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OUT OF STEP: Nisa Caraballo depends on a pedestrian pathway that runs between the Masaryk Towers to access her Lower East Side neighborhood. That path could soon be fenced off. Photo by Jamie Lehane
For 35 years, Nisa Caraballo has relied on the tree-lined path within the Masaryk Towers apartment complex to run her errands. From her Lower East Side apartment, she uses the walkway to see her sister who lives nearby on Pitt Street, to go to the grocery store and to visit her daughter.
“The walkway has always been open since I lived here,” Caraballo, 61, says.
But all of that might change. The 15-member Masaryk Towers Coop Board wants to gate off the complex, shutting out people like Caraballo who rely on the path to complete everyday tasks.
The walkway, a retired stretch of Rivington Street between Colombia and Pitt streets, links Masaryk Towers, a 1,110-unit Mitchell-Lama Co-op, with Manhattan’s largest low-income development, the Bernard M. Baruch Houses. Thousands of residents of the 17-building Baruch Houses complex use the path to access local services.
Masaryk Towers technically owns most of the walkway, but many area residents claim that it is public property.
“A lot of old people walk through [here],” Caraballo explains. “They can’t afford to go around.” Caraballo points to her two new artificial knees. “I can’t walk that distance. I have to use my scooter.”
On a sunny afternoon, Caraballo plods along the path, pointing out the things that she will lose if Masaryk becomes a gated community. First, there’s the spot where a sparkling, toy-covered Christmas tree is displayed each year. Ahead of her, the community center that houses Grand Street Settlement, the organization that provides her neighborhood with early childhood education, meals to the elderly, and community programs, fills with elderly people.
Like Caraballo, others use the walkway to visit the community center. In fact, so many people use the pathway that Jessica Williamson, the public relations director of Grand Street Settlement, says enclosing the path could wipe out the 92-year-old organization.
“I think that people would feel really cut off from their business community,” Williamson says.
The Masaryk board tried to gate off the development two years ago, but community organizers collected hundreds of signatures opposing the proposal, and it was dropped.
In June, rumors began to circulate that the board intended to try again, and Grand Street Settlement joined with other local groups to form the Coalition for Safety Without Gates. It released a new petition in early July in support of public access through Masaryk.
Without access to the path, thousands of Baruch Houses residents will be forced to detour several blocks.
Caraballo says walking along Houston Street is unsafe due to heavy traffic and construction. And the other detour, Delancey Street under the Williamsburg Bridge, is often deserted. Further, Baruch Houses is considered a naturally occurring retirement community, meaning most people living there are more than 60 years old.
But young people will be affected, too. The walkway leads directly to Nathan Strauss Public School, two blocks west of Colombia Street. Students use the walkway to avoid East Houston Street and in the summertime kids congregate along the path to cool off in the shade.
In recent years, Masaryk residents have expressed concerns that an increase in youth presence along the path at night has led to a rise in crime. The Masaryk board cites crime and rising insurance costs as reasons for enclosing the development, but crime statistics have yet to be released, and local residents have questioned the utility of a gate in stopping crime.
Nonetheless, Caraballo says that she is scared walking the path at night. Her daughter, Nellie Flores, who has lived in Masaryk for 10 years, shares similar concerns.
“As a tenant, I understand why they want to do it,” Flores says. “Sometimes there’s fights that break out.”
But Flores still worries that the gate will prevent her mother from visiting. No one from the Masaryk board has asked her for input on the proposed project, and she does not know how a gated complex would change access to the building.
The Coalition for Safety Without Gates, however, suspects that the proposed gates are part of a development plan aimed at driving up property values. Fueling these concerns, Masaryk has been selected to receive a $6 million allotment from the federally funded Lower Manhattan Development Corporation (LMDC) for capital improvements, such as upgrading water and electrical systems. But to receive the money. Masaryk must first sign a 15-year agreement to remain in the Mitchell-Lama program. Three years have passed since the allotment, and Masaryk has made no such commitment.
Masaryk board spokesperson, Ed Kawolski could not be reached for comment.
According to Mike Murphy, the LMDC press secretary, the Masaryk board must submit a list of contractors and intended capital improvements to the complex before the money is awarded.
“But it’s not for a gate,” he says.
Caraballo has a few ideas about where to put the money. At the end of walk, she glances up and down the path, hands on hips. The asphalt below her is crumbling into jagged potholes. An old woman with a shopping bag pushes a walker over the sidewalk while three smirking boys skip past. “They should fix the street around here,” Caraballo says.
Caraballo shakes her head at the four 21-story Masaryk buildings before her and begins to recall the Rivington Street walkway before the complex was ever built.
Comments
I am a long time resident of Masaryk who is in favor of putting up the fences in Masaryk. Masaryk has had its share of shootings, fights, gang activitiy and even assaults or threads to the security guards, all of which occurred on the complex grounds as a result of the walkway. Not to mention the grafitti and vandalism caused by vandals who are not Masaryk residents. Though I fully understand the frustration people may feel if the fencing goes up, there is an alternative route on Delancey Street which is always empty, very close by and just as easily accessible. My only suggestion (if I may) is to leave the walkway open for senior citizens during the day hours so that they can reach the Grand Street settlement easily. Otherwise, the fencing should go up as planned.
