Wild Halloween Party at the Steinway Mansion (October 28, 2018)

Photo shows cars parked outside the Mansion on 41st Street as revelers exited and entered the landmarked edifice.  Subsequent 2 minute video shows frenetic, staccato, pulsating party lighting effects in the vicinity of LaGuardia aviation take-off and landing paths.  Dangerous irresponsibility towards air travel on this rainy night with poor visibility?

Clean as a Whistle: September 2, 2018

All traces of the former owner, the late Armin Urban, now removed from the properties immediately south of the Steinway Mansion.

What next?

(Photo 1: Current view)

(Photo 2: As it goes.)

What will we have here?

One thing probably: massive traffic headaches!

The extremely narrow 12 foot wide 41st Street is - incredibly - a two-way street.  Because of the elevation of the hill. when you drive up one side, you cannot see who's coming up the other side. Whatever will be constructed immediately south of the Mansion will have to face  precarious traffic entrances and exits from the structure(s).

ACCIDENTS WAITING TO HAPPEN.

Additional information and posited questions in the following photo captions:

PHOTO 1.  Looking east across 41st Street to the construction site.

Note positioning of the hydrant.   Is that the extent of the Loria/Lucchese

property line?  Or is that by the forward-positioned traffic cones?  

Or by the construction fencing?   Where's the survey?

  WHO OWNS LEGALLY WHAT HERE?

PHOTO 2.  Looking north and pointing to the recently added parking signage on the

 illegally (?) constructed 8 foot high fencing on the west side of the two-way extremely

narrow 41st Street.   Another question: are those cars parked at

photo right center protruding into the city's  thoroughfare?

PHOTO 3.  What that signage reads.  BTW who placed 

those unofficial signs on the illegally (?) positioned

 8 foot fencing?

PHOTO 4.  The sloping florally-planted hill just to the left of the

 back of a parked truck seen partially  on the far right:  have the owners Loria and Lucchese

 "commandeered" city-owned property?  Again, where's the survey?

Is this possible city-owned property taken for private use?

Moving Forward?

After 5 months of inactivity since purchasing in March the properties (18-39 & 18-41) immediately south of their Steinway Mansion on 41st Street, the new owners of these adjoining lots, Salvatore Lucchese and Philip Loria,  are currently demolishing the residence, storage sheds, and garage of the late Armin Urban, the previous owner.

And what will we now, pray tell,  have here?

Photo 1.  August 19, 2018

Photo 2.  March 17, 2018

F.I.L.M.

Spotted on 30th Avenue in Astoria 
at Steinway Street.

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez - a Liar or Ignoramus?

From the ABC news clip of June 27, 2018:  Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on her winning the Democratic primary election for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives from the 14th Congressional District, Bronx and Queens:

"I know that every single person here has worked their butt off to change the future of the Bronx and Queens.   That's what I know."

Ocasio-Cortez recites these very words in the newsclip as she simultaneously points her finger directly at the person standing behind her - Thomas Lopez-Pierre:

Thomas Lopez-Pierre ran for a NYC council seat in Upper Manhattan and lost in 2017.  Here we have a photo of  Lopez-Pierre campaigning for Ocasio-Cortez at the Pelham Bay subway station in the Bronx:   

Lopez-Pierre is known for his anti-Semitic remarks about "greedy Jewish landlords" which can be seen in this YouTube video clip:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hBizX0CluaY

NYC Councilman Mark Levine, who is Jewish and defeated Lopez-Pierre in 2017, offered to let this issue pass in a tweet:

"Thomas Lopez-Pierre has been showing up unwanted in campaigns for years, and frequently jumps into pictures with people who don't know who he is.  Let's give@Ocasio2018 a chance to denounce him and his brazen anti-Semitism before jumping to conclusions."

Ocasio-Cortez replied in her tweet:

"Thank you for this opportunity and your graciousness here. No idea who this guy is, hundreds of folks walked into the hall open to the public last night.  I absolutely denounce any such bigoted and reprehensible statements."

She claims ignorance of him and his history.  You, dear Reader, looking at the photos, decide the veracity of this claim.
ps:///statu

EXCLUSIVE. Steinway Mansion Owners Buy Neighboring Properties!

