Antlers on the 1 train. Photo by Avi.
December 20, 2011 Weather: Cloudy, High of 46 Degrees.
Happy Hannukah! If you’re in the mood for latkes, check out our Latke Taste Test at three local restaurants.
News:
Jewish Home Lifecare just successfully swapped its land on 106th Street with a developer in return for some land on 97th Street where it plans to build a massive new nursing home. The swap plan angered local residents, because it came after the community gave the nursing home operator a special exception to zoning rules, allowing it to build a bigger building on 106th. Folks were very worried that the developer will be allowed to build a skyscraper now on the site because of the special exception. In addition, people near 97th aren’t exactly thrilled about a huge nursing home and all the traffic and congestion that will cause. In short, this fight ain’t over. (Wall Street Journal)
Speaking of controversies, people who think a new candy store planned for the corner of 78th Street and Amsterdam is garish and tacky plan to protest at a Landmarks Preservation Commission hearing today. Sugar & Plumm Purveyors of Yumm is scheduled to open next year. (DNAinfo)
The Supreme Court appears to be taking a case filed by a West 76th Street landlord over rent control pretty seriously. The court has asked the city and state to respond to landlord James Harmon. (NY Times)
Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, the L.A.-based coffee chain that has just begun opening spots in New York, opened yesterday on 86th Street and Amsterdam Avenue. It has a private event room and a kiddie rec space. “Whatever happened to just serving coffee?” says the crotchety old man living inside me. (GrubStreet)
Hey thanks for the warning about that kiddie rec space at Coffee Bean!
Thanks for the heads up on the rent control upcoming tragedy of epic proportions.
My inner crotchety old man got a lot smaller once I had children. This sounds like a good idea. If you want a place to “just get coffee,” try the Dunkin’ Donuts right across Amsterdam Av.
As to the Jewish Home, I usually am skeptical about “too much traffic” claims. However, this street does already see a heavy amount of traffic because the 96th Street transverse lets you out on 97th. If you want to keep going west and get to the Henry Hudson Parkway, you just keep going straight. A ton of cars already do this so I can see how another big building might cause problems.