Tishman Speyer Tightens Budget, Cuts Gas in Three Buildings

Just when it seems like Tishman Speyer and Stuyvesant Town's bad publicity couldn't get any worse we learn that three of their buildings have been without gas for over a week. Way to save a few clams! 522, 524 and 526 East 20th Street have been without gas for over a week and tenants are furious. As usual communication from Tish-Spy is poor at best. When residents do receive information it's through the state sponsored radio / HAL 2000 intercom system on the wall. The problem stems from a gas leak in one of Con Edison's main lines. The resident website reports:

"Starting October 20, 2008: Gas Shutdown in Your Building Today

Con Edison has turned off the gas due to a leak in the main line. The lack of gas means your stoves will not work until the situation is corrected. Our plumbers will be accessing every apartment today to manually turn off the gas connection to the stove while repairs are being made. Please leave your top lock unlocked today.

We will provide updates as the situation changes.
We apologize for the inconvenience and thank you for your cooperation."

A Sty Spy tells us about work done in his/her apartment.

"Workmen (contract plumbers, not Tishman Speyer or ConEd employees) came in and ripped up my kitchen wall, informing me that they would be back by the end of the week to connect the gas lines. When I asked what the problem was they said the gas line connection to the apartments in my building were "illegal" and that each apartment MUST have a shut off valve for gas outside the wall.

Coincidentally, when workmen came last Monday, the 20th, they actually installed a shut off in the wall where one did not exist. I guess no one really knows what they are doing and Tishman Speyer is just wasting time, money and inconveniencing us in our homes. When I asked if this lack of compliance to building code is unique to these three buildings, the worker said, "The other buildings will be fixed as leaks occur.""

To make up for the lack of gas, Tish-Spy has been serving free dinner SRO-style in the basement of 278 First Avenue. Freeloaders beware, they are checking id's to be sure you live in one of the gasless buildings - of course security guards and Tish-Spy's maintenance staff can chew no questions asked. Lux living at its best!