As I anticipated in October, there is no bike parking in the 1,100-car garage, in violation of the garage access law. A complaint has been filed with the DCA.

http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/inq-phillydeals/Oil_tops_80barrel_heads_toward_100_as_dollar_falls.html

Why tax carbon when you can pay the money to OPEC as your currency collapses instead? A more economically damaging but less politically damaging route to the same place.

(Or maybe it’s a chunk of a big apple?)

“This is one of the first properties you see when you come into Manhattan,” Mr. Blumenfeld said.

It may be one of the first properties you see, Mr. Blumenfield, but one of the first properties I see is the Empire State Building.

It’s very frustrating that this guy obviously felt a lot of enthusiasm and pride for his idea, and spent a lot of time, money and effort executing this idiotic project. He lives in the suburbs, he works in the suburbs. Why not keep this kind of junk in the suburbs if he can’t build something urban for the urbanites?

New York City’s Bicycle Access to Garages Law goes into effect on November 11, the day before Costco opens. That law requires a facility with a capacity for 1,248 cars to provide parking spaces for at least 30 bicycles. I think I’ll bring this to the developer’s attention and then ride over to do some shopping and see what I find in the garage in November.

As much as I regret the the displacement of small businesses that is accelerated by big box stores, one must shop for things one needs, and this Home Depot will be much closer to my home on E. 96th St. than the one in the Bloomberg building @ 60 St. & Lex. that I have been using. Plus an easier trip home by bike when carrying/towing larger items.

Mr. Daniels described the delay as a classic example of what is wrong with the development process in New York. “It takes too long to get anything done,” he said. “There are many missed opportunities because of that.”

What’s wrong with the development process in New York is that too many idiotic projects get proposed. It wouldn’t take too long if the projects made sense.

Todd, who could not be reached for comment, was not charged with a crime, though police were called to the scene.

“I guess vehicular assaults are okay these days,” [Du's lawyer] Glynn said.

Imagine what would have happened if Todd had instead shot Du in the foot with a firearm.

This is most likely the first paid parking for big-box shopping anywhere in the U.S. (Though it wouldn’t surprise me if it were still partially subsidized by taxpayers and/or non-driving customers of the store.)

Is it me or does Manhattan feel like a tale of two cities. The East and West Sides seem to have very different uses of their coastlines…

Under an agreement with the developers — including such concessions as the installation of double-paneled windows at the developers’ expense, to block out noise for nearby residents [...]

I wonder if I can get Fresh Direct to install some double-paned windows at my place.