Turtle BayNews A Publication of the Turtle Bay Association Summer 2015 Vol. 58, No. 3

Tiny Lot Nation BY LEE FRANKEL ne of the latest darlings in New nally, enough and an extreme degree of luxury. For York City developers’ love affair was acquired to those who live in and around Sutton Place Owith super-tall towers built on enable a 90-floor (including Turtle Bay), it would intrude tiny lots is planned for Sutton Place, and design. Residents on one of the most desirable and civil of residents, led by the East River Fifties Al- felt duped as neighborhoods – a community- liance and Sutton Area Community, are they watched the busting presence that would block the sky, fighting back. plan grow from a cast a long shadow and exclude ordinary height matching New Yorkers who cannot afford to live The Bauhouse Group has shelled out $37.9 the neighborhood there, even those who now afford the pric- million to amass air rights and easements, to a $1 billion es in well-off Sutton Place. and $32.3 million for three contiguous mega-tower that walk-up buildings at 428-432 East 58th Our Town published an op-ed piece by would be one of Council Member Ben Kallos saying, “… Street, between and Sutton the largest con- Place. The total assemblage has allowed cities have long sought to ensure zoning dominiums in the that [balances] affordability, growth, sun- Bauhouse to plan a 95-unit, 90-story, country. 268,000-square-foot condominium tower light and quality of life. We cannot allow luxury developments to cast our parks and on the site, a development welcomed by Aimed at the ul- tra-wealthy and communities into shadow as neighbor- no one but its investors. dubbed “3 Sut- hoods become increasingly unaffordable. The Daily News reported that, late last ton,” the building, continued on page 3 year when Bauhouse purchased air rights designed by Brit- from the owner of 434 East 58th, it prom- ish architetct Nor- Note the Event ised no taller than a 13-story building. By man Foster, would Image courtesy The Bau- UN Seventieth Anniversary April 2015, with the acquisition of more offer 360-degree house Group. Source: air rights, the plan grew to 30 stories. Fi- views of the city ny.curbed.com. UN Headquarters, City Opening of the 70th Session of the UN General Assembly TBA Celebrates Landmarks Law Anniversary Tuesday, September 15 Visit of Pope Francis to NYC TBA members celebrated the 50th an- Prayers at Vespers Service niversary of passage of ’s St. Patrick’s Cathedral Landmarks Law in mid-June with an illus- Thursday, September 24 trated talk highlighting the neighborhood’s His Holiness Pope Francis 13 designated landmarks and the people Will Address the General Assembly behind their creation. Sponsored by the Friday, September 25 TBA and Multi-religious Service at 9/11 presented Memorial and Museum and by Pamela cety, itself a landmarked building. World Trade Center Hanlon, Friday, September 25 at 11:30 am author of The talk was one of a number of events be- ing held throughout the city during the year Madison Square Garden Mass “Manhat- September 25 at 6:00 pm tan’s Turtle in conjunction with “NYC Landmarks50 Bay,” the Alliance,” a group committed to informing General Debate of the 17th event was the public about historic preservation. The Session of the General Assembly Monday, September 28 to Speaker Pamela Hanlon author hosted by TBA is a member of the Alliance. Tuesday, October 6 of “Manhattan's Turtle Bay.” Japan So- continued on page 6

