Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Sunnyside arch restoration cost us $1/2M


From NY1:

Sunnyside's welcoming arch located on 46th Street near Queens Boulevard has been restored and repainted through a $500,000 streetscape improvement project.

A half million dollars of our money went into this? Who's buddy got that contract?

19 comments:

georgetheatheist said...

The Sunnyside Arch is just about the most hideous piece of street architecture in the world. It's only topped by Saddam Hussein's Raised Swords found on the entrance to Baghdad.

Anonymous said...

I could restore it for $1/3M.

Anonymous said...

One of Brian Mc Laughlin's ol' buddies...Petrocelli or Welsbach electric probably replaced the bulbs after the painters union "suggested" one of their guys for the repaint job!

Anyone remember that painter's union
boss Jim Bishop who got "painted" (gunned down) a doorstep away from the Stavisky residence in Beechurst?

Leonard was very mute after that
and you didn't see hide nor hair of him for a spell!

Anonymous said...

Didn't the Sunnyside Foundation waste money putting up that original
gate to indicate the separation of classes...poorer Latinos, etc. to the south of Roosevelt Ave. and the "betters" to the north?

Ha, ha, ha....was it landmarked?

Anonymous said...

It looks like an updated entry gate into Auschwitz!

A grim reminder:
"Frei macht...(whatever)..."?

Anonymous said...

georgetheatheist, you have once again proven your complete lack of taste ayranddotorgnradotorg.

Anonymous said...

No,
it's the Sunnyside Foundation who has proven their complete lack of taste!

"Just direct your feet to the sunny side of the street"!

HA, HA!

georgetheatheist said...

You left the "n" out of "ayn", Asswipe.

Anonymous said...

That money would have paid for a lot of sidewalk repairs, street lights, planters, street cleaning...

All of which they may need to provide for themselves in the coming hard times.

Happy in Sunnyside said...

No argument that the money could be spent on more important things... BUT... its wondeful to have some iconic (however cheesy) architecture to remind you that you are in a real NYC neighborhood. Its not an eyesore by any means, and I love seeing it when I get off the train.

Sunnyside is a great place. We've kept development in character better than most other parts of Queens, and its one of the few neighborhoods that is seeing a resurgence of investment by FAMILIES and SMALL BUSINESSES, not developers and big retail chains.

We have great new restaurants and lounges right next to classic pubs and diverse ethnic eateries. I patronize each quite often, and have never been dissapointed or bored with choices.

The divide of the neighbor (North & South of Queens Blvd.) is that of owners and renters for the most part; not of any ethinicity, religion, etc... It is an extremely diverse and well integreated neighborhood. One of the best examples of what NYC is.

I was born and raised in Queens by the way- in an area that has been destroyed by overdevelopment and big box business.

Give Sunnyside a break, huh? It really is a nice place.

Anonymous said...

Yes, I very much respect Sunnyside. That's why I hope you are getting your money's worth.

It was a beautiful area 40 years ago too when my mom and dad used to take me shopping there. There was no arch, and no one missed it.

I hope that you can continue to keep the area good, Astoria is just about destroyed. If I had the $$$ I would move to Sunnyside.

Anonymous said...

Anonymous said...
It looks like an updated entry gate into Auschwitz!

A grim reminder:
"Frei macht...(whatever)..."?

Wednesday, April 22, 2009
==================================

And your comment reminds me of the stupidest statement I've ever seen in my life.

As unattractive as the Sunnyside arch is, What a ridiculous comparison.

Anonymous said...

And exactly which "stupidest statement" that you've "ever seen in your life" are you comparing this to?

You don't sound very bright yourself.

georgetheatheist said...

Actually the latter Anonymous took issue with the former Anonymous's comparing the Sunnyside arch with the gate to the Auschwitz concentration camp. On it was the saying "Arbeit Macht Frei" which translates "Work Shall Make You Free". Latter Anonymous found this comparison to be offensive and invidious.

A chacun son gout.

Anonymous said...

georgetheatheist said...
Actually the latter Anonymous took issue with the former Anonymous's comparing the Sunnyside arch with the gate to the Auschwitz concentration camp. On it was the saying "Arbeit Macht Frei" which translates "Work Shall Make You Free". Latter Anonymous found this comparison to be offensive and invidious.
________________________________

Very true.

Anonymous said...

"That money would have paid for a lot of sidewalk repairs, street lights, planters, street cleaning..."What it did pay for was trees, benches, bike racks, graffiti removal... and repairs and paint on the arch. The money was allocated by the B.P.'s office, an Assembly member's office, and a Council member's office (the three who were named in the NY1 piece, if anyone bothered to watch it). It came from their budgets in 2005.

This piece as written, Queens Crap, is pretty misleading.

Queens Crapper said...

Gothamist didn't think so.

Anonymous said...

Hell I would of done it with 4 gallons of Benny Moore and a ladder for a hundred grand! They even have that piece of crap it GTA4.

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