Photo by Allan Margolin of “Healthy Man” at this weekend’s Broadway Street Fair.
This week, there was lots of news about development controversies, real estate, and lawsuits in other publications. We read it all so you didn’t have to! Check out a summary below.
The Park West Village Tenants’ Association, which is fighting plans to build a new nursing home on 97th street, said last week that the soil at the development site is contaminated with toxic lead because it has been a parking lot for decades. They say developing the site would lead to the release of these toxic chemicals. Jewish Home Lifecare, which plans to build a 20-story nursing home there, said: “We knew nothing about the purported lead issue until last night. No findings or documentation has been provided to Jewish Home Lifecare (JHL) to establish that there is contamination of the soil on the construction site that would require any kind of remediation.” The Park West Village group wants the New York State Department of Health to do an Environmental Impact Review, which would require independent testing. Construction is expected to start in spring 2014. (DNAinfo and Columbia Spectator)
The Aldyn and The Ashley, two fancy buildings on Riverside Boulevard, were sold to CALPERS (the California Public Employees’ Retirement System) for $400 million. “At nearly $1.2 million per unit, the transaction was the most expensive deal for more than 100 units on the Upper West Side since the 2007 purchase of The Apthorp, Bloomberg News noted.” (Commercial Observer)
Upper West Side parents have called for a boycott of new state tests, and are telling their kids not to take them. (NY1)
Gavin and Jodi Samuels were sued by the condo board at The Olmsted on 97th and CPW on accusations they have been renting out their home to tourists. “The board members say the Samuels’ bed-and-breakfast business violates the building’s bylaws — and they want the couple to pay $500 for each documented rental. That could add up. The building says it found almost a dozen instances where the couple rented out one or both of their fourth-floor apartments for at least $250 a night, and Jodi’s blog indicates the total number might be much larger.” Jodi Samuel was featured on West Side Rag a while back as the subject of a student’s essay on heroes. (Daily News)
Cherry blossoms in Central Park! (Central Park Conservancy)
Collegiate alums have mixed feelings about the school’s impending move. (Observer)
A woman attacked by a dog in Central Park can sue the dog’s owner, a judge ruled. (Daily News)
The condo bylaws are only one of their problems. Renting an apartment by the night violates NYC law.