Greenwich Village Block Associations News An Occasional Publication of the Greenwich Village Block Associations & An Open Community Forum Volume 6, Number 1 www.gvba.org Autumn— 2005 Members: Bedford, Barrow, Commerce • Bedford Downing • Bleecker Area Merchants & Residents • Carmine Street• Central Village (Cornelia, Barrow, Jones) • Charles Street • Charlton Street • Christopher Street Block & Merchants • Christopher Street East • East 8th/9th Street • East 10th Street • East 11th Street • East 12th/13th Street • Far West Bank Street • Far West 10th Street • Grove Street • Horatio Street • Jane Street • MacDougal Alley • MacDougal Street North • Minetta • Morton Street Mulry Angle/ West 11th • New West 4th Street • Perry Street • St. Luke’s Place • Upper West 13th Street • Washington Place • Washington Sq./Lower 5th Ave. • Waverly • Waverly Bank 11 Neighbors • West Houston Street • West 8th Street • West 9th Street • West 10th Street • West 12th Street • West 13th St (100 Block) The Fountain & TWO SQUARES: Memory Lane the Ghost of Robert Moses ORPHANS IN A STORM n the winter of 1965 John and Mi- by Luther Harris by Shirley Secunda Ichelle Phillips of the Mamas and he iconic Washington Square hen Mulry Square’s reconstruction Papas were staying at the Hotel Earle at Tfountain and arch are the park’s Wwas completed in 2001, Villagers 103 Waverly Place (now the Washington signature ensemble. Since the park’s sighed in relief. Mulry, the confusing Square Hotel). The gloomy skies and 1970 redesign the fountain has become a intersection of West 11th St., 7th and seasonal chill dampened their spirits and world famous gathering and performance Greenwich Aves., had daunted pedestrians inspired John to write California Drea- space. NYC Parks plans to destroy it for years. Ultra-wide street crossings, min’ which shifted their career into high employing specious claims and scare traffi c in 6 directions, poor sight lines gear. The name of the church where they tactics redolent of the Robert Moses era. and high-speed turns had led to a host of stopped and prayed remains a mystery. (Moses claimed that, should his roadway pedestrian accidents, including the tragic April 18, 1938 was a through the square be denied, nearby death of a mother and child hit by a truck “fowl” day on Greenwich streets would be clogged with cars — a as they crossed Greenwich Ave. Ave. near Bank St. Spar- ruse that failed. The community begged rows and pigeons feasted NYU’s 1990 study Drawing a the Department of on 3 tons of canary seed. Circle in the Square analyzed this Transportation (DOT) Firemen, fi ghting the blaze fountain phenomenon. Over a 4 year to fi x this deathtrap. In of a burning truck, were period, using time lapse photography, 1994 a concrete plan for forced to throw cartons of seed into the the study observed the gathering improvement had been street; neighborhood birds soon heard the and dispersing crowds among the initiated by the non-profi t good news. fountain, statues and abutments. planning and design group, Visitors numbered 19,000 on a typical Project for Public Spaces. This .... a sensational account of a mysterious (Cont’d on page 7) (Cont’d on page 6) (Cont’d on page 2) These good neighbor businesses wish you a wonderful autumn! Hudson Bagels, 502 Hudson St., (near Christopher), NYC. 10014 — Bagels made on the premises — special soups made with organic vegetables & spring water. beard papa’s —fresh’n natural cream puffs — since 1952, 5 Carmine Street, NYC 10014, Tel: 212.989.8855, www.muginoho.com Sarsen Realty, 39 Carmine St., NYC 10014, Tel: 917.416.3593. “Managing agents for 31, 33, 39, 41, 43, 63 Carmine Street” Rooms To Let (Featured in Allan Sperry’s New York’s 100 Best Wonderful Little Hotels), 83 Horatio St, NYC,10014, Tel: 212.675.5481, FAX: 212.675.943, www.roomstolet.net — Innkeeper: Marjorie Colt Yamuna: Body Rolling — Body Logic — Pilates — YBR Yoga 132 Perry Street, NYC 10014 Tel:212.633.2143 www.yamunastudio.com Businesses that support community efforts deserve neighborhood support. Page 2 No PEP Cheer Here public recreational spaces should display Mini News by Lynn Pacifi co common sense when dealing with park On Thursday, June 23 the GVBA held One morning a woman and her 7 pound users. Minor infractions should not elicit a forum for the Manhattan Borough dog stroll on pier 34. No one is around a heavy handed response; it often seems President candidates at the Village Com- except for two men on a bench. There is that offi cers make up their own rules. munity School on West 10th Street. As- no run for small dogs along the Hudson After all, their purpose is to make our