Riverside Coalition for Residential Peace and Quiet - RCRPQ

CONSIDERABLE SUCCESS in averting commercial filming...

Dear coalition members:

Please note below our considerable success in averting further use of the Schinasi mansion for commercial filming. The city will no longer be granting parking
permits. 
Many thanks to Susan Rogers for her effort. 
Note however that our continued vigilance may be required. 

Kind regards,

Larry Sicular

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Susan M. Rogers
Date: Sat, Nov 13, 2010 
Subject: update re resumption of filming in NYC
To: Larry Sicular 

Summary:
Filming has resumed in NYC
-- No more parking permits for filming in the Schinasi Mansion

-- Filming without permits in the Schinasi Mansion?  We can’t know until it happens

-- Procedure to end ALL commercial filming activity there outlined in brief –

a phone call here, a phone call there – that’ll do it -- if and when we need to

 

Dear Larry,

During an October phone conversation, Deputy Commissioner of the Mayor’s Office of Film, Broadcasting and Theatre, John Battista told me filming in the city will go forward on steroids from November 1, 2010, when the five-year extension of $420 million tax breaks ANNUALLY for film productions in NYC takes effect.

 

Sure enough, on November 2, 2010, riding the 72nd Street crosstown bus, I passed a major film production underway on Central Park West in the area of Tavern on the Green.  On the other side of the park on Madison Avenue at 73rd Street, there was another elaborate film production with all the sidewalk gear and hubub.

 

However, there won’t be any more parking permits issued for filming at the Schinasi Mansion, according to Community Board 7 District Manager Penny Ryan AND also according to Battista. “No aid – zero aid -- will be provided to them,” he said.  “Go ahead, break out the champagne.” But wait a minute here! We could still be subjected to filming as before, but without parking space disruptions.  Think back to Gossip Girls in June, 2010, and White Collar in August, 2010 (photographs below -- please scroll).

    

 We won’t know until it happens.  But we do know that commercial activity is expressly prohibited by the residential zoning of the Schinasi Mansion.

   
  
Activity at the level to which we have so long been subjected is flagrantly illegal.  Now we know how to put an end to it. Here’s how:

Each of us can phone Department of Buildings – when filming next commences, and report this violation of zoning regulations so that an inspector can get up here. 

1-800-201-7275 or 311 – Ask for a Buildings Department Specialist to file a Zoning Violation Complaint. 
I was then connected with a building specialist who gave me his name and employee ID and also a reference number for this call. I learned that we should do it EVERY time the “No Parking” signs go up about a new production so an inspector can arrive when the action is happening to initiate a Notice of Violation on the spot. 

 

Each of us can phone Department of Traffic with Complaint of illegal standing – loading and unloading – in a fire hydrant space with a

“NO STANDING” sign – it is illegal and we can call Dept of Traffic and get enforcer officer there to write ticket EVERY time.  1-212-268-1640 – Traffic Enforcement Unit takes calls from 5 a.m.  The time to call is when the beeping starts as  the tailgate goes up and down.  It is a $115 ticket, and the offending vehicle will be towed if it doesn’t get out of there pretty fast. 

 

Note:  If the zoning is changed to allow commercial activity which is now forbidden, and the traffic signs are changed to allow standing and loading and unloading which is now forbidden – THEN we don’t have a leg to stand on.  NOW we are in the right and can respond as above at every infraction IF we want things to change.

 

The Department of Buildings will send an inspector who will issue a Notice of Violation to Schinasi owner Hans Smit, and the accumulation of such Notices of Violations will cause the Schinasi Mansion owner to desist from further illegal activity.  No name is required to call in a complaint.  We might all do that. Or get the zoning changed to ‘commercial.’  Until then it is up to us. 

 

In August,  I left my name, because I was phoning as an individual, as I shall every time we are subjected to what’s pictured below.  If we all do, that’ll be the end of it.  The Schinasi Mansion’s Smits may have already accepted the reality of the situation vis a vis our Riverside Coaltion for Residential Peace and Quiet.  The MOFTB Deputy Commissioner Battista has done well by us.
Susan M. Rogers 

Note that on lower part of sign, parking is allowed in the OTHER direction (except as noted) and NEVER at hydrant. 
No standing either, of course.                                      

White Collar August 5, 2010, arrival phase – shattering our afternoon.
Same thing happened over a week in June with Gossip Girls
   – despite no parking permits, all you see here took place then, too.

                                                             Pole above holds sign below.