The local paper for the Upper er East Side A CLOSER READING OF FIDDLER < 15 MINUTES, P.25
WEEK OF MAY-JUNE
28-3 2015
Our Take
DRAWING A LINE AT SUTTON PLACE
THE SUMMER BUCKET LIST
NEWS Community rallies unusually speedy fight against a proposed mega-tower in the neighborhood
Photo courtesy Eileen F. Gould
BY DANIEL FITZSIMMONS
A proposed development by the Bauhouse Group to build a 900-foot tall residential tower in the historic Sutton Place neighborhood shocked many when it was revealed by Our Town in April. Since then, according to Community Board 6 and Councilmember Ben Kallos, residents who live in the area have joined forces in a plan to stop, or at least limit, the scope of the project. Bauhouse began years ago to build an assemblage allowing for a 268,000-square-foot tower that would be the one of the tallest in the city and the second-tallest on the Upper East Side, behind the in-progress 1,400foot 432 Park Avenue. The development includes 58,000 square feet of inclusionary housing rights, and consists of four building lots totaling 80 feet of frontage on East 58th Street between 1st Avenue and Sutton Place. According to sources with knowledge of the development, Bauhouse is actually looking to unload the parcel to another developer. In response to the proposal, CB6 passed a resolution that could serve to limit how high a buyer can build on Sutton Place. “The community expressed strong opinions that the proposed construction will ruin the scale and character
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YORK AVENUE DUCKLINGS MOVE TO THE SUBURBS NEWS Eight ducks moved to Long Island, ahead of the traffic BY CODY GERARD
The ducklings of the Upper East Side are no more. The eight newborn ducks had captivated the neighborhood, after taking up residence in a fountain outside of 1385 York Ave., between 73rd and 74th streets. Neighbors set up a nest box in the fountain and the ducks, believed to be only a few weeks old, attracted a stream of gawkers and admirers. Eileen Gould, who lives in the building next door, said the ducklings were relocated by wildlife officials, and su-
pers at the building said the ducks were taken to Long Island to live in the wild. A sign was posted at the fountain stating simply, “Moved To Long Island!” “Hopefully, it’s to give them a better life than living in a driveway,” Gould said. “People were very disappointed to see them leave.” Gould had set up what she took to calling a Duck-cam on Facebook, providing regular updates. The ducklings, of course, may have had the last quack: The animals fled the city early in the week, well ahead of the Memorial Day weekend crawl to the beach.
Newscheck Crime Watch Voices Out & About
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Memorial Day is behind us, and this year’s was glorious. New Yorkers, still traumatized by a dreadful winter, turned out en masse last weekened to claim their place on every available patch of grass, park bench and beach towel. There was joy to be found outside, and we were right there in it. It’s more than just the weather. The coming summer also gives us all a chance to exhale, after what has been an exhausting, draining few months: The continuing tension with the police, the frustration over a New York economy wishboning in opposite directions, the rise of petty crime and homelessness on the streets. They are all real issues and won’t fade away in the sunshine; indeed, some of them may get worse. But these months nevertheless give us all a chance to take a breather, a moment to refresh. And it is in that spirit that next month kicks off our first annual Summer Bucket List series. Beginning in June, look for stories about New Yorkers spending their summer in ways they’ve always dreamed about, but never pulled off: napping in Bryant Park, taking up bocce ball, fishing in New York harbor. Your bucket list can be grandiose or simple, pricey or free. The only requirement is that it can only happen in summer -- and only in New York. So what’s on your list? Send us your stories and ideas at news@ strausnews.com, post them on our Facebook page, or tweet us at #summerbucketlist. Now go outside.
Jewish women and girls light up the world by lighting the Shabbat candles every Friday evening 18 minutes before sunset. Friday May 29 – 8:00 pm. For more information visit www.chabaduppereastside.com.