Rats Want Eminent Domain Over 70 Washington?

1.

the yahoo grup'ers won't be happy to see this one. they wanted to keep this vermin problem an in-house one, lest the 'hated' curbed folks get wind of this. oh well, looks like one of their own sold them out.

so, let's see for the issues:

rats, split planks on the floors, the gaudy 'art' suspended over the ceiling, the dorm-like signing in of guests, etc.

what's next?

2.

Lots of condo construction yields lots of scurrying rats -- and I don't mean investment bankers looking for a hip new address.

3.

RAT problems are everywhere. You can't avoid it! Please take this dumbass' comment with a grain of salt! Dumbo is the next Soho!

The bitch is back

4.

there's no way a resident leaked this story. no one in their right mind who just bought there would want to affect their potential resale value by claiming rats (even though it's probably true w/ construction.. kind of normal unfortunately).

5.

DJ Victor Calderon's penthouse apartment is teeming with rats.

6.

Bottom line, I've never seen a rat anywhere in the building, and I've been living there since January. Nor have I heard any of my neighbors complaining about it. Rats on every floor and scurrying through the walls?!?!?! Please. Go back to your competitive rumor mill...

7.

bitch please - your comments on the rat's issue further indicates your desperate attempt to drag down prices so you can finally afford a piece of dumbo.

to the bitch ranting on the rat problem, you should get smacked with my LV. urgggh the nerve!

8.

Svet-

Without adequate public transport, or true tourist-trapist shopping in the neighborhood, I'm not so sure that dumbo will ever be Soho.

9.

So to all your neighbors of the BQE, how are those motorcycles in the middle of the night sounding?

Soho pipedreams people...

10.

SoHo pipedreamer: How are all your middle-of-the-night-tranvestite-hooters doing?

11.

If #3 is for real (I doubt it), I'd like to know whether you think having Dumbo become the next SoHo is a good thing or a bad thing? I live in Dumbo and I, for one, hope the neighborhood evloves into something as unlike SoHo as possible. I work in SoHo and know it well. It's an international outdoor shopping mall with spectacularly overpriced food, lots of fashionable conformity and little independent diversity. With apologies to the intrepid commercial tenants on our Dumbo streets, I hope the neighborhood never becomes a "destination." Its value will, I hope, grow because of its inherent unique residential qualities like waterfront access, transportation proximity, and cinematic streetscapes.

12.

Nicely stated #11. Dumbo will never become Soho, thank God.

Personally, I can't wait for Donnie Dumbo to weigh in on this. Although I've lived in Dumbo for four years and I disagree with his perspective, I think Donnie Dumbo's pastiche is pretty clever and kind of funny.

13.

ha, I guess the rats didn't mind the ridiculous noise or cookie cutter apartments either...

14.

poster #11- i own a place in dumbo dumbass!

le sigh, the rat problems aren't even true!

15.

OK, OK. Regardless of what one thinks of Dumbo as a residential neighborhood ...

Like commenter #6, I've lived in the building for more than five months and have never seen a rat or any evidence of rats, visual or aural. I have seen posts from other neighbors complaining about rats, and I assume they are true. But I've never personally heard any neighbor mention rats, either. So please don't tell me the place is turning into the set for a third remake of "Williard"? Get a grip, people.

My last apartment building, a very expensive place in oh-so-trendy Tribeca, had rats the size of dogs. Lots of 'em. Life in New York.

16.

it is funny how rats are always following the gays!

17.

>it is funny how rats are always following the gays!

Wow, what a truly ignorant comment. First, who said DUMBO was all gay? If you live in Manhattan, unless you're blind, deaf and dumbo (sorry, couldn't resist) you should by now realize that most of the island/5 burrows are G A Y. Second, if you truly know anything, you would also know that real estate values typically increase following the gentrification of neighborhoods by the gay community (re: South End and Dorschester neighborhoods in Boston, Chelsea/Helsea, West/East Village neighborhoods, etc etc etc). Third, the fact that you pulled the gay community into this string dictates you are wrestlng with some gay demons. Is rejection on Manhunt too many times causing closeted bitterness? Grow up and stick to the topic...

18.

busta, how do you explain the letter to the curbed editors? i don't think they just made it up..do you?

19.

calling bullshit on this one.

sold a few, rented a few condo sublet deals, have a few collegues in the biz who live there, been in the bldg more times than I care to discuss...

never seen or heard first hand of rats.

20.

It's TRUE - My friend emailed me this article this morning. I have been shooting the rats with a pellet gun I bought at a sporting goods store. I leave cheese sitting out on a plate, turn off the lights, turn on my nightvision prada shades and BAM cap them in their beady little eyes...

