*Update: Those who longed for the taste of Starbuck’s must wait a while longer…the 145th location was still closed as of this morning but they look very close to being ready to open*
The paint has dried and the furniture has been delivered. The new Starbuck’s located on 145th Street on the corner of Bradhurst Avenue is almost ready to serve their first Venti Caramel Macchiato to Harlemites who have thus far had to go down to 125th Street to get their “third place experience.” Word is that the first order will be served up bright and early Monday morning.
In related Langston news, a tipster wrote in inquiring about news from the new residents. It has been relatively quiet on the Langston front and we’re curious to know how the new digs are working out.
Our anonymous tipster will be moving into the building next month. If you remember from reading the comments in an old thread, there was mention of a discrimination suit being filed which held up the closing for some buyers. Our tipster was contacted by the Department of Human Rights, as well as the developer, Gotham, to investigate the claims.
In addition to the allegations of discrimination, future residents have been complaining about the closing procedure itself. Our tipster writes:
They have been so ill-coordinated among themselves that they’ve cost so many people their money. They sent out a letter in December requiring everybody to send in their request for closing. So, I did just that and then scrambled to get a bank commitment and locked in my interest and all that stuff. They didn’t close. When questioned, the agent replied they did it “just in case they could close.” They treated as a joke but it cost people alot of money. Locking interest rates costs money. When you don’t close in the time frame you pay more. Commitment letters are only valid for 120 days. Mine expired bcuz they didn’t close when they said they were so now I have to go through the whole process. They even got the nerve to send out a message that they will charge $300 per 1/2 hour if buyers don’t have all their documents and team for closing on time. They’re the one who caused everybody to be late. If they closed on time, we wouldn’t have to do everything all over.
I’m sure this is not the only horror story so if you’d like to share yours please add a comment to the thread or email your story to info@uptownflavor.com.
Hugo
October 17, 2007
I’ve been in Harlem all my life. At one point I would have dismissed Starbucks as simply another big-chain, small business deposing, tool of gentrification. And I don’t think I would have been too off the mark. It seems that a Starbucks, for those looking in from the outside, meant that an area was magically validated…”on the map” so to speak. This would incense me when people would say…”hey Harlem must be getting better…there’s a Starbucks now!” I’d be like…Starbucks is not the litmus test of civilized people.
However, ignoran people’s rants aside, I came to have a more balanced view of what a place like Starbucks represented. Starbucks is a malleable type of business that can be shaped into whatever the neighborhood wants it to be. In this case it is housed within a condo building..giving it an honest-to-God neighbohood spot. This is in no way knocking down places like SugarHill Java & Tea. I love that place and the cool events they have. Nonetheless, Starbucks provides two useful assets. First, for those visting it is something familiar people can relate to (like McDonald’s..Dunkin Donuts..Subway)…a familiar face that helps people cope with new, unknown territory. This is just a product of successful franchisability. For the natives such as myself it provides a place for casual lounging. That’s where it succeeds! And it’s something that a neighborhood needs. I’m assuming this is not a fluke. It’s set up that way. It’s just as much a public area as a park is. You technically don’t need to buy anything. This casual nature makes it attractive. You can get your reading done or just sit down and have a conversation with a friend. Coffee is a bonus. For me, living nearby, its become a surrogate study room. Something for everyone. And it’s not yuppies inhabiting the place.ok…we got a couple of those
What you do see in large number though are my neighbors from the block: black & latino students and young professionals who like coming home to a place where they can just chill.
And on a simply pragmatic note, the area occupied by the Langston, Starbucks, NYSC, etc was nothing more than an empty lot of land. No one was pushed out of there.
Rose
October 12, 2007
Hm, I knew there had to be someone out there happy about a new Starbucks and I’m completely unsurprised that its the same people moving into the Evil Overpriced Condo That Everyone Hates And Is Pushing Everyone Out– uh, I mean, “The Langston.”
I’ve lived here in a normal apartment with the regular people of Harlem for over 2 years and I can confidently say: We don’t want you or your Starbucks here.
Suzy
June 27, 2007
re: Brownstone Lane II, it seems like they obtained TCO but have they started closing yet?
Anonymous
June 22, 2007
We moved into the Langston about a month ago and experienced no problems whatsoever. The staff have been tremendously friendly and happy. We love our apartment and so far have met many great new neighbors. We look forward to many happy years here.
FriendlyNeighbor
June 20, 2007
Hey, I live in the Hamilton, I’ve been walking past that empty storefront for at least a year. And what’s worse is that the “Coming this spring” sign was up for two springs. So far, Maroons’ only contribution to the neighborhood has been an abandoned space.
I’m hungry.
Anonymous
June 20, 2007
Calm down everyone. I walked past there this morning and the crew was working…looks like the electricians are wiring the place. You’ll get your tasty Maroon’s fixins soon enough. As you were.
