Residents: Do not build north Tribeca 'wall'
To the Editor:
I ask myself, is the proposed Jack Parker development in north Tribeca
worthy of New York City? (See story, page 5.) Creating a wall blocking
our neighborhood physically and psychologically from its unique access
to the Manhattan Waterfront greenway is not.
Close to 1,000 residents have signed a petition expressing their unequivocal
opposition to this project. Can the overwhelming voice of the community
be ignored?
To quote City Planning Chairwoman Amanda M. Burden:
"In these challenging times we must think and work in new ways, fostering
ideas, nurturing creativity and producing solutions. I look forward to
your participation in this exciting process."
Let us not repeat past errors. A comprehensive study, not a piecemeal
one, must be undertaken to consider the environmental impact on the whole
of north Tribeca.
I understand that development pressures dictate that something new will
be built on this site. Let the environmental impact study process go forward-guaranteeing
citizen access to decision-making.
Let it also guarantee an outcome that is good both for the city and the
neighborhood.
Sidney Spanier
466 Washington Street
Gateway to Tribeca is
a dead end for a shoe store owner
To the Editor:
Mr. Bill Brodsky may be a "resident of Tribeca," he may have
"walked by the site many times," and he may be an involved partner
in a $24 million real estate deal ("Building Sale Signals Store's
Demise," January Trib). But when he says "the corner at Chambers
and West Broadway is an important gateway to Tribeca" he is wrong.
It is a dead end for Tribeca when a 56-year-old specialty high-quality
shoe store is booted out for a "possible high end boutique hotel."
Dianne Aronson
Canal
Street post office can do better
To the Editor:
When the Church Street post office reopened, we regained a crucial part
of our infrastructure and took heart from another sign that daily life
was returning to normal. I use that facility routinely and appreciate
its new lighting, clean lobbies, numerous easy-to-use automated postal
machines, and helpful staff.
Because of my address, however, to retrieve a held package I'm forced
to use the Canal Street facility.
After 21 years, why am I still amazed and alarmed that locating and releasing
packages at this facility is both arcane and challenging, each and every
time? Am I perhaps the only one who asks them to do this? Is it some bad
10013 karma of mine? Too often it takes two trips, and more than one set
of misinformation, to be served adequately.
I'm no efficiency expert, but I become one as I stand waiting for a bewildered
and ill-tempered clerk to search through unimaginable piles and mislabeled
containers behind the pick-up counter.
Might they consider a consistent system for doing a routine and predictable
task?
Could I just get back there and do it myself?
And if I'm misguided enough to complain, the staff is quick to term me
both demanding and cranky for voicing my indignation. Maybe someday the
service economy will make inroads on the corner of Church and Canal Streets.
But I'm not encouraged.
Celia Hartmann
What
can we do to discourage rude dog owners?
To the Editor:
As a new resident of Tribeca (and New York City), I am grateful to have
a neighborhood publication that keeps me up to date on all of the "local"
happenings. Thank you for your good work!
I am writing to you because I'm otherwise at a loss for whom to approach
with my concern. Perhaps this is a silly concern relative to all of the
other challenges a new New Yorker might face, but it is one that I believe
is worth mentioning.
My husband and I were attracted to this fantastic part of town for many
reasons, but highest on our list was the quality of life it had to offer
us as the owners of our beloved dog. We were shocked to learn that the
dogs are not allowed on the grass in the parks, but it's a rule we've
grown used to. Left with no other choice, all dogs must do their "duty"
on the sidewalks. Yuck, but there are no other options.
Herein lies my concern. As a dog owner or not, I'm not at all interested
in stepping in or around another random dog's "business."
As a dog owner, I'm not at all interested in having to force my own dog
to avoid others' messes. What exactly is it that makes these other dog
owners feel entitled to leave crap everywhere? Dog owners in our building
are so bold as to allow their dogs to relieve themselves right outside
the service door, leaving others to endure a horrible stench and endless
puddles.
Imagine my excitement when I discovered this morning that the highly anticipated
new dog park on North End Avenue was finally open!
However, much to my dismay, some rude person had already left their dog's
pile "unattended" right at the park's entrance...less than 24
hours after it had opened.
We live amidst a huddle of high-class residential buildings, but I am
disappointed to know that my neighbors are not necessarily high class.
Not only is this lazy behavior filthy and disgusting, I worry daily about
my dog contracting a horrible health problem as a result of another dog
owner's lack of regard.
I would love to see someone from your paper tell us what we can do to
clean up our streets (literally). Can we get baggie stands put in? Can
we get the buildings to post notices for their residents? I'm sure those
without dogs will appreciate it just as much as I will!
Ellen Page
The Tribeca Trib welcomes signed letters to the editor. Send them to tribeditor@tribecatrib.com Letters may be edited for length and clarity.
