about this site and what he is really going to do with it since it’s been so long," she said. "We've heard he was going to do things in the past and nothing has happened."

http://www.dnainfo.com/20110421/wash...#ixzz1KJtH3Q9V

[RoldanTTLB]

Took a walk through Fort Tryon Park on Saturday. Weather was great and I thought I'd take some photos, so here you go! I highly recommend coming to see the park some time. It's a gem.

[infoshare]

Nice: I went to flickr and clicked through the the enlarged photos - looked even better. Thanks.

[Merry]

Developer Behind Planned WaHi Skyscraper Gives Peek at New Park

The developer of the proposed Washington Heights skyscrapers laid out potential plans for Gorman Park.

By Carla Zanoni

slide show















WASHINGTON HEIGHTS — A developer behind a controversial plan to build skyscrapers in Washington Heights has released its proposed changes to the small city park that abuts the space. Quadriad Realty Partners drew up two possible draft proposals for Gorman Park at West 190th Street and Broadway — one that would have the developer build two towers within existing zoning laws and leave the green space as is, the other that would completely renovate the park in exchange for permission to build towers taller than the current land use laws allow.

The proposals were presented to Community Board 12's Parks and Cultural Affairs committee last week.

In one of the company's two proposals, dubbed "New Strategy," the developer would build four towers — three on the east side of Broadway ranging from 33 to 27 stories apiece, and one 28-story tower on the west side.

Quadridad would pay to completely reconstruct Gorman Park, which the developer described as being in "poor condition."

Developers would re-grade the park's steep incline — which currently stands at more than 100 feet — using several terraces from Broadway at the western end of the park to Wadsworth Terrace to the east.

The preliminary sketches also propose extending the park into the area directly beneath the Quadriad towers, making the park accessible to people with mobility issues, increasing benches throughout all areas of the park and providing security and maintenance for the park "in perpetuity." Celebrated landscape architect Diana Bolmori would spearhead the design of the park.

Quadriad chair Henry Wollman urged the committee to view the drawings as "doodles," rather than cemented ideas for the park.

As it stands now, the park is used more as a walkway with a snakelike path bridging the two separated parts of the park.

"There is no basic recreation area that people can use," Wollman said. "We would like to try to create a flat area for mixed use, a larger open space and open landscape."

Wollman said the proposed buildings were capped at 37 stories instead of 42 stories in response to an outpouring of negative community reaction over the developer's first proposal.

Quadriad also offered an alternative plan in which they'd build two towers of 22 and 28 stories each on the east and west sides of Broadway as currently allowed under zoning and land use restrictions. The developer would not change Gorman Park under that design.

Zead Ramadan, former CB12 chair and current member, said he was in favor of "leveling off" Gorman Park, adding that it was the most important step toward better utilizing the space, which he called one of the "least traversed parks in all of Northern Manhattan."

Quadriad has proposed adding elevators and escalators to the area as well as rebuilding the quarter-mile tunnel that leads straphangers from Broadway into the 190th Street subway station, which sits between the park and development on the east side of Broadway. A public plaza that would adjoin the towers, subway exit and park was also included in the design.

Response to the new plan was limited last week, but the community continued to voice concerns about the impact of large-scale skyscrapers in the community, with concerns ranging from shadows cast from the towers to strain on community infrastructure.

"I'm envisioning masses of people flooding the park and changing the experience of the park," one woman attending the meeting said about the proposed changes to the park.

"If you put up a large building, it will definitely affect the experience of people in the park," said Elizabeth Lorris Ritter, chair of the board's parks committee, calling for more information about the buildings' impact on the surrounding area.

Quadriad agreed to return to the parks committee on June 7 to further present its proposed plans and answer outstanding questions regarding community impact.

Quadriad is also scheduled to make another presentation before the CB12 Land Use committee on June 1 as well as a presentation to the board's housing committee on June 2.
All meetings will be held at the board's offices at 711 W. 168th Street on each date at 7 p.m.

http://www.dnainfo.com/20110509/wash...#ixzz1LxQOgRK7

[RoldanTTLB]

OMG! People in a park, much better that the park should be there to look at but not be in. Almost no one uses this park, excepting for the people sleeping in the trees in the evening. I hope they build all this, it would be good for the neighborhood. I actually always wonder about people and affordability. I mean, one of the arguments is that people in the neighborhood could not afford to live here. But that makes it sounds like no one could ever move to the neighborhood. I mean, if you just move from the buildings you're in to here, then what? Also, when the buildings in the neighborhood were built, the people living here now would not have been able to afford them. New buildings are rarely affordable by the people who were previously where the building was built. That's the idea and even Jane Jacobs discusses the mis of ages. Our neighborhood is missing a few generations of buildings because nothing was built here for so long.

[infoshare]

OMG! People in a park, much better that the park should be there to look at but not be in. Almost no one uses this park, excepting for the people sleeping in the trees in the evening. I hope they build all this, it would be good for the neighborhood.

Thanks Roldan for updating this thread, you and Merry have pretty made for a good read here.
Here is an interesting testimonial posted below, a former crack addict says: "Even cutting through there sober, i always felt unsafe in there."

http://www.washington-heights.us/his...n_park_64.html
Wow...Gorman Park. Probably more than any other park in the Heights, Gorman is among the scariest. This has several reasons. number one, it's entrance on Broadway is pretty laid back as compared to other areas of Broadway. A lot of that has to do with it's proximity to tranquil Bennett Avenue and the "safe" part of hudson Heights. But for as long as I can remember, passing by and noticing little to no functioning lights...it didn't seem like the fast alternative to getting up to St. Nick. for one, it is a steep, winding park that is basically all uphill. most of the lights were either broken or just non-functional.

