Swig It, Baby! D.E.P.’s Dust-up
MORE Letters to the Editor
To the Editor:
Re “Kent Swig Is Everywhere” [Nov. 5]:
Kent Swig complains that elected officials wrongly accuse him of asbestos violations at the Sheffield on West 57th Street, saying, “[t]here was no asbestos in the ceiling ever.”
When the State Department of Labor issued violations on March 1, 2007, for performing asbestos work without a valid asbestos license, the inspector wrote, “The flooring mastic of all the apartments under renovation contained asbestos.”
The City Department of Environmental Protection tested 12 samples of the ceiling material on April 17, 2007, and six came back positive for asbestos.
The D.E.P. has told us that it did not “withdraw” the asbestos violation, as Mr. Swig claims. It realized the violation was issued to the wrong corporate name and is reissuing it.
Mr. Swig has been issued numerous building, fire and housing violations for running an illegal hotel at the Sheffield and for endangering tenant safety. Tenants have documented complaints of harassment, stalking, floods, cut phone lines and workers barging into tenants’ apartments without permission.
It is telling that Mr. Swig says he learned so much from his father-in-law, developer Harry Macklowe. Mr. Macklowe is “infamous,” as The New York Times called him, for his midnight illegal demolition of two buildings on West 44th Street in 1985.
Richard Gottfried, New York State Assembly Member
Jerrold Nadler, U.S. Representative
Thomas Duane, New York State Senator
It just goes to prove that after you shake hands with Kent Swig, make sure you still have all your rings on your fingers.....Buyers BEWARE!!!!
I am familiar with the DEP's position in this case and the violation was not withheld, it was dismissed, and the DEP has no intention of issuing another violation as further testing has proved that the "positive" tests were incorrect and there is no asbestos in the ceiling. I know this will be disappointing to the tenants and politicians who are looking for a pay-day, but this is our position.
I don't know why this writer is only focused on the asbestos in the ceiling. There are other sources of asbestos (e.g. mastic glue from the floor tiles), as well as other very damaging contaminants (silica dust from drilled concrete, mold, etc.) Numerous tests have been performed in the last year by certified testing labs and the results are part of the record for all to see. The evidence overwhelmingly documents an incontrovertable truth. There are very serious problems at the Sheffield 57.
Responses from agencies like DEP, The Dept. of Health, the Department of Buildings, and the Attorney General have been absolutely pitiful. They act like agencies without teeth, or if they do have teeth, they clearly have no stomach for the political pressure brought to bear by Mr. Swig and his public relations machine.
The following example is illustrative of the frustration these agencies can create. One night in January 2007 I called 911 to report the hundreds of large 3-foot wide holes that had been cut into the concrete floors and left uncovered; holes that lead down over 20 stories to the ground. I had previously asked the Dept. of Buildings and other agencies to require that the holes be securely covered so that no person or pet could fall through. They did nothing, so I tried 911 as a last resort. The policemen who came said they could do nothing either, absolutely nothing. They said the developer (Swig Equities) had permits and could do what he wanted to the floors. When I challenged the officers, and asked them if they were really defending these big open, person-sized, gaping holes leading 200 feet down to the ground, one of them actually told me (and the 4 others present), "Hey, this is New York. You know nothing gets done until someone gets hurt".
Mr. Swig has been telling everyone that all this complaining is about tenants trying to have a pay day. It's a self-serving response from one who has behaved immorally at least, and criminally at most. Upon learning of the asbestos problem, his first acts were to try to evict those who brought the information to light without so much as a single concern for the safety of his tenants.
DEP and the other agencies have failed us miserably in this case. How is it possible, for example, that the Attorney General has not required Swig to disclose the asbestos lawsuit in the Condo Offering Plan to prospective buyers? Should not Mr. Cuomo make sure buyers know about a lawsuit that raises issues affecting their health and safety, not to mention their exposure to financial risk if the Sponsor loses the suit? Do they not consider these facts material to the decision to buy? If I were buying, I would certainly want to be advised that there was ongoing litigation about asbestos contamination.
