The Streets Where We Live

New Inwood Lamppost on Broadway and 211th Street

I know this isn't groundbreaking news, but I was really fascinated by the installation of this lamppost. Those things are HEAVY!

  

Western End of Dyckman Street Redesign Proposed

 

The Urban Design:Infrastructure class at NYU is doing a project to redesign the end of Dyckman St. at the Hudson River. They will be present their design ideas to the Inwood and Washington Heights community to get community feedback. All are welcome to attend. Holiday refreshments will be provided.

Inwood Library 

4790 Broadway, near Dyckman

212-942-2445, inwood@nypl.org

December 16

6 to 7:30 p.m. 

Assembly Member Adriano Espaillat Update

I received this email from our local Assembly Member. If these issues are of concern to you, it might make sense to call or email your Assembly Member and say so. 

> From: Adriano Espaillat <espaillata@assembly.state.ny.us>
> Date: October 1, 2009 4:04:24 PM EDT
> To: undisclosed-recipients:;
> Subject: A Message from Assemblymember Espaillat
>
> Dear Friends - We have enjoyed another year of crime reduction in 
> the 34th precinct and are gratified by the great job the department 
> has done; however, several recent robberies in the neighborhood 
> have raised concerns. I have communicated these concerns to and the 
> 34th precinct has increased patrols in the affected locations, 
> including Isham Street to West 218th Street. We will continue to 
> work closely with the commander to ensure community concerns are 
> addressed.
>
> My office repeatedly contacts city agencies such as the Department 
> of Transportation and Con Edison to get street lights fixed, and 
> the Parks Department to prune overgrown trees that have diminished 
> our street lights. Last night, Con Edison fixed the inoperative 
> street lights on Park Terrace West at our request and will shortly 
> replace the defective 215th Street light pole that was previously 
> removed. Please continue to call 311 for municipal services and 
> feel free to let us know of any outstanding repairs. My office will 
> work with the city agencies to see that the repairs are completed 
> as soon as possible.
>
> You may contact my district office during regular business hours at
> (212)-544-2278 and email me anytime at <espaila@assembly.state.ny.us>.
>
> Thank you.
>
>
> Adriano Espaillat
> Member of Assembly (72nd AD)

207 Gallery Space Now For Rent

207 Gallery now for rent. 718-939-3988

Any intrepid artists out there interested in saving Inwood's only art gallery? Or maybe you'd like to start your very own Inwood art colony? The gallery once owned and run by Mike Petalka prior to his death last year. He and his sister owned the building and operated the gallery out of the retail space on the ground level. He opened the shop in hopes of creating an artistic space for Northern Manhattan artists. 

There is some talk now amongst Inwood residents of taking on the space to continue its life as a gallery, but nothing formal has taken root yet. One option might be for a group to apply for a Northern Manhattan Arts Alliance grant (See below for more information).  According to New Heights Realty, the space is now available for $2,000 a month in rent. 

2009-2010 Grants for 
Arts/Cultural Organizations
and Individual Artists 
in Washington Heights/Inwood 

The Northern Manhattan Arts Alliance announces the 2009-2010 cycle of grants for arts/cultural organizations and individual artists in the neighborhoods of Washington Heights & Inwood.

2009-2010 Arts/Cultural Organization Grant 

 NoMAA will provide grants ranging from $2,000 to $5,000 to eligible arts/cultural organizations to support organizational capacity building projects. 

 2009-2010 Individual Artist Grant 

 NoMAA will provide grants ranging from $500 to $2,000 to eligible individual artists to support the creation, development and/or completion phases of new works in all areas of literary arts, media arts, performing/interpretive arts, and visual arts.

Application Deadline: October 16, 2009, 5PM

First-time applicants must attend an orientation workshop
RSVP required: 212.568.4396 • info@nomaanyc.org
– return applicants can acquire the application starting September 12 on our website: www.nomaanyc.org -

The first orientation workshop will be held on:
Saturday, September 12
11am (English presentation)
1pm (Presentación en español)

The Cornerstone Center – 178 Bennett Avenue (at 189th Street)

More workshops to be announced!

For more information contact NoMAA at 212.568.4396  -info@nomaanyc.org.

The Northern Manhattan Arts Alliance (NoMAA) is a nonprofit arts service organization with a mission to cultivate, support, and promote the work of artists and arts o
rganizations in northern Manhattan.  This regrant program is funded by the JPMorgan Chase Foundation and the Upper Manhattan Empowerment Zone Development Corporation.

Broadway Repaved

Image by intrepid reporter and gifted photographer Bruce Katz

One of the bumpiest roads in Upper Manhattan has been given a new lease on life. The stretch of Broadway near 225th Street is in the process of being repaved. Whether that's a good thing or not is yet to be seen, as Bruce Katz (intrepid reporter and photographer whose work is above) commented about the repair of potholes that "could swallow a Smartcar," "Now the car service cars won't even have to slow down as they head south."

