URBAN SCRAWL IS SPREADING IN CITY
By CHUCK BENNET
http://www.nypost.com/seven/04212008/news/regionalnews/urban_scrawl_is_spreading_in_city_107387.htm
April 21, 2008 -- Graffiti arrests and complaints are skyrocketing as so called "taggers" treat city walls as their personal canvases, new police statistics reveal.
The NYPD recorded and unprecedented 81.5 percent surge in graffiti-related complaints from 2006 to 2007.
During the same period, graffiti arrests spiked nearly 28 percent.
"We did an excellent job turning the tide against graffiti in the '90s and the beginning part of this century," said Councilman Peter Vallone Jr. (D-Queens), the chair of the council's Public Safety Committee who has turned the war on graffiti into a personal crusade.
"Unfortunately, because of the lack of police officers, the fact that they have to do double duty and combat serious threats like terrorism, minor crime, including graffiti, are on the rise," he added.
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Response by malraux
over 17 years ago
Posts: 809
Member since: Dec 2007
I, personally, loved the days of Haring, Basquiat, Crash, Daze, and all the others....
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Response by bluerain
over 17 years ago
Posts: 47
Member since: Feb 2008
Forget not Fab 5 Freddy!
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Response by KISS
over 17 years ago
Posts: 303
Member since: Mar 2008
malraux,
I got distracted on another thread (which I can't recall now) where you talked about special properties you focus on, and you specifically mentioned "with terrace (wrap only)". What's so different about a wrap vs a regular terrace, esp if the reg terrace could be larger/more usable? Is it the 360 views?
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Response by malraux
over 17 years ago
Posts: 809
Member since: Dec 2007
Hi KISS:
Okay, here's what I mean. There are three basic different kinds of terraces in my book.
The first really isn't a terrace at all, but just a 'balcony in the sky' (for lack of a better term) that is just large enough to hold two lawn chairs, a table, and maybe a bicycle (okay, maybe a little bigger, but not much). It doesn't really count in my book as a terrace. Same goes for juliette balconies, planting balconies that aren't deep enough to handle seating, etc.
The second type of terrace is the roof terrace, where you can not look out your unit and see the terrace, but have to schlep up (in most, but not all cases) a staircase either located within your unit (better), or a staircase located outside your unit (worse). Sometimes with a small sunroom attached. These suck because if you're entertaining, guests cannot enjoy the view looking out from your inside space, and you have to haul food and drinks up and down the staircase (plus the same goes for bathroom breaks). It's just not the most desirable situation.
The third and best terrace type, is the wrap terrace. Because it is on the same level as your inside space, one can enjoy looking out on it, which brings the outside in, and also makes the interior space feel much, much larger. The ease of entertaining is exponentially increased for obvious reasons (no stairs).
Of course, what also makes terraces great are their specific size and layout, views, light, plantings, hardscaping, etc, which vary from terrace to terrace. So those varibles must be factored in as well. In addition, it matters if you are on the top floor (complete privacy) or if other people on higher floors can look down on you and your terrace - that's a major 'value' issue as well.
Hope that helps.....
And I am SO EMBARRASSED that I didn't prop Fab Five Freddy - please forgive me, bluerain!
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Response by OriginalPoster
over 17 years ago
Posts: 194
Member since: Jul 2006
I've noticed the graffiti too. And not just in fringe areas. I think it shows how the economy is hurting. God help us if NY goes back to the way it was before Guiliani.
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Response by KISS
over 17 years ago
Posts: 303
Member since: Mar 2008
Thx Malraux, that does clarify it. You really mean a step out of your apt space that is truly usable, and is set back from the bldg (unlike a balcony that sticks out from a bldg). Because I have seen wrap terraces, where only one side is truly usable, the others being little more than a walkway around the roof perimeter.
And OP, sorry, I didn't mean to hijack the thread.
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Response by kylewest
over 17 years ago
Posts: 4455
Member since: Aug 2007
I think it's worth mentioning, re: balconies: that at a certain height they become somewhat useless. A 12th story balcony on 2d Avenue in midtown or UES can become a ledge jutting out into a wind tunnel. Plants dry up and die, the wind is strong enough to move wrought iron furniture, traffic is deafening. Similarly, a little thing jutting out three stories over the traffic on 8th Street with a shadow cast over it virtually all the time by the terrace above is similarly fairly useless. The uselessness is made evident in buildings that permit owners to window-in the balcony to make a "bonus" office or something. As soon as it's permitted, the majority of owners immediately wall in that nasty 30 sq/ft to get some use out of the otherwise dead space. These balconies are generally nice in theory only. the reality is that money spent because the unit has one is a bit of a waste. Totally different if there is nothing overhanging the terrace and it has sun and sky views and if it is a true terrace--that is a set back that ideally wraps around as malraux said.