Sadly, even a pay day for the tenants will never undo the damage done to this vibrant community of 2,000 people. All but a handful are left, and if Swig is lucky enough to have his way, the remainder will either be driven out, outspent, or just beaten into submission. Perhaps out of fear of losing the project, or owing to his living in denial of the truth, Mr. Swig continues to issue outrageous statements and engage in deceptive practice. But the truth is the truth. Sooner or later, either by court decree or common knowlege, Mr. Swig will be known for the awful man he has chosen to be.
Attention Swigsters
YOUseem to be missing the point here,inquiring minds are trying to find out Just where 650,000 square feet of asbestos laden wood flooring was disposed to!
The violation about the ceiling material, lodged against one of your shell corporations is the veil you are ineffectively hiding behind -- that violation will be forthcoming, we would say the ceiling situation is only a minor league problem to you have concerning the Sheffield.
Swig it, Baby
Post from so-called "DEP" is an obvious spoof. No one legitimately inside the DEP would ever post about an on-going case on an internet chat board, and certainly not one so poorly written with an obvious agenda. "Tenants and politicians looking for a payday." That's the Swig party line and the poster is the same Swig shill who has done this all along where ever his boss is held to account.
Tribeca Space
Tribeca Space Update -- The developer ha been forced by the New York Attorney General to offer everyone who signed a purchase contract the right to rescind their purchase contract s. Word has it that at least 25% of the people who purchased in the building have already rescinded and that most of the building and most of the building will end up being rented out instead of sold. Closings were supposed to start a year ago and there's still no end in sight due to the inability to get a temporary Certificate of Occupancy - supposedly due to problems with the buildings sprinkler system and elevator system and illegal use of another buildings air rights. Meanwhile, two of Corcoran agents in charge of marketing the building (JIm Brawders and David Kest ) have fled to another project (45 John) and want nothing to do with the poor people they sold condo's to at Tribeca Space.What a mess. . .
this is the condo he is talking about :
hhttp://www.cityrealty.comnew_developments/news?noteid=9681
Buyer Beware
I have given a substantial deposit for an apartment in excess of 2 million U.S. Dollars in the Sheffield -- and have called the Attorney Generals Office to ask for my money back. I was promised a move in date 6 months ago, and do not know why I cannot move in. The building is far from being done, and I have heard alot of rumors it is troubled.
signed Disgruntled Owner!
I have run into more than one disgusted new owner at the Sheffield. One lady I spoke to in the elevator was in tears.
Aside from the plumbing problems, telephone lines being cut and the other shabby services, her part of the building will obviously take 6 months longer to finish than was promised.
what about one's fingers?
Life in Sheffield57 is most unpleasant right now. We are living esssentially in a gutted concrete shell with hundreds of construction workers making an ear-splitting racket and raising enormous levels of dust and dirt from early on every day. At least 38 of the 43 residential floors are still stripped and gutted. The atmoshpere is cold, damp, and dank because most of this huge space is effectively now unheated except for the few occupied units. There are water shut-offs and hot-water turn-offs daily. When the water comes back on it explodes from the pipes in a filthy brown when you first turn the faucet and then smells of chemical compounds for days. Keeping your apartment clean is next to impossible. We have it bad, but I feel for the buyers. I can see interminable delays and a multitude of law suits coming.
The building looks great and I am very very satisfied with my purchase. I have not met any of the "disgruntled" tenants - but my apartment is better than advertised. Well done to the sponsor, well done and thank you.
Whew. I am finally closing on my apartment - my walk though was very positive, it took longer than I would have liked, but my apartment looks great and I can't wait to move in.
I have been following this chain and I must tell you I love my new apartment and I love my new building! Since I have moved in it has been nothing short of a pleasure to live in this building. My husband and I could not be happier. We look forward to a long, happy life on 57th Street.