New Yorkers: Weigh in on the Swiftly Sprouting ASTOR PLACE "Luxury" High Rise

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Okay, granted, I'm just bitter `cos it's happening in my neighborhood, but really now......does the notion of a luxury high rise condo literally on Astor Place strike anyone else as somewhat ridiculous? I mean, I know change is the only constant in the urban environment and the encroaching gentrification hits all `hoods, but why would someone want an apartment there? Think of it....skater kids, gutter punks, irritating NYU'rs and pretentious Cooper Union brats hanging out at the Cube right in front of your lobby, the constant traffic stemming from Lafayette zooming up to 4th Avenue, the constant spillout of human cattle coming in and out of the Astor Place subway station (6 train). Astor Place is not a quiet square.

http://homepage.mac.com/alexinnyc/.Pictures/Photo%20Album%20Pictures/2004-08-12%2011.35.12%20-0700/Image-96F9700AEC8D11D8.jpg

Also, would you want to live across the street from a giant K-Mart?

Weigh in.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 12 August 2004 22:02 (twenty-one years ago)

It's also blocking out the sun like a tower of affluent evil.

ihttp://homepage.mac.com/alexinnyc/.Pictures/Photo%20Album%20Pictures/2004-08-12%2011.35.12%20-0700/Image-96F95EC8EC8D11D8.jpg

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 12 August 2004 22:04 (twenty-one years ago)

even worse, it's one of those purpose-built loft things. yuck

― miloauckerman (miloauckerman), Thursday, 12 August 2004 22:05 (twenty-one years ago)

They will, of course, move in and then lobby and complain to the council and have all the noise and skaterpunks and whatnot "moved on". Thats what richbastards do in Melbourne - move in next to a pub thats been there 30 years and then have it shut down cos they dont like the loud music.

― Trayce (trayce), Thursday, 12 August 2004 22:06 (twenty-one years ago)

I thought this was going to be a JBR thread. You just noticed this building? You forgot to mention the selling point of it being one block from 2! starbucks!

― Carey (Carey), Thursday, 12 August 2004 22:10 (twenty-one years ago)

move in next to a pub thats been there 30 years and then have it shut down cos they dont like the loud music.

This happens all the time in NYC

I thought this was going to be a JBR thread. You just noticed this building? You forgot to mention the selling point of it being one block from 2! starbucks!

I didn't just notice it (I live a block away from it). I just haven't started a thread about it until now.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 12 August 2004 22:12 (twenty-one years ago)

You forgot to mention the selling point of it being one block from 2! starbucks!

Same thing in Chicago. People think that being a block from a Starbuck's automatically means they can add $50 to the rent. It's like the ultimate amenity.

grumblegrumble McAmerica and all that

― Harold Media (kenan), Thursday, 12 August 2004 22:17 (twenty-one years ago)

(said the man who lives 100 yards from a Starbucks and goes there constantly)

― Harold Media (kenan), Thursday, 12 August 2004 22:18 (twenty-one years ago)

I thought this was going to be a JBR thread.

Nah, I know how futile it is to complain about these sorts of things. It doesn't stop them from existing.

― stockholm cindy (Jody Beth Rosen), Thursday, 12 August 2004 22:19 (twenty-one years ago)

It's not so much a complaint as an observation.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 12 August 2004 22:20 (twenty-one years ago)

the council

― gabbneb (gabbneb), Thursday, 12 August 2004 22:21 (twenty-one years ago)

the driver

― RJG (RJG), Thursday, 12 August 2004 22:22 (twenty-one years ago)

fuck you, and your buffy dvds.

― Carey (Carey), Thursday, 12 August 2004 22:25 (twenty-one years ago)

Having once lived in NYC, that image (a building right there) startles me!

― morris pavilion (samjeff), Thursday, 12 August 2004 22:25 (twenty-one years ago)

maybe they are building it because of the proximity to the glorious wonder that is the E. Village Cheese shop. I could understand that.

― Carey (Carey), Thursday, 12 August 2004 22:27 (twenty-one years ago)

They're going to need a bigger cube.

― Carey (Carey), Thursday, 12 August 2004 22:28 (twenty-one years ago)

Never again....

http://home.nyc.rr.com/avnish/NYC/Astor.jpg

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 12 August 2004 22:30 (twenty-one years ago)

Starbucks does its research w/r/t which neighborhoods to move into -- they want areas that are already desirable or on their way up. It's not about the big draw of "having a Starbucks in your neighborhood" (meaning "having a place where you can get upmarket coffee drinks within walking distance"), it's about living in a neighborhood that's attractive enough to fit the Starbucks demographic. That's why rents are raised.

― stockholm cindy (Jody Beth Rosen), Thursday, 12 August 2004 22:30 (twenty-one years ago)

http://www.afscet.asso.fr/afscetcafe/gaston/astor_place.jpg

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 12 August 2004 22:31 (twenty-one years ago)

Circa September 11

http://www.brasgalla.com/wtc/images/Astor_Place.jpg

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 12 August 2004 22:32 (twenty-one years ago)

http://www.desordre.net/photographie/photographes/robert_frank/astor_place.jpg

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 12 August 2004 22:33 (twenty-one years ago)

http://www.fotosmith.com/ASTORPL.JPG

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 12 August 2004 22:33 (twenty-one years ago)

http://dwiggins.com/tiled/ny/images/astor%20place.jpg

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 12 August 2004 22:34 (twenty-one years ago)

So, they tore down that Carl Fischer building? Or is the new building in front of that?

― morris pavilion (samjeff), Thursday, 12 August 2004 22:34 (twenty-one years ago)

In front of

― Jimmy Mod, Man About Towne (ModJ), Thursday, 12 August 2004 22:36 (twenty-one years ago)

http://images.nycsubway.org//i1/img_60.jpg

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 12 August 2004 22:36 (twenty-one years ago)

It's still there, it's just behind it now.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 12 August 2004 22:37 (twenty-one years ago)

Oh shit. I have a picture of myself "holding up" that cube.

― dean? (deangulberry), Thursday, 12 August 2004 22:37 (twenty-one years ago)

http://www.kbcc.cuny.edu/pr/art/subway.jpg

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 12 August 2004 22:37 (twenty-one years ago)

http://www.tombeau.com/art/pics/nyc02.jpg

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 12 August 2004 22:38 (twenty-one years ago)

http://www.tombeau.com/art/pics/nyc02.jpg

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 12 August 2004 22:38 (twenty-one years ago)

http://www.shishido.com/IDC/IDC%2098-99/Astor1a50.jpg

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 12 August 2004 22:40 (twenty-one years ago)

http://www.shishido.com/IDC/IDC%2098-99/astorp7.jpg

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 12 August 2004 22:40 (twenty-one years ago)

haha, that cube.

― RJG (RJG), Thursday, 12 August 2004 22:41 (twenty-one years ago)

http://mq-mapgend.websys.aol.com:80/mqmapgend?MQMapGenRequest=FDR2dmwjDE%3byt29%26FDJnci4Jkqj%2cMMCJ%3aHOEvq%3bw7al6t%3a%29zbwh6t%3a%26%40%24%3a%26%401%3aqyb%3al4b%3aTD%15JFE%3aHOHQJ%3bw7al6z%3a%29zbwh6z%3a%26%40%24%3a%26%40%24x9%40

― Harold Media (kenan), Thursday, 12 August 2004 22:53 (twenty-one years ago)

Is this what it's going to be?

http://www.artnet.com/magazine/news/ntm3/Images/ntm9-1-6.jpg

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 12 August 2004 23:15 (twenty-one years ago)

http://www.brunomoyen.com/nyo/jpeg/11.jpg

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 12 August 2004 23:17 (twenty-one years ago)

(x-post)

That's like the Statue of Zeus at Olympia as rendered by Christo.

― Michael Daddino (epicharmus), Thursday, 12 August 2004 23:18 (twenty-one years ago)

By the way, Alex, I *love* this thread.