21.

Who would live in Dumbo anyway. That hood sucks....

22.

Are those rats, or the brokers crawling around, trying to dump those units ?

23.

#16 - What kind of question is that? NO, it's not at all possible that someone made up a story to send to curbed. No wonder I don't read your blog...

24.

Seems like lots of folks here have a vested interest in telling us that there are no rats in the building...
My friends recently moved there and they have been talking about the rats. You'd think for the price, they'd at least be dressed in nice little uniforms.

25.

Too bad 70 Washinton wouldn't let me rent one of their storefronts. My restaurant #1 Chinese Takeout would've made excellent rat spare ribs and then sold them to you dumbo's. This would solve the whole rat problem.

26.

So, in addition to the developers, there are non-human rodents there too! Shocking! Simply shocking!

27.

Rats inside buildings are not a fact of life in NY! My building (not in DUMBO), had a rat sighting near our trash and it was taken care of right away (advantage of a coop, I guess, the board has a vested interest in not having rats in the building). Anyway, whether there are rats in 70 washington or not, why so much rancor on this blog over DUMBO or any other neighborhood for that matter? I love my neighborhood and wouldn't live anywhere else, well unless I were v. rich, and see no need to trash someone else's.

28.

insecurity breeds hating, probably cause jealous people who couldn't afford property tend to bash it. just like if a girl dumped you, you will tend to talk bad about her all of a sudden. people, listen, don't make your outlook on dumbo a loser out of you. just like the saying goes, there are other neighborhoods in the sea

29.

Get a life! Rat sighting are everywhere!

1. you find them in the 116th subway stop
2. you find them in central park
3. you find them in avenue b and 1st
4. you find them in lex and 38
5. you find them in w66 and broadway
6. you find them in 28 and 7
7. you find them in 21 and park
8. you find them in 55th and 8
9. you find them in maiden lane
10. you find them in 125 and columbus

what is the big deal? you'll probably find rats sleeping under your bed and eating scraps of food near your stove!

get a life because the BITCH is back!

30.

The real problem: Walentas. Two Trees does substandard work and cuts corners at every turn. He then charges super-exaggerated prices and people think the price is so high, I must be getting quality for my buck.
NEWSFLASH: you're not getting anything from Walentas but ripped off. You've got a rat problem...admit it, and make Two Trees correct it. Denying the problem exists just to attempt to salvage your re-sale ability is a losing strategy.

31.

With all this talk of rats I would've expected you super rich million dollar apartments owners to call in the best exterminators. Hard to believe you'd let them just "hang out" in your establishment.

32.

WHAT HAPPEN MIKE, WALENTAS FIRE YOU??? OR A RELATIVE????

EXTERMINATOR IS THERE 2 TIMES A WEEK, AS OF 2 WEEKS AGO AND THE RATS ARE DYING. SHOULD BE GONE WITH IN A FEW MORE WEEKS.

33.

Come on kids. It is New York and if there are rats then it's not that surprising. This is why the exterminator trade is a thriving one in the city. This is like saying; "Oh my house has termites, so I should just burn the thing to the ground." Rats are an issue in the city, and one that can be solved.

Not a owner, or a broker, or even interested; just trying to shed a little light of reality on the situation. Now children please. It's past your bedtime.

34.

I heard that not only have prices dropped, but they're covering closing costs now.

But, I don't think thats gonna be nearly enough to

Halstead has a listing in 1 Main Street (better building, up the block on the water, better construction, less cookie cutter, MUCH better layouts, same management company) for under $700 a square foot.

I think two trees is afraid of lowering prices to where they should be, pissing off residents and messing up stuff in contract. Tons of the building is unsold.

35.

I don't know if the building has rats or not, but here are some facts. I visited the building yesterday and was shown around. When shown roof deck was only shown one side before salesman started to take me down. Had to ask to see the other side. On the other side several large rat traps were laid out out. Salesman said "Someone said they saw a rat, so we responded."

36.

i visited this building yesterday and i saw this: two, large black (almost octoganal) bait traps, about a foot wide. these were sticking out from underneath the deck on the penthouse level. for there to be 2 per deck makes me think there might be a problem.

37.

This is pretty amusing. Why is this blog here? Why don't you people like 70 Washington? Have you ever been inside? You need to get a job.

I'm sure there are rats in the building, it's New York City and they've been here longer than me.

It's a great building and I'm lucky to live there. My view is great and the apartment is beautiful.

Can't wait for your narrow minded response.