2011–2012 A publication of the Murray Hill Neighborhood Association Murray Hill No. 4 …to continue to make Murray Hill a highly desirable place to live, work e and visit. Lif Winter One Enchanted Evening at the Polish Consulate Frederic Chopin, Richard Golub, and the Polish Consulate were the headliners at the Preservation and Design Award Evening on Thursday, October 13. Chopin provided the music, performed by pianist Domi- nic Meiman, in a room of surpassing splendor on the second floor of this impres- sive Beaux Arts mansion, which is now home to the Polish Consulate in New York. Before a sellout crowd of 180, Mr. Meiman played a generous Chopin program, beginning with the Grand Waltz No. 5, Op. 42, and finishing with what seemed Program Committee members, left to right: Irma Worrell Fisher, Dominic Meiman played Chopin. like étude after étude after Enid Klass, Susan Demmet and Minor Bishop. Rear right, former Photo: Sami Steigmann étude. Meanwhile, the MHNA President Steve Weingrad. painted cherubs and angels Photo: Sami Steigmann amidst the room’s gold latticework seemed to look down in rapt attention. Minor Bishop praised the meticu- “What a neighborhood!” lousness of the Polish restoration. Mrs. Junczyk- Ziomecka “In cleaning the entire building, exclaimed in this is what actually preserved it,” accepting the Mr. Bishop said. “From windows to award. When steelwork to stone, this is a heroic she became example of what preservation is Consul General and provides a chance to see what a year and a half this building really looked like, the ago, she admitted that actual color of the stone… I applaud she had looked all over their effort.” Manhattan for a place to Susan Demmet and Irma Wor- live. “After 51 apartments, rell Fisher, chairs of the Preservation where did I end up? Fifty- and Design Committee, introduced two Park Avenue. This is the 2011 design awards. The first home. Of course, I miss went to Ewa Junczyk-Ziomecka, the Warsaw, but I am proud Polish Consul General. Also receiv- to be here in Murray Hill.” ing awards were the architect, Frank The evening’s program Smith, and the contractor, Augustin was dedicated to Dick Luck, who oversaw the 1973 restora- MHNA President Diane Bartow presents the award to Golub, who died earlier tion of the home originally built Ewa Junczyk-Ziomecka, the Polish Consul General. this year. His absence is for Joseph De Lamar in 1905. Photos: Sami Steigmann and Przemyslaw Balcerzyk Continued on page 15 From the President’s Desk News from MECA Murray Hill Diane Bartow Manhattan East Community Association Fred Arcaro, President Welcome to the Association’s 52nd active year. Construction on the future PS/IS 281 on the southwest quarter of 616 along 34th Street called Bus Rapid Transit We continue to be very involved with traffic and transportation issues. The First Avenue, site of the former Con Edison power plant, is continuing as (BRT), which did not receive much support. 34th Street Transitway access issues have basically been resolved, the traffic e planned. They are finished driving steel piling into bedrock. Construction I have good news: as a result of many com- if study has been done and we now await the environmental study. The good of the first floor of the school has begun. On the east side of the six-story plaints from residents and businesses along A publicationL of the news is that the DOT has agreed to change the “no turn” directive onto First building will be a half-size basketball court and a children’s playground the 34th Street corridor and political pres- Murray Hill Neighborhood Association Avenue. The bad news is that this change will not go into effect until the Board of Trustees surrounded by a three-foot-high iron gate. As yet, we do not know the final sure, MTA and DOT has abandoned its BRT DOT has competed its full plan, probably next fall. President: Diane Bartow design for the rest of the site. The Sheldon Solow project will be on hold for design plan for the corridor. This is a victory We have four major points that we have requested the DOT to put into effect: Vice Presidents: Ann Churchill, Edward Curtin, Shirley quite some time. for our community. On November 7, DOT Mac Leod, Marion Weingarten 1. no buses on the side streets of Murray Hill presented to PSE&T Committee of Com- Treasurer: Barbara Sagan 2. commercial vehicle access only for deliveries to that specific side An Esplanade on the East River Secretary: Debra Moolin munity Board Six the latest revised design street For years now, Community Board 6 and MECA lobbied to extend the East Trustees: Fred Arcaro, George Arfield, Marisa Bulzone, for the new Select Bus Service to the PSE&T 3. no commercial vehicle traffic on side streets between 7– 9 am and 4–7 pm