Volume 74, Number 29 | November 24 – 30, 2004
Letters to the editor
Applauds N.Y.U. on science center
To The Editor:
Re “N.Y.U. to use Waverly buildings for its new life sciences center” (news article, Nov. 17):
My board has no position yet on the new life sciences center proposed for Waverly Pl., but speaking for myself I think New York University deserves a pat on the back. When people don’t like something N.Y.U. does they don’t hesitate to say so. When N.Y.U. makes a good move, encouragement is in order. N.Y.U.’s decision is right and it’s smart.
The residents of 505 LaGuardia Pl. have had their worries alleviated: it is confirmed by N.Y.U. the center won’t be rising on their doorstep where Associated (Morton Williams) Supermarket now stands. Whether their fears were exaggerated or not, residents were apprehensive that the labs would produce biological and chemical pollution. Apparently, however, the new labs will be engaged in genomic and molecular research. In any event, the residents of 505 need not be concerned about the projected life sciences center anymore. (Of course, N.Y.U. is almost certain to pursue other, presumably less objectionable, development of the Morton Williams site).
In developing 12-14-16 Waverly Pl. instead, N.Y.U. keeps the life sciences project within their Village family of buildings without generating great hardship for the neighbors. Relatively few people live on that block of Waverly Pl. The increase in the bulk of the buildings is being handled sensibly. The two extra stories now planned will involve a setback to minimize visibility. Sightlines that added to Village pedestrians’ aesthetic pleasure are not being sacrificed as in some other N.Y.U. projects. There is no park below the buildings to suffer a reduction in sunlight. The ghost of no dead poet is being “bum’s-rushed” out of his sanctuary.
N.Y.U.’s announcement is welcome. May it stay that way through to the completion of the project.
Jim Smith
Smith is chairperson of Community Board 2 Always stopped by to see Louie
To The Editor:
Re “Elias ‘Louie’ Vassilakes, 55, of Joe Junior’s” (obituary, Oct. 20)
Only late last week did I learn, through your excellent article in The Villager that Louie had passed away. Every trip we — my wife and I — have made to New York to visit our daughter and son in the past few years, we have made it a point to dine and visit at Joe Junior’s.
This last trip, the last week of October, we had plans to dine at Joe Junior’s, which were changed; so, I am appreciative to my son who sent me a copy of The Villager to read. We all will miss Louie.
Joe Golson
Artful portrait of undercover gem
To The Editor:
“Hidden Meat Market art space is a world unto itself” (news article, Nov. 17):
Thank you for sending a young writer with such a sophisticated sense of humor to portray Bombora House.
Perhaps it’s a horror of becoming “a commodity” that has always allowed me to enjoy the anonymity of remaining “undercover”….
I’m so glad that the first public portrait of Bombora House was painted with such delicate brushstrokes in my favorite little paper in N.Y.C.
Melinda Brown
Brown is director, Bombora House