Turtle Bay Association • 224 East , New York, NY 10017 • (p) 212-751-5465 • (f) 212-751-4941 • [email protected] • turtlebay-nyc.org TBA Who’s Who Newsworthy Notes Turtle Bay Association TBA Brings Local Merchants Together 224 East 47th Street cess of businesses and organizations located New York, NY 10017 The TBA welcomed an enthusiastic group in our neighborhood by bringing them to- Phone: 212-751-5465 of merchants and organizations to a Busi- gether to collaborate for the greater good. Fax: 212-751-4941 ness Members Breakfast on June 19. Re- Email: [email protected] Grand Central Library Branch Con- Website: www.turtlebay-nyc.org flecting the neighborhood’s commercial tinues with Garodnick’s Help and cultural diversity, concerns included Check our Bulletin Board: clothing design and apparel, florists, hair The Grand Central Library’s lease was ex- East side of Second Avenue salons, health care providers, restaurants, tended for years to come, allaying commu- between 48th and 49th Streets, outside wall of supermarket. wellness consulting and the Catholic nity concerns about the branch’s possible Church’s UN Parish. closing. Council Member Dan Gardonick Board of Directors took the reins with support from the TBA, TBA President Bill Curtis welcomed the and, once again, Dan came through for us. Officers audience and expressed the TBA’s goal to Neighbors and those who commute here President: William E. Curtis help make Turtle Bay a “destination.” The Secretary: Grace L. Perry for work will continue to enjoy the many audience heard from staffs of Assembly Treasurer: Dick Irwin services available at the Grand Central li- Member Dan Quart and Manhattan Bor- Vice Presidents: Millie Margiotta brary branch, including programs for tots, ough President Gale A. Brewer; repre- Dolores Marsh, Bruce Silberblatt teens and adults sentatives from the 17th Precinct and the Directors Sanitation Department; and Dan Miner, seeking career Ethel Bendove, Bunny Blei, District Manager of Community Board skills and book Meryl Brodsky, Orin Buck, 6. Elite restaurant supplied the excellent discussions. William E. Curtis, Lee Frankel, Denise Hamilton, breakfast. The library is located at 135 Marie-Louise Handal, Please watch the calendar for news of our East 46th Street. Dee Howard, Bill Huxley, Dick Irwin, Mary F. Marangi, next breakfast meeting, and contact us Find out more at with your ideas, questions and needs. Millie Margiotta, nypl.org or call Mark P. Markowski, The TBA is committed to support the suc- 212-621-0670. Dolores Marsh, Pat McDougald, Grace L. Perry, Michael Resnick, Carol Rinzler, Bruce Silberblatt 17th Precinct Crime Statistics Sign Up for Honorary Emeriti January Through August 2nd TreesCount 2015 Barbara Connolly Year to Date Helen Shapiro 2015 2014 % Chg. Join the Counter Culture: volunteer for TreesCount 2015 and play a key role in Murder 1 0 -- Community Calendar the future of our urban forest. The city Rape 2 7 -71.4 began counting trees once each decade 17th Precinct Community Council Robbery 23 37 -37.8 beginning in the mid-1980s. This is the Open Meeting Felony Assault 38 30 26.7 third count, and NYC Parks needs tree- Last Tuesday every month, 6 pm Burglary 55 63 -12.7 loving citizens to help collect data. 225 East Grand Larceny 395 354 11.6 Volunteers will be trained to identify 212-826-3228 Grand Larceny Auto 23 13 76.9 and assess street trees using simple site (No meetings July, August, December) Total 537 504 6.6 surveying tools and software to map them block by block. Visit treescount. Transit 32 20 60.0 Community Board 6 nycgovparks.org to learn more and reg- Housing 0 0 -- Full Board Meeting ister. Second Wednesday every month, Petit Larceny 352 394 -10.7 7 pm Misd. Assault 121 151 -19.9 Editorial Committee NYU Medical Center Misd. Sex Crimes 32 27 18.5 Editor: Lee Frankel 550 First Avenue 212-319-3750 Shooting Vic. 0 0 -- Layout: Hilary Black Photographs: Sanae Buck, Shooting Inc. 0 0-- Now live online at Vivian Gordon http://wp.cbsix.org/live From 17th Precinct Website Contributors: Pam Hanlon, Prepared by the NYPD CompStat Unit Mary Marangi, Anne Saxon-Hersh

