Comments on: 1717 Troutman residents thrown out by NYC at 9pm, no notice http://www.ambriente.com/blog/2007/10/24/1717-troutman-residents-thrown-out-by-nyc-at-9pm-no-notice/ Reflections on Art, Technology and Society Thu, 20 Nov 2008 22:16:55 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: Shawn http://www.ambriente.com/blog/2007/10/24/1717-troutman-residents-thrown-out-by-nyc-at-9pm-no-notice/#comment-8697 Shawn Tue, 20 Nov 2007 23:22:22 +0000 http://www.ambriente.com/blog/2007/10/24/1717-troutman-residents-thrown-out-by-nyc-at-9pm-no-notice/#comment-8697 This is a difficult situation; I am an artist, live in the area and am familiar with the problem. I understand the "logic" of eviction from an unsafe building; no one wants to be responsible for a building full of people going up in flames with no fire escapes or sprinklers. But, this is not a problem in any other city I have ever been in, there are warehouses full of artists in almost every other major city in this country and the cities are, on the whole, happy to have them there. It is understood that conditions may be a little sub-standard, but "rent at your own risk" seems to be the more common city stance. Not in New York. In New York, I think, there is bitterness about rent and a vicious contempt between the "haves" and the "have-nots". That is, those who own property (or rent significantly below the market rate) and those who are slaves to the financial-commercial monster of this city to be able to afford the absurd market rate rents. This has created (i) dumb and arrogant city agencies intent on over-managing the housing market and (ii) rapacious, unscrupulous landlords who are nonetheless feckless property owners. Anyone perceived to be "getting away with" renting on the cheap are not tolerated by either the city agencies or the landlords. The real losers in this battle are the artists. There is ABSOLUTELY NO awareness of the problem facing working artists in this city by the city itself or its agencies. (Disclaimer: my "day job" is at one of these city agencies). OK, landlords are scummy and will always be scummy, I accept that, but the stance of the city here, which should be protecting artists instead of always working against them is ridiculous. Many city officials who pride themselves on being representatives of a "cultural capital" still advocate policies that would turn the whole city into a luxury condo wasteland, populated by hordes of insipid, bland, Sims-like financial sector employees. When one does find awareness of "artists" by the city, they are either expendable gentrifiers or (sorry if I offend anyone here) art-related professionals, like web designers, marketing and advertising people, company (not freelance) graphic designers, etc. These people are not studio artists. Studio artists need work space. It would also be nice to have a place to live. Live-work space combos are not just some screw-off kids trying to get away without paying residential rents, live-work spaces are a sad necessity for most artists here, who on the whole would much rather have separate studios and apartments and who even when they are selling their work are in a constant struggle for rent, not to mention health care, basic living expenses and so on. The problem is that no one sees the problem of artists. If the city would start viewing artists as small manufacturers (which they most certainly are), then the city could start to offer benefits to artists and to those who provide the artists with stable, affordable work space. There are a myriad of industrial benefits offered by various city agencies of which currently most artists enjoy none. I sympathize with the unfortunate former tenants of 1717 Troutman. But for some time now, droves of artists have been leaving the myth of a New York bohemia behind and moving to other cities where they are wanted (Berlin for example) and where they can afford to live and sell their work. The writing is on the walls. In less than 10 years, if things don't change, New York will not be the "world cultural capital" for contemporary studio-based art that it is so often advertised as in brochures for luxury condos and in incentive packages for mega-financial institutions. This is a difficult situation; I am an artist, live in the area and am familiar with the problem. I understand the “logic” of eviction from an unsafe building; no one wants to be responsible for a building full of people going up in flames with no fire escapes or sprinklers.

But, this is not a problem in any other city I have ever been in, there are warehouses full of artists in almost every other major city in this country and the cities are, on the whole, happy to have them there. It is understood that conditions may be a little sub-standard, but “rent at your own risk” seems to be the more common city stance.

Not in New York. In New York, I think, there is bitterness about rent and a vicious contempt between the “haves” and the “have-nots”. That is, those who own property (or rent significantly below the market rate) and those who are slaves to the financial-commercial monster of this city to be able to afford the absurd market rate rents. This has created (i) dumb and arrogant city agencies intent on over-managing the housing market and (ii) rapacious, unscrupulous landlords who are nonetheless feckless property owners. Anyone perceived to be “getting away with” renting on the cheap are not tolerated by either the city agencies or the landlords.
The real losers in this battle are the artists.

There is ABSOLUTELY NO awareness of the problem facing working artists in this city by the city itself or its agencies. (Disclaimer: my “day job” is at one of these city agencies). OK, landlords are scummy and will always be scummy, I accept that, but the stance of the city here, which should be protecting artists instead of always working against them is ridiculous. Many city officials who pride themselves on being representatives of a “cultural capital” still advocate policies that would turn the whole city into a luxury condo wasteland, populated by hordes of insipid, bland, Sims-like financial sector employees.

When one does find awareness of “artists” by the city, they are either expendable gentrifiers or (sorry if I offend anyone here) art-related professionals, like web designers, marketing and advertising people, company (not freelance) graphic designers, etc. These people are not studio artists. Studio artists need work space. It would also be nice to have a place to live.