― Michael Daddino (epicharmus), Thursday, 12 August 2004 23:19 (twenty-one years ago)

Astor Place in 1947

http://www.nyu.edu/greyart/exhibits/rudy/images/32/32.jpg

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 12 August 2004 23:20 (twenty-one years ago)

http://www.interq.or.jp/snake/ken98/pic/oct12.jpg

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 12 August 2004 23:22 (twenty-one years ago)

http://home.earthlink.net/~qumy/photo.files/astorpl.jpg

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 12 August 2004 23:23 (twenty-one years ago)

http://www.qtvr-movie.com/qtvr/cities/astor.jpg

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 12 August 2004 23:25 (twenty-one years ago)

The New York way: people answering the high demand for housing in 'interesting' neighborhoods by constructing large apartment buildings that completely destroy all the reasons why people thought those neighborhoods were interesting in the first place.

I actually wouldn't mind the building if it wasn't so fucking tall.

― Michael Daddino (epicharmus), Thursday, 12 August 2004 23:28 (twenty-one years ago)

I mean, the scale of the building is completely wrong for its surroundings...it dwarfs everything else!

― Michael Daddino (epicharmus), Thursday, 12 August 2004 23:29 (twenty-one years ago)

Here's a photolog of the building, I think named The Sculpture of Living.

http://pith.org/core/related-astor/

― Carey (Carey), Thursday, 12 August 2004 23:32 (twenty-one years ago)

alex can weigh in on this one too.

http://www.curbed.com/archives/2004/07/23/the_tower_of_bowery.php#more

I, like jbr, am addicted to Curbed.

― Carey (Carey), Thursday, 12 August 2004 23:35 (twenty-one years ago)

Yeah, the Bowery is chock'a'bloc of new, bizarre-o highrises...in fact, i was strolling up that avenue today...

http://homepage.mac.com/alexinnyc/.Pictures/Photo%20Album%20Pictures/2004-08-12%2011.35.12%20-0700/Image-96F9BD7CEC8D11D8.jpg

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 12 August 2004 23:45 (twenty-one years ago)

http://homepage.mac.com/alexinnyc/.Pictures/Photo%20Album%20Pictures/2004-08-12%2011.35.12%20-0700/Image-96F9CB14EC8D11D8.jpg

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 12 August 2004 23:46 (twenty-one years ago)

http://www.alltooflat.com/pranks/cube/cube50.jpg

― Elvis Telecom (Chris Barrus), Friday, 13 August 2004 00:01 (twenty-one years ago)

http://www.visi.com/~johnr/btc/images/cbgb.gif

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Friday, 13 August 2004 00:02 (twenty-one years ago)

The Bowery during last year's blackout

http://www.lockhartsteele.com/blog/archives/bowery.jpg

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Friday, 13 August 2004 00:04 (twenty-one years ago)

Two more days...

― gabbneb (gabbneb), Friday, 13 August 2004 00:07 (twenty-one years ago)

http://www.youresource.com/evcube.jpg

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Friday, 13 August 2004 00:14 (twenty-one years ago)

http://www.photo-exhibits.com/north_america/united_states/images/nyc_east-village_st-marks-place_bw.jpg

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Friday, 13 August 2004 00:16 (twenty-one years ago)

http://gallery.consumerreview.com/photography/gallery/pictures/people0204-2602web.jpg

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Friday, 13 August 2004 00:20 (twenty-one years ago)

I love the Carl Fischer building, because they published quite a few of the books I used for piano lessons.

― tokyo rosemary (rosemary), Friday, 13 August 2004 00:27 (twenty-one years ago)

I loved when the did the rubix cube

― Jimmy Mod, Man About Towne (ModJ), Friday, 13 August 2004 01:26 (twenty-one years ago)

That last picture makes me think the cube is sniffing the old lady to see if she would be good to eat

― TOMBOT, Friday, 13 August 2004 01:37 (twenty-one years ago)

http://www.sitebits.com/newyork/images/photo/astor_cube.jpg

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Friday, 13 August 2004 01:42 (twenty-one years ago)

ihttp://home.earthlink.net/~qumy/photo.files/icecreamcar.jpg

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Friday, 13 August 2004 01:59 (twenty-one years ago)

http://peterkaminski.com/photos/astor-place-20021213.jpg

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Friday, 13 August 2004 02:00 (twenty-one years ago)

This is a great thread, gives a real sense of environ.. ya'know?

― Nellie (nellskies), Friday, 13 August 2004 02:06 (twenty-one years ago)

they have a cube like that on broadway and liberty. there's always someone who has to take a picture making it look like the cube is about to fall on and crush them or something.

― Eisbär (llamasfur), Friday, 13 August 2004 02:08 (twenty-one years ago)

http://www.andyland.com/g/nyc_snow/cooper_square_cab_far.jpg

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Friday, 13 August 2004 02:10 (twenty-one years ago)

ihttp://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.andyland.com/g/nyc_snow/cooper_square_cab_far.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.andyland.com/g/nyc_snow/&h=600&w=800&sz=62&tbnid=87SnRJ3Wk0sJ:&tbnh=106&tbnw=141&start=4&prev=/images%3Fq%3DCooper%2BSquare%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26ie%3DUTF-8%26safe%3Doff

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Friday, 13 August 2004 02:11 (twenty-one years ago)

What about the Mud Truck?

― Jimmy Mod, Man About Towne (ModJ), Friday, 13 August 2004 02:11 (twenty-one years ago)

Hahaha...guess that one's a bit too long.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Friday, 13 August 2004 02:11 (twenty-one years ago)

ihttp://www.seantconrad.com/years/2002/days/pre-sept/cooper.jpg

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Friday, 13 August 2004 02:14 (twenty-one years ago)

ROOOOOXXXOOOOOR!!!

http://www.chenguin.com/movies2.html

― Paul (scifisoul), Friday, 13 August 2004 02:45 (twenty-one years ago)

as for the highrise, like the Glen Canyon dam it must go
Carl Fischer shall be avenged !

― Paul (scifisoul), Friday, 13 August 2004 02:58 (twenty-one years ago)

I hate the highrises. Since I live up in the east 80s, they pretty much dominate the landscape. But I mean, I know why they're there, because people wanna live here and there's money to be made. I'm surprised that the zoning right there allows for one, since they seem to be relatively strict about where you can put up towers. Astor Place seems like it should have some kind of historic protection or something. But zoning always confuses me.

And to make things even worse, I'm actually moving into a 16-story Midtown apartment building, because we need more space. It's not exactly my ideal living environment. But it does have laundry in the basement. And it's on a really ugly block anyway, near the Queensboro bridge, so it's not damaging any urban fabric. (excuses, excuses...)

― spittle (spittle), Friday, 13 August 2004 05:35 (twenty-one years ago)

has anyone noticed that they're building a new westin at the corner of LUDLOW AND RIVINGTON?!?!?!? who the fuck would want to stay there???

― Yanc3y (ystrickler), Friday, 13 August 2004 12:44 (twenty-one years ago)

I dunno, Yanc3, L.E.S. is more and more Westin-demo worthy these days. Going out to drink on Ludlow Street last night only reinforced that feeling.

― hstencil (hstencil), Friday, 13 August 2004 12:49 (twenty-one years ago)

yeah, but that block is a shithole! (aside teany, of course)(you went to that thing with lauren and aaron? i totally forgot about it)

― Yanc3y (ystrickler), Friday, 13 August 2004 12:54 (twenty-one years ago)

Jeex, this is cool thread, I Love NYC, wish to fuck I could live there, even just for a while.

Can anyone tell me anything about the Turtle Bay area? (If indeed it is an area)

― mzui, Friday, 13 August 2004 12:56 (twenty-one years ago)

Isn't the U.N. near there, Yanc3y?

― Carey (Carey), Friday, 13 August 2004 12:57 (twenty-one years ago)

hahaha. hi carey.

― Yanc3y (ystrickler), Friday, 13 August 2004 12:58 (twenty-one years ago)

There was an interview with one of the owners of Luna Lounge where he was talking about having to move from the LES because of super high rents, that retail real estate on Ludlow costs more than on Park Ave.

Wow, I am really hungry right now.

― Carey (Carey), Friday, 13 August 2004 13:05 (twenty-one years ago)

the high rents on Ludlow = Billy Corgan's fault. I'm not making that up.

