As predicted nine months ago - HERE,
the view of the Steinway Mansion is slowly being obliterated for
warehouse construction along 41st Street. Looking north. Catch it
while you can.
If the Steinway Mansion has been officially land-marked, doesn't an unobstructed view of it aesthetically belong to that designation? Steinway Mansion warehouses architect Gerald Caliendo are you a design schmuck?
So for the price of redoing a bus stop, and a really really fancy vest pocket park for a few blocks in Vallonia that will last 5 - 6 years you could have gotten a real gem Astoria.
When Halberian died so did the mansion. Queens is a shoyhouse borough run by corrupt boro hall. Preserve history? Hah! The senile boro historian is anti landmarking. Did you all know that? Dr. Jackass!
Say what you wish, but when its all said and done, its up to the community to fight for the community. What happened would have been unthinkable anywhere else in a city that prides itself on strong communities and tight neighborhoods full of residents whom take pride in who they are.
Astoria shrugged and did nothing. They just sat there munching on a slice of pizza dreaming how much they can make from selling mom's house. Bring up the Mansion, they shrug and change the topic ... or say nothing. Its not their problem. Blame someone else. Who cares?
Actually, it's an ugly building. I don't know what all the hoopla's about. There is nothing pleasing to eye about this gaudy, pathetic looking structure. Tear it down!
Get over it. It’s gone. Queens doesn’t have much worth saving anyway. Just a handful. Brooklyn does.. Manhattan does. Even the Bronx does. Staten Island😂? Is it really part of NYC! You “preservationists” cry and complain. Just talk. No walk! Same old same old for decades! YAWN! Dr. Jackass Eichenbaum....boro historian. WTF does that addled old man do anyway? He passes as a historian..,,mainly to promote his boring tours.
Halberian was a good steward of the mansion while he was alive despite the repeated rumors over the years of some pervy stuff going on there once in a while. However, after his death, the only thing his heirs were interested in was caahing out. No wealthy person in their right mind would spend several million dollars to live in a dilapidated mansion down the block from a sewage plant in the middle of nowhere. The current owners were only able to turn this into a development site because the Halberian heirs only saw money, not stewardship. Since the property was long ago paid off, the could have issued a selller mortgage to an interested non-profit or even formed a non-profit for that purpose themselves. This way, they could have cashed out in the long run while.saving the sanctity of the property. Even though I am a staunch supporter of preserving historic properties, let's not forget that the current owners paid millions to acquire this asset. They have a right, as free market capitalists, to maximize their return. If you disagree, then you should have stepped up and bought it...
Theodore Steinway was an avid and prominent philatelist who was a founding member of the Philatelic Foundation together with other luminaries of his time such as pharmaceutical mogul Alfred Caspary and NYSE member Alfred Lichtenstein. The PF is headquartered in a beautiful townhouse in Murray Hill near J.P Morgan's house and library. Henry's philatelic legacy was continued by his son, John Steinway, who died in 1989. There is no question in my mind that if any of these fine men were alive when the Halberians put the property up for sale,that mansion would today be preserved and serve as an educational institution.
Marg Markey brought down top officials from Albany to meet with interested parties intent on saving the mansion. Several non-profits expressed an interest. They looked around. Press covered it.
No local politician showed up. No local civic showed up. No one from the community board showed up. Local blogs to this day refuse to post anything about it. If any one of them did, this would have not happened. It could have been an enormous economic and educational benefit for for the community. Instead, the community turned its back so that a small group can be enriched at its expense.
What future does Astoria have when it does something like this to itself?
They have a right, as free market capitalists, to maximize their return. If you disagree, then you should have stepped up and bought it...
That is not the way its done. Places like this are always saved BECAUSE THE COMMUNITY WORKS TOGETHER TO SAVE IT! After all, it is the community that benefits.
In this case, there were too many other communities that got support for their projects and Astoria got nothing because Astoria did nothing ... outside of serving up good pizza for what that is worth.....
"Astoria shrugged and did nothing. They just sat there munching on a slice of pizza dreaming how much they can make from selling mom's house. Bring up the Mansion, they shrug and change the topic ... or say nothing. Its not their problem. Blame someone else. Who cares?"
