From DNA Info:The sprawling Steinway Mansion, once home to the world's most famous piano-making family, has had a "For Sale" sign perched on its stately lawn for the past several years.
Now a newly-formed coalition of Queens stakeholders have banded together to seek a buyer for the landmarked Astoria property, in the hopes that it could be used as a public museum or cultural center.
"The Steinway Mansion is indeed a place of significance, and should be saved for the benefit of future generations," said Bob Singleton, head of the Greater Astoria Historical Society, which announced the formation of the Friends of Steinway Mansion earlier this week.
The 27-room mansion, an Italianate-style villa situated atop a hill at 18-33 41st St., not far from the Steinway & Sons piano factory, was built in the 1850s. It was home to the Steinway family from the end of the 19th-century until 1925, and declared a New York City landmark in 1967.
Local groups have been calling for a public use of the building for years, Singleton said, but this is the first time an official effort has been launched. So far, the coalition's members include Assemblywomen Margaret Markey, Astoria Assemblywoman Aravella Simotas, the Long Island City-based Artisans Guild of America as well as the Steinway and Sons company itself.
Singleton said the coalition is working to garner public support for their vision, and is hoping a strong candidate will come forward soon to purchase the home for the purpose of a community use.
What about Vallone?
13 comments:
YES, WHAT ABOUT VALLONE?
Will you be sitting this one out on the sidelines Pietro?
Or will it be the usual "Valloney-baloney?
You mean Vallone that took a stupid $1 million park theater idea and made it into a stupid $4 million (and counting) park theater idea?
And is lauded by the pennysaver Queens press for his bumbling and waste of taxpayer dollars?
Sure, that is the guy you want involved with Steinway.
The Vallones, being a consummate political dynasty (for too damn long), are only involved with what is good for the Vallones.
http://www.qgazette.com/news/2012-09
-26/Features/Steinway_Mansion_
Remains_Without_An_Owner.html
WTF, a club or catering hall?
Remember when the beautiful Long Island Savings Bank in Queens Plaza became 'The Vault,' then a battered hulk, and then was torn down?
Perhaps its best he just step back and let the adults take if from here.
At least one "pennysaver" doesn't seem to like the park theater plan:
Meanwhile, the city plans to spend $4.5 million to turn the old Astoria Pool diving well into an amphitheater, in one of the more overpriced, harebrained schemes we’ve heard of late. How much plain old park maintenance would that money buy at FMCP?
From "Preserve, don't pervert, Flushing Meadows."
2/28/13
http://www.qchron.com/opinion/editorial/preserve-don-t-pervert-flushing-meadows/article_f69644a0-ad6a-5d57-80cd-1ee295a20adb.html
Maybe Pietro Jr. can convince some of his goombahs to run a gambling joint in the basement...
you know the kinds that operate in Italian mob "cafes".
There's plenty of parking on the front lawn.
"Oh solo mio, I'm holding 3 aces and 2 deuces"!
Leaving the issue of the Vallones behind, the real focus is the Albany and Washington delegations.
They are fully aware that the local councilman accomplished at this point nothing of substance - for several years.
They were in a position to step into the breach.
Are they going to pony up some money?
If this place is lost, the blame will be placed at their feet.
Breach...what breach?
WTF RU talking about?
Present your information more clearly.
You're talking to yourself in circles, buddy.
The sad part is that it is in a horrible area. It is completely industrial, with a refuse hauler on the corner. When the wind blows the right way in the warmer months the property reeks of garbage. Even if someone cleaned it up, the surrounding neighbors are a major issue. Go take a walk by there if you havent been in a while. It is completely clear why no one will buy it or step up to the plate to take care of it. The property has been really neglected and is so far from the train and public transport that its going to take a miracle to get someone to dump in millions to clean it up. Location Location Location.
-Lifelong Astorian
Vallone has to come clean and step up to the plate to admit he is responsible if this place becomes a warehouse or worse.
It will undoubtedly dog him in his quest for higher office. He cam be assured that both he and Meloni will face questions about this.
Vallone should throw his support behind the Friends and provide them with funding and then STEP ASIDE and let them get to work.
That is about the only way he can convert a liability to his advantage during the tough campaign ahead.
Hey lifelong what you are talkin' about is peanuts: Newtown Creek Toxic dump borders LIC - check... East River Sewage borders Ravenswood - check ... Astoria Houses underwater twice in 12 months - check. The city is talking about 10000s of thousands there. Noooo problem.
Hey, I'm a lifelong Astorian too and the w*h*o*l*e neighborhood sometimes smells like a shit house.
So where's the beef - a sewage plant that Peter claims doesn't exist that he should have fixed a decade ago that is stinking up the whole neighborhood? Powerplants that the rest of the city is getting rid of showing up in Asthma alley so that half the kids in my block are sick?
Any real lifer Astorian thinks any group that tries to do good for our community should get the community behind them and would think letting that building go is a crime!
I wasn't saying it shouldn't be saved. Of course I think it should. I'm just saying it is obvious why no one is actually stepping up to the plate to save it. it was on the market for 2.5 mil and no one picked it up. Come on. The location and the neighbors are a major issue. I would definitely be behind anyone who wanted to rehab the property. but good lock getting people to traverse the shady trash filled street that leads to it. They would have to rehab that whole street that leads up the hill to the mansion. And hopefully someone does.
The mansion can and should be saved if we all insist that those who can step up to the plate should do the right thing.
That means elected officials, people with deep pockets, anyone who loves those things and those places that make our city special.
The future will judge us by not what we build, but what we carelessly throw away.
And perhaps, Mr Life Long Astorian, here is your chance to give something back.
From what I have seen of Astorians, the community is too proud and too smart not to find a solution.
http://www.facebook.com/steinwaymansion "
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