I'd say, "relax, move to Brooklyn," but y'know, fuck Forest City Ratner.

― hstencil (hstencil), Friday, 13 August 2004 13:08 (twenty-one years ago)

We saw James Iha on the street the other day.

Back to Astor Place, that thing is hella annoying and crap. I agree with Alex.

― Aaron W (Aaron W), Friday, 13 August 2004 13:25 (twenty-one years ago)

how does it = billy corgan's fault?

what's funny is that i've lived on ludlow for three years now, and every year our landlord has LOWERED our rent.

― Yanc3y (ystrickler), Friday, 13 August 2004 13:26 (twenty-one years ago)

he bought that apartment above Max Fish. Think he sold it later, but there you go.

― hstencil (hstencil), Friday, 13 August 2004 13:30 (twenty-one years ago)

I'm going to start blaming Corgan for all real estate woes. Fucker.

― Aaron W (Aaron W), Friday, 13 August 2004 13:34 (twenty-one years ago)

it makes it more fun.

― hstencil (hstencil), Friday, 13 August 2004 13:39 (twenty-one years ago)

btw thanks for the hangout last night Aaron! You and your roommate are treats!

― hstencil (hstencil), Friday, 13 August 2004 13:39 (twenty-one years ago)

That picture WAY upthread Alex linked to of this structure REALLY DOES look like that tower at the end of Time Bandits.

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Friday, 13 August 2004 13:55 (twenty-one years ago)

are you talking about the hotel that's been under construction for ages, yanc3y?

― lauren (laurenp), Friday, 13 August 2004 14:01 (twenty-one years ago)

Nothing on this thread makes any sense except for the awesome historical shots of Astor Place. But maybe that's because Astor Place doesn't make any sense to me, never has. First of all you can only transfer in one direction on the 6 train, there, but maybe that's another thread.

I mean: is that doughy-looking foreskin thing going to be it? Because I'm sorry I think that's just frickin cool! And I guess I can sort of see how it would be too tall, but hey if you're going to create a gigantic foreskin, build big, baby. Don't let anyone forget what that mohel did to you.

It's not like Astor Place was some kind of down-home human-sized place before this started, either. It's been K-Mart, Starbucks, and Crunch gym hell for YEARS now, if you're inclined to see it that way, and I honestly don't see how this is going to make much of a difference in that regard. St. Marks will continue to be the most annoying street in the entire world. As long as they keep the $11 fade barbershop down there under the street I'll be happy—no, HONORED— to walk past a 1:28 rendering of a man's most private surgery on the way to getting my follicles chopped.

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Friday, 13 August 2004 14:48 (twenty-one years ago)

I'm with the Hand

― gabbneb (gabbneb), Friday, 13 August 2004 14:51 (twenty-one years ago)

There are levels of inexplicable beauty on this thread. I really want to visit NYC now.

― jocelyn (Jocelyn), Friday, 13 August 2004 15:08 (twenty-one years ago)

Wow I forgot all about that U.N. conversation.

― Allyzay Science Explosion (allyzay), Friday, 13 August 2004 15:12 (twenty-one years ago)

It's not like Astor Place was some kind of down-home human-sized place before this started, either. It's been K-Mart, Starbucks, and Crunch gym hell for YEARS now

I think what I object to the most about the project are the following:

1. Another great area of open space in Manhattan has vanished (or been severely comprimised).
2. The martini-swiggin', Eurotrash riff-raff it'll bring into the neighborhood.
3. Ian Schrager has enough damn money and enough of a stranglehold on Manhattan already
4. Gentrification sucks
5. I fear change.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Friday, 13 August 2004 16:59 (twenty-one years ago)

6. One less place to park one's car.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Friday, 13 August 2004 17:00 (twenty-one years ago)

4. Gentrification sucks

Gentrify Astor Place?

― Jimmy Mod, Man About Towne (ModJ), Friday, 13 August 2004 17:01 (twenty-one years ago)

I should say: one less place to pay handsomely to park one's car in an exposed, poorly-supervised lot.

I meant gentrification as a whole.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Friday, 13 August 2004 17:01 (twenty-one years ago)

I'm just going to post this pic again, as I think it kicks an entire dinner table of ass!

http://www.desordre.net/photographie/photographes/robert_frank/astor_place.jpg

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Friday, 13 August 2004 17:05 (twenty-one years ago)

I bet the dude in the hat is craving a venti Iced latte right about there.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Friday, 13 August 2004 17:06 (twenty-one years ago)

I just walked past it on the way to the 6 (East Village reprezent) and, again, I agree. It's going to be an eyesore of a building.

― Aaron W (Aaron W), Friday, 13 August 2004 17:07 (twenty-one years ago)

astor place has already had the hell gentrified out of it, as tracer points out. you describe it upthread as "skater kids, gutter punks, irritating NYU'rs and pretentious Cooper Union brats hanging out at the Cube right in front of your lobby, the constant traffic stemming from Lafayette zooming up to 4th Avenue, the constant spillout of human cattle coming in and out of the Astor Place subway station." it's like someone's trying to pave prospect park. the area is a total nightmare anyway. from an urban conservationist perspective, i don't see how this will make it worse. and if you're worried about martini-swigging eurotrash, note that page six ground zero butter has been right there on lafayette street for a while now.

― lauren (laurenp), Friday, 13 August 2004 17:10 (twenty-one years ago)

Oh man fuck people who drive cars in Manhattan.

― hstencil (hstencil), Friday, 13 August 2004 17:14 (twenty-one years ago)

― Red Panda Sanskrit (ex machina), Friday, 13 August 2004 17:18 (twenty-one years ago)

the area is a total nightmare anyway

Well, yeah, but why make it worse?

Butter is awful. For some reason, I'm on their mailing list, and I cannot for the life of me fathom how that came to be.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Friday, 13 August 2004 17:20 (twenty-one years ago)

you knew someone in high school

― gabbneb (gabbneb), Friday, 13 August 2004 17:21 (twenty-one years ago)

Could be. I went to its former incarnation as Belgo (and my wife stole an etched beer glass from them...very naughty), but never to Butter.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Friday, 13 August 2004 17:28 (twenty-one years ago)

http://www.newyorkled.com/sights/villagePublicTheater01.jpg

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Friday, 13 August 2004 18:56 (twenty-one years ago)

http://www.gratefuljoe.com/concerts/blondielandmark-7.jpg

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Friday, 13 August 2004 18:58 (twenty-one years ago)

http://www.readio.com/archives/0304/23/img9.gif

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Friday, 13 August 2004 18:59 (twenty-one years ago)

http://valerian.araneum.ca/Images/newyork/tvaudville.jpg

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Friday, 13 August 2004 19:00 (twenty-one years ago)

http://valerian.araneum.ca/Images/newyork/stmarks.jpg

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Friday, 13 August 2004 19:01 (twenty-one years ago)

http://www.brama.com/news/press/030816blackout2003NYC/thumbs/030814blackout2003vl007people.JPG

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Friday, 13 August 2004 19:02 (twenty-one years ago)

http://www.brama.com/news/press/030816blackout2003NYC/thumbs/030814blackout2003vl003people.JPG

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Friday, 13 August 2004 19:02 (twenty-one years ago)

i http://www.brama.com/news/press/030816blackout2003NYC/thumbs/030814blackout2003vl004people.JPG

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Friday, 13 August 2004 19:03 (twenty-one years ago)

http://www.brama.com/news/press/030816blackout2003NYC/thumbs/030814blackout2003vl004people.JPG

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Friday, 13 August 2004 19:03 (twenty-one years ago)

I'm waiting for the day amusement park-esque mascotts just start roaming the streets of NYC hugging everybody.

― Je4nne ƒury (Jeanne Fury), Friday, 13 August 2004 19:12 (twenty-one years ago)

http://www.offoffoff.com/film/2001/images/downtown81.jpg

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Friday, 13 August 2004 19:24 (twenty-one years ago)

http://www.continentalnyc.com/images/3.jpg

(for those wondering why I'm posting this pic of Nashville Pussy on a thread devoted to Astor Place, The Continental is just to the East of the building site on 3rd Avenue. I was actually at the show, I must confess).