Right on the money. Things only change (or don't) if people care. Transients, transplants, hipsters etc - THEIR city is not YOUR city is not MY city. That's one of the biggest reasons nabes can change so much, and so quickly. Either it's learned helplessness, or a sense of "well, this wasn't my home, I have no history here, so why does it matter?". This is why encouraging home ownership matters- people with roots will fight to keep a place livable.
Halberian was a good steward of the mansion while he was alive despite the repeated rumors over the years of some pervy stuff going on there once in a while. However, after his death, the only thing his heirs were interested in was caahing out. No wealthy person in their right mind would spend several million dollars to live in a dilapidated mansion down the block from a sewage plant in the middle of nowhere.
WRONG! WRONG! WRONG! As early as the 80s I was part of the effort that tried to get political support to make this place permanently open to the community. Even after Halbarian's death, his daughter went on record for the community to become involved.
Again, it was the local 'leadership' that stopped it. Will let you fill in the blanks as to the who and why. This mess is squarely their legacy repaying to their community for its trusting support of them for many many years.
Tommy, the transplants were the only ones supporting that Friends group. Those poor slubs got hundreds of names on a petition, as I recall, in Astoria Park/clubs from the newbies.
I spend a lot of time going to many communities in the city and the general sentiment is that if you love your community, you go to bat for it, or try to do something about it, instead of automatically making everything a tear down or an object of contempt.
The Mansion exposes a big gap between the myth and the reality on all those discussions of lost Astoria pride. Its the long term residents in Facebook whom sneer about the 'dumps,' rats, sewage plants, haunted houses when the Mansion is mentioned. They chuckle over its recent treatment. Meanwhile 1000s from around the world each year make a pilgrimage to the community because of Steinway.
Spare me. There was nothing civic-minded about tbe intitial $5,000,000 asking price. It was greed pure and simple. It only became a 'community' thing for the Halberian heirs once the property was languishing on the market with no interest.
By the way, we don't have a community. We have a series of polyglot tribes half of whom despise this country and the other half which doesnt care about this country.
Halberian wanted his cake and eat it too. He owned “Knickerbockers” a Manhattan restaurant. Wanted HIS PRICE for someone to buy the “mansion”. He could have willed it with all the land to a historic trust. BAH! In the middle of nowhere anyway. Let’s get real.
There was nothing civic-minded about tbe intitial $5,000,000 asking price. It was greed pure and simple.
$5 mill? Chump change. the trivial cost of fixing up 2 small parks these days as someone pointed out in the thread above. As a tourist destination would have been repaid back to the local economy in no time and then going forward many times over.
You want an example of greed pure and simple? How about taking away the lawn for warehouses? Somewhere on Youtube is Halberian talking about having the lawn around the mansion as a park-like setting for the community's kids. Glad the people that he placed his trust in listened to his wishes. Not.
Anon above. Why do you want to dictate how someone uses their property. The city DID NOT buy it, the 'community' DID NOT care , and neither Halberian nor his heirs saw fit to will their paid off property to a non-profit. If Halberian really wanted kids on his lawn, he could have granted a life estate and donated the property to the the historical society. But nope, neither he nor his kids were interested in anything but money. 5 mil and after no suckers bit, then 2 mil.I'm not knockin' them- I would have done the same thing albeit without trying to appear altruistic. The did 't give a rats ass about the mansion, it was about the benjamins.
Since you're such proponent of deciding what others shoukd do with the property they own, I'll take a page from your playbook. I propose you cede your backyard to the city immediately so it can become a nice public lawn.Come on, bruh, whaddya say. It's for the community!
I can't believe I have been deprived of a chance to have a picnic on a lawn that is 50 feet from a waste treatment plant, around the corner from a bus depot, and down the block from a battallion of home heating oil trucks! I could have shared some of my repast with the stray cats and dogs.
The location is crap and that was the death knell for this place.
I can't believe I have been deprived of a chance to have a picnic on a lawn that is 50 feet from a waste treatment plant, around the corner from a bus depot, and down the block from a battallion of home heating oil trucks! I could have shared some of my repast with the stray cats and dogs. *************************************************************************************
Tell that to the 1000s the come from around the world to the factory ... while locals do not know it exists. Seems as if your minders are making lots of money while keeping everyone else a bit clueless on the big bad outside world. A bit like Appalachia on the Hell Gate.
