April 21, 2008
Stuyvesant Town/Peter Cooper Village Getting Greener
Photo of Stuyvesant Town, by nrvlowdown at flickr
Tishman Speyer, the real estate company that bought Stuyvesant Town and Peter Cooper Village for $5.4 billion in 2006, is going on a landscaping binge at the sprawling housing complex. The company plans on planting approximately 200,000 plants across the property's 80 acres, including 10,000 trees and more than 3,000 shrubs. The net effect on one resident was that it feel as if she were in a suburban oasis in the city.
The NY Times reported that the work is 20% done and that as many as 120 gardeners are at work on the property every day. Tishman Speyer's landscaping project is definitely a different direction for the property from what the previous owner was trying to accomplish--to open up the interior of the property by cutting down trees. In 2003, residents complained that the removal of many trees was making the property appear denuded and overly uniform.
Now, managing director at Tishman Speyer George Hatzmann said that 100 hanging baskets of plants and 40,000 annuals should be in place in time for Mothers Day. Of course, rent increases have driven many longtime STPCV residents out; Hartsmann said, "Rent increases are a part of life in the city, but we do our best to stay consistent with market prices.”
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greener $$$ in more ways than one
and if you want to live in a "surburban oasis" then please move to Long Island
Your title is "Stuyesant Town/Peter Cooper Village Getting Greener."
Five guesses as to what's wrong with it.
i think its great, stuy-town and peter cooper was my urban playground in my 7-13yr old life and over the years the community has renovated and re-done playgrounds and the park to actually make it a beautiful & green space for the residents within the compound.
Yeah, right. People aren't moving to PCVST because there aren't enough trees. It has nothing to do with the fact that they're charging rent that's altogether disproportionate to the property/location.
the planting of trees totally killed the parking on the ave C loop though
If you think about it, it's basic math on the part of the new owners..
Where the previous owners were trying to sell the property.. they rotating in plants every season.. smaller short term costs, but larger totals if you kept that rate up over many years..
The new owners are investing in longer lasting landscaping including trees and annual flowers.. Larger upfront cost, but ongoing maintenance should be lower..
i.e. it's better to spend $10 once + $1 per year, than $3 per year indefinitely..
And anyone who won't take 6 weeks of parking troubles in trade for 10,000 trees and 200,000 plants should be kicked around by greenpeace..
It's still Alphaville ,now with more trees.
In any event the air will be sweeter coming off
the East Riv.dr..........yeah sure.
This Green initiative is great. All these trees and bushes will block the view to the over 12,000 window air conditioning units (growing an additional 1,000 per year). With all this new shrubbery, they'll need even more ladybugs to control the burgeoning aphid population and then of course have to bring in bald headed eagles to control the squirrel population. Note to Tishman Speyer: The Eagle idea would make another great targeted marketing campaign in the New York Times when the vacancy rate gets over 15%. Research shows that eagles bring in rich urban hipsters eager to play mini golf in the oval. Tres chic.