Central Park Tennis Bubbles Popped
By Dan Rivoli
The Parks Department has dropped plans to put bubbles over the Central Park tennis courts in the winter months after considerable community opposition.
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Republican Attorney Wants to Turn Up the Heat on Maloney
By Dan Rivoli
A 28-year-old Republican attorney who wants to challenge Rep. Carolyn Maloney this November has found support from an unusual voting bloc. Read more
In Wake of Subway Stabbing, Concerns About Crime on Public Transit
By Rochana Rapkins
In a blast from the not-so-fondly-remembered past, violent gang activity spilled out of Central Park into Manhattan subway stations last week, with one of the teens involved in the altercation getting stabbed.
According to the New York Post, the trouble began when one gang confronted another in Central Park. One group fled, heading down into the subway station at West 72nd Street and Central Park West and jumping the turnstiles. Read more
MTA Prepares To Take Properties Via Eminent Domain
By Dan Rivoli
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority is moving to take private property, both temporarily and permanently, to continue construction on the first phase of the Second Avenue subway.
Notices were sent March 26 to various properties’ owners and residents along Second Avenue from the East 60s to the East 80s, and around Lexington Avenue and East 63rd Street, where the T line will connect with the F train. Read more
Waitlist Update: Extra P.S. 290 Class A ‘Band-Aid Solution’
By Aline Reynolds
Upper East Sider Lucy Appert signed up her 5-year-old son, Henry, for P. S. 290 the day after registration opened in February. But Henry is 85 on the East 82nd Street primary school’s waitlist.
“I can see the school from our apartment,” Appert said. “We were told that it’s going to be fine—that there would be no zoning plan under which I would not be in the 290 district.” Read more
Subway Construction Updates
Controlled blasting between E. 69th and 70th streets expected to last five months
By Sam Chamberlain
Sam Schwartz engineering recently released a schedule for Second Avenue subway construction through May 10.
Work surrounding the 96th Street Station includes the restoration of pavement and sidewalks between East 99th and 100th streets, starting May 11. Between East 97th and 99th streets, workers will be installing a 12-inch water main and excavating and installing a 30-inch gas main and splice boxes. Traffic will switch to the north side of East 97th Street to accommodate a gas main crossing. The excavation of a storm drain and backfilling of a sewer trench is also scheduled. Read more
Second Chance for Star-Studded Theater
With a community-minded focus, drama in the basement of an East Side church
By Deirdre Donovan
In its heyday, the Jan Hus Theater, tucked in the basement of Jan Hus Presbyterian Church, has been the artistic home to the Light Opera of Manhattan and Chicago City Limits, featuring top-tier entertainers like Barbra Streisand, Robin Williams and Jerry Seinfeld. About four years ago, though, Chicago City Limits left for a new venue and the space fell somewhat fallow. Read more
TWO-ALARM FIRE IN E. 80s
By Dan Rivoli
A fire broke out on the Upper East Side in the early morning hours of April 22.
At 3:36 a.m., the fire department received a call that a single-family brownstone, at 12 E. 80th St. between Madison and Fifth avenues, was in flames. More than 100 fire fighters were at the scene by 4:02 a.m., and the fire was under control by 5 a.m., according to FDNY press.
A woman, man and their four children all safely escaped to the rooftop using a ladder. Six firefighters sustained minor injuries, including some burns. Read more
FAIRWAY UNLOADS SUBWAY CONSTRUCTION CONCERNS
By Dan Rivoli
Fairway may be eying a new Upper East Side location, but the gourmet food market is already concerned about Second Avenue Subway construction.
Fairway is considering opening an outpost at 240 E. 86th St., between Second and Third avenues, an area that will soon see heavy subway construction that would block truck loading and unloading zones.
As crews take over Second Avenue, more businesses will be using the 220-foot East 86th Street truck zone. Paid commercial trucks can park in the zone Monday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. Read more
NEW DRILLING RULES ANNOUNCED
By Sam Chamberlain
New regulations announced April 23 were designed to end natural gas drilling near New York City’s drinking water source.
But the rules have sparked a backlash among environmental advocates, who claim that the state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) missed an opportunity to ban drilling near the city’s water supply altogether.
There has been a push in recent years from oil and gas companies to drill in the Marcellus Shale using a technique called hydraulic fracturing, which involves injecting water mixed with chemicals and sand into a well to free trapped natural gas. Read more