But seriously, don't let Constantinides hear you talk like that after all that money he put into the waste treatment plant which he staked his reputation. He's a good guy.
Tons of studies are being discussed on cleaning up that waterfront soon ... which, like the Mansion and its story, everyone knows about. Maybe you should get out more.
As to the family, the fact of the matter is that Mike and his daughter were advised by 'community insiders' ... pity they left out a very sore talkative relative. Always happens. Through the grapevine also heard some of the clan not happy. Not happy at all... if it festers sooner or later stuff like that will all become public. Tight knit communities are like that. Names named. Reputations and legacies discussed. Surprised? Greeks have been writing tragedies on those themes for thousands of years.
This story needs a good end. Just because you cannot think of the potential does not mean a good resolution does not exist. Smart guys make their money, then know when to move on. What did Mark Twain once say - 'Overreaching Don't Pay.'
Do good for the community. Become heroes of the people. Toast of the Town. Get your name on a Recital Hall. Your kids will be proud. Win. Win.
Astoria Native Here: Most native Astorians (the “I GREW UP HERE IN DA 70s, I KNOW WHAT IM TALKIN ABOUT” crowd) are similar to the Long Islanders I work with: They complain about everything, seek the easy way out and moan that the youth isn’t doing much to further anything. Yet it’s the same youth, the transplants, the tourists with above average IQs who do more for Queens, let alone Astoria, than these any of these prideful slobs. The Steinway Mansion could have been well preserved if the COMMUNITY got together and chipped in, the Dulcken Mansion wouldn’t have been torn down if the COMMUNITY protested against NYC Landmarks or raised awareness about how crooked our boro leadership is.
27 comments:
That fish eye lens pic;
https://www.dictionary.com/e/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/chefs_kiss_2.jpeg
If the Steinway Mansion has been officially land-marked, doesn't an unobstructed view of it aesthetically belong to that designation? Steinway Mansion warehouses architect Gerald Caliendo are you a design schmuck?
Anyone doubt now why this blogsite is named "QueensCrap"?
https://www.google.com/maps/@40.7583242,-73.9386645,3a,90y,83.38h,90.38t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sX-c-WEt_HG52G4EPq_lHPw!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?hl=en&authuser=0
https://patch.com/new-york/astoria-long-island-city/lics-sixteen-oaks-grove-will-get-1-3-million-makeover
https://www.facebook.com/costa4ny/photos/pcb.4291499157589435/4291498850922799/?type=3&theater
https://patch.com/new-york/astoria-long-island-city/work-starts-4-5m-renovation-astorias-chappetto-square
So for the price of redoing a bus stop, and a really really fancy vest pocket park for a few blocks in Vallonia that will last 5 - 6 years you could have gotten a real gem Astoria.
As stupid is as stupid does.
Technological progress submits to no one nor anything
When Halberian died so did the mansion.
Queens is a shoyhouse borough run by corrupt boro hall. Preserve history? Hah!
The senile boro historian is anti landmarking. Did you all know that? Dr. Jackass!
Say what you wish, but when its all said and done, its up to the community to fight for the community. What happened would have been unthinkable anywhere else in a city that prides itself on strong communities and tight neighborhoods full of residents whom take pride in who they are.
Astoria shrugged and did nothing. They just sat there munching on a slice of pizza dreaming how much they can make from selling mom's house. Bring up the Mansion, they shrug and change the topic ... or say nothing. Its not their problem. Blame someone else. Who cares?
Astoria died that day.
Actually, it's an ugly building. I don't know what all the hoopla's about. There is nothing pleasing to eye about this gaudy, pathetic looking structure. Tear it down!
Astoria? Where have you been - seen the action this summer?
West Elmhurst!
Get over it. It’s gone. Queens doesn’t have much worth saving anyway. Just a handful.
Brooklyn does.. Manhattan does. Even the Bronx does. Staten Island😂? Is it really part of NYC! You “preservationists” cry and complain. Just talk. No walk! Same old same old for decades! YAWN!
Dr. Jackass Eichenbaum....boro historian.
WTF does that addled old man do anyway?
He passes as a historian..,,mainly to promote his boring tours.