Live-work space combos are not just some screw-off kids trying to get away without paying residential rents, live-work spaces are a sad necessity for most artists here, who on the whole would much rather have separate studios and apartments and who even when they are selling their work are in a constant struggle for rent, not to mention health care, basic living expenses and so on.

The problem is that no one sees the problem of artists. If the city would start viewing artists as small manufacturers (which they most certainly are), then the city could start to offer benefits to artists and to those who provide the artists with stable, affordable work space. There are a myriad of industrial benefits offered by various city agencies of which currently most artists enjoy none.

I sympathize with the unfortunate former tenants of 1717 Troutman. But for some time now, droves of artists have been leaving the myth of a New York bohemia behind and moving to other cities where they are wanted (Berlin for example) and where they can afford to live and sell their work. The writing is on the walls. In less than 10 years, if things don’t change, New York will not be the “world cultural capital” for contemporary studio-based art that it is so often advertised as in brochures for luxury condos and in incentive packages for mega-financial institutions.

]]> By: Alex http://www.ambriente.com/blog/2007/10/24/1717-troutman-residents-thrown-out-by-nyc-at-9pm-no-notice/#comment-8174 Alex Wed, 14 Nov 2007 04:42:41 +0000 http://www.ambriente.com/blog/2007/10/24/1717-troutman-residents-thrown-out-by-nyc-at-9pm-no-notice/#comment-8174 Unfortunately, the issue is that landlords are playing games with the city, but the city should not evict people who 1) not aware or should not be aware of building code violations that existed prior to places that are rented as partments. It is not a secret that it is often not dislosed to renters until it’s time to sign the lease, and a landlord gives a “business space� lease agreement, not a renatl agreement when people are already moved in, and there is no way they can argue with that, because initial understanding was that the place is legal. It is NOT the same illegal apartment as some landlords rent basements out - the issue with the city that is not flexible enough to re-zone areas that de-facto became mixed use. I live in a similar situation, and the building actually looks like an apoartment building, and the only problem is that until the city re-zones my block, it is a cat and mouth game between landlords and the DOB. THERE MUST BE A WAY TO FIGHT THIS. We should get an attorneys on our side. The morel issue is that buildings were purchased as manufacturing with certain tax breaks, etc.- so landlords are at fault, and instead of evictions, the city should fine them, not put people out. Unfortunately, the issue is that landlords are playing games with the city, but the city should not evict people who 1) not aware or should not be aware of building code violations that existed prior to places that are rented as partments. It is not a secret that it is often not dislosed to renters until it’s time to sign the lease, and a landlord gives a “business space� lease agreement, not a renatl agreement when people are already moved in, and there is no way they can argue with that, because initial understanding was that the place is legal. It is NOT the same illegal apartment as some landlords rent basements out - the issue with the city that is not flexible enough to re-zone areas that de-facto became mixed use. I live in a similar situation, and the building actually looks like an apoartment building, and the only problem is that until the city re-zones my block, it is a cat and mouth game between landlords and the DOB. THERE MUST BE A WAY TO FIGHT THIS. We should get an attorneys on our side. The morel issue is that buildings were purchased as manufacturing with certain tax breaks, etc.- so landlords are at fault, and instead of evictions, the city should fine them, not put people out.

]]> By: Charles Ober http://www.ambriente.com/blog/2007/10/24/1717-troutman-residents-thrown-out-by-nyc-at-9pm-no-notice/#comment-6973 Charles Ober Thu, 25 Oct 2007 14:22:50 +0000 http://www.ambriente.com/blog/2007/10/24/1717-troutman-residents-thrown-out-by-nyc-at-9pm-no-notice/#comment-6973 Troutman building residents should be in touch with Andrew Friedman of the non-profit group Make the Road by Walking 718-418-7690 (they specialize on tenant issues and have legal counsel) and the office of Assemblywoman Catherine Nolan. They are all working together to bring justice to the residents. Charles Ober Ridgewood Property Owners & Civic Association Troutman building residents should be in touch with Andrew Friedman of the non-profit group Make the Road by Walking 718-418-7690 (they specialize on tenant issues and have legal counsel) and the office of Assemblywoman Catherine Nolan. They are all working together to bring justice to the residents.

Charles Ober
Ridgewood Property Owners & Civic Association

]]> By: bklyn http://www.ambriente.com/blog/2007/10/24/1717-troutman-residents-thrown-out-by-nyc-at-9pm-no-notice/#comment-6941 bklyn Thu, 25 Oct 2007 00:59:34 +0000 http://www.ambriente.com/blog/2007/10/24/1717-troutman-residents-thrown-out-by-nyc-at-9pm-no-notice/#comment-6941 Help us help the street homeless Call 311: to report homeless individuals and families who you see on the Streets of New York City (all Boroughs) Outreach Teams will be sent to offer assistance. Thank you Help us help the street homeless

Call 311: to report homeless individuals and families who you see on the Streets of New York City (all Boroughs)

Outreach Teams will be sent to offer assistance.

Thank you

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