2 Turtle Bay News www.turtlebay-nyc.org Makeover Defines New Era for Katharine Hepburn Garden in Dag Hammarskjold Plaza REPORTED BY FRIENDS OF DAG HAMMARSKJOLD PLAZA A little collaboration goes a long way in While the naturalistic landscape offers era, and FDHP New York City, where greenery, especially a sanctuary with plant collections that is developing a in our parks, needs all the help it can get. bloom in spring before the tree canopy cre- long-term plan for In June, the Friends of Dag Hammarsk- ates dense shade, the sunnier front border sustaining the gar- jold Plaza (FDHP) found that help when promises a showier floral palette. Although den. FDHP would it commissioned The Horticultural Society the floral display winds down by August, like the Turtle Bay of New York, “The Hort,” to design and in- the hypericum’s yellow flowers and the community to feel stall new border plantings. The project was hydrangea’s blue and pink “mop heads” invested in the gar- made possible with generous funding from bloom until frost. den, and will be of- the Greenacre Foundation, Ford Founda- FDHP will continue to consult with The fering sponsorship tion and Zeckendorf Development, LLC. Hort, an institution with more than 100 opportunities at “I finally said, ‘enough, let’s install fenc- years of experi- all levels. “Gar- ing and bring in the experts,’” says Anne ence in urban dens are always a Saxon-Hersh, FDHP’s Director of Devel- gardening, both work in progress, opment and Garden Chair. “Now everyone private and pub- but with Kate is admiring the plantings instead of using lic. The recent looking over our the border behind the seating wall as a dog removal of scaf- shoulders, we’re run and playground. This defines a new folding along the sure to get it right,” era for the Katharine Hepburn Garden, as park’s boundary Before the renovation. says Saxon-Hersh a whole.” line with 50 with a wink and a smile. The front border is a viewing garden, UN Plaza whereas the woodland behind is a stroll- reveals a Friends of Dag ing garden with a nature trail. Accessed green hedge, Hammarskjold through a gate near the cafe, the naturalized an attractive Plaza is a nonprofit landscape was designed by NYC Parks ar- backdrop for 501(c)3 tax-ex- chitect George Vellonakis and dedicated the garden’s empt organization. entrance and Please visit the to Katharine Hepburn in 1997. The leafy Lovely summer blooms habitat is representative of the Connecticut café area. website at ham- include hydrangea, woods the actress described in her autobi- Next on the marskjoldplaza. hypericum and the varie- ography as a favorite haunt. Visitors can agenda is the org to learn more. gated leaves of hostas. enjoy stepping stones engraved with quota- woodland garden. Welcome New Merchant Members tions from the four-time Oscar winner. Hotels It’s a new After the renovation. Marshall Hotels & Resorts 145 East 47th Street 917-312-6755 dlopez@marshall hotels.com Tiny Lot Nation continued from page 1 Other community groups involved in the Health Services Arbonne Light and air should be the right of every- fight include CIVITAS and the Municipal Jodi Jackson Consultant for one, not the privilege of a few.” Arts Society. The Turtle Bay Association Health and Wellness 145 East 81st Street In May, Community Board 6 drew up a joined the coalition in June, bringing with 917-887-5568 it prior experience from the fight against [email protected] resolution, “East 58th Street Tower,” call- Medrite Urgent Care ing among other things for a governmental the , which rose to 72 919 Second Avenue moratorium on construction of super-high stories on the strength of its aggregation of 212-935-3333 air rights. Restaurants towers and rezoning of the Sutton Place Fuel Grill & Juice Bar area. Council Member Kallos soon after Websites that feature information about 133 East 45th Street hosted a public forum pushing for zoning 212-808-0100 this critical issue include: ny.curbed.com; changes to cap the height of towers on the Gente Restaurant DNAinfo.com; crainsnewyork.com; and 153 East 45th Street Upper East Site where, presently, there are 212-557-5555 no limits. Dan Garodnick, Turtle Bay's therealdeal.com. Council Member Kallos Corrections & Changes will come to your building for a meeting if Madison Jewelers (in Turtle Bay) Council Member, commented, “We want 805 (49-50) to make sure these buildings are [planned] you gather and organize 10 or more neigh- 212-319-8899 in the context of what we have and what bors. Please email scheduler@benkallos. Organize with Care (new email) we want [our neighborhoods] to be.” com to set up a time. [email protected] www.turtlebay-nyc.org Turtle Bay News 3 Neighbors Celebrate Katharine Hepburn’s Birthday