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Friday, 13 August 2004 23:41 (twenty-one years ago)

http://www.continentalnyc.com/images/cont_cd_v1.jpg

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Friday, 13 August 2004 23:42 (twenty-one years ago)

Long gone....

http://webtunes.com/coney/coneys.jpg

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Friday, 13 August 2004 23:43 (twenty-one years ago)

http://www.popsmear.com/popculture/features/22/images/coneyoutside.jpg

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Friday, 13 August 2004 23:45 (twenty-one years ago)

http://www.in-nyc.com/in-bars/images/grassroots-tavern.jpg

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Friday, 13 August 2004 23:48 (twenty-one years ago)

http://www.nycgoth.com/shops/venus_records/venus_records.jpg

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Friday, 13 August 2004 23:49 (twenty-one years ago)

Ah, Alex. Your pics have made me nostalgic for places I pretty much disliked in the first place. Namely Coney Island High ('cept for the great, great Green Door parties in their basement space. Fond memories) and Venus. But - hey - Change, man. 'Tis inevitable.

― Jay Vee (Manon_70), Saturday, 14 August 2004 00:57 (twenty-one years ago)

great Green Door parties in their basement space

I so miss those.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Saturday, 14 August 2004 01:03 (twenty-one years ago)

http://www.beautifulmonde.com/pict/nyc_lower3.jpg

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Saturday, 14 August 2004 01:11 (twenty-one years ago)

http://www.urban75.org/photos/newyork/images/ny376.jpg

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Saturday, 14 August 2004 01:12 (twenty-one years ago)

I walk past the second to last building every day on the way to the subway.

― Aaron W (Aaron W), Saturday, 14 August 2004 01:49 (twenty-one years ago)

And tonight walking past Tower I realized where you get your inspiration for the cover connections! I saw the Los Lobos cover and thought it was that Bunnymen best of.

― Aaron W (Aaron W), Saturday, 14 August 2004 01:50 (twenty-one years ago)

http://homepage.mac.com/alexinnyc/.Pictures/Photo%20Album%20Pictures/2004-08-12%2011.35.12%20-0700/Image-96FA5D9CEC8D11D8.jpg

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Saturday, 14 August 2004 01:53 (twenty-one years ago)

http://homepage.mac.com/alexinnyc/.Pictures/Photo%20Album%20Pictures/2004-08-12%2011.35.12%20-0700/Image-96FA6888EC8D11D8.jpg

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Saturday, 14 August 2004 01:54 (twenty-one years ago)

http://www.afscet.asso.fr/afscetcafe/gaston/astor_place_2.jpg

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Saturday, 14 August 2004 01:56 (twenty-one years ago)

http://www.samsoloman.com/photoalbumn/ny2002/100-0095_IMG.jpg

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Saturday, 14 August 2004 01:57 (twenty-one years ago)

This is making me nostalgic and I fucking live here.

― Jimmy Mod, Man About Towne (ModJ), Saturday, 14 August 2004 01:58 (twenty-one years ago)

http://www.jewishprintsandpaintings.com/images/CityscapeLandscape/BIGastorplacenight.jpg

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Saturday, 14 August 2004 01:59 (twenty-one years ago)

http://www.a4.net/svensk/vykort/vykort01/img01/01_astor.jpg

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Saturday, 14 August 2004 02:00 (twenty-one years ago)

http://www.tokyotales.com/gallery/photos/ny/street/astor31.jpg

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Saturday, 14 August 2004 02:00 (twenty-one years ago)

http://artsavant.com/images/wtcnyc/astorplace02.jpg

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Saturday, 14 August 2004 02:05 (twenty-one years ago)

http://home.flash.net/~ral1/starbucks/bigimages/DSCN3414.jpg

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Saturday, 14 August 2004 02:06 (twenty-one years ago)

http://paperweight.cooper.edu/administration/eas_drafteis/EEKimage.jpg

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Saturday, 14 August 2004 02:07 (twenty-one years ago)

http://www.nycjpg.com/2003/pictures/jpg/0728.c.jpg

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Saturday, 14 August 2004 02:09 (twenty-one years ago)

http://www.bhag.net/2003/2003clayj/vaclayj2003asto.jpg

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Saturday, 14 August 2004 02:11 (twenty-one years ago)

http://nlp.cs.nyu.edu/directions/nyu3.jpg

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Saturday, 14 August 2004 02:11 (twenty-one years ago)

in 1980, apparently...

http://www.godlis.com/street_pages/Images/17.jpg

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Saturday, 14 August 2004 02:19 (twenty-one years ago)

http://www.godlis.com/punk_page1/images/2.jpg

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Saturday, 14 August 2004 02:20 (twenty-one years ago)

http://www.godlis.com/punk_page1/images/15.jpg

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Saturday, 14 August 2004 02:21 (twenty-one years ago)

God, those images make my teeth ache with longing.

― Michael Daddino (epicharmus), Saturday, 14 August 2004 02:22 (twenty-one years ago)

Television on St.Mark's Place...

http://www.godlis.com/punk_page2/images/1.jpg

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Saturday, 14 August 2004 02:22 (twenty-one years ago)

http://www.godlis.com/punk_page3/images/3.jpg

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Saturday, 14 August 2004 02:23 (twenty-one years ago)

http://www.godlis.com/punk_page3/images/8.jpg

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Saturday, 14 August 2004 02:24 (twenty-one years ago)

One of the neighborhoods deservedly less celebrated moments:

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B00000IX6W.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Saturday, 14 August 2004 02:51 (twenty-one years ago)

On a more positive note, Astor Place can be seen in a pivotal scene in "The Takng of Pelham 1-2-3" (a police car carrying the ransom money skids out of control and flips over) and Jean-Michel Basquiat has a bizarre conversation with eccentric artist David McDermott on the corner of 8th street right in-front of the dinner that became Starbucks in "Downtown `81"

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Saturday, 14 August 2004 02:56 (twenty-one years ago)

http://kiatta.blogharbor.com/_photos/joe

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Saturday, 14 August 2004 03:38 (twenty-one years ago)

http://www.rockfest.net/archives/flyers/flyer74.jpg

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Saturday, 14 August 2004 03:45 (twenty-one years ago)

omg: http://www.desordre.net/photographie/photographes/robert_frank/astor_place.jpg

that is roman ahbramovitch.

― cºzen (Cozen), Saturday, 14 August 2004 08:20 (twenty-one years ago)

It's ironic that the great shot of the guy in the snap-brim fedora is in front of... an ugly billboarded monstrosity that blocks the view of the Fischer building!

I'm just praying for a good long recession coupled with a few years of really high gas prices to really rip the heart out of the purportedly "high productivity" tech sector of the economy, for the sole reason that parts of Manhattan may just possibly regress to a wilder, more affordable state. I mean let's face it, the 70s were a bad time for New York, but they were also pretty good. I'd love to see cold-water flats downtown again. We could use the giant foreskin as a printing house.

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Saturday, 14 August 2004 08:31 (twenty-one years ago)

http://www.lightningfield.com/logphotos/0408.jpg

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Saturday, 14 August 2004 09:00 (twenty-one years ago)

http://www.netwrx1.com/CherryAmes/sarahbrandt.jpg

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Saturday, 14 August 2004 09:29 (twenty-one years ago)

http://www.fb10.uni-bremen.de/anglistik/kerkhoff/ContempDrama/AstorPlaceRiot.jpg

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Saturday, 14 August 2004 09:30 (twenty-one years ago)

ihttp://www.1313-studios.com/images/2d/astor2.jpg

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Saturday, 14 August 2004 09:32 (twenty-one years ago)

See, we need more big riots.

I remember when the huge building went up across from Forbidden Planet at Union Square and thinking "oh my Lord." And of course I just walk by it now without noticing. I lived on 46th and 5th and 6th when the new Condé Nast building was being put up. I could see its progress each day, and remember the odd fact that the windows went on the steel frame (or whatever it was made out of) first, before the actual bricks and mortar went on (or whatever the faux-bricks-and-mortar solid-looking part was). So for a few days it was this shiny bug-like box. Then the sudden boredom when it was possible to see what kind of design was taking shape. Shurely the VURST Manhattan construction decision must, after the demolition of Penn Station, be whatever it is that blocks the sunlight from streaming into Grand Central.

