- Blogger Oligarki in Exile compares two new “luxury” complexes from his vantage point [Oligarki in Exile]
- The New York Times offers an indepth article on the popularity of praise dancers in local churches [NY Times]
- Harlem’s Mr. Untouchable comes back to life [NY Times]
- Washington Heights Dominicans wonder how much long they can hold on [NY Times]
Photo credit: Joe Fornabaio for The New York Times
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anon
March 7, 2007
Oligarki – i respect and appreciate your response. makes more sense knowing who you are/what your intent was when writing the posting.
thanks.
Oligarki
March 6, 2007
anon,
I was just as surprised as you to find a post from my personal weblog (which deals with weighty things like conversations with ghosts and pictures of kittens in blenders) as the headline of a seemingly legitimate website about life in Harlem. I can only assume the authors thought it was funny.
Although I appreciated the new visitors, I was concerned (with good reason) about my thoughts being taken out of context, so let me clarify a few things: (1) I do not claim to be a valid source of information on Harlem or gentrification (2) My friends, and girlfriend, who called the man a n—-r (behind his back) are all black and were embarrassed about what he had said to me. (3) Although the shooting was real, I don’t think anyone was killed or injured–because I can find nothing about the incident in any news source. (4) Once again, I have no idea why this post ended up here.
No offense intended.
anon
March 6, 2007
i must be very daft—but i didnt quite “get” that posting. this guy is white? and his white friends called a guy a n—-r and he found this all an “adventure”? and he lives in williamsburg but is somehow on a rooftop in harlem spying on people who live in the lenox and then witnessing a murder?
and this is all funny to us?
i understand that some people think it’s fun/funny to scare the white folk with these stories…but doesnt it just perpetuate a horrible stereotype about black folks?
Anonymous
March 6, 2007
The Lenox has been on the market since the Fall of 2005. Buyers move in when the building is open and they can since they’re paying on the mortgage and the maintenance.
“Under Contract” has no credence at this juncture as there has been ample time for real buyers to have closed prior to the opening of the building (which opened 4 months behind schedule).
The developer and broker have a vested interest to foster the illusion and appearance of demand hence their website indeed might appreciably over inflate the appearance of demand.
Truth? Just look at all the empty windows in the day time, look at the few lights in the night. I doubt more than 12 of the 77 units are occupied.
If the developer and broker are saying 50% or 38 units are sold, then you would have to believe 23 – 25 buyers have bought, are paying mortgages and maintenance bills and simply choosing not yet to move in. Not 1 or 2 buyers but 23 to 25 buyers.,
Who do you believe, the hype of the developer and broker or your lying eyes and reason? The Lenox is in big trouble going forward and it’s going to take a hell of a lot of spin and BS to explain away the empty brand new building come Spring.
Oligarki
March 5, 2007
I came up with the 50 percent occupancy figure by eyeballing the ratio of SOLD/AVAILABLE units publicly listed on The Lennox website. In retrospect, that was probably not a very scientific way of going about it, for obvious reasons. I would agree that the building looks much emptier.
Anonymous
March 5, 2007
The Lenox item is mildly amusing however it is not close to 50% occupied and I’m guessing less than 25% (it has 77 units). General observation of windows with blinds or curtains or drapes, coupled with evening observations for lights = 10 – 12 units occupied after 1 month of its opening.
This was not the projection or plan and all involved must be disappointed. The architectural design has all the creativity of Legos or shoeboxes, take your pick. Diagonally across the street on 120th & Lenox mounted on a rooftop is a cell phone antennae system pointed right dead center at The Lenox. Do you want to see that wave emitting device pointed less than 100′ from your window 24/7/365?
The Lenox is in trouble as far nicer inventory is popping up in Harlem at a better value, better location. I can’t see it selling out in 2007 or 2008 for that matter.