Halberian was a good steward of the mansion while he was alive despite the repeated rumors over the years of some pervy stuff going on there once in a while. However, after his death, the only thing his heirs were interested in was caahing out. No wealthy person in their right mind would spend several million dollars to live in a dilapidated mansion down the block from a sewage plant in the middle of nowhere. The current owners were only able to turn this into a development site because the Halberian heirs only saw money, not stewardship. Since the property was long ago paid off, the could have issued a selller mortgage to an interested non-profit or even formed a non-profit for that purpose themselves. This way, they could have cashed out in the long run while.saving the sanctity of the property. Even though I am a staunch supporter of preserving historic properties, let's not forget that the current owners paid millions to acquire this asset. They have a right, as free market capitalists, to maximize their return. If you disagree, then you should have stepped up and bought it...
Theodore Steinway was an avid and prominent philatelist who was a founding member of the Philatelic Foundation together with other luminaries of his time such as pharmaceutical mogul Alfred Caspary and NYSE member Alfred Lichtenstein. The PF is headquartered in a beautiful townhouse in Murray Hill near J.P Morgan's house and library. Henry's philatelic legacy was continued by his son, John Steinway, who died in 1989. There is no question in my mind that if any of these fine men were alive when the Halberians put the property up for sale,that mansion would today be preserved and serve as an educational institution.
Marg Markey brought down top officials from Albany to meet with interested parties intent on saving the mansion. Several non-profits expressed an interest. They looked around. Press covered it.
No local politician showed up. No local civic showed up. No one from the community board showed up. Local blogs to this day refuse to post anything about it. If any one of them did, this would have not happened. It could have been an enormous economic and educational benefit for for the community. Instead, the community turned its back so that a small group can be enriched at its expense.
What future does Astoria have when it does something like this to itself?
They have a right, as free market capitalists, to maximize their return. If you disagree, then you should have stepped up and bought it...
That is not the way its done. Places like this are always saved BECAUSE THE COMMUNITY WORKS TOGETHER TO SAVE IT! After all, it is the community that benefits.
In this case, there were too many other communities that got support for their projects and Astoria got nothing because Astoria did nothing ... outside of serving up good pizza for what that is worth.....
^Anon said:
"Astoria shrugged and did nothing. They just sat there munching on a slice of pizza dreaming how much they can make from selling mom's house. Bring up the Mansion, they shrug and change the topic ... or say nothing. Its not their problem. Blame someone else. Who cares?"
Right on the money. Things only change (or don't) if people care. Transients, transplants, hipsters etc - THEIR city is not YOUR city is not MY city. That's one of the biggest reasons nabes can change so much, and so quickly. Either it's learned helplessness, or a sense of "well, this wasn't my home, I have no history here, so why does it matter?". This is why encouraging home ownership matters- people with roots will fight to keep a place livable.
Halberian was a good steward of the mansion while he was alive despite the repeated rumors over the years of some pervy stuff going on there once in a while. However, after his death, the only thing his heirs were interested in was caahing out. No wealthy person in their right mind would spend several million dollars to live in a dilapidated mansion down the block from a sewage plant in the middle of nowhere.
WRONG! WRONG! WRONG! As early as the 80s I was part of the effort that tried to get political support to make this place permanently open to the community. Even after Halbarian's death, his daughter went on record for the community to become involved.
Again, it was the local 'leadership' that stopped it. Will let you fill in the blanks as to the who and why. This mess is squarely their legacy repaying to their community for its trusting support of them for many many years.
Tommy, the transplants were the only ones supporting that Friends group. Those poor slubs got hundreds of names on a petition, as I recall, in Astoria Park/clubs from the newbies.
I spend a lot of time going to many communities in the city and the general sentiment is that if you love your community, you go to bat for it, or try to do something about it, instead of automatically making everything a tear down or an object of contempt.
The Mansion exposes a big gap between the myth and the reality on all those discussions of lost Astoria pride. Its the long term residents in Facebook whom sneer about the 'dumps,' rats, sewage plants, haunted houses when the Mansion is mentioned. They chuckle over its recent treatment. Meanwhile 1000s from around the world each year make a pilgrimage to the community because of Steinway.
Why?
Spare me. There was nothing civic-minded about tbe intitial $5,000,000 asking price. It was greed pure and simple. It only became a 'community' thing for the Halberian heirs once the property was languishing on the market with no interest.