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Saturday, 14 August 2004 10:42 (twenty-one years ago)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v134/tracerhand/gcs3.jpg

http://www.darkworldbynight.com/rooms/9012/images/nybn_grand-central-station.jpg

http://arch.ou.edu/arch/2423/Chapter%2026/Grand%20Central%20Station.jpg

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Saturday, 14 August 2004 10:56 (twenty-one years ago)

(the people in the 3rd picture have been partially vaporized by the thranging sun-bolts in the second)

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Saturday, 14 August 2004 11:01 (twenty-one years ago)

Jean-Michel Basquiat has a bizarre conversation with eccentric artist David McDermott on the corner of 8th street right in-front of the dinner that became Starbucks in "Downtown `81"

I remember this scene. Pangs of longing, etc.

― stockholm cindy (Jody Beth Rosen), Saturday, 14 August 2004 11:07 (twenty-one years ago)

I really miss the old Leshko's:

http://www.dyske.com/rest/leshkos-original-4.jpg

― stockholm cindy (Jody Beth Rosen), Saturday, 14 August 2004 11:10 (twenty-one years ago)

Throngs of longing pangings, thranging! Go on strong, young womang. Clanging wrongs have long gone on.

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Saturday, 14 August 2004 11:13 (twenty-one years ago)

Shurely the VURST Manhattan construction decision must, after the demolition of Penn Station, be whatever it is that blocks the sunlight from streaming into Grand Central.

the Chrysler building?

― gabbneb (gabbneb), Saturday, 14 August 2004 14:01 (twenty-one years ago)

Yes exactly, it's a modern monstrosity.

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Saturday, 14 August 2004 15:41 (twenty-one years ago)

Fuck fucking Grand Central. They've got the constellations on ceiling BACKWARDS.

― Michael Daddino (epicharmus), Saturday, 14 August 2004 15:44 (twenty-one years ago)

I'm just praying for a good long recession coupled with a few years of really high gas prices to really rip the heart out of the purportedly "high productivity" tech sector of the economy..

Hello, where have you been the past three years Traitor?!?!?

Personally, I would like the economy, and more importantly the labor market, to recover.

― hstencil (hstencil), Saturday, 14 August 2004 17:29 (twenty-one years ago)

http://jupiter.walagata.com/w/alexinnyc/screenshot_02.jpg

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Saturday, 14 August 2004 17:32 (twenty-one years ago)

also there's some sort of reason why the constellations are on backwards, it was explained to me once, but I've forgotten.

― hstencil (hstencil), Saturday, 14 August 2004 17:33 (twenty-one years ago)

http://jupiter.walagata.com/w/alexinnyc/screenshot_04.jpg

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Saturday, 14 August 2004 17:33 (twenty-one years ago)

http://jupiter.walagata.com/w/alexinnyc/screenshot_05.jpg

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Saturday, 14 August 2004 17:35 (twenty-one years ago)

also there's some sort of reason why the constellations are on backwards, it was explained to me once, but I've forgotten

Yes, there is a reason, and it's not a very good one.

― Michael Daddino (epicharmus), Saturday, 14 August 2004 17:52 (twenty-one years ago)

That's crazy.

stence, how to explain the continuing popularity of luxury flats etc. The heart may have been ripped out but the garlic is not working.

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Saturday, 14 August 2004 19:34 (twenty-one years ago)

Still ridiculously low interest rates explain it. On the one hand, when rates rise more (and they will), that might get rid of the hubris, but it will also destroy the ability of non-high rollers to buy a house in this town (which is already pretty fucking difficult). I don't understand, though, why you'd ACTIVELY wish for things to be worse. Speaking as someone who was unemployed for 10 months and is now working at a job that pays me 50% less than what I used to make (with the same level of aggravation, pretty much), I think that's kind of a bullshit, immature way to look at things. And there are PLENTY of people way way way way worse off than me (at least I'm working) - in hard times, people at the bottom feel it much more than people at the top. Which is also kinda why this thread bugs me, to be honest: at least Alex and his family have some freakin' equity, and own their apartment. I'll NEVER be able to afford to own in New York City, even in an outer borough. So stop bitching about some dumb high-rise, esp. when you COULD HAVE done something to stop it. Developments don't come out of nowhere - they have to have the tacit approval of the community. Don't bitch at the rest of us because you failed to uphold your end of the social contract.

― hstencil (hstencil), Saturday, 14 August 2004 20:21 (twenty-one years ago)

PS. thanks for the link Michael.

― hstencil (hstencil), Saturday, 14 August 2004 20:22 (twenty-one years ago)

at least Alex and his family have some freakin' equity, and own their apartment.

For now, but this is invariably our final stop in Manhattan. Failing the option of Brooklyn, hello suburbs, here we come.

Developments don't come out of nowhere - they have to have the tacit approval of the community. Don't bitch at the rest of us because you failed to uphold your end of the social contract.

To be fair, there was a grassroots movement afoot too block this, but the land is owned by Cooper Union (who, you'd have thought, more than anyone else, would've had more respect for the sanctity of the neighborhood). It's their land. If they want to sell it to Ian Schrager, who was really going to stop them?

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Saturday, 14 August 2004 21:24 (twenty-one years ago)

these are hard fights, but I don't think communities are completely out of luck vs. developers. Of course, I may feel differently if Bruce Ratner gets his way.

― hstencil (hstencil), Saturday, 14 August 2004 21:29 (twenty-one years ago)

Always nice talking with ya, stence.

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Saturday, 14 August 2004 21:49 (twenty-one years ago)

sorry if it offends you, Tracer, but I can't not say how I feel about this. I had pretty much the same opinion as yours during the halcyon days of the late 1990s, and looking back I just find it shameful. Sorry if it rubs you the wrong way, but hey, that's life on ye olde ILXe.

― hstencil (hstencil), Saturday, 14 August 2004 21:51 (twenty-one years ago)

ihttp://homepage.mac.com/alexinnyc/.Pictures/Photo%20Album%20Pictures/2004-08-14%2016.49.59%20-0700/Image-74234532EE4B11D8.jpg

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Saturday, 14 August 2004 22:29 (twenty-one years ago)

Well I can't not, either! Why do you think it's shameful to want overinflated media wages to come down to something that more approximates the contribution made by the labor they represent? I don't want to the economy to do BAD. I want us to change our definition of "good" if in a "good" economy all the waiters in a city to have to commute an hour to work because they can't afford to actually live there. Now I know it's a leap to say that high rents are the exclusive consequence of overpaid mediosos. I really just threw that out there so that somebody could tell me why the same studios I saw for $800 less than a decade ago are going for twice that much now. Low interest rates? See, that's something that economist say is economically stimulative, so how come I'm not feelin stimulated?

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Saturday, 14 August 2004 23:12 (twenty-one years ago)

Nice shot, Alex!

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Saturday, 14 August 2004 23:14 (twenty-one years ago)

Thanks, Trace. Took that this afternoon...along with...

ihttp://homepage.mac.com/alexinnyc/.Pictures/Photo%20Album%20Pictures/2004-08-14%2016.49.59%20-0700/Image-74242ADEEE4B11D8.jpg

ihttp://homepage.mac.com/alexinnyc/.Pictures/Photo%20Album%20Pictures/2004-08-14%2016.49.59%20-0700/Image-74243493EE4B11D8.jpg

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Saturday, 14 August 2004 23:31 (twenty-one years ago)

1974

http://www.digitaljournalist.org/issue0402/images/at/000.jpg

2004

http://homepage.mac.com/alexinnyc/.Pictures/Photo%20Album%20Pictures/2004-08-14%2016.49.59%20-0700/Image-74243E2EEE4B11D8.jpg

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Saturday, 14 August 2004 23:38 (twenty-one years ago)

ihttp://homepage.mac.com/alexinnyc/.Pictures/Photo%20Album%20Pictures/2004-08-14%2016.49.59%20-0700/Image-74243493EE4B11D8.jpg

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Sunday, 15 August 2004 14:40 (twenty-one years ago)

Why do you think it's shameful to want overinflated media wages to come down to something that more approximates the contribution made by the labor they represent?

