[In the press]

Its Rudins vs. Persnickety History in Village [NY Observer]
The debate over the proposed new hospital complex for St. Vincent Catholic Medical Centers is heating up as the plan goes before the city’s Landmark’s Preservation Commission for a hearing today.

Families of Auxiliary Cops Slain in West Village Rampage Denied Federal Benefits [Gothamist]
The Justice Department is denying federal benefits to the families of Yevgeniy Marshalik and Nicholas Pekearo who were brutally killed by a marauding gunman in the West Village last year. Both families had applied for $300,000 in benefits as part of the 2003 “Hometown Heroes” Congressional bill for families of first-responders killed in the line of duty, but “didn’t qualify” because the NYC’s “auxillary police are not recognized as police officers and do not have the power of arrest beyond that of a private citizen”. This comes a couple of weeks after BAMRA held a candle light on the anniversary of the incident.

Bovis Construction does it again… [The Real Deal]
A crane collapsed at a Miami high-rise construction site that resulted in 2 deaths. The contractor was no other than Bovis Construction who is also part of the the Trump SoHo, the same construction site that has been shut down twice for numerous violations and endangering its workers as well as the neighborhood.  They can also add the Deutsche Bank building to their extensive resume of deadly work incidents.

Subway Car Cleanliness Improved Slightly [Release]
A report was released today by the NYPIG’s Straphanger’s Campaign that rated the cleanliness of NYC Subways. According to the survey, Manhattan train’s cleanliness fell dramatically with some lines like the 4 going from 94%-38% in just two years, while other interbourogh lines like the L train saw significant improvement. [more] [Table]

City Hall to vote on tenant income discrimination bill [Gotham Gazette]
Landlords will now find it harder to reject low-income tenants who possess public housing authority section 8 vouchers if new legislature is passed by City Hall. This comes after Mayor Mike Bloomberg vetoed the bill that was passed by City Hall earlier.

Developer blocked in bid to build unaffiliated dorm [NY Sun]
The New York State Court of Appeals has ruled that the city can legally deny permits for dormitories if there is no school in line to lease the space. This ruling comes from a case where developer Gregg Singer tried to build a dormitory on the former home of P.S. 64 in alphabet city which he purchased from the city in 1998. The 19 story proposed dorm was widely opposed by the community. This is just the tip of the iceberg.

Bannana Republic Leaves the Village [Racked]
The nation-wide clothing store on Bleeker Street and Sixth Avenue is moving according to a brochure released by real estate company Staubach.

[In the press] Lots of food n’ development

City sticks to recipe for Union Sq. eatery [NY Metro]
Mayor Bloomberg is proceeding with transforming the northern pavilion of Union Square into a high priced restaurant even though he assured the community board that a non commercial alternative would be considered.  The restaurant privatize open common space that has been a historic place for rallies and protests.

NYU’s razzle dazzle accused of being nazi [Curbed.com]
Curbed looks at the coverage of March 13th’s meeting where NYU presented their preliminary plans on NYU in 2031.

New Openings
Two new local eateries were featured in NY Magazine’s Grubb St.: Hakata Ippudo, a japanese ramen chain and Bowery Electric, a rock n’ roll bar. [Hakata Ippudo | Bowery Electric]

FREE SELF DEFENSE CLASS FOR WOMEN OF ALL AGES!

This invitation is FOR WOMEN OF ALL AGES – TEENAGERS INCLUDED!

Speaker Quinn’s office is offering an invitation to all the women in the Greenwich Village area for a Self defense class.

This is a time sensitive matter and requires an RSVP to reserve a spot. Space may be limited.

The class is being sponsored by Speaker Christine Quinn and co-sponsored by Safe Horizon and the Center for Anti-Violence Education.

Date: Tuesday, March 25th, 2008
Time: 6:30PM to 8:30PM
Location: The basement of Our Lady of Pompeii Church
located at the intersection of Carmine and Bleecker
Streets in the West Village
Program:
6:30PM to 7:00PM Amy Edelstein from Safe Horizon
will discuss safety awareness and general resources
for survivors of sexual assault
7:00PM to 8:30PM Susan Moesker from the Center for
Anti-Violence Education will lead a self-defense class

What to Bring:
• Comfortable clothes, sneakers, a bottle of water, a
pad of paper and a writing utensil to take notes.
• We will provide exercise mats.

You may want to let your neighbors and friends know
about this opportunity.
Feel free to print the flyer and post it in your
building.

If want to attend, please respond directly to Grey
Elam.

Grey Elam
Legislative Aide
District Office of Speaker Christine C. Quinn
Phone: 212-564-7757
Email: Grey.Elam@council.nyc.ny.us

[In the press] West Village Sex Fiend Caught, CBGB’s, NYU bids, Webster Hall

Sorry for the delay in the news, but here’s the big stories from the last few days.

West Village Sex Fiend is Collard [NY Post]
The teenage sex offender who viciously attacked two women in the West Village two weeks ago has now been captured. He was a 19 year old who was picked up on Friday and is being charged with rape, sexual abuse and attempted assault.

CBGB’s Gallery to become The Morrison Hotel Gallery [Stupefaction]
The old CBGB’s Gallery is being turned into a gallery featuring “the best in visual music art curated by the staff of our gallery and created by the talented photographers and artists”. The first exhibit is opening Thursday evening, March 27th at 7pm.

NYU bids on CUNY Campus in Kips Bay [NY Observer]
NYU is bidding on the 4.2-acre city block of Hunter College’s Brookdale campus on the west side by 25th St. This continues their plan of expanding the school’s medical campus that is already in the area.

Webster Hall becomes Hall of Fame [NY Post]
“The Jewel of Greenwich Village” is now officially a historic landmark.

One and Two Bedroom Rents down in Manhattan during March [Real Deal]
Rents in one and two bedroom apartments went fell by 2% in Manhattan while prices for studios remained the same.

Is NYC construction like a 19th century coal mine? [curbed.com]
Curbed posts some good analysis of how dangerous construction has become with the great NYC development Gold Rush relating to the midtown crane crash and the Trump’s SoHo Chain incident fresh in mind. Queencrap also alerts its readers about an upcoming City Council hearing on construction site safety in April.

Mixed use stories [Villager]
The Villager brings us the latest news on Hudson Square, Trump Soho, Webster Hall, and Stuy Town

[In the press] G Jones down, Mall Madness, and Vanishing Shoes

A New Street is born on the Bowery
You know what that pedestrian mall they are trying to build on Prince St?  Well now we may see another strip right by the corpse of CBGBs.  The Real Deal reported that the parallel between Bowery and Second Ave off East First Street that is currently used as a pad locked trash alley may be developed into a pedestrian mall, a new idea of development that other places like NYU is pursuing too.

Discontinued: Magic Shoes Disappearing
Magic Shoes, the shoe store on 178 Bleeker St., is offering 80% off sales as they near the end of their lease.  The vintage shoe store is vanishing into thin air after being around since 1979.  Jeremiah’s Vanishing New York looks into the history of the store.

Webster Hall is Officially ‘Culturally Significant’
Landmarks Preservation Commission has recommended Webster Hall (119 East 11th Street) for historic preservation.  There still needs to be a public hearing with a vote.

Destructoporn: 30 Great Jones Going
The old screw factory at 30 Great Jones Street began its demolition.  There is very little on what will replace it.