Walls Come Crumbling Down

Maybe it's age, the amount of rain and snow we've gotten in Inwood and Washington Heights this year, or just a wacky coincidence, but hot on the tails of the 1 Train subway wall collapse late Sunday night, comes what looks like the impending collapse of one of my favorite doorways in Inwood. The building belongs to The Northeastern Academy school, located on West 215th Street. Long ago boarded up, according to the New York Times, the building first belonged to William H. Hurst, a financial professional who moved to the area looking for more space from the Upper West Side (Sound familiar?). 

The house has a rich history. After Hurst died, the school became a convent with a school for girls, and was then purchased by Northeastern in 1974. Although it was once used as a guest house for the school, it was gutted by a fire set by vandals in 1988. Plans to do more with the building have not progressed since that time. 

A school representative reached via telephone said that she was not aware of a problem, but had seen someone working on the space yesterday. She said she would make sure to alert the school custodian and principal as to the damage. Neighbors should keep a close eye on this spot and perhaps make a habit of walking on the other side of the street. 

 

Easel holds up crumbling archway.

Every morning I see more and more of this facade crumble away. 

Espaillat and Stringer Call for Quick Clean Up & Safety Survey of 181st Street 1 Train Station

The following press release was issued following a 3 p.m. press conference held by Assembly Member Adriano Espaillat and Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer in response to the ceiling collapse at the 18st Street 1 train subway station early this morning.

News from New York State Assemblymember Adriano Espaillat
Representing 72nd AD Washington Heights-Inwood and Marble Hill

PRESS RELEASE
Contact: Martin Collins
            (646) 895-3703

Ceiling Collapse on IRT 181st Street Station
Paralyzes Subway Service in Northern Manhattan

August 17, 2009 – New York State Assemblymember Adriano Espaillat was joined today by representatives for Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer, Assemblymember Herman D. Farrell, Jr., and community leaders from the Northern Manhattan communities of Washington Heights-Inwood and Marble Hill in response to last night’s ceiling collapse at the 181^st Street IRT subway station. The collapse has nearly paralyzed transportation services in those areas north of West 168^th Street in Manhattan. The 181^st Street station services thousands of straphangers going to work and connecting to and from the Bronx. Moreover, the collapse has hindered subway service in the following stations: 181^st Street; 191^st Street; Dyckman Street; 207^th Street; 215^th Street; 225^th Street; 231^st Street; 238^th Street; and 242^nd Street.

“While thankfully no straphangers or transit workers were injured in this debacle, crumbling ceilings and weak beams present a horrifying reality for New Yorkers.  The MTA faces extraordinary financial challenges, but this is no excuse to allow the subway system to fall into disrepair.  New York City, state, and MTA leaders must find ways to dedicate money for infrastructure to ensure that this city’s great mass transit system is efficient and safe for the millions of people who ride it daily,” said Manhattan Borough President Scott M. Stringer. 

Assemblymember Espaillat has demanded that the MTA begin an expeditious removal of all debris from the 181^st Street subway tracks and to commence the immediate repair of the station’s ceiling. Espaillat has further asked for the MTA to conduct a safety assessment of the remainder of the subway station’s physical structure, including the arch-bricked ceiling.

As a response to this emergency Assemblymember Espaillat’s office has requested enhanced and free shuttle bus service, including free transfers for all straphangers from 168^th Street to 242^nd Street. This crisis is also expected to impact subway service on the A and C subway lines, which also provide train service for Northern Manhattan. 

The MTA has advised our office of the following:

·         There is no 1 train service between the 168th Street Station and the Dyckman Street Station in both directions. Northbound 1 trains are ending at 168th Street.

·         Shuttle train service is running between 242nd Street and Dyckman Street, making all stops.

·         Shuttle buses are running between Dyckman Street and 168th Street.

·         Customers can also make a free transfer at 168^th Street to the M3 bus.

• Wheelchair passengers may take the free shuttle from 168^th Street to Dyckman Street where the shuttle will continue to make northbound stops all the way to  242^nd  Street.
  

We request the following from the MTA:

·         We asked for a free transfer to the M100 and BX7 bus, which the MTA denied.

·         We request the MTA provide daily updates on the debris removal, repair status, and the timetable for restoration of full service at the 181^st IRT subway station.

·         We request the MTA post signage at all affected stations in English & Spanish in coordination with the NYC Department of Transportation.

·         We request an update from the MTA on the state of its capital budget for all the affected IRT Northern Manhattan subway stations.

For more information you may contact Assemblymember Espaillat’s office at (212) 544-2278 or 311.

