CHAOCblog

The entire south campus is part of a Historic District (see map) first proposed in a public hearing in October 1979.  In 1981 the Landmarks Preservation Commission published the Clinton Hill Historic Distric Designation Report to further support the proposal.  The report focuses on Clinton Hill, or “the Hill”, coming of age from about 1850s – 1920s/1940s.  The report provides cultural and architectural details, as well as specifics on famous residences.  Success was obtained and the historical designation was made official on November 10, 1981.   Due to the Historical designation, CHAOC is limited on its ability to change or modify the current security booth on the south campus.

Being that the Clinton Hill Houses (now Clinton Hill Apartments) were built in the 1940s, there are scant references in this report but which I’ve highlighted below.  However, the final excerpt provides the historical reference particular to our current security booth.  (While reading, note that in the early 1900s Clinton Avenue became known as the “Gold Coast” due to the affluence of its residents. )

Excerpt 1: “A major blow to the character of Clinton Hill came in the 1940s when two complete blocks of houses were torn down and replaced by high-rise housing erected for employees at the nearby Brooklyn Navy Yard.  Among the houses torn down were those of Herbert Pratt, Charles Pratt’s partners  Edward T. and Alfred C. Bedford, department store magnate H.L. Batterman, and homes designed by George B. Post, Grosvenor Atterbury, and Montrose Morris.”  (p 18-19)

Excerpt 2: “Regarding architectural history of the area: “With the exception of the erection of the Clinton Hill Houses in the 1940s and a modern school and a library, the Clinton Hill area retains its historic architectural character to an astonishing degree.” (Andrew S. Dolkart, p.29-30)

Excerpt 3: “No. 325 is an eleven-story brick apartment building constructed as part of the Clinton Hill Houses… The apartment building replaced two masonry mansions in 1942.” (p. 68)

Excerpt 4: “Although both sides of this treelined block [Clinton betw Lafayette and Green] once contained large mansions all but two have been demolished. The six mansions and four rowhouses on the east side were torn down during WWII and replaced by an apartment complex built for naval personnel assigned to the Brooklyn Navy Yard. ” (p. 72, For info on what used to be on this block, see p. 73-75)

Dancing Lady

Excerpt 5: “The north campus housed enlisted men, while that to the south was primarily for officers.  The project was designated by the prominent contemporary architects Harrison, Foulihoux & Abromovitz who were responsible for many notable modern buildings including the Rockefeller Apartments, Lincoln Center, the Time and Life Building and the Empire State Plaza in Albany.  The buildings were representative of the many 20th century housing complexes that follow Le Corbusier’s idea of the apartment house set within a park. The four buildings are separated by small lowns with trees and shrubs and they center on an interesting guard house and information kiosk.  This small rectangular glass building is sheltered by a curving pavilion that is raised on a round podium.  The pavilion is supported by tapered concrete legs.  A bronze sculpture of a dancing woman provides a dramatic focus for the kiosk.” (p.73)

According to attendants at the last RC meeting, a current CHAOC capital project is to repair the dancing woman sculpture (although in the RC meeting agenda it was wrongly referenced as a mermaid) as well as to investigate options to upgrade the security facilities located at the kiosk.  The other security-related capital project to install cameras throughout campus/buildings, is still in progress.  It was communicated that once the installations are complete, there is a potential to keep basement facilities open later than they are currently.

All utilities in NY are regulated and monitored by the NY Public Service Commission (PSC). NYPSC includes the Office of Consumer Services. Their mission is “to ensure that utilities fulfill their obligation to provide effective customer service in compliance with the laws, rules, regulations and policies we enforce.” They monitor the number of complaints, response time, and credit adjustments to consumers.

At CHAOC, our electric is transmitted and distributed by ConEdison, but the submetering and billing is provided by a 3rd party, also known as an ESCO (Energy Service Company). NYPSC monitors both. Based on my monthly utility bill, I assume that American Metering & Planning Services is our ESCO and therefore the company responsible for installing and operating faulty meters that are causing everyone the inaccurate monthly bills.

The following complaint filing process is copied from the Oct 2008 Monthly Report on Consumer Complaint Activity published by NYPSC.

Contact the Office of Consumer Services to file your complaint: 1-800-342-3377 M-F 830-4pm, or online 24/7

“After we [the Office] complete entering the details of your complaint we send your complaint to the utility by e-mail or fax. In an effort to ensure that utilities fulfill their obligation to provide effective customer service, we will first ask your utility to contact you and resolve your concern. If your complaint is related to the provision of service, your utility should contact you within two business hours. If your complaint is related to billing or another matter, the utility should contact you by the close of the following business day.

