News Spring 2009
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Turtle Bay News A Publication of the Turtle Bay Association Spring 2009 Vol. 52, No. 1 Bruce Silberblatt Earns 2009 OTTY Award ruce Silberblatt, the TBA zoning and land use chairman, has over all, with Richard Ravitch named as the 2009 Eastsider of the received a Community Builder award, among the 2009 Our Year. The 10 award categories are: Bravest and Finest; Charity List; B Town Thanks You (OTTY) award honorees. No one could Community Builder; Clergy; Culture Club; Educator; Entrepreneur; deserve it more. Health Care; Restaurateur Pro and Eastsider of the Year. Known as Strong Leader and Good Neighbor Published by Manhattan Media, Bruce, a professional builder has a commanding expertise in New Our Town has been an East Side York City zoning and land use issues, and a firm commitment to the presence for 30 years, and is the community. Typical of his leadership were his warnings of zoning largest community newspaper in and safety violations at 303 East 51st Street, prior to the disastrous the area. The 2009 OTTY Awards crane collapse at the site in March, 2008. Bruce continues to monitor were jointly sponsored by Our that building’s redesign and four other construction sites in Turtle Town, Manhattan Media, and the Bay, now on hold. Mount Sinai Hospital/Mount Sinai OTTY’s Honor Community Leaders School of Medicine. The OTTY awards are a civic tribute by Our Town to Manhattan A full report on the OTTY Awards eastsiders distinguished by their outstanding service to the commu- appears in Our Town, February 26, nity. The newspaper explains that the awards “go to New Yorkers 2009. Details of the 51st Street crane who live or work on the East Side whose accomplishments help im- collapse and its regulatory outcome Bruce A. Silberblatt prove its neighborhoods.” This year there were 21 award recipients are covered in the article below. Photo by Andrew Schwartz/Our Town. Crane Anniversary: Looking Back, Looking Ahead BY BRUCE A. SILBERBLATT, TBA ZONING AND LAND USE CHAIRMAN ecently Turtle Bay marked the first anniversary of the crane scrutinized; and inspectors must supervise crane installation from calamity of March 15, 2008. The disaster shattered our com- beginning to end. R munity and affected its very soul and fabric. In just seconds, Beyond safety, the developer also disregarded zoning regulations, seven people died and two dozen were injured. The townhouse at proposing a building whose design and dimensions violated re- 305 East 50th Street was crushed and other buildings damaged. quirements for the size and configuration of the lot. Incredibly, the Many businesses were closed and are still closed. Hundreds were DOB approved the plan. From the start the Turtle Bay Association forced from their homes – some not yet able to return. Our commu- protested, only to be rebuffed. Information posted on the DOB Web nity is scarred, both physically and emotionally. It took seven deaths site was sketchy and even grossly misleading. Data about the true – plus two more at a second crane collapse – to obtain long-overdue size, shape, location, and configuration of the building were omit- action. The city learned, at fearful cost, the perils – particularly in ted. By the date of the accident on March 15, the concrete frame construction – of hasty shortcuts rather than the safer, surer way. had already reached the 19th floor. At 303 East 51st Street a crane, hanging 250 feet above the street, Earlier that winter, well before March 15, the DOB did at last con- collapsed when a six-ton component tore free and plunged down clude that the building violated zoning requirements, but did not halt to the street taking the crane with it. The contractor had taken work and demand a redesign. That would have suspended building shortcuts and ignored safety regulations, using inadequate and for many months and cost many millions of dollars. It was easier to damaged parts. let work proceed – a second shortcut. In a public hearing months Since then, new leadership at the Department of Buildings (DOB) after the accident, the DOB Commissioner at the time admitted has stiffened construction safety regulations and inspections, that the building should not have been built. The DOB ultimately cleaned up corruption rampant within its Cranes and Derricks sec- cancelled the building permit in June, 2008. tion, and severely punished offenders. Now, the DOB must pre- Last February, the DOB introduced major changes to the permit approve procedures for crane installation; all equipment must be continued on back page TBA•224 E. 47TH ST. NYC 10017•212-751-5465•FAX 212-751-4941• WWW.turtlebaynyc.org •[email protected] Community Calendar Special Thanks To Pam Hanlon Newsletter Editor for Past Four Years n Last Tuesday every month 17th Precinct Community Council Pam Hanlon has left her positions as during the past 50 years. Published by Open Meeting, 6 p.m. newsletter editor and TBA director Arcadia Publishing, the book is a unique and Sutton Place Synagogue