semblymember Scott Stringer won the River Park; she lets it off the leash. The park experience pleasant and safe. It Democratic primary and faces Republi- men walk briskly toward her. One man, seems the PEP patrol has decided that can Barry Popik in the general election. dressed in baggy sweats and a hood, the Hudson River Park is its fi efdom. hides his face. The dog is frenzied with Perhaps, it is time to investigate policies The August 29th edition of The New fear. Woman and dog run to escape. She that encourage this attitude. Perhaps, Yorker carried a piece by Ben McGrath faces them as they catch up. One man a few offi cers should get their walking on the Sex & the City Tour and its agree- puts his hand in his jacket. Is he reaching papers. ment with the Perry Street Block Asso- for a weapon? Memory Lane — cont’d from page 1 ciation. The piece touched on fi lming in Sandi Schiffman feels lucky she affair at 13 Carmine Street (the Village Greenwich Village and how fi lm compa- was spared a heart attack. The men were Bistro) about parts of a human skeleton nies do contribute to the community. For PEP offi cers working an undercover sting found under an ailanthus tree in the info go to www.gvba.org to catch dog owners — our tax dollars at rear yard. The “probable murder...was work. She adds, “The offi cers chased us, deemed to be a common place burial. The Carmine Street Block Association NEVER identifying themselves. When The bones crumbled to dust....upon held Meet the Chefs on Sept. 17. Pro- I requested photo ID they asked for my exposure to air indicating they were of ceeds go to various community groups. identifi cation, he had no idea where his signifi cant age. At one time burials were ID was.” frequently made in the open fi elds up The Perry Street Block Association held She witnessed town, which are now densely populated; a memorial dinner for Martin Brodsky another incident: these bones, which may alive “walked on Sept. 19 at St. John’s in the Village on “One morning PEP the earth contemporaneously with those Waverly Place. Offi cer Pompascelli, of Barnum’s rottenest mummy were continuously honking, probably honestly buried after an honest The Central Village Block Association sped by in a motorized funeral with honest mourners.” reported sponsored a free jazz concert by the Arn- cart. The area was in The New York Times in June 1866. tzen family on Cornelia Street Aug. 9. crowded; he failed to slow, expecting Village luminaries including John people to get out of his way. By sheer luck Reed and e.e. cummings once lived in New NYPD Program no one was hit; many runners and walkers Patchin Place. In 1916 fashion icon Elsa The NYPD is expanding its Auxiliary wore headphones.” He put everybody at Schiaparelli (who became the world’s Police program to play an active role in patrolling the NYC subway risk just to ticket a dog owner. Speeding fashion arbiter in the 1930s) and husband in their carts on the walkway is common system. Auxiliary Police are uniformed Count Wilhelm Wendt de Kerlor moved volunteers who patrol (in pairs) as behavior for PEP offi cers. into an apartment there. Daughter extra eyes and ears for the Police. Sandi fi led a complaint but learned it Maria Luisa (mother of actress Marisa They do not carry guns; they do use accomplished nothing; they “PEP offi cers Berenson and the late photogapher the same radios as regular Police have the support of their commanding Berry Berenson — a passenger on one Offi cers and they receive extensive offi cer, Captain Calderone.” Aware of of the planes training in Police Science, Criminal many complaints, he has stated that “he downed on Law, Self Defense (including baton), does not care and if people don’t like it, 9/11— stayed First Aid and CPR. This is a rewarding way to help keep our community (and they don’t have to walk along the river.” with a nurse This attitude promotes disregard for the our subway system) safe. Applicants in Connecticut must be permanent residents (or U.S. taxpayers who pay for the park. while mama Citizens) or at least have a valid visa Dogs are not allowed in the Hudson picked up issue by INS and be between 17 to 60 River Park’s bathrooms. One day, when artistic friends years old (older volunteers can help I needed to use the restroom, I secured like Man Ray with administrative duties). my dogs to the railing outside, asking and Marcel Please join us as we work together my friend to watch them. A PEP offi cer Duchamp. to make our community a safe place said I could not do so. Why? It makes no Schiaparelli for all! For further information please contact the NYPD Transit District #2 sense.