LAST GASP: Space Piracy On Greenpoint Avenue?

The proprietor of Red Star Bar writes (in an email entitled “Circus on Greenpoint Avenue” dated April 12, 2012):

Heather,

The situation with the lot across the street from Red Star has turned into an absolute free for all circus!  I’m sure I’ve complained to you about this countless times in the past, as I have to anyone else who will listen.

Just to give you the background info, in case you forgot. These guys store large, 30 yard dumpsters, stacked 15-20 feet high, in the lot along with massive dump trucks and the occasional 18 wheeler.  On occasion, I can see them from my office window, digging holes with heavy equipment and burying god knows what.   Of course whatever debris and garbage is “left over” from these dumpsters constantly blows all over the streets and sidewalks.  There is no shortage of flies, rats, raccoons and stray cats wandering in and out of the lot on a nightly basis.

I’ve had words with these “gentleman” in the past.  Like the time they were rearranging the dumpsters in the lot and decided it would be ok to put some on the street and sidewalk in front of Red Star.  The smell from the brown liquid oozing out of the dumpsters was just wonderful.  My customers were quite pleased with the stench as they attempted to have lunch. My staff really enjoyed hosing off the sidewalks as well.  In general, it’s almost a full time job collecting the garbage and debris that blows out of the lot and inevitably ends up all over my sidewalk.   It’s been a beautiful few weeks and on most days we can’t open our windows because of the flying dust, debris and flies!

In addition to the trash and stench issues, over the past few years 3 cars have been smashed by these guys.  2 by way of hit and run with their trucks and 1 by debris flying out of the lot on a windy winter night.

Today was an absolute CIRCUS!  I guess since my complaints to various city agencies have been ignored, these guys have decided to become more blatant and brazen.  I guess operating an illegal waste transfer station isn’t paying the bills?  They’ve now decided to open an illegal scrap yard as well!  They spent the ENTIRE DAY removing scrap and junk vehicles from the lot with a fork lift and tow truck, dragging them into the STREET and dismantling them.  RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF GREENPOINT AVENUE!

The parking situation around here is a nightmare to begin with.  These guys took up half the street and about 15 parking spaces to run their illegal auto salvage operation today.  Not to mention the fact that it’s just unsafe!  Cars and trucks were forced to squeeze past these guys ALL DAY.  There was almost several collisions as drivers tried to navigate in between chopped up vehicles, parked 18 wheelers, roll-backs, tow trucks and fork lifts.  Ridiculous!

At one point there was no less than 5 vehicles being chopped and dismantled, outside the lot, in the street.  They were using sledge hammers, blow torches and gas powered saws to hack away all day.  Of course I went outside to take pictures, since it’s almost unbelievable!  While I was catching all the action on film, one of the guys came over and said “NO PICTURES! PUT THE CAMERA AWAY!”  Obviously that didn’t deter me.

They finished up work at the illegal dumping ground around 7pm.  Now there’s broken glass, metal bits, chunks of plastic, spilled oil and gasoline all over the street where they were working.

…what can be done about this?  Nobody seems to give two shits.  I’ve researched the lot on ACRIS and the Department of Building web sites.  It’s listed as a STALLED CONSTRUCTION SITE.  This lot is hardly stalled or inactive.  This bullshit goes on at all hours of the day and night.  The owners have a violation for the fence they put up around the lot, with no permit.  If they didn’t bother to get a permit for a fence, do you think they have a permit to operate a waste transfer station, store vehicles, operate a salvage yard or a scrap metal operation???  Of course not!

This lot is anything BUT stalled or inactive.  Today there were no less than 10 guys working in that lot.  Trucks and excavation equipment operate in that lot at any given hour of the day and night.  There are dumpsters, vehicles and equipment stacked 15-20 feet high and are constantly being removed, repositioned or disassembled.  And it’s been going on for YEARS!  Does the DOB inspector, that files periodic reports, not see the same things I do?  This equipment isn’t even construction equipment!  Either someone is being paid off or they just don’t give a fuck!

DOB

http://a810-bisweb.nyc.gov/bisweb/PropertyProfileOverviewServlet?boro=3&houseno=80&street=west%20st&requestid=0&s=A03C41B885B461E4F46BD08866A7430E

The dumpsters belong to a company called Xolle

http://xolle.com/

The vehicles being scrapped belong to the same company that’s storing the dump trucks and 18 wheelers on the lot, Pilot Trucking of Astoria.

I don’t  know what else I can do. I’m at the end of my rope with these clowns. In a city where you need a permit to wipe your ass, these clown operate with blatent disregard for ANYONE and do so with impunity!    My neighbors are fed up.  My customers are disgusted.

People love to eat at a restaurant across from an illegal garbage dump and scrap yard.  It’s very inviting!

Below are the pictures I took of today’s events…

Which I have taken the liberty of uploading as a slide show for easy perusal. Enjoy gentle readers!

I have to wonder what 80 West Street’s other neighbors, Paulie Gee’s for example, think of this activity?

To be continued…