after dedicating four years of hard work important source, and can be ordered using 225 East 51st Street and energy, producing four lively and the coupon on the back page. Sales proceeds 212-826-3228 informative newsletters each year. Pam’s benefit the Turtle Bay Association. (No meetings July, August, December) “nose for news” as a professional journalist The members of the Board extend their has been a real benefit to the Association. particular thanks and appreciation to Pam n Second Wednesday every month Beyond her responsibilities as editor, for her commitment, which has served the Community Board 6 Pam wrote “Manhattan’s Turtle Bay,” an Turtle Bay Association so well. It was a Full Board Meeting, 7 p.m. NYU Medical Center illustrated history of the neighborhood, its particular pleasure working with her, and 550 First Avenue development, and its prominent residents we wish her all the best. 212-319-3750 Turtle Bay Association Turtle Bay Merchants Offer Turtle Bay Association Contributes Funds Discounts 224 East 47th Street New York, NY 10017 The TBA is a nonprofit, volunteer associa- The recently published “Turtle Bay Dis- Phone: 212-751-5465 tion that raises and contributes funds to local count Directory” provides a list of high- quality neighborhood stores and restaurants Fax: 212-751-4941 causes and services vital to the neighbor- E-mail: [email protected] offering reduced prices exclusively to TBA hood and its residents. Our annual street fair Web Site: www.turtlebaynyc.org members. These businesses are the lifeblood raises funds that help support the needy, Check our Bulletin Board: of the community, and are essential in main- children and seniors, and the beauty and East side of Second Avenue, maintenance of our streets. Causes are: taining its health. When you shop or dine, between 48th and 49th Streets, consider first our neighborhood establish- • The Doe Fund (www.doe.org) on outside wall of the supermarket. ments. Supporting them supports us all. • Senior Center at Saint Peter’s Church (part of Lenox Hill Neighborhood Directory Updates Board of Directors House) (www.lenoxhill.org and n Nancy Stillpass, Appraiser at 870 President: William E. Curtis www.stpeters.org) UN Plaza. Specializes in art and Vice Presidents: Millie Margiotta, • The Vanderbilt YMCA personal property, and offers a 10 Dolores Marsh, Bruce Silberblatt (www.ymcanyc.org/vanderbilt) percent discount to TBA members. Treasurer: Francine Irwin • The Turtle Bay Tree Fund (see page 3) Telephone: 212-644-5652, Fax: 212- Secretary: Marie-Louise Handal • United Neighbors of East Midtown 486-3786. [email protected] (www.unem.org) n Quality Custom Framing, 909 Sec- Directors: Ethel Bendove, Bunny Blei, • Friends of Dag Hammarskjold Plaza ond Avenue, between 48th and 49th Streets, 212-826-2693, open 7 days, Orin Buck, Meryl Brodsky, www.hammarskjoldplaza.org 20% discount. Barbara Connolly, William E. Curtis, Denise Hamilton, Marie-Louise Handal, TBA Board at Work Olga Hoffmann, Bill Huxley, Francine Irwin, Richard Irwin, The following is a summary of issues development, and United Nations Millie Margiotta, Dolores Marsh, and activities addressed at recent TBA renovation, as well as opportunities Patricia Q. McDougald, Ron Palau, Board meetings, as reflected in the for East River waterfront possibilities; Michael Resnick, Carol Rinzler, meeting minutes. The TBA: n has joined with other neighborhood Jeannie Sakol, Helen Shapiro, n is working closely with local elected groups to demand stronger laws Bruce Silberblatt officials and Community Board 6 regarding newsrack placement on to have a voice in determining the City sidewalks; outcome of the site of the 51st Street Turtle Bay News construction crane accident, and is n continues to work to beautify the Editor: Lee Frankel neighborhood through the TBA Tree monitoring other ongoing neighbor- Contributors: Program and support of the Turtle hood construction for safety and Richie Goldstein, Bay Tree Fund; other concerns; Bill Huxley, Millie Margiotta, n is monitoring, with Community Board n sponsors or supports neighborhood Patricia Q. McDougald, 6, and as part of the East Midtown events and activities, including a Bruce Silberblatt Coalition for Sensible Development, spring street fair, seasonal parties, Photography: Vivian Gordon the progress of the Con Ed Waterside and bi-annual outings for members. 2 Turtle Bay News www.turtlebaynyc.org Spring Update Tree Fund Plants Locally BY BILL HUXLEY, PRESIDENT, TURTLE BAY TREE FUND Orange tulips will adorn the 240 tree beds other trees have been planted by the city on East 48th, 49th, 50th and 51st Streets throughout the neighborhood. this spring, in place of the yellow daffodils About the Tree Fund of years past. The variety, “Orange Flair,” is known for its large flowers and lengthy Distinct from the Turtle Bay Association, the blooming time. These tulips also have Tree Fund is an all-volunteer group whose shorter stems than most, so they are more mission is to enhance the neighborhood with wind and rain resistant.