River Esplanade up to 61st Street and beyond so that green space would John B. Chadwick, Jr.; Susan Demmet, Raymond Gentile, Committee of Community Board 6. Thomas Horan, Timothy Hughes, Jonathan Klarman, 4. complete re-evaluation of all signage encircle most of Manhattan along the water’s edge. And for years the United Sam Milgrim, Matt Roberts, Burton Rubin, Alice Timothy We feel the above improvements will help alleviate some of the major Nations has been considering ways to increase its office space in the city. If you have not renewed your MECA Honorary Trustees congestion in Murray Hill. We will also be working on helicopter and bicycle Recently, there was movement to do just that: membership, please do so now by sending Joelle Anderson, Robert Cohen, Joe W. Di Domenico, safety issues. And we will be very involved with the new greenway project. • In July 2011, legislation was passed to transfer Robert Moses Playground your check (payable to MECA) to 415 East Irma Worrell Fisher, Paula Hutter Gilliam, Enid Klass, in order for the United Nations Development Corporation (UNDC) to 37th Street, NY 10016, or MHNA (payable to Charlotte Klein, Ellen Propp On October 13, the Preservation and Design Committee sponsored build a 39-story building for the UN agencies on a portion of a play- Murray Hill Neighborhood Association) to Past Presidents an incredible event at the Polish Consulate. What an evening! I had the Ed Hochberg, Mark Tracten, Stephen Weingrad honor of presenting the Preservation and Design award to Consul General ground on 42nd Street just south of the United Nations campus. PO BOX 1897, NY 10156-1897. Be sure to use Newsletter Staff Ewa Junczyk-Ziomecka for the beautiful restoration work completed by • On October 5, our elected official signed a letter of understanding your renewal form, if you have it. Thank you Editor: Susan B. Adams the Consulate General of the Republic of Poland in New York. The night describing the condition for the transfer of Robert Moses Playground as for your continuing support of MECA. ¤ Co-editor: Joe W. Di Domenico dictated in the July legislation. The conditions set in the Memorandum Editorial Consultants: Charlotte Klein, Ellen Propp continued with an all-Chopin piano program dedicated to the memory of Advertising: Ray Gentile, Jonathan Klarman, Ellen Richard Golub, former trustee and vice president of the Murray Hill Neigh- of Understanding (MOU) are as follows: Propp borhood Association. Phillip Golub, Dick’s grandson, provided the musical • The city would get at least $70 million to replace play- Proofreaders: Barbara Miller-Gidaly, Louise Weiss ground space in the Community Board 6 area and to Design & Production coda with a special selection of his own. Joe W. Di Domenico I hope to see you all on Sunday, December 4, 2011, as we celebrate the develop the old Con Ed pier as a waterfront park to Printing holiday season with the lighting of the Christmas trees on Park Avenue. be linked with the new United Nations Esplanade at a JM Offset Come out and join us for a fun afternoon of singing, cookies and Santa later date. 212-689-1617 Claus! Then celebrate the lighting of the first candle of Chanukah on De- • The “Outboard Detour Roadway” (ODR) esplanade is Murray Hill Neighborhood Association to be constructed. Post Office Box 1897 cember 20 on the Park Avenue Mall at 35th Street. These are just some of New York, NY 10156-1897 the special traditional events brought to you by the wonderful volunteers of • The building on the playground site will be no higher 212-886-5867 your association. Watch your mail for details. than 505 feet. Send letters to the editor or story ideas to • The buildings at 1 United Nations Plaza and 2 U.N. Proud resident of Murray Hill for 20 [email protected] For the New Year, I wish for the preservation of a green Murray Hill and and please use the subject line our quiet enclave as we continue to make this neighborhood a highly desir- Plaza are to be sold, with some of the proceeds used years specializing in co-op, condo, “Murray Hill Life”. able place to live and work. to pay for construction of the future U.N. Esplanade ric Murray townhouse & investment properties. to H connecting the ODR Esplanade with the Con Ed pier. is il And here is my wish list for you: H l l l T • There will be improvements to other CB6 area parks, h n • all of you bring in one new member e o i M t a u i r c such as St. Vartan’s Park. r o • you join us at some of the events sponsored by the association a s y s H A ill od Neighborho • you volunteer for a committee Many in the neighborhood are worried that a new building You Deserve the Best • you support your community: you really can make a difference would block their view of the East River.