By the way, we don't have a community. We have a series of polyglot tribes half of whom despise this country and the other half which doesnt care about this country.
I can't believe I actually agree with TommyR for once.
Halberian wanted his cake and eat it too.
He owned “Knickerbockers” a Manhattan restaurant. Wanted HIS PRICE for someone to buy the “mansion”. He could have willed it with all the land to a historic trust. BAH!
In the middle of nowhere anyway.
Let’s get real.
Then YOU HISTORIANS should have bought it!
WAH WAH WAH😢😢😢😢
There was nothing civic-minded about tbe intitial $5,000,000 asking price. It was greed pure and simple.
$5 mill? Chump change. the trivial cost of fixing up 2 small parks these days as someone pointed out in the thread above. As a tourist destination would have been repaid back to the local economy in no time and then going forward many times over.
You want an example of greed pure and simple? How about taking away the lawn for warehouses? Somewhere on Youtube is Halberian talking about having the lawn around the mansion as a park-like setting for the community's kids. Glad the people that he placed his trust in listened to his wishes. Not.
Anon above. Why do you want to dictate how someone uses their property. The city DID NOT buy it, the 'community' DID NOT care , and neither Halberian nor his heirs saw fit to will their paid off property to a non-profit. If Halberian really wanted kids on his lawn, he could have granted a life estate and donated the property to the the historical society. But nope, neither he nor his kids were interested in anything but money. 5 mil and after no suckers bit, then 2 mil.I'm not knockin' them- I would have done the same thing albeit without trying to appear altruistic. The did 't give a rats ass about the mansion, it was about the benjamins.
Since you're such proponent of deciding what others shoukd do with the property they own, I'll take a page from your playbook. I propose you cede your backyard to the city immediately so it can become a nice public lawn.Come on, bruh, whaddya say. It's for the community!
I can't believe I have been deprived of a chance to have a picnic on a lawn that is 50 feet from a waste treatment plant, around the corner from a bus depot, and down the block from a battallion of home heating oil trucks! I could have shared some of my repast with the stray cats and dogs.
The location is crap and that was the death knell for this place.
I can't believe I have been deprived of a chance to have a picnic on a lawn that is 50 feet from a waste treatment plant, around the corner from a bus depot, and down the block from a battallion of home heating oil trucks! I could have shared some of my repast with the stray cats and dogs.
*************************************************************************************
Tell that to the 1000s the come from around the world to the factory ... while locals do not know it exists. Seems as if your minders are making lots of money while keeping everyone else a bit clueless on the big bad outside world. A bit like Appalachia on the Hell Gate.
But seriously, don't let Constantinides hear you talk like that after all that money he put into the waste treatment plant which he staked his reputation. He's a good guy.
Tons of studies are being discussed on cleaning up that waterfront soon ... which, like the Mansion and its story, everyone knows about. Maybe you should get out more.
As to the family, the fact of the matter is that Mike and his daughter were advised by 'community insiders' ... pity they left out a very sore talkative relative. Always happens.
Through the grapevine also heard some of the clan not happy. Not happy at all... if it festers sooner or later stuff like that will all become public. Tight knit communities are like that. Names named. Reputations and legacies discussed. Surprised? Greeks have been writing tragedies on those themes for thousands of years.
This story needs a good end. Just because you cannot think of the potential does not mean a good resolution does not exist. Smart guys make their money, then know when to move on. What did Mark Twain once say - 'Overreaching Don't Pay.'
Do good for the community. Become heroes of the people. Toast of the Town. Get your name on a Recital Hall. Your kids will be proud. Win. Win.
Astoria Native Here:
Most native Astorians (the “I GREW UP HERE IN DA 70s, I KNOW WHAT IM TALKIN ABOUT” crowd) are similar to the Long Islanders I work with:
They complain about everything, seek the easy way out and moan that the youth isn’t doing much to further anything.
Yet it’s the same youth, the transplants, the tourists with above average IQs who do more for Queens, let alone Astoria, than these any of these prideful slobs.
The Steinway Mansion could have been well preserved if the COMMUNITY got together and chipped in, the Dulcken Mansion wouldn’t have been torn down if the COMMUNITY protested against NYC Landmarks or raised awareness about how crooked our boro leadership is.
But hey, fahgettaboutitt, am I right?
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