Cloudy skies did nothing to deter a good read about Hepburn’s life on large infor- turnout for the Katharine Hepburn Garden mation boards and still others toured the Party at Dag Hammarskjold Plaza in early recently redesigned garden with Anne May. The garden in the park is dedicated Saxon-Hersh, Director of Development to the screen legend, a longtime resident of and Garden Chair of Friends of Dag Ham- Turtle Bay and an avid plant lover. marskjold Plaza. Birthdaycakeandcoffeehitthespoton The party is an annual event co-sponsored this very social occasion as couples danced by the Friends of Dag Hammarskjold Plaza to live music by Norman Curtis. Others and the Turtle Bay Association.

4 Turtle Bay News www.turtlebay-nyc.org Arts & Culture

Turtle Bay Music School practices. Their experiments would alter the successful interview. cultural landscape, laying the foundation 244 East For Children for contemporary art-making in Japan. This 212-753-8811 tbms.org Friday, Aug., 28, 4 pm exhibit will present nearly 200 photographic Gustafer Yellowgold: A Summer Free Artist Series Concerts and other works by Japanese modern art Reading Celebration. Children meet Fridays, at 7 pm, Em Lee Concert Hall. luminaries that spotlight this radical break Gustafer Yellowgold, the friendly creature September 25 with the past, within a global dialogue of the who comes to Earth from the sun, in this Music of the Americas. Featuring Jason period, with visually arresting meditations multimedia program launched from the Cutmore, piano and Antoine Pierlot, cello. on time, place, and self. Organized by The imagination of illustrator/singer/songwriter Museum of Fine Arts, Houston (MFAH), Morgan Taylor. For ages 4 to 12 years old. co-presented in New York City with Grey Art St. Bart’s Gallery, New York University. For Teens Mon., Oct. 5, 4 pm 325 Park Avenue/East 51st Manga Drawing Workshop. Do you Purchase tickets at http://mmpaf.org or box have the next manga series ready to pour office, 212-378-0248 Grand Central Library 135 East 46th Street (Lexington/Third) through your fingertips? Join Ivan Velez and Summer Festival of Sacred Music 212-621-0670 learn how to draw your own characters, plot Sundays at 11 am nypl.org/locations/grand-central your stories, and more. All materials will be August 30 Fully accessible to wheelchairs. provided. For ages 12 to 18 years old. Great Anglican Choral Works for Chil- All programs are free unless noted. dren’s Voices. Malcolm Archer’s Christ- Public Speaking Workshop church Mass. First and third Tuesdays, each month, Rep. Carolyn Maloney September 6 12:15 pm Sacred Music for a Cloister. Works by A continuing series led by experienced Joins TBA Table at Chiara Margarita Cozzolani, 17th Century public speakers in a supportive National Night Out composer, singer and Benedictine nun, in- environment. All materials provided. For As it does each year in August, the TBA cluding her Missa á 4 for women’s voices adults: businesspeople, college and graduate and period instruments. students, job seekers. hosted a table at National Night Out Against Crime. This year was made special September 13 Career and Job Search when Rep. Carolyn Maloney visited with The Celebrated Prodigy. Wolfgang Friday, Aug. 28, 12:30 pm members at our table and paused for a Amadeus Mozart’s Missa in C Major Networking with LinkedIn for Job/ photograph. The event in Dag Hammarsk- (The Organ Solo), K. 259. St. Bar- Career Success: A Career Thinker tholomew’s Choir, Singers and Boy and jold Plaza was sponsored by the 17th Pre- Workshop with Tom Powner. Having a cinct and was an all-around success for the Girl Choristers perform with an orchestra of strong network is important for everyone, NYPD and the community. period instruments. whether you’re employed or in a job search. What is networking? Is networking really effective? What are some of today’s Japan Society tools to support building a network? What 333 East 47th Street is LinkedIn, and why is it so powerful? 