Catsimatidis "Taking a Hard Look" at 162 Myrtle Project
Not surprisingly, there’s a little more nuance to last week’s news that developer (and likely mayoral candidate) John Catsimatidis was putting his 660-unit development on hold than what New York Magazine reported. Reached by phone on Friday, Catsimatidis conceded that he was “taking a hard look” at the project in light of the current environment,…
Not surprisingly, there’s a little more nuance to last week’s news that developer (and likely mayoral candidate) John Catsimatidis was putting his 660-unit development on hold than what New York Magazine reported. Reached by phone on Friday, Catsimatidis conceded that he was “taking a hard look” at the project in light of the current environment, and implied that it would be pretty silly of him not to. His Red Apple Group owns the land outright, so there’s no mortgage burn to worry about. In the meantime, the first-time home-buyers from Manhattan that he sees as his target market now have to come up with a $150,000 down payment for that $750,000 apartment, rather than, say, $75,000 when the project was conceived. In the end, though, it’ll probably come down to retail. “If we can land some strong retail tenants in advance, we’ll go ahead and do this,” he said. Duane Reade has already signed up. How ’bout it, Whole Foods?
Catsimatidis Puts Myrtle Build on Hold! [Brownstoner]
Catsimatidis Puts Myrtle Build on Hold! [Brownstoner]
Catsimatidis on Myrtle Revealed [Brownstoner] GMAP
“How ’bout it, Whole Foods?”
By the PJ’s? Keep dreaming.
Whole Foods would be great, considering the crappy options we have now, but is still a deeply flawed operation.
What we need (for the hundredth time) is Fairway. Lowest prices, regular-guy food AND gourmet treats, locally owned, and a good, NYC sense of humor.
Yes, Wholefoods is exactly what the people who live the Whitman and Ingersol projects need. How about thinking about some of the other people who were in your neighborhood long before you arrived.
I’ve hear that the problem with some of the supermarket chains in NY is access to suppliers of fresh produce. Over the years I’ve spoken to a few Arab and Palestinian store owners about the sorryness of their produce and they say that they don’t have good access to supply, that it seems to be cornered by Korean and Chinese wholesalers that refuse to do business with them. Don’t know if this is still the case but there does seem to be a big difference in produce quality in NY depending on the store.
Actually, 11:01, when I read Brownstoner’s statement, “Red Apple Group owns the land outright,” then I worry that there is little economic cost to The Big Cat if he just sits on the land. That leaves profit as his only motivation for building. Why couldn’t he have ‘taken a hard look’ before he tore down all of the stores in the neighborhood?
Can’t wait for all the dirt to come out on SOB. There is no chance in hell he’ll get elected as mayor. Mark my words folks…he’ll withdraw when the shit starts to hit the fan.
Just google Catsimitidis and investigated…..just the tip of the iceberg.
Rehab: I agree totally. I buy all my fruits and vegetables as the bodega / market directly across from the Associated on Myrtle. For the most part, I have found it very fresh, and the store is very clean. The staff is also very helpful. Their selection isn’t huge, but it definitely works… they do have a great variety of fresh herbs!
On a positive note: I have discovered that the little bodega-sized produce market directly across the street from Associated has beautiful, spotlessly clean produce. I doubt that it’s organic, and it might be slightly pricier. But it’s ripe, clean, and pretty, and they clearly have good turnover of stock.
That’s the weird thing about the garlic and onions at Associated–I’m in there almost every day, and for the past week they’ve been trying to unload the same, sad, 7 or 8 red onions with sprouts coming out. Honestly: Associated shoppers don’t use garlic and onions? WTF?
Guest 11:13, it is not “uber-privileged” to want fresh produce, and to expect a store that doesn’t deliberately try to defraud its shoppers. Maybe Associated has made some strides, but it has a longgggg way to go. I’ve brought home spoiled meat three times from that dump. I won’t buy it there again.
It is the worst kind of cynicism to think middle- and lower-income people have to settle for spoiled meat and old vegetables because they’re too stupid to know any better or too beaten-down to think they deserve decent food for their money.