I have a media job that doesn't pay shit. The average for media jobs in NYC is something like $60K, I saw that figure somewhere recently, so I don't think it's media people buying up all the real estate.

I don't want to the economy to do BAD. I want us to change our definition of "good" if in a "good" economy all the waiters in a city to have to commute an hour to work because they can't afford to actually live there.

That's a lot different from saying you want a prolonged recession and high gas prices, which certainly would be indicators of a badly performing economy. And though I am for high gas prices (in order to wean Americans off the automobile), I have no doubt that they impact your hypothetical waiter much more than, say, the wealthy investment banker commuting in from NJ.

Now I know it's a leap to say that high rents are the exclusive consequence of overpaid mediosos. I really just threw that out there so that somebody could tell me why the same studios I saw for $800 less than a decade ago are going for twice that much now. Low interest rates?

Rents are high because property taxes are high, because of the vanishing surpluses at the federal, state and local levels (Bush, Pataki and Giuliani are to blame). And because, it's New York, people will pay high rent to live here, esp. in areas they consider "glamorous" or "like Friends or whatever."

As for a correlation between interest rates and property taxes, well low interest rates spur development, but developers gotta pay those higher property taxes somehow.

See, that's something that economist say is economically stimulative, so how come I'm not feelin stimulated?

Because, like me, you don't own. Maybe if we were landlords, we'd feel differently, I dunno.

― hstencil (hstencil), Sunday, 15 August 2004 19:56 (twenty-one years ago)

i talked about this with some friends yesterday who have been living downtown since the late 70s or early 80s. one lived in alphabet city, the other on first avenue at 4th street (the former moved to gramercy in the early 90s, the latter still lives in the area). it's sad to think that there hasn't been much balance found between the unbridled development/gentrification of recent years and what their experience was at the time - it may have been cheap but both of them frequently feared for their lives. where's the progressive urban planning? obv things like this high-rise are distasteful, but is a scenario in which cabs won't go further east than second avenue (like in the good old artistic days) a better alternative? i can't believe that it comes down to boom and bust cycles that mean avaricious, poorly thought out expansion until the bottom drops out and things revert to chaos in wait for the next development in the tech sector.

― lauren (laurenp), Sunday, 15 August 2004 19:56 (twenty-one years ago)

one month passes...

Just walked by it again about five minutes ago. It's gettin' huger and huger.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Tuesday, 5 October 2004 21:44 (twenty-one years ago)

yep. It's frickin huge!!

doesn't really fit well at all. i walk past it almost every day to get to class.

― lemin (lemin), Tuesday, 5 October 2004 22:18 (twenty-one years ago)

one month passes...

http://www.artnet.com/magazine/news/ntm3/Images/ntm9-1-6.jpg

It still looks nothing like this.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Friday, 12 November 2004 03:13 (twenty-one years ago)

It's now beginning to be clad with mirror-windows and oh man. Oh man. I had no idea it was going to look that shitty.

― Michael Daddino (epicharmus), Friday, 12 November 2004 03:23 (twenty-one years ago)

This thread is making me think about playing katamari damacy

― TOMBOT, Friday, 12 November 2004 03:25 (twenty-one years ago)

It's like your average suburban 70's-80's office building except that it's got a top hat it goes concave a little. Whoop-de-shit.

And speaking solely in terms of craftsmanship, it looks awfully shoddy upclose -- the window frames seem awkwardly aligned. Bet it'll be prone to drafts in the winter.

― Michael Daddino (epicharmus), Friday, 12 November 2004 03:28 (twenty-one years ago)

So what happened to the Cube?

― Markelby (Mark C), Friday, 12 November 2004 14:51 (twenty-one years ago)

Alex, if you're going to be stupid enough to pay $$ to live in that neighborhood, anyway, you might as well live in luxury.

What that place might have included that your place probably doesn't:
• soundproof apartments
• elevators
• door man
• gym
• laundry room
• door man
• return on investment

― Superrationalizer, Friday, 12 November 2004 16:11 (twenty-one years ago)

Don't forget the door man!

― Door man, Friday, 12 November 2004 16:13 (twenty-one years ago)

hey, is this the one that had the article about it in New York magazine?

― teeny (teeny), Friday, 12 November 2004 17:07 (twenty-one years ago)

I don't live in New York, but from the descriptions the cube isn't being touched. Is that right, or are they redoing that little island?

― You've Got to Pick Up Every Stitch (tracerhand), Friday, 12 November 2004 17:08 (twenty-one years ago)

http://www.newyorkmetro.com/nymetro/arts/architecture/10183/index.html

― teeny (teeny), Friday, 12 November 2004 17:18 (twenty-one years ago)

The cube will remain (it's still featured in their design plan, I believe).

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Friday, 12 November 2004 17:25 (twenty-one years ago)

The cube will remain but it will now carry advertising and there will be a small fee to spin it.

― Paul Eater (eater), Friday, 12 November 2004 17:35 (twenty-one years ago)

one month passes...

the more they finish the building, the more i like it. I mean, hell no I wouldn't wanna live there because of the noize either, but a lot of the other buildings in astor place are hella ugly. the cooper union science building! crappy pizza and bagel and felafel places on 3rd and st. marks (not to mention the continental club)! ugly starbucks awnings! good riddance, i say.

― hstencil (hstencil), Saturday, 8 January 2005 07:32 (twenty-one years ago)

the more they finish the building, the more i like it

I hate to admit it, but I think I'm starting to agree. However, I'm disappointed that it doesn't, in fact, look anything like this:

http://www.artnet.com/magazine/news/ntm3/Images/ntm9-1-6.jpg

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Saturday, 8 January 2005 09:15 (twenty-one years ago)

I do love this thread, it must be said. I am a slave to nostalgia.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Saturday, 8 January 2005 09:19 (twenty-one years ago)

Is this the one with the giant sign outside that says something like "UNDULATING. POSH. ENORMOUS."? I didn't like the use of the word undulating to describe a building.

― roxymuzak (roxymuzak), Saturday, 8 January 2005 15:31 (twenty-one years ago)

I've been meaning to post that now that the windows are up, I don't mind the building too much either.

― Aaron W (Aaron W), Saturday, 8 January 2005 16:31 (twenty-one years ago)

i like it better than the big boxes they've built on Houston Street, anyways.

― hstencil (hstencil), Saturday, 8 January 2005 21:30 (twenty-one years ago)

lauren's post = OTM

― Lixi Swank (tracerhand), Saturday, 8 January 2005 21:56 (twenty-one years ago)

I want to check this out when I'm in NYC.

― Danzig and Jeanne-Claude (deangulberry), Saturday, 8 January 2005 22:27 (twenty-one years ago)

um, i wouldn't mind living there.

― phil-two (phil-two), Saturday, 8 January 2005 23:09 (twenty-one years ago)

especially if someone else were paying my rent

― phil-two (phil-two), Saturday, 8 January 2005 23:09 (twenty-one years ago)

are there any current pictures of this thing?

― kyle (akmonday), Saturday, 8 January 2005 23:36 (twenty-one years ago)

I'll take some soon.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Sunday, 9 January 2005 02:21 (twenty-one years ago)

two months pass...

The Cube is GONE!!!!

http://homepage.mac.com/alexinnyc/.Pictures/Photo%20Album%20Pictures/2005-03-15%2014.45.21%20-0800/Image-04C023DC95A311D9.jpg

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Tuesday, 15 March 2005 23:01 (twenty-one years ago)

whoa, what??!?

― hstencil (hstencil), Tuesday, 15 March 2005 23:05 (twenty-one years ago)

(it went out for a bite to eat but will be back in a few weeks)

― gabbneb (gabbneb), Tuesday, 15 March 2005 23:07 (twenty-one years ago)

http://www.gothamist.com/archives/2005/03/14/astor_cube_replacement.php

― lychee mello (Jody Beth Rosen), Tuesday, 15 March 2005 23:10 (twenty-one years ago)

good riddance!