The owners of the Steinway Mansion, 18-33  41st Street (Block/Lot 802/31), Salvatore Lucchese and Philip Loria, were deeded less than three weeks ago - February 28 - possession of 2 parcels of adjoining land immediately south of the Mansion on 41st Street: 18-39 (Block/Lot 802/27) and 18-41 (Block/Lot 802/29).

   The two addresses belonged to the late Armin Urban who passed away last year.  The deeds to the properties were conveyed to Lucchese and Loria (aka1839 Lucc LLC and 1839 Lor LLC) 18 days ago by Urban's heirs.

   BTW, note the $800,000 amount on the 18-39 deed information HERE and the $700,000 on the 18-41 deed information HERE.

[Both Loria (right) and Lucchese (center) along with architect Gerald Caliendo (left) appeared in a photograph published in the Queens Courier in December 2016 HERE.]

Question for Queens:  How will this recently acquired property be used:
1.  For a Steinway Mansion expanded parking facility?
2.  For new development of commercial and/or residential units?
3.  For park-like recreation?
4.  To lie fallow for possible sale in the future?

Current photos of the properties:

PHOTO 1.  Looking north.  Steinway Mansion, 18-33 41st street (at far left).
  The newly acquired Armin Urban  properties  by Lucchese and Loria,
the Mansion owners: 18-39 (center vicinity ) and 18-41 (right vicinity).

PHOTO 2.  Looking east: the former Armin Urban residence.   Will this 

building be demolished in the future?

PHOTO 3.  Looking west.  The back of the Armin Urban residence seen here 

during Lucchese/Loria warehouses excavation on 42nd Street.   Back of

the Steinway Mansion seen on far right.   Photo was taken on July 12, 2015.

The Demise of the Ferdinand Quentin Dulcken House, Astoria in the Borough of Queens. (March 13, 2018)

31-07  31st Avenue

(between 31st and 32nd Streets)

 

PHOTO 1

PHOTO 2

PHOTO 3

PHOTO 4

PHOTO 5

The Astoria Chainsaw Massacre: Update On The Destruction Of The Ferdinand Quentin Dulcken House (March 7, 2018)

Collaged photos below show the one year hiatus in which the local Astoria politicians did NOTHING to preserve this historic structure from its obscene shameful destruction.  (Click on each photo for enlarged detailed views.)  A roll-call of infamy and iniquity:

- NYC Councilman COSTA CONSTANTINIDES - MIA (Missing in Action)

- NYS Assemblywoman ARAVELLA SIMOTAS - MIA (Missing in Action)

- NYS Senator MICHAEL GIANARIS - MIA (Missing in Action)
- Congresswoman CAROLYN MALONEY - MIA (Missing in Action)
- Queens Community BOARD ONE - MIA (Missing in Action)

PHOTO 1.  Chainsaw attacks the historic structure. Note the

PRISTINE condition of the severed ancient beam.

PHOTO 2.  The Dulcken House in its original magnificent glory.
(31-07  31st Avenue)

PHOTO 3.   What could have been easily restored but instead 

is now being destroyed.

PHOTO 4.  Clear view to the heavens with the

tower now gone.

PHOTO 5.  19th century carpentry workmanship.   Exquisite intricate

house framing of joists, beams, and studs.

PHOTO 6.  Will this beautifully designed and executed staircase

escape the destruction of the chainsaw?

PHOTO 7.  So easy to destroy but not so easy to design..

Could This Be Why Some People Do Not Want Trees In Their Neighborhoods? (March 4, 2018)

Photos taken after the recent Nor'easter.  38th Avenue and 168th Street,  Broadway-Flushing.  Tree toppled southward across 38th Avenue fortunately missing residences.

PHOTO 1

PHOTO 2

PHOTO 3

The Dulcken House: the Next Day During the Nor'easter (March 2, 2018)

Prepping for the demolition:

PHOTO 1

PHOTO 2

PHOTO 3

PHOTO 4

PHOTO 5

PHOTO 6

PHOTO 7

PHOTO 8

This Is It. The End Of The Dulcken House. (March 1, 2018)

Spotted during the northeaster in the pouring rain:

PHOTO 1

PHOTO 2

PHOTO 3