Anonymous
June 19, 2007
#21 I might believe you except for the fact that I walk past there everyday twice a day between the hours of 9-10 and return in the evenings (the hours they are permitted to work) and no one is ever there. If you are talking about the building across the street where NYSC and Starbuck’s are located, they are there before I even get up in the morning and still there when I get home from work. As a matter of fact, maybe I will stop by and take a picture of the still unfinished interior.
Anonymous
June 19, 2007
Actually none of that is true at all. Walked by the other day…doors were open and a whole crew was busy working away. Looks great inside. Chelsea was renovated 3 years ago. They can’t wait to open! Nor can we wait for them to!
Anonymous
June 19, 2007
Have you been by Maroon’s lately? It looks like the work has stopped — again! I think the owner of Maroon’s is having a problem paying for this build out. I think she opted to renovate the Chelsea location thinking that she could get out of the Harlem contract. From what I understand they are holding her to her commitment.
http://nymag.com/listings/restaurant/maroons/
Anonymous
June 19, 2007
Maroons is a wonderful Southern and Jamaican cuisine restaurant. They currently have a great place down in Chelsea and are opening at 145th this September! It is NOT for the not so “friendly neighbor” above an empty space nor an eyesore. Not at all. It is nearly complete. It will greatly add to the growing neighborhood. We as outsiders have no idea what the hold up has been- why judge- why call them jerks? Let’s all be happy this is adding to our area. Good luck on your walk through.
Anonymous
June 19, 2007
My walk-through is tomorrow, can’t wait…by the way what is Maroons?
lawrence
June 19, 2007
@ get rid of the projects
you’re really ignorant, aren’t you?
FriendlyNeighbor
June 18, 2007
Oh Maroon’s is a total c*cktease. They have been promising to open for at least a year, but it’s still an empty space, an eyesore. Jerks!
Anonymous
June 18, 2007
We’re moving into the Langston in August. After reading the above we hope all goes well. Thanks for the heads up! Yet more than the Starbucks we’re excited about Maroons Harlem going in across the street. Buzz has it, it’s slated opening is for early Sept! Heard from very good source. Should be the neigborhood jewel with more good things to follow!
getridoftheprojects
June 18, 2007
Wow- you guys get a Starbucks — lucky.. I guess we here at 116th and Lenox will have to wait 20 more years until the government finally decides to shut down these damn projects over here so we can get something like a Starbucks..
harlemite
June 18, 2007
NYSC is not scheduled to open until August
FriendlyNeighbor
June 16, 2007
Welcome to the neighborhood and thank you for bringing the Starbucks and NYSC.
Love, a resident of The Hamilton
Anonymous
June 15, 2007
I’m moving into the Langston in about 1 1/2 weeks. I think I’m gonna start a blog for Langstonians to voice their opinion. Maybe it could serve as a platform for all the owners to get to know each other and voice their opinions as well as know what’s going on. Think it’ll be welcomed?
They really got the nerve to complain about buyers being late!
Aqua
June 15, 2007
I too got caught in closing date limbo at The Langston and got stuck with hefty fees in order to keep my interest rate locked. Copious of mounts of vaseline couldn’t stop the pain I felt having to fork that extra cash over come closing time (mid-May).
Anyone still awaiting a date, or with a date scheduled but sometime later, I suggest you stay on your lawyer about moving the closing date up. I was able to move mine up by a week and hear of others doing the same.
KS
June 15, 2007
what about ny sports club?
Justin
June 15, 2007
that’s not great… though I do know they also have their condo dec filed a while ago as well.
the Langston had their TCOs long before closing but did not have their final condo dec filed until the end of march, so there was no property to even close on legally until the next month.
At J Condo in bklyn they had closing dates only one week after the TCO sign-off.
Yeah, I’m pushing every way that I can and have made sure everything on my end/with the bank is resolved. I will try to get the earliest date I can, though since it’s a lottery unit who knows if the market unit people’s squeaky wheels are automatically louder than mine.
Anonymous
June 15, 2007
The Langston had it’s TCO in December 06. The first person moved in at end of April. Good luck!
Anonymous
June 15, 2007
You gotta call and really push them to set a closing date for you. If not, everybody and their dog would go before you and then you’re screwed.
Justin
June 15, 2007
thanks.. i hope you’re right!
ac
June 15, 2007
Justin
by my experience, you’re in an ok spot. if they’ve gotten the TCO issued, then it’s in their interest to move to closing as soon as humanly possible.
good luck!
Justin
June 15, 2007
fingers
Justin
June 15, 2007
yeah, I’m having the same issue with Brownstone Lane 2 on 119th St… if I can’t close by 1st week of July, I’m screwed since rates have gone up so much since locking and my lease is up end of this month. I was told June would be a safe bet for a closing date (we were origianlly told April). Their wesbite even stills says ‘Spring 2007′ occupancy. Last time I checked July is not spring…
They at least have had their TCO signed-off as of yesterday… so figers crossed.
Anonymous
June 15, 2007
rising interest rates don’t help either