Because of it's proximity to St. Nicholas Avenue, many drug addicts could be found in the park at all hours of day and night. The northern exit lets you off at 190th and Wadsworth Terrace, which is juts a block from numerous crack and heroin spots. I've been walking through that park as early as 4pm, and seeing homeless people defecating and getting high. Of all the times I utilized the park as a "shortcut' to St. Nick, i never once liked it. the other way to get to St. Nicholas is walking through the super long 191 St subway tunnel, then taking an elevator up. What's funny is that at the top of the park at the flagpole at 190 and Wads Terrace, you have a stunning view west towards Ft.Tryon and the horizon. Although I'm older and wiser now, i can admit to getting caught up in the shadiness of Gorman Park. It's almost as if Gorman Park is just plain bad luck.

I made the mistake of buying crack on a sweep day, meaning the day when undercover police are out in force. I was at 191 and St Nick. and I happened to glance all the way down the block to Wadsworth Avenue, where i saw a guy peeking behind the wall. Like the drugged out dummy i was at the time, i walked in the direction right into his trap. It was towards Gorman which was my destination. I was with an associate at the time, and we made it it into Gorman Park going down the long stairs, already on the path heading down. As an addict in active addiction is prone to do, we decided to take a rest and smoke our wares. This is where we messed up. a slew of undercover cops came bolting down the stairs towards us, guns drawn. They caught us red handed, pipe in hand. I had always wondered if we would of made it away if we had not stopped, but having had these encounters before i knew it was doubtful. So, not to glorify past drug use or anything of that nature, but Gorman Park was always the trashy, shady and STEEP park to climb. Even cutting through there sober, i always felt unsafe in there.
Posted by: Uptown | March 24, 2009 11:16 PM

[RoldanTTLB]

No problem! I actually think this park is interesting, and I've never felt scared in it, but I can easily see how any time other than broad daylight it would be unappealing. I think it could be a better park were it to be rebuilt. That's for sure. I also think the neighborhood would benefit immensely from new people, and based on easy access to both the 1 and the A at this location (and multiple bus lines), this is as good a place as any.

I was going to try and swing by One Bennett Park this morning, but ran out of time. I may get by there tonight, which wouldn't result in photos, but I could at least post an update.

In other good local drug news, thanks to some activism in a neighboring building, the PANYNJ is currently cleaning and fencing off the awful drug steps next to the GWB. This is a huge plus, as the first (and only) time I was over there, I had nightmares for months afterwards. Not a good place!

[infoshare]

I also think the neighborhood would benefit immensely from new people, and based on easy access to both the 1 and the A at this location (and multiple bus lines), this is as good a place as any.

Your continued post and lovely photos would sure help in getting the word-out about how lovely it is in northern manhattan. I got into WH often: it still has a long way to go - so you're totally correct that the area would benefit from immensely from an influx of 'new people" - another words, a little bit of gentrification would not be a bad thing.

Cheers.

p.s. I will send you a pm link to my facebook/twitter sites - so we can compare notes on the WH updates. (LOL)

[Merry]

Looking forward to more great photos, Roldan .


High Bridge Water Tower Needs $2M in Repairs to Reopen

The Parks Department says the historic tower will stay closed, pending $2 million in structural repairs.

By Carla Zanonislide show (with pics of inside the tower)







WASHINGTON HEIGHTS — Nearly one year after the High Bridge Water Tower was closed for emergency repairs, the Parks Department has announced the tower will not reopen to the public until major structural repairs are made in the historic space.

When those repairs will be completed is unclear as the department must procure $2 million in funding for repair of the roof, new windows, flooring for the platform and observation deck, handrails and stone masonry repair, according to Parks spokesman Phil Abramson.

The department is still waiting for a final engineering assessment of the historic tower, which overlooks the scenic Harlem River along 174th Street near Amsterdam Avenue. They hope to have the assessment done in June.

"There was an emergency repair last year, but it did not make a long-term fix and did not fix anything that wasn't an emergency," Abramson said, noting that the emergency repairs "triggered the engineering inspection."

In addition to structural issues, the Parks Department is also looking into adding new window guards "to protect visitors from the very low-set window openings" as well as a new carillon bell at the top of the structure, if funding allows. The previous bell was last rung in 1957, according to the department.

Jennifer Hoppa, administrator for Northern Manhattan Parks, said it might take years for the repairs to be made and was unlikely the repairs could be timed for the opening of the newly restored High Bridge, a pedestrian bridge connecting Manhattan to the Bronx across the Harlem River.

The work on the bridge is part of the overall $96 million restoration of the surrounding High Bridge Park.

"Remember, your elected officials set aside funding for these repairs," she said at the May Community Board 12 Parks and Cultural Affairs committee meeting. "It would help if you let them know it's a priority."

http://www.dnainfo.com/20110511/wash...#ixzz1M8GNDkyW

[NYatKNIGHT]

^See this thread for more about High Bridge.

[RoldanTTLB]

Thank you all for the support! I'll try to plan some kind of meetup at the new Irish pub on 181st once it actually opens. I still want to do a long walk and take photos of all the pedestrian stair streets around. Maybe we could plan a walking tour this summer?

[infoshare]

Thank you all for the support! ..................... I still want to do a long walk and take photos of all the pedestrian stair streets around. Maybe we could plan a walking tour this summer?

Great idea. Here are a couple of photos from an area I think you will recognize. Your photo here overlooks the area where the old rusted light post is located: only taken from the opposite direction.
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images...bb648425z.jpg/