####

1 Train Ceiling Collapse at 181st Street Slows Down and Diverts Commuters

 

Video care of WPIX

A late Sunday night ceiling collapse at the 181st Street 1 Train Washington Heights station (in my opinion one of the most beautiful, underrated and ill-cared for stations in all of New York City) caused serious delays for Monday morning commuters. According to the Daily News, last night "transit workers were scrambling to clear debris that rained down on the tracks and platform and damaged the third rail at the Washington Heights stop. No one was hurt when a 20- to 30-foot section of the ceiling, including an old stone arch, caved in about 11 p.m. Bricks covered both uptown and downtown tracks and platforms, workers said."

The MTA has issued a travel advisory, which reads: 

MTA New York City Transit

Service Alert

Posted on:8/17/2009 11:05:33 AM

Due to ongoing switch problems at the Times Square-42nd Street Station, Van Cortlandt Park-bound trains are running with delays.

In addition, due to debris on the track at the 181st Street Station:

There is no  train service between the 168th Street Station and the Dyckman Street Station in both directions.

Van Cortlandt Park-bound  train service will terminate at 168th Street Station.

Shuttle train service is being provided between 242nd Street Station and Dyckman Street Station, making all stops. Shuttle Buses are running between the Dyckman Street Station and the 168th Street Station.

As an alternative, customer are advised to use nearby M100 or BX7 bus service running on Broadway.

Please expect delays in service on the  trains at this time.

Martin Collins, Community Liaison for Assembly Member Adriano Espaillat, also sent an email advisory for residents: 

Due to this morning's ceiling collapse at the 181st Street #1 train station there is no 1 train service between the 168th Street Station and the Dyckman Street Station in both directions. Northbound 1 trains are ending at 168th Street. Shuttle train service is running between 242nd Street and Dyckman Street, making all stops. Shuttle buses are running between Dyckman Street and 168th Street.Customers can also use the M100 or the BX7 bus service running on Broadway. Crews are looking into the collapse. No injuries have been reported. Further updates will follow. 

UPDATED: Schneiderman Launches Graffiti Clean Up

A graffiti clean-up will kick off tomorrow in Manhattan and the Bronx’s 31^st Senatorial District. The initiative, led by State Senator Eric Schneiderman will consist of a free graffiti removal service provided by city contractor CitySolve for residential buildings Washington Heights, Inwood, Marble Hill, Riverdale, the Upper West Side and West Harlem, and businesses on St. Nicholas Avenue, between 170^th and 185^th streets, in Washington Heights. Funding for this program was secured by Schneiderman in this year’s state budget.

Schneiderman is set to announce the program tomorrow at a press conference where he will help (with the help of CitySolve) clean up a graffitied wall at a local business on West 182^nd Street and St. Nicholas Avenue in Washington Heights. Photos to come below. 

UPDATE: The clean up kicked off without a hitch. Schneiderman and Assembly Member Adriano Espaillat coordinated a press event today to announce the new program and joined local business owners and community leaders in jumpstarting the clean up effort. 

“Graffiti is one of the most often reported quality of life issues brought to me by constituents in my district,” Schneiderman said in a written press release issued after the event.  “The residents of this community care about their streets and the appearance of the buildings that they live in, work in, and walk past on a daily basis.  This graffiti removal program will begin to tackle the problems associated with graffiti and will empower the citizens to reclaim their streets.”

“Our community has come a long way over the years, and the quality of life has dramatically improved,” Espaillat said in the same release. “Despite this progress, graffiti remains a concern for residents and the business community.  We love our neighborhood and our streets, and we will love it more when we have removed unwanted graffiti from our buildings.”

Those interested in having graffiti removed from a residential building or business in the areas described above should call Sen. Schneiderman's office at 212-544-0173.

Sen. Schneiderman begins the clean up on West 182nd Street and St. Nicholas Avenue.

UPDATE: Inwood Post Office on the Chopping Block? (Apparently Not)

Vermilyea Post Office this March.

The Inwood Post Office may close if the United States Postal Service (USPS) doesn't find a way to make up for its massive financial losses this year. Yesterday the USPS announced that it may close close to 700 branches in the country to remedy its financial woes, which just this year have resulted in a loss of nearly $7 billion. Of the 700 branches nationwide, 53 are located in New York City.

Although this is sure to bring on a mixed emotional response for many Inwoodites who have complained about the local post office's service on Vermilyea Avenue, a closure of that location would leave area residents with two options nearby, the office on Broadway in Kingsbridge and in Fort Washington on Broadway and Nagle. Further south, the future of the imperiled Sergeant Ryan Tejeda Post Office on West 180th Street remains uncertain.

No word yet on a local political response.

UPDATE: The New York Times and Inwoodite on Twitter reports that the Inwood Post Office is not at risk of closing at the end of this year. Inwood is not on the list of five Manhattan post offices that are now being singled out for closure. Originally, 53 New York City post offices were slated for closire, with 25 located in Manhattan.