A shanty shack grows on South End Ave
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Update: February 3, 2012
BatteryPark.TV delivers results once again. The despised shanty shack that had sprung up is now transformed back into a small fruit stand. It is still illegal and stealing business from the tax-paying Hudson Produce and Gristedes, and the red gas canisters are still there, but at least the eyesore is partially gone.
The First Precinct was the cause for the results. In contrast, the property manager of the nearby ex-Gate House porch, LeFrak, did not adequately act on the matter. This is the same property manager that allows the unsanitary dog urine to accumulate on the sidewalk in front of the Chase bank on South End Ave and fails to properly spray down the sidewalk.
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Update: February 2, 2012
A viewer informed us that the First Precinct stopped by the shanty shack and gave them a warning that the fruit stand can be no larger than eight feet. They will return later. Stay tuned.
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Update: January 31, 2012
One day after our report on the 27th, the boxes disappeared. The First Precinct replied to BatteryPark.TV that they were investigating and we spoke with the building owner of the old Gate House, upon which the illegal storage is taking place.
Now, four days later, the shanty shack has returned and the boxes are once again sprawled over the old Gate House porch. Neither the Gateway Plaza building property manager nor any official from the BPCA has responded to out requests for comment.
January 27, 201
Uptown BPC has the Shake Shack. Downtown BPC’ers have the Shanty Shack. BatteryPark.TV has received several emails complaining about the growing unsightly sloppy tent at the intersection of South End Avenue and Albany. A fruit vendor is expanding onto the empty porch of the closed down Gate House. He is now storing numerous boxes of fruit on the ground, and
has an ugly makeshift tarpaulin over his stand. The merchants even have a 24-hour source of electricity from a gasoline generator with fuel canisters sitting on the sidewalk. The Gateway Plaza real estate group is the nearest property owner, and is allowing the storage of the boxes on their porch.
Also, across the street is a permanent, never moving, “Mobile” pastry and coffee cart. It is a favorite spot for tour buses and trucks that park illegally for hours on Albany using the food cart as their excuse for stopping. Brookfield Properties is the nearest property owner.
The nearby Hudson Produce, a legal establishment that loses money to both sidewalk vendors, was enthusiastic when BatteryPark.TV informed them that many in the community want the fruit shack to leave.
Where is the City Department of Health when they are needed? Do they only harass restaurants and collect fees? We asked Gayle Horwitz, CEO of the BPCA, whether they or some other agency is in charge of regulating this site, and she did not reply. We are awaiting replies from the property owners, City Hall, and the First Precinct.
What do you think? Should these unauthorized food vendors be shut down and evicted or do you value their services? Please post comments in the section below. They will be helpful to the community board and others.
Take our survey here.
Update: January 28, 2012
The First precinct community affairs replied to our story and they told us that they would investigate. We noticed that already the vendor has removed the numerous boxes, and the Gate House porch is empty. However, the ugly tarpaulin remains, as does the fuel canisters. The BPCA has still not replied to our questions.
(Click images to enlarge to full screen)
The permanent "mobile" pastry and coffee cart on Albany Street and South End Avenue
- Battery Park City Authority, - City Council, - Community Board 1, - First precinct, - Mayor's Office, Gripes, Groceries, Real estate, Shops and markets | admin | 
February 3, 2012 12:18 pm | 
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