If the utility does not contact you with its initial acknowledgement, does not provide its response to you within two weeks or the matter remains unresolved after you have received a response, you can contact us. We will then further investigate the matter and notify you in writing or by telephone of the decision and the reasons for the decision.”

http://www.dps.state.ny.us/

A few weeks ago at the Shareholder meeting there was a lot of discussion about different ways to communicate to shareholders outside of the monthly Resident Council meeting.  One idea was to resurrect the “building captain” program that apparently was in place a few years ago.  This would require that one or two residents per building attend the monthly RC meeting and then be responsible for communicating the meeting notes back to their building.  I suppose that could be done either through a building meeting, writing up meeting minutes and sending out a flyer, or collecting email addresses from residents and sending notes out that way.  If you do type of meeting notes, please email them to me and I will make them available in a password-protected post.

How to become a building captain? It sounds like you just volunteer yourself, attend the RC meeting, and get it started! This isn’t a Board-run or official program, but appears to be more of a grass-roots/do-what-you-can effort. 

“Be the change you want to see in the world” (Mahatma Gandhi)

I love the way the neighborhood looks just after it snows.  However, the sleet and rain really made it quite slippery.

I’ve heard from a few residents both in passing and at last week’s meeting raise the question about installing bike racks on campus.  The responses I’ve heard to-date as to why they don’t exist already include lack of space in basements due to using that space for storage rental (makes sense!) as well as fire code restrictions to use of lobby space (also makes sense to me).  I would also guess there are questions around insurance for bikes locked in common areas, whether inside or out – but I haven’t researched this theory.  There was mention that NYC laws may end up pushing residential buildings to providing more bike parking, which could expedite the resolution some residents are hoping for, capital project funding allowing.

With a quick Google search, I found interesting information regarding NYC proposed bike parking rules that could be as dramatic as requiring one bike space for every  two apartment units (link to info on NYC Planning  Dept site, or read more from link to green article and link to AP article).   This will definitely be one piece of local legislation to keep an eye on!  You can keep tabs on the current NYC program for Bike Parking on the DOT website by clicking here.

Whether pushed by legislation, shareholders or both, I do think with a little creativity in use of what many might today consider “dead space” on campus, we would be able to maintain curb appeal while still providing (outdoor) bike parking on both the south and north campus (ex. the space between bld 365 and the parking lot).  I would also like to think that any perspective investors in CHAOC would be encouraged to live in a community that supports “green” and healthy transportation alternatives.

p.s. I heart the new green paint on the bike lanes!

So here are 2 easy quick-fixes to keep your too hot apartment cooler, while at the same time passing on the extra warmth to your chillier neighbors below you.  This approach also increases our building energy efficiency.

1.  Install fiberglass pipe insulation.  I got some at the Home Depot for less than $10 per 3 ft.  You can get it in different styles, but the easiest is the self-sealing tubes that just snap over your pipes (see pic).  For aesthetics, it is already a paper white outside, but I bought the steel air duct pipes and snapped it overtop for a little industrial look in the kitchen.   Be sure to know your pipe diameter before you go.  I learned the hard way and bought 2.5″ diameter insulation, when I only needed the 1.5″! See Google product search results here

2. Install magnetic vent covers. You can buy these (3 for $10!) at Bed, Bath and Beyond.  Just cut them to fit your radiators.  See Google product search results here

If you are attending the shareholder Board election meeting tomorrow night (that 6:30PM, Dec 11th) and you have neighbors who can’t attend PLEASE COLLECT THEIR PROXIES.  The proxy ballot form can be found in the packet received in the mail on or around Nov 17th.  The title page reads “Dear Shareholder”; the proxy form is the 4th page.  I would encourage those filling out the proxy to a) appoint a friend or neighbor to be your proxy, and b) do NOT select any candidates on the form, because….

If you or a shareholder you know wants to run for the Board but did not submit your name yet, you can submit your name at the meeting tomorrow.   The voting shareholders present at the meeting have the voting power of as many shares they own as well as those shares granted to them by proxy.  These voting shareholders can elect any person(s) who state at the meeting tomorrow that they would like to be added as a candidate for the Board.

Unlike past years, the Annual Shareholder Meeting is NOT at the Masonic Temple.  It will be held across the street at the high school.  See you all there!

A CHAOCblog reader made an interesting remark regarding the proper etiquette of holiday gifting for our Maintenance, Management and/or Security staff.  I have no idea what the expectations are about this but one year I gave a plate of homemade cookies and $20 another year to the maintenance guy who is assigned to my building. It’s the least I can do for such a friendly person who is always making sure my place of residence looks and feels clean.  Only once did I drop off tins of nuts and snacks to the Maintenance office.  I’ve never even considered giving anything to the Management office.

I don’t know what I’ll do this year, or what is “proper”.