Downtown residents have had it when it comes to construction-related noise.
Barbara Minsky, who lives on the 6th floor of 12 John St., has been awoken numerous times by a banging metal sound coming from the adjacent construction site.
When Minsky got out of bed to question the on-site supervisor about the early morning work, “they were laughing in my face,” she said.
Minsky, a visual artist by trade, said she could no longer work in her home studio due to the continuous disruptions from this construction project and others. She is thinking about moving out of her spacious two-bedroom loft, where she has lived and worked for 30 years.
“I feel like I have to get out of here. I can’t take it,” said Minsky. “It’s just one thing after another [since 9/11], and [residents] are never even acknowledged.”
Minsky is one of several Financial District residents that are outraged with the work taking place at 2 John St., 180 Broadway and 182 Broadway, where SL Green Realty Corp. is demolishing buildings to make room for a 23-floor dormitory for Pace University that is slated to open in Jan. 2013.
The real estate firm attended last week’s Community Board 1 Financial District Committee meeting, where committee member Catherine McVay Hughes, a resident of 176 Broadway, railed against the company for disturbing the little peace and quiet she and her neighbors have left.
“You’re not good neighbors. You made promises two months ago, and every single promise was broken,” she said. Like Minsky, McVay Hughes said SL Green workers were unresponsive when she made complaints about noise, vibrations and trucks idling around the site.
McVay Hughes and other committee members quickly opposed SL Green’s request for extended work hours. The company has applied to the city Department of Buildings for after-hour and Saturday work permits to make up for lost time from a Con Edison-related delay in supplying power to the building.
“Extending the hours allows us to take out more debris during the day,” explained Robert DeWitt, Jr., senior vice president of construction of SL Green. The company, he said, is hoping to dismantle the buildings by July.
“Having problems with Con Ed does not mean that the people who live and work in that area have to have their lives further impacted,” said McVay Hughes. “I think, right now, the general sentiment is to show that you can follow the rules.”
“I understood what they were saying, but it’s their problem — they should be able to solve it,” echoed Tom Ondreicka, Minsky’s partner who also lives at 12 John St.
“We’re all concerned that they’re going to start working on weekends when they’ll have fewer safety inspectors,” said John Reuther, who lives in a penthouse at 176 Broadway. He and others requested that the board write a letter to the D.O.B. asking about city supervision of Downtown building projects after-hours and on weekends.
McVay Hughes also accused SL Green of diminishing the value of her and Reuther’s residence by erecting a sidewalk bridge that covers nearly half of its front façade.
The bridge, Dewitt noted, is meant to protect pedestrians from falling debris.
Responding to the other complaints, Dewitt said the company would return to the F.D. committee on a monthly basis to respond to additional community concerns.
In the meantime, he said, SL Green has pledged not to work on Saturdays until further notice, per C.B. 1’s request (despite the pending application). It has also added outdoor lighting and signage notifying tenants about the construction zone.
“Our contractors are doing what they can to minimize the impact to the neighbors and surrounding buildings,” said Dewitt. “We’re going to do their best to keep everybody happy.”
Article BY Aline Reynolds
