No Help for Greenpoint Biz Tossed for Condos
Man, this guy Herb Engler is a master of the press! The 65-year-old owner of a Greenpoint metal-cutting company with four employees that is being evicted to make way for condos gets major ink in the Daily News today less than a month after the Village Voice profiled his plight. “Schmucks like us are in…
Man, this guy Herb Engler is a master of the press! The 65-year-old owner of a Greenpoint metal-cutting company with four employees that is being evicted to make way for condos gets major ink in the Daily News today less than a month after the Village Voice profiled his plight. “Schmucks like us are in the way,” says Engler. His gripe, which is hard not to sympathize with, is that the $4 million city program earmarked to help displaced businesses has not kicked in yet. Engler focuses his blame on the City Council and David Yassky in particular. “They are not responding to anything,” complains Engler. “Our office has spent a lot of time with manufacturers who are at risk,” said Yassky aide Evan Thies. “We hope and pray it will be available in the next couple months and we’re going to fight like hell to get it.”
Biz Kicked to the Curb [NY Daily News]
Support Lacking for Displaced Biz [Brownstoner]
A sincere apology to “GrandPa” – I read who the comments were from incorrectly. You are apparently the only one that has an idea of what is happening- you have absolutly no idea about Yassky, he is a piece of work…Both Gary and Suzy, you guys really need to read up first.
From the horses mouth (Herb Engler)
I usually don’t bother with trivial remarks made by people that don’t bother to obtain information before opening there collective mouths.
“Can’t resist this one”
I am not looking for sympathy (GrandPa)from any one, least of all from an individual that apparently has an IQ of -1. According to the terms of the lease..After 30 years, both the landlord and myself under mutual agreement just stopped with the lease’s, we were that comfortable with each other. Mistake, yes, hindsight a wonderful thing.I’m happy that you are in a position to throw stones I guess that you never made mistakes – I have.
When the landlord was first approched by the Developer he immediately refused the offer of purchase. You see, he owns 30 some odd properties and really doesn’t need the money – however as we all know, everyone has a price – his was $1 million, I would have done the same thing.
The feeding frenzy of developers has be brought about by the city council in its infinate wisdom and drastically changed the zoning laws allowing residential builder to buy up commercial properties to build apartments and or condos. Problem here is that it is being done on a huge scale and many people are getting hurt.
My big mistake was that for the past 2 1/2 years business has been very bad – I didn’t want to lay any of my guys off as I knew that they would have an extremely hard time (because of there back ground) to get another job…so I have used every dime I had, including putting up my house against the buisness so that the employees and myself still had a job. Most would say that was a big mistake, but I am not most and I did the right thing as far as I am concerned.
Regarding the smart remarks about purchasing property years ago – sure would have been a good thing. Did we attempt to purchase the property that we are in…sure did, several times. Did we look further, NO, our rent was so cheap that in many ways it just didn’t pay. Again, hind sight is a wonderful thing. Did we see, or know that the city would change the zoning laws..NO and neither did anyone else and that is fact.People suggesting that I could have bought a building years ago are completely right,But I didn’t.
Reguarding the relocation funding, you can thank the City Council for that. The reason that they did set up the fund was because they did realize that many conpanies would not be able to move without help. End result here would be, and might be that many small business will have to shut down..gee what happens to the workers of those small businesses. Suzy, have any idea of how many small shops there are and how many employees could be put out on the street. The city is trying to keep those small companies in the five bourghs, not have them fold or move to out lying areas, but I guess that does not mean much too you! It’s nice to be critical, but get some facts before you find fault..might be a smart thing to do.
And, last but not least, anyone one of you that do not understand, that when your back is to the wall you do what ever it takes to survive. The funding is supposed to be available except that Councilman Yassky does not want to release it for what ever the reasons. Maybe some of you critics should be more concerned with facts like…Yassky’s office told us not to call there – city workers, that are paid by us “GrandPa” and yet can tell us not to call or bother them. There are over 50 councilman throughout the city – in an open letter to all of them requesting either help or advise regarding this re-zoning mess, not one, “GrandPa” replyed, not even the Speaker. This fact should scare you a lot more than the fact that I am going after funding that has been offered – would you try and save your house and family in any way you can “GrandPa” I will and that is what I am doing. I have a 14yr old deaf daughter that ask me the other night, where are we going to live if you loose the business…hey “GrandPa” wanna answer that one!!
Gary, how quickly and flip would you be if your business, home and entire family were at steak..would you still say c’est la guerre? THINK ABOUT THAT!
Anyone that is intersted in contacting me for further information can contact me through the business. The Daily News has printed the company name as has the Village Voice, or the Greenline, or the Greenpoint Star.
GET FACTS BEFORE YOU COMPLAIN,it’d be the smart thing to do!
engler’s own words, to the village voice:
“It’s a feeding frenzy,” he said, adding that he understands property owners will sell their land because the profits are so large—he’d do the same.
he’s been there for 36 years and didn’t buy the building, or try to find another one. he could have purchased a similar building in the area for a song through the ’60s and ’70’s, and he didn’t. he saw this coming, and didn’t do anything about it, except to complain. c’est la guerre.
“Sympathize”?
Apparently, the terms of the guy’s lease allowed for the OWNER to take possession at a particular time. Happens every day. Nothing wrong with it. He should have planned accordingly.
And I really resent that the govt (me) is footing the bill for “relocation help”.
Yassky, with his jerryrigged district, represents his developer fundraisers, not the residents of his district, at least not the residents of Greenpoint. No suprise here.
Again why would the City of New York care about actual jobs when we all know that the future of the City economy is building luxury housing ad nauseum. Will the developers get the necessary infrastructure and “financial assistance” to build housing for the rich? Of course that is how reverse welfare for the rich works.