212-832-1155 japansociety.org Understanding the sections of a LinkedIn Box Office Hours: Mon. - Fri., 11 am - 6 pm, Profile. Tips on building a powerful Weekends during exhibitions, 11 am - 5 pm LinkedIn Profile. Methods to connect to Gallery Hours: Tues. - Thurs., 11 am - 6 pm, people and build a strong network. How to Fri., 11 am - 9 pm, Sat. and Sun., 11 am - 5 pm Closed on Mondays and major holidays. use your LinkedIn network for a job/career Gallery Admission: $12; students and seniors search or promotions. $10; members and children under 16 free. Free to Wed., Sept. 2, 12:30 pm all on Fri. nights, 6 pm - 9 pm. Preparing for Job Interviews: A Career Fall Gallery Exhibition Thinker Workshop with Tom Powner. October 9 - January 10, 2016 The more you prepare the less intimidating For a New World to Come: Experi- they become. Increase your chances of ments in Japanese Art and Photogra- hearing the words “You’re hired” by phy, 1968-1979. During the late 1960s knowing how to prepare for an interview. and 70s, Japanese artists and photographers A sure way to outshine the other candidates began crafting a new visual language by is by being more prepared than they are. embracing the possibilities of camera-based Learn about all the elements that make for a www.turtlebay-nyc.org Turtle Bay News 5 TBA Street Fair Attracts City Dwellers and Tourists Landmarks Law continued from page 1 On a relaxed Saturday in June, neighbors and visitors strolled along at The city’s Landmarks Law, which estab- our annual spring street fair. They browsed the goods on sale and snacked on multi-ethnic lished the city’s Landmarks Preservation treats, sweet and savory. A number of new members signed on with the TBA. All proceeds Commission, was signed by Mayor Robert were donated to nearby community non-profits. All-in-all, a very successful day. Wagner in April 1965. Its passage grew out of public outrage at the mounting losses of historically significant buildings in New York, most notably the Beaux Arts-style Pennsylvania Station, which was demol- ished in 1963 to make way for Madison Square Garden. The law protects the city’s architecturally, historically and culturally significant structures. Today in the five boroughs there are 1,347 individual landmarks, 114 historic districts and 20 historic district extensions, 117 in- terior landmarks and 10 scenic landmarks. The landmarks within the boundaries of Turtle Bay – from the north side of 43rd Street to , Lexington Avenue to the East River – include Turtle Bay Gar- dens Historic District, , two 1866 clapboard houses on 53rd Street, the Beaux-Arts Institute of Design, Beaux- Arts Apartments, Panhellenic Tower, , Morris Sanders Studio & Apartment, Paul Rudolph Penthouse and Volunteer for the Newsletter Apartments, Summit Hotel, Rockefeller Guest House and Japan Society. Write articles. Take photographs. Meet people and have fun. For more information about each land- mark, visit the Landmarks Preservation Call the TBA office at 212-751-4941 Commission website, at www.nyc.gov. landmarks.

TBA MEMBERSHIP COUPON BOOK ORDER FORM Manhattan’s Turtle Bay Yes, I want to join the Turtle Bay Association to help support Story of a Midtown Neighborhood our community’s quality of life. A Contemporary History of Turtle Bay Arcadia Publishing • 160 pages; 50 photos Annual Membership Dues $15.00 � Senior $15 � Individual $25 � Family $30 Name � Business $40 � Benefactor $100 � Pacesetter $250 Address Name______City/State/Zip Address ______Apt ______Phone City/State/Zip______Enclosed is my check for $_____ for ___ book/s, Home Phone ______Work Phone ______plus $3 per book for postage/handling

Email ______Make check payable to: Turtle Bay Association � I would like to become more involved in TBA activities. Mail to: Turtle Bay Association, 224 East 47th Street, Please make your check payable to Turtle Bay Association. New York, NY 10017 Mail to: Turtle Bay Association, 224 E. 47th St., New York, NY 10017 Sales proceeds benefit the Turtle Bay Association.

6 Turtle Bay News www.turtlebay-nyc.org