Category Archives: News

News

Well that was Quick: South Courtyard Reopens

TO: ALL COOPERATORS/ EAST RIVER HOUSING
FROM: MANAGEMENT

RE: PARK REOPENED BEHIND 577 GRAND ST.

DUE TO A RECENT INFESTATION OF BEES THIS PAST WEEKEND WE WERE FORCED TO CLOSE THE PARK BEHIND BLDG. 2 AT 577 GRAND STREET.

WE ARE HAPPY TO REPORT THE BEES HAVE MOVED ON AND WE ARE REOPENING THE PARK IMMEDIATELY. WE HAVE CANCELED THE BEEKEEPER.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR COOPERATION.

So the “infestation” has moved on? Maybe not such a big problem to begin with? Does anyone have any more information about this — was closing the courtyard just an overreaction, or is there still a hive hiding out somewhere?

News

Bees close south courtyard until further notice

We’re losing our parks left and right! Not only is the north courtyard now closed because of inspection and maintenance on buildings 3 and 4, but the south courtyard is closed after many cooperators noticed an unusual activity of bees:

TO: ALL COOPERATORS/ EAST RIVER HOUSING
FROM: MANAGEMENT

RE: PARK CLOSURE BEHIND 577 GRAND ST. / BEES!!!

DUE TO A SERIOUS BEE PROBLEM BEHIND BLDG. 2 AT 577 GRAND STREET IN THE PLAYGROUND AREA, THE PARK WILL HAVE TO BE CLOSED UNTIL A BEEKEEPER ARRIVES EARLY NEXT WEEK TO REMOVE THE HIVE.

THIS SITUATION SHOULD BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY BY PARENTS, WHO SHOULD BE ESPECIALLY CAREFUL WITH THEIR CHILDREN DURING THE WEEKEND, UNTIL THE PROBLEM CAN BE RESOLVED.

Do you get email updates from Management? If not, you can sign up for them here.

News

North courtyard closure starts Wednesday

Memo posted from Management clarifies earlier announcement:

PLEASE BE ADVISED, the park between buildings 3 & 4 will close next Wednesday, May 30th for mandatory work being done to the buildings. We would like our cooperators to know that we explored a number of issues relating to the specific cause of the park remaining open. Since safety is our overwhelming concern, the decision was made to expedite the work without compromise to safety; therefore the park must be closed. We also realize what time of year it is and the importance of the park to our residents during these summer months. There was no way to know this past winter would be so mild for such an extended period as to risk the start of the project. Again, the City of New York mandates this work, and we will comply.

The inspections are being done to comply with Local Law 11.

No official word yet on when work will begin on buildings 1 & 2, but presumably cooperators in these buildings will face the same inconvenience starting near the end of the summer. Does anyone know for sure when that work will begin?

News

Great turnout for garden

1 Comment

What a beautiful day for the garden’s coming out party — and a great, encouraging number of families turned out. There were lots of questions (some we’re still figuring out answers to) and lots of enthusiasm.

Names were drawn for the individual plots and some basic guidelines were established for the use of the garden. We’ll be posting more information in the next couple of days, but for now just wanted to say: hurray!

Sign up here if you couldn’t make it but still want to be a part of the community lots. (And tell your friends about the garden with the sharing buttons below.)

News

Petition aims to stop summer closure of north courtyard

Earlier this month, Management informed the Coop that the north courtyard — the park between buildings 3 and 4 — would be closed for three months because of the scaffolding being set up for the inspection and repair of our exterior walls. In response, there is now a petition being circulated asking Management to reconsider the full closure of the courtyard:

Notification from Management of work to buildings 3 & 4 advised of closing the park situated between the two. This inspection/maintenance is done periodically however this is the first time in the past twenty years that the park will be closed for this purpose. This is a major inconvenience for the elderly who find the park their only refuge and the parents whose children rely on the park for activity. If this petition does not fulfill it’s purpose and gain traction, we will all lose the use of our park for the entire summer, not have that access to parking & bikes and will not have the comfort it brings us on hot summer days.

There’s no indication who is sponsoring the petition, but if you agree you can add your signature online.

News

Join the garden: Sunday, May 20 at 11am

The garden is ready for you! (Are you ready for the garden?) Join us this Sunday, May 20 at 11am to become a part of this exciting pilot project.

Meet at the garden — just in the back of building 1, section C — or, if it’s raining, in the lobby of building 1. The garden will consist of some land for common use and some plots for personal use. Depending on interest, there may not be enough individual plots for all people who are interested, so names will be drawn from a hat on Sunday. You must be present on Sunday to be awarded a plot, but if your name is not drawn you will be welcome to participate in the community plots.

There will be a lot of work to do to make the East River Garden a success. Your participation and commitment are most welcome.

News

Turning up the heat in May

This just in from Management …

May 14, 2012

TO: All Cooperators

FROM: Harold Jacob

Re: New Boiler Testing on May 15-17, 2012

The new boiler, which we have installed, burns #2 oil and natural gas. We have already run the boiler on natural gas and it is working well. Unfortunately, when they delivered the new boiler the nozzles that burn the oil were not the correct ones. We will be installing the new ones tomorrow, May 15, 2012, and the boiler will have to be tested to see how it works. Therefore, next Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, May 15 – 17, 2012 we may put some steam into the pipes and you will get steam in your apartments.

We are sorry for the inconvenience, but our engineers are requiring us to test the boiler.

Do you get email updates from Management? If not, you can sign up for them here.

News

Pop-up petting zoo

East River Child Development Center has brought in a petting zoo for the day at the playground next to building 2. Wouldn’t it be fun to do this on a weekend or summer afternoon when all the kids at the Coop could enjoy the animals?

(Click photos to enlarge.)

News

Garden beds prepared

The area between buildings 1 and 2 designated for the Coop’s new community garden was cleared this morning by the grounds crew, so if you wander over you’ll be able to see the space starting to take shape.

Sign up to join — and help manage — the garden here.