― phil-two (phil-two), Tuesday, 15 March 2005 23:10 (twenty-one years ago)

If you really miss it you come see it in Ann Arbor, where we have an identical one.

― mitch dub (ano ano), Wednesday, 16 March 2005 02:05 (twenty-one years ago)

b-b-b-b-but I just saw some refugees pretending to be dead right next to it!

― Darius Rucker Lookalike (deangulberry), Wednesday, 16 March 2005 02:07 (twenty-one years ago)

How about the swiftly sprouting mid-rise at Houston and Chrystie, soon to introduce Whole Foods to the East Village?

― Paul Eater (eater), Wednesday, 16 March 2005 05:17 (twenty-one years ago)

that building pisses me off, because I often work for a friend who has a studio on chrystie, and since they tore up that intersection it's hard to get around.

― hstencil (hstencil), Wednesday, 16 March 2005 05:19 (twenty-one years ago)

http://www.villagevoice.com/nyclife/0509,bpress,61613,15.html

― Mary (Mary), Wednesday, 16 March 2005 06:37 (twenty-one years ago)

I like how, in that area, you can see another Starbucks from inside a Starbucks.

― David Allen (David Allen), Wednesday, 16 March 2005 14:41 (twenty-one years ago)

In Providence RI, I think there is a street corner where 3 dunkin donuts are visible.

― Dr. Eldon Tyrell (ex machina), Wednesday, 16 March 2005 15:03 (twenty-one years ago)

Remember that Dunkin Donuts commercial, the last one with the Time to Make the Donuts guy, where he dreams that another version of himself already made the donuts?

― David Allen (David Allen), Wednesday, 16 March 2005 15:20 (twenty-one years ago)

Mary, thanks for posting that link. I was trying to make sense of a lyric by Lloyd Cole in his work with the Negatives that mentions Astor Place. The article changes the context, as I imagined it.

― youn, Wednesday, 16 March 2005 15:33 (twenty-one years ago)

Really great thread. I have a lot of memories of meeting people at the Astor Place Cube. That new building does seem annoying...

― Michael F Gill (Michael F Gill), Wednesday, 16 March 2005 15:49 (twenty-one years ago)

WTF, this is like bizarro world.

― Je4nne ƒury (Jeanne Fury), Wednesday, 16 March 2005 16:01 (twenty-one years ago)

aw, that cube.

― RJG (RJG), Wednesday, 16 March 2005 16:03 (twenty-one years ago)

Fuck, no more cube :(

Your search - borg cube nyc - did not match any documents.

― Dr. Eldon Tyrell (ex machina), Wednesday, 16 March 2005 16:03 (twenty-one years ago)

Never liked that cube / corner, and actually like the new building.

― paulhw (paulhw), Wednesday, 16 March 2005 16:07 (twenty-one years ago)

Anyone know what the rents are in that thing?

― Matthew Weiss, Monday, 21 March 2005 02:36 (twenty-one years ago)

Dude, the ad copy on the side of this thing is hilarious:

"SCULPTURE FOR LIVING: Undulating. Provocative. Abstract. Reflective."

Abstract??? Undulating???

― Hurting (Hurting), Wednesday, 30 March 2005 15:20 (twenty-one years ago)

If the building is going to undulate, let me out first, kay? Bye.

― Hurting (Hurting), Wednesday, 30 March 2005 15:49 (twenty-one years ago)

The building, I think, was supposed to look like this....
http://www.artnet.com/magazine/news/ntm3/Images/ntm9-1-6.jpg

...which explains the undulation theory. However, rather yawnsomely, it actually just ended up looking like this:

http://homepage.mac.com/alexinnyc/.Pictures/Photo%20Album%20Pictures/2005-03-30%2016.07.30%20-0800/Image-F3FEAEE6A17711D9.jpg

Now, granted, this picture doesn't really do it justice, but it quite clearly demonstrates that any architecturally sensuous undulation is quite out of the question. It basically looks like a giant tube of blue shampoo that divides the East Village from the Village.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Wednesday, 30 March 2005 23:10 (twenty-one years ago)

I will definitely see this in May when I'm out there 'cause my gf has clients at Lafayette & E4th. It doesn't look like much, right now.

― M. White (Miguelito), Wednesday, 30 March 2005 23:18 (twenty-one years ago)

Alex, that kind of looks like a tree.

― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Wednesday, 30 March 2005 23:20 (twenty-one years ago)

i.e. do you have a more complete pic?

― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Wednesday, 30 March 2005 23:21 (twenty-one years ago)

Not at the moment, but stay tuned.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Wednesday, 30 March 2005 23:52 (twenty-one years ago)

But in the interim, the building in questino is behind that tree.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Wednesday, 30 March 2005 23:52 (twenty-one years ago)

Che?

― M. White (Miguelito), Wednesday, 30 March 2005 23:58 (twenty-one years ago)

Yes, I know. I was being clever.

― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Wednesday, 30 March 2005 23:59 (twenty-one years ago)

Yes, I know, and I was being a smartass.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 31 March 2005 00:00 (twenty-one years ago)

I should have known!

― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Thursday, 31 March 2005 00:04 (twenty-one years ago)

Some very recent pics....

http://homepage.mac.com/alexinnyc/.Pictures/Photo%20Album%20Pictures/2005-04-06%2006.31.21%20-0700/Image-0263BF52A6A011D9.jpg

http://homepage.mac.com/alexinnyc/.Pictures/Photo%20Album%20Pictures/2005-04-06%2006.31.21%20-0700/Image-0263E3B8A6A011D9.jpg

Further down the Bowery, CBGB's is getting squeezed like the proverbial zit.

http://homepage.mac.com/alexinnyc/.Pictures/Photo%20Album%20Pictures/2005-04-06%2006.31.21%20-0700/Image-0263F850A6A011D9.jpg

That eyesore of an NYU dorm occupies this old space...

http://www.globevisions.com/images/amato%20opera/bowery.jpg

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Wednesday, 6 April 2005 12:37 (twenty-one years ago)

Wow, i never realized how out of place that useless dorm looks

― lemin (lemin), Wednesday, 6 April 2005 19:16 (twenty-one years ago)

The "sculpture for living" looks like three bad office buildings in one.

― Brian Miller (Brian Miller), Wednesday, 6 April 2005 19:24 (twenty-one years ago)

very ugly.

― RJG (RJG), Wednesday, 6 April 2005 19:26 (twenty-one years ago)

bleccchhhh. Having that building there really diminishes the public space -- the non-building entity of the old parking lot did a lot to open up the area that the developers may have overlooked in their planning. I mean, the openness is desirable -- but you lose it when you build on it.

― 57 7th (calstars), Wednesday, 6 April 2005 19:31 (twenty-one years ago)

space that provides only enjoyment is "unproductive".

― RJG (RJG), Wednesday, 6 April 2005 19:51 (twenty-one years ago)

i.e. I'm sure the developers thought about it.

― RJG (RJG), Wednesday, 6 April 2005 19:53 (twenty-one years ago)

three weeks pass...

Zoe of NYC Magic Garden fame writes:

In 1748, what is now Lafayette and Astor Place, was New York City's first botanical garden, established by a Swiss physician, Jacob Sperry, who farmed flowers and hothouse plants. A mile from what was then the edge of the city, Sperry's gardens became the destination of weekend strollers. In 1804 Sperry sold his gardens to John Jacob Astor, who then leased the property to a Frenchman named Delacroix, who transformed the property into the fashionable Vauxhall Garden, where New Yorkers could sniff flowers as well as eat, drink, listen to music (just like the buskers playing at the big black Cube in the 80s), and view fireworks and theatrical events.

By 1825, with real estate values skyrocketing on nearby Bond, Bleecker, and Great Jones streets, Astor cut the street, reducing the garden to half its size, which created Lafayette Place. Astor realized a great profit for the lots here, named LaGrange Terrace. Four of the original nine “mansions” remain as Colonnade Row - they're those Greek Revival townhouses housing Blue Man Group that you'd kill to live in. The other five were destroyed in 1902 to make way for an annex to Wanamaker’s Department Store.