This walkway needs to be closed. If you lived here and had to walk past people drinking and using drugs in front of your apartment you would support it as well. The residents on this property should come before those who can't learn to walk around the complex. It is our safety which is no longer present thanks to having such easy access to strangers in a neighborhood where there is so much negative behavior. We have a right so a decent living as well. Those who oppose should be more considerate. Not us.
I am a long time resident of Masaryk Towers as well and I am in total agreement that a gate should go up. That walkway looks disgusting due to constant usage. Or another alternative could be to have the gate opened from say about 8am and closed at about 6pm. It will help elderly pedestrians walk through during the day and keep bandits (and that's putting it nicely) out at night.
If I may add, security needs to be increased and major major major repairs need to be done on the grounds. ie fences, benches... to name a few. Maybe a new manager should be in place of the one that's there now that doesn't do a d*** thing about people's complaints/concerns.
It's an embarrasment to say we live in a "co-op". Baruch Housing looks 10 times better!
I am in TOTAL agreement with getting up a gate to block off the constant walk through. Masaryk Towers is disgusting because of cars and people. For the one who is concerned about Delancey street being deserted, it won't be if the pathway to Masaryk gets blocked. There will be plenty of people to feel safe with. On another note, the benches, grounds, landmark...are also DISGUSTING. It is soooo embarrassing to say I live in a co-op. We need a new Manager that cares. The manager that there now doesn't even care about himself. Take a look for yourself. And we need better security. Some of these guards don't even take pride in their jobs. Most of them look unhappy and sloppy. All this make most tenants give up on themselves and their life which it why there is so much complaining.
Masaryk Towers is a privately owned New Yor State sponosred Mitchell - Lama Cooperative. The decision to secure its property with the installation of a fence was determined by its Board of Directors which are democratically elected by the majority of shareholders. I am a shareholder at Masaryk Towers and I personally do not agree with installation of a permanent fence around the entire development. Since the issue is security, why not allow foot tracfic through the development through the day light hours and secure the development at dusk.
Something definately needs to be done with Masaryk Towers. I agree that some sort of fence/gate needs to go up, the walkways need extensive work, fences around 71 Columbia needs to be put up to match the rest of the buildings, landmark needs to be beautified and let me not start on the benches. We all gotta be blind not to see how disgusting they are! Seems to me like the "Board of Directors" and Manager are not 100% in sync. I also noticed that the people that are moving in, are people who have issues with law. There are alot of drugs in our buildings (take a look at the stairs for evidence). There's alot of screaming and loud music playing going on as well. Too much disrespect for our property. Security needs to be heightened.
Hire a security guard and then there is no need for a gate.
The "courtyard" is a mess - completely unkempt with papers, bottles, leaves blowing around. Groups of teenagers hanging out there the night I was visiting were very intimidating. Lower income does not mean drugs, violence, disorder, liter, etc. People, take pride in your surroundings. Have self respect and respect for your neighbors. Major overhauls need to take place here.
I received a letter in the mail that my postcard was selected in a lottery for a studio apartment in Masaryk Towers. Since I received the letter I have been researching news articles about the property. I currently live in lower Manhattan with my mother, work on a non-profit salary, and have a lot of student loan debt. I cannot afford to live on my own and save, so this would be a good opportunity for me. However, I am very concerned that the property is sandwiched between projects. More of a concern is reading that the towers are not gated to keep out thugs. Does anyone know if the manager has been replaced since the earlier complaints in this thread dating back to 2008? I hope that if I am chosen for an apartment the property will have gone through the necessary renovations externally and internally. It is also important to staff security guards that take their jobs seriously for tenant's safety. I am not a resident, but I definitely would be in favor of a gate.
I also was selected in the lottery and was wondering the same.
Hi, i was also selected for the lottery, and i also have that concern. I dont know how safe this area is being that it's sandwiched between the projects but i would like some feedback as to whether higher floors are better or if lower floors and which building is considered "more safe". its the anxiety of living alone and not knowing what goes on that scares me. current residents, please give some advice/feedback, anything at all to assist with anyone new moving in.
thank you so much!
Yeah I sell & do drugs. I sell them to some of the security gaurds, maintenance men, Board of Directors, and tenants & their kids. We all gotta make cash & party. Wht's cool is that since the gaurds are mosly high & lazy my custys get to chill, protect the turf, & notify the thugs when the real cops come. A fence won't stop the music. It's the tenants & workers themselves who keep me in buisness. A fence will just secure my turf & keep my customer base in one place. A fence won't keep the drug/thugs out...the drugs/thugs are the tenants. Just ask any Board Member if they have any kids envolved with crime, sell drugs, or have served time in prison. If they would tell the truth they would say they themselves buy drugs on Masaryk property. You don't need a fence...you need new elections for a new Board of Dirctors & a new Property Manager. The current ones buy from me.
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