Photo by Amy Aglar.
August 14, 2012 Weather: Scattered Thunderstorms, High of 91 Degrees.
Notices:
Manhattan Childrens Center (MCC), a school on West 95th Street for children on the autism spectrum, has partnered with Rita’s on Broadway between 92nd and 93rd to host a scoop night fundraiser on Thursday, August 16th from 1:30 to 5:30. “We’ll have teachers and staff members behind the counter putting their scooping skills to the test!”
News:
Africa Israel USA and the other owners of the historic Apthorp on 79th have apparently lost control of the building to their lender Area Property Partners. “The owners, including investor Ralph Braha, AFI chairman Tamir Kaziz, former Africa Israel CEO Izzy Cohen and Andrew Ratner, executive vice president of Broadwall Properties, a part owner and managing agent of the property, have all resigned from the board of the Apthrop.” The group had purchased the building in 2007. It’s been a very rocky five years. (The Real Deal)
The Beacon School on West 61st Street broke ground on a new Hell’s Kitchen campus that will be constructed at the former site of a public library building at 521 West 43rd Street. “The new Beacon High School building will offer Wi-Fi, science labs and arts suites to complement and support our students’ innovation. Most importantly, it will provide more space for one of our most successful and growing high schools,” said Mayor Bloomberg in a statement. It’s expected to open in the fall of 2015. When it started, District 3 students got preference to attend Beacon, but no longer do (unless we’re mistaken).
The Chatsworth, a Beaux Arts apartment building on 72nd Street and Riverside Drive is on the market, and could sell for more than $150 million. (Wall Street Journal)
Eater has put Lady Gaga’s family’s restaurant Joanne Trattoria on its “Death Watch” after bad reviews and anecdotes. (Eater)
The mantel from Edgar Allen Poe’s old home on 84th Street has a curious history, and is now in a new part of the library at Columbia University. (NY Times)
New York City families are flooding offices that give out housing subsidies, trying to stay out of the shelter system as new Section 8 vouchers have become unavailable, rent subsidies have dried up, and the public housing system has a 100,000-household-plus waiting list. (WNYC)
Safety problems on West 95th Street? We’ve seen this before. (NY Times, circa 1991) Thanks to West Side Rag reader Thomas for the link.
The correct spelling of his middle name is: Allan. (W. 84th St. signs had to be changed three times, before the city got it right!)
This is a shame. It’s a lovely building. My wife – a personal chef – catered two parties in the Apthorp some years ago and I helped her with the load-in. Nice apartments, nice people. Neither tenant is there now – they had to get out. Lives turned upside down, all thanks to amateurish speculation and bad old greed.