In honor of Shakespeare's birthday, which is sometime around now, let's learn a little about one of the most infamous associations with Astor Place - the Astor Riot on May 10, 1849. Years after heated anti-English sentiment, NYC witnessed one of the most violent confrontations in the city's history - an angry mob of Irish and German workers and nativists (that's us folks!) descended upon the Astor Place Opera House during a staging of Macbeth, to protest the appearance of the English Shakespearean actor, William Charles Macready, a fancy aristocrat who was thought to look down upon Americans as "boorish and uncultured." Us? The protesters were there in support of Edwin Forrest, an American-born Shakespearean actor who was fiercely patriotic, epitomized the democratic ideals of America and did not want to be dominated by elite outsiders. Hmmm, sounds like the MAGIC GARDEN. Forrest was the first American-born actor to become an international celebrity and by the mid-nineteenth century was earning $2,000 a week. And he was idolized.

Here's how it started - the Astor Place Opera House was built in 1847 by a group of philanthropists at the juncture of Broadway and the Bowery. Broadway was a playground for the wealthy. The Bowery was lined with saloons and boarding houses. Remember a few years ago? Sigh. There was dress code at the Astor Place Opera, white gloves and silk vest, which offended the locals - in particular, the "Bowery B'hoys," a gang of Irish and German working class toughs who felt that such elitist standards violated the basic principles of the American democracy, and they pretty much hated the English and all things aristocratic. The Opera House served as a divisive emblem, which pitted the leisure class against the laboring class. One look at the Bowery today and this schism is still frighteningly apparent.

On May 7, 1849, the evening when the three leading theaters in the city presented Macbeth, the Astor Place Opera House was packed with Forrest supporters, who interrupted Macready the Brit's performance with yelling, throwing of rotten eggs, potatoes, and chairs, and all around misbehaving. After his performance, Macready announced that he would leave the city. But the upper class community of NYC was outraged and a petition decrying the antics of the Forrest supporters was signed by 48 prominent New Yorkers, including Washington Irving and Herman Melville (who is a distant relative of musician and vegan Moby, born Richard Melville Hall) and sent to Macready as well as local newspapers. Macready was promised protection and support and so he agreed to perform. Signs were posted around the city announcing his appearance in Macbeth on the night of May 10, 1849, but some of the rowdy Bowery B'hoys also posted notices, urging a protest during Macready's performance. In preparation, a police force of 250 was stationed in and around the Opera House. The doors and windows of the theater were closed and barricaded, and the National Guard was put on alert.

And so, on May 10, a volatile crowd of 10,000 and 15,000 people assembled in the streets outside the Astor Place Opera House. They began throwing stones and broken pieces of brick at the police outside, and as the police took refuge inside, the mob began hurling stones at the windows, destroying the flimsy barricades, and hitting the audience. The mob dispersed only when the National Guardsmen opened fire. It is said that 23 people died, and over 100 were wounded, including 50 to 70 police officers. It was the first time that American troops had ever fired on Americans. New York City and the nation were devastated. In the days following the Riot, rallies were held in Washington Square Park to protest the killings. The National Guard troops kept vigil at the Astor Place Opera House to prevent further violence. For three days after, the city remained under martial law (that's a state in which all civil laws, rights and liberties are suspended and the military has direct rule). Sort of like that comforting feeling we had during the RNC, when we were greeted on our daily commute by stern-faced, gigantic-gunned toting, camouflaged-clad youngsters on the subway and throughout the streets, all in the name of patriotism.

Remembered as the site of a massacre, the Astor Place Opera house never recovered. In 1854, the building was converted into the Mercantile Library Building, and then was home to the Chinese consulate in the 1920s. Later the District 65 Building, which housed the National Writer's Union for more than 50 years. I think it's now the highly respectable Kinkos and Starbucks. Starbuck was the name of the first mate in Melville's Moby Dick. Melville spent 19 years as a customs inspector on the New York docks. And this building, if it's not already, will soon be available if you want to spend 4 million dollars on a condo.

― 57 7th (calstars), Wednesday, 27 April 2005 17:54 (twenty-one years ago)

I read something snarky somewhere about how these condos are a great deal because it's the only place in the neighborhood you won't have a view of the "Sculpture For Living"!

― teeny (teeny), Wednesday, 27 April 2005 18:28 (twenty-one years ago)

Paul Goldberger on Astor Place:

http://www.newyorker.com/critics/skyline/articles/050502crsk_skyline

― Brian Miller (Brian Miller), Wednesday, 27 April 2005 18:29 (twenty-one years ago)

What an utterly obnoxious building. I *want* to like it, I really do, and I can see that it's trying hard to endear itself to me, but I can't stop wanting to slap the living shit out of it.

― happy fun ball (kenan), Wednesday, 27 April 2005 18:43 (twenty-one years ago)

the more things change, the more things change

― hstencil (hstencil), Wednesday, 27 April 2005 19:05 (twenty-one years ago)

two years pass...

um:

http://observer.cast.advomatic.com/files/imagecache/article/files/cooperunion2_1.jpg

― Tracer Hand, Thursday, 14 February 2008 17:34 (eighteen years ago)

ah, nostalgia for the naivete of '04...

― Dr Morbius, Thursday, 14 February 2008 17:37 (eighteen years ago)

OH FUCK

― Catsupppppppppppppp dude 茄蕃, Thursday, 14 February 2008 17:38 (eighteen years ago)

lol

― dmr, Thursday, 14 February 2008 17:42 (eighteen years ago)

I thought that was a skating rink for a minute!

― Catsupppppppppppppp dude 茄蕃, Thursday, 14 February 2008 17:43 (eighteen years ago)

coopafeller ice emporium

― dmr, Thursday, 14 February 2008 17:45 (eighteen years ago)

what is it, the Fortress of Solitude?

― Dr Morbius, Thursday, 14 February 2008 17:46 (eighteen years ago)

The folks involved with a new building at 51 Astor Place sent out a rendering of the proposed tower last night, and it seems architect Fumihiko Maki plans a building rather reminiscent of his planned Tower 4 at the World Trade Center (a.k.a. 150 Greenwich Street), with a corrugated facade and distinct angles. The site sits just across from the school’s signature 1859 Cooper Union Foundation Building.
Cooper Union has entered into a long-term lease for the site, currently an engineering building, with Edward J. Minskoff Equities, which will build and own the planned 440,000-square-foot mixed-use building. Studley’s Woody Heller represented Cooper Union on the deal.

― Tracer Hand, Thursday, 14 February 2008 17:48 (eighteen years ago)

This will look about a thousand times better than the Sculpture For Living.

― I DIED, Thursday, 14 February 2008 18:16 (eighteen years ago)

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2400/2264875399_92f7ee38b3.jpg

― eater, Thursday, 14 February 2008 19:49 (eighteen years ago)

i'm still sort of bummed out that the shrouded, cloth-draped model of the sculpture for living as it appeared just before its unveiling wasn't the actual design of the building

― Tracer Hand, Thursday, 14 February 2008 20:08 (eighteen years ago)

People suck.

― Alex in NYC, Monday, 18 February 2008 18:05 (eighteen years ago)

i had to work in the show/sales room for the new phillipe st4rck building in gramercy yesterday. that place is bonkers. i stared at a huge rhino head all day and had to wear all black.

― Yerac, Monday, 18 February 2008 18:08 (eighteen years ago)

waht the hell

― Hurting 2, Monday, 18 February 2008 18:08 (eighteen years ago)

I miss the old NY a bit and think the Astor Place thing is great.

― gabbneb, Monday, 18 February 2008 18:09 (eighteen years ago)

i stared at a huge rhino head all day and had to wear all black.

this will soon be compulsory at every workplace below 14th st and above canal

― Tracer Hand, Monday, 18 February 2008 18:12 (eighteen years ago)

people kept asking if the rhino was real, I had no clue and just said I didn't think rhino skin was that monochromatic. it was the most ridiculous temp job I think I have ever had. I got a ridiculous amount of money to sit at a desk with nothing on it and give people St4rck water when they showed up for their appts.

― Yerac, Monday, 18 February 2008 18:15 (eighteen years ago)

lol imperialism

― Tracer Hand, Monday, 18 February 2008 18:16 (eighteen years ago)

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