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Response by malraux
over 17 years ago
Posts: 809
Member since: Dec 2007
kylewest:
Thank you - I absolutely should have mentioned height as well. There are 'microclimates' (as landscape architects call them) involved as one rises higher and higher. The 'sweet spot' I've found is approximately between 5 and 12 stories. Below that, too close to the street. Above that, wind and pollution conditions become a case of diminishing returns.
I should also add that when I talk about an ideal wrap terrace, I'm ONLY talking about a setback situation - should have been clearer - sorry.
I, personally, loved the days of Haring, Basquiat, Crash, Daze, and all the others....
Forget not Fab 5 Freddy!
malraux,
I got distracted on another thread (which I can't recall now) where you talked about special properties you focus on, and you specifically mentioned "with terrace (wrap only)". What's so different about a wrap vs a regular terrace, esp if the reg terrace could be larger/more usable? Is it the 360 views?
Hi KISS:
Okay, here's what I mean. There are three basic different kinds of terraces in my book.
The first really isn't a terrace at all, but just a 'balcony in the sky' (for lack of a better term) that is just large enough to hold two lawn chairs, a table, and maybe a bicycle (okay, maybe a little bigger, but not much). It doesn't really count in my book as a terrace. Same goes for juliette balconies, planting balconies that aren't deep enough to handle seating, etc.
The second type of terrace is the roof terrace, where you can not look out your unit and see the terrace, but have to schlep up (in most, but not all cases) a staircase either located within your unit (better), or a staircase located outside your unit (worse). Sometimes with a small sunroom attached. These suck because if you're entertaining, guests cannot enjoy the view looking out from your inside space, and you have to haul food and drinks up and down the staircase (plus the same goes for bathroom breaks). It's just not the most desirable situation.
The third and best terrace type, is the wrap terrace. Because it is on the same level as your inside space, one can enjoy looking out on it, which brings the outside in, and also makes the interior space feel much, much larger. The ease of entertaining is exponentially increased for obvious reasons (no stairs).
Of course, what also makes terraces great are their specific size and layout, views, light, plantings, hardscaping, etc, which vary from terrace to terrace. So those varibles must be factored in as well. In addition, it matters if you are on the top floor (complete privacy) or if other people on higher floors can look down on you and your terrace - that's a major 'value' issue as well.
Hope that helps.....
And I am SO EMBARRASSED that I didn't prop Fab Five Freddy - please forgive me, bluerain!
I've noticed the graffiti too. And not just in fringe areas. I think it shows how the economy is hurting. God help us if NY goes back to the way it was before Guiliani.
Thx Malraux, that does clarify it. You really mean a step out of your apt space that is truly usable, and is set back from the bldg (unlike a balcony that sticks out from a bldg). Because I have seen wrap terraces, where only one side is truly usable, the others being little more than a walkway around the roof perimeter.
And OP, sorry, I didn't mean to hijack the thread.
I think it's worth mentioning, re: balconies: that at a certain height they become somewhat useless. A 12th story balcony on 2d Avenue in midtown or UES can become a ledge jutting out into a wind tunnel. Plants dry up and die, the wind is strong enough to move wrought iron furniture, traffic is deafening. Similarly, a little thing jutting out three stories over the traffic on 8th Street with a shadow cast over it virtually all the time by the terrace above is similarly fairly useless. The uselessness is made evident in buildings that permit owners to window-in the balcony to make a "bonus" office or something. As soon as it's permitted, the majority of owners immediately wall in that nasty 30 sq/ft to get some use out of the otherwise dead space. These balconies are generally nice in theory only. the reality is that money spent because the unit has one is a bit of a waste. Totally different if there is nothing overhanging the terrace and it has sun and sky views and if it is a true terrace--that is a set back that ideally wraps around as malraux said.
kylewest:
Thank you - I absolutely should have mentioned height as well. There are 'microclimates' (as landscape architects call them) involved as one rises higher and higher. The 'sweet spot' I've found is approximately between 5 and 12 stories. Below that, too close to the street. Above that, wind and pollution conditions become a case of diminishing returns.
I should also add that when I talk about an ideal wrap terrace, I'm ONLY talking about a setback situation - should have been clearer - sorry.