Photo by Mark.
July 5, 2016 Weather: Rainy, with a high of 86 degrees.
Notices:
A free outdoor movie in Riverside Park and many more events are on our calendar.
An organization called myFace that is dedicated to transforming the lives of patients with facial disfigurement, will be hosting Races for Faces, a walk to raise money and awareness for facial difference in Riverside Park on Sunday, July 17th. Sign up to walk or donate here.
Eighty-second street between Columbus and Amsterdam has repeatedly been closed for Con Ed work on gas lines in the past week or so. Anyone on that block know what’s up?
News:
A big condo sale may have been spurred by the imminent arrival of Trader Joe’s to 93rd street and Columbus. “Investment firm ABC Properties has scooped up nearly half of the residential condominium units at an Upper West Side building owned by the Starrett Corp., where the popular grocery chain is planning to open a new store.” We wrote about Trader Joe’s expected arrival here.
And so it begins… a Fairway on Long Island has closed. (Don’t worry, the Upper West Side one is very likely to stick around.)
A local businessman and friend to people and animals alike has passed away of cancer. “Andrew Gould, who since 1992 owned and operated NY Hair Co., a ‘green and cruelty-free salon’ on Amsterdam Avenue between 85th and 86th Streets, has died at the age of 60…In a city where businesses routinely post signs warning that their bathrooms are for customers’ use only, he would never refuse a homeless person’s request to use the facilities at NY Hair. ‘When I asked him why, he would tell me that everyone deserves to have a little dignity,” Wong recalled.'”
A 45-year-old man fell to his death from a building on 88th street on Sunday night. “The wife of the unidentified 45-year-old man said her husband had told her he was going to the roof to open a window because they were locked out of their apartment, police told Daily Mail Online.” It’s not clear whether his death was a suicide.
I find the condo sale report very interesting.
Clearly the purchase indicates that prices for those apartments will increase because of TJs.
At the same time, neighbors complain about the congestion that TJ brings.
Two opposing forces at play.
Danny Boy,the units purchased were not condos but the rent stabilized
apartments only.I know this because I live there. Half the apartments in the building are condos and half long term renters that are rent stabilized. The original management firm still manages the condos and a new firm handles the rentals. Everything is up in the air and information is not forthcoming.
This story just morphed into at least 41 opposing forces: tenants, Starrett, owners, Bears…
Maybe you should mention what happened to the man who fell to earth on 88th street?
Was he hurt badly? Did he die?
Just saying a man fell from the roof is not a complete report.
Updated.
“former Bear Stearns Real Estate Group managing director Larry Cohen, converted the 279-unit building into condos in 2007.”
Bubble anyone?
Re: Salon owner who allowed homeless to use bathroom, saying “everyone deserves to have a little dignity”: What about the PAYING CUSTOMERS? Don’t THEY deserve the dignity of a clean and sanitary bathroom? Did Gould sanitize the bathroom after each use of it by a homeless individual?
Yugo,
Your point may have been valid but this was not the time or place to make it. The man just died. If you don’t have anything nice to say, how about not saying anything at all?
Being homeless and not being sanitary are not one and the same. The homeless look filthy because of how much time they spend on the streets, which are more filthy than anyone understands. The lack of facilities for them mean they must be dirty. Many petfectly well understand hygiene and are polite when using public bathrooms. IMO it’s all the other supposedly normal folk that are pigs and don’t think they need to clean up after themselves thanks to their sense of entitlement.
Wow; that’s really quite unfriendly and harsh. I would suggest you simply stay away from places that show kindness to unfortunate people!
And what makes you think the bathroom is not sanitary? Is it because a homeless person used it? Are you that stupid?
Shame on you and your intolerant behavior. The Upper West Side values everybody and you only speak for yourself.
Hear, hear!
(As I sing “Let’s hear it for the Neighborhood” with the melody from “Let’s hear it forthe Boys”.
The virtue-signaling lynch mob has mobilized. Who will supply the noose?
Carl,
Denying basic human necessities to your fellow Westsiders is just plain ugly.
How’s the virtue in that truth?
@ YUGO How do you know he didn’t sanitize the bathroom? Jeeze he was doing something from the kindness of his heart and all you think about is did he sanitize it! I pray that you never have to experience the indignity that comes along with having to beg for a place to relieve yourself because you are homeless! I guess you would rather see someone relieving themselves outside and then complain about seeing human waste and urine on the street somewhere or that your precious eyes had to witness someone taking a dump because there was no where for them to do it! Smh
I have frequented Andrew’s salon and am so sad to hear the news of his passing. I have not come across another salon that supports the environment, animals and fellow humans the way his did. Truly a loss.
Andrew and I were ‘gym-buddies.’ We chatted frequently, and always (always!) the subject was dogs and their irresponsible (he used more descriptive language) owners. He knew my dog, and knew I shared his concerns. I’ll miss his passionate support for causes he believed in. Also his humor…
If I were Trader Joe’s, I would sue the West Side Rag for that headline!! I certainly would be afraid to shop there in the future.
Good reading comprehension skills. I missed that!
But sue a news outlet? I think there’s some law about that kinda thing.
I went to NY Hair Co. for years until my haircutter moved out of state. Andrew was quite a character with a great sense of humor. My thoughts are with his family and employees. No doubt, he was one of the good guys, a small business owner on the uws with a big heart.
Consider trying Salon Above, a WSR advertiser.
In repect to the lower end of the neighborhood, I should mention franky d’s.