Ithaca City’s destruction of Pyramid Recording Studio
https://www.facebook.com/events/335143496522126/ (for comments and more info)
Additional Facebook pages: https://www.facebook.com/svantem, https://www.facebook.com/groups/327963537282385/
From Jeff Claus:
To all who are following this situation/crisis, and care deeply about the fair and ethical treatment of Pyramid as an important local business and Alex as an owner, please read all of this post and communicate directly and as soon as possible with Mayor Svante Myrick and other important city officials. Things are very much down to the wire now, and despite a meeting last week between Alex and Svante Myrick, which we all hoped would go well, there is no clear indication the city is working to achieve thoughtful, respectful resolution based on an understanding of the quality of the Pyramid facility and its value, financially or otherwise. The city is currently threatening to officially condemn the building even though the building’s condition would not be condemnable if it were not for the bridge project. I want to stress, especially for those here who know nothing of the nature of the recording facility that sits inside the building, this is in no way a condemnable building! It’s also important to note that if the building is officially condemned, no one, including Alex, will be able to enter the building, despite the many hundreds of thousands of dollars of valuable equipment inside.
There is a meeting tomorrow morning (Monday) that will include attorneys, engineers, Alex, and, maybe, the mayor. It’s my understanding that various parties in the situation will be represented, including the city, the contractor hired to do the bridge project, and Alex/Pyramid. It isn’t clear the mayor will be there, but he should be.
One thing we can do between now and then is to communicate with Mayor Svante Myrick and other city officials that we expect a thoughtful, fair, ethical resolution of this situation. Thus, I urge people to write or call the mayor to communicate this, and I urge that all communication be mature and respectful.
A few points I’d like to make: While the history of recordings made at Pyramid is notable and glorious, from my perspective the main point here is that this is an important, active recording facility with incredible equipment and expertise. A substantial recording project is fully underway there right now, for example, and there are 4-5 more coming up in the next few months. The key issue is that an important local, successful, highly professional business needs to be treated with genuine respect and financial concern. I just keep thinking the mayor and others don’t really understand what the studio is, and how complicated and expensive it would be to relocate it. The studio is, essentially, a building built inside a building, completely suspended, sound proofed, and isolated from the exterior. It’s perfectly silent inside, and it’s specifically and architecturally engineered and designed for recording (i.e., there are no parallel surfaces inside, etc.). It would cost about $750 a square foot to rebuild the studio to its current design, and this does not address the cost of the exterior building or the property. In addition, the facility houses very valuable, and in many cases rare, equipment found in only the best studios in the country. In the Northeast, to work in a comparable studio would require traveling to NYC, Woodstock, Philadelphia, or Boston and paying higher rates as well as expenses for accommodations and food. People come to Pyramid literally from all over the world to record, and all types of music get recorded there from rock to classical, jazz, hip hop, metal, folk, and more.
If things go badly from this point, this situation could become one much worse even than eminent domain. In eminent domain, property owners are compensated for an assessed value of their property. It’s rarely fair, but at least there’s a legal responsibility to recognize the loss of those displaced. In this situation, at this point, there seems to be a lack of genuine and creative effort to make things right. We need creative collaboration and negotiation that works to achieve ethical resolution. I voted enthusiastically for Svante Myrick, with an expectation of progressive, honorable, creative leadership and politics, and I think this situation begs for exactly that.
You may contact the mayor at:
(607) 274-6501
mayormyrick@cityofithaca.org
Or, you may go to his Facebook page and write him a personal message there.
I will try to post again sometime tomorrow, after the morning meeting, if and as I have information. Until then, please spend what time you care to devote to this, writing to or calling the Mayor. Posting some of the key points you think we should make to the mayor may also be helpful, but debating here seems a waste of time and energy.
Please spread the word that we need as many people as possible to email/call the mayor ASAP! And, thank you for your help!!
Jeff Claus
info@boywithafish.com
Note: Ithaca College email is down for the weekend, should be back up Monday 6.11.2012
More info https://www.facebook.com/events/335143496522126/
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Monday, 11. June 2012
It is important to note that these are my personal opinions. They are in no way associated with Ithaca College. I did not include my IC email address in my Facebook post, from which this was copied, and I did not intend for it to be published here.
Thank you!
Tuesday, 19. June 2012
UPDATE from Jeff Claus: I’m deeply distressed and disheartened to report that the City of Ithaca has now “posted” as unsafe both buildings associated with Pyramid Studios (both the garage building and the building housing the studio). This means no one, including owner and head engineer, Alex Perialas, is allowed in the buildings now. This has happened despite the fact that:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/327963537282385
1) the garage building is the one threatened by the bridge reconstruction project, not the building housing the studio
2) the two Pyramid buildings are structurally separate, with separate roofs and roof lines and separate walls
3) Mayor Myrick told many of us he was genuinely interested in finding fair resolution and said he understood that the garage building was the building at risk
4) Mayor Myrick told us he and others in the administration were waiting for the report by an engineer hired by Alex, which is very close to complete and has been pursued on a very short time line, much shorter than the bridge contractor took with his report and process
5) the engineer of that report did email city officials yesterday to let them know that on the basis of his assessment he felt the garage needed to be shored up and could be in a way that would withstand the intended drilling
5) a key person high up in the Ithaca City Building Dept. promised Alex 3 times in the last few days (most recently Monday morning), that the buildings would not be posted, and this person reversed course this afternoon and ordered the buildings posted
6) a number of recording sessions (i.e., business) must now be cancelled because both buildings have been posted, not just the garage building – the first session to be cancelled is a group that was scheduled to start an album project tomorrow, coming in from Vermont
6) the buildings are not unsafe, as the city suggests they are, based on a 3rd party engineering report hired by the bridge contractor – this report states that the garage building (not the building housing the studio) would be threatened by the intended pile-driving method the contractor plans to use, a method that is the cheapest and most destructive option for accomplishing the task – i.e., this report does not say the building is unsafe, EXCEPT potentially when confronted with the aggressive drilling and earth removal the contractor proposes near the wall of the garage building – the report states that the garage building is the building of concern, not the building housing the studio
7) the studio itself is a building within a building, with separate walls that are suspended on large rubber bushings so as to ensure complete sound, seismic, and electronic isolation
8) the building owned by Pritchard Automotive, that shares a substantial length of wall with the Pyramid building that houses the studio, has not been posted by the city.
What really appears to be going on is that the city and the bridge contractor are in dispute over who will take responsibility for the process of dealing with the garage building, and they are making Alex and Pyramid pawns in the process. The contractor would like the city to engage in a process of writing a new work order which would pay the contractor to deal with shoring up the garage building. But because this would cost the city more money, they are putting it back on the contractor, and, really, on Pyramid. Because the city will not do this new work order, the contractor is now going to confront the city by beginning to dig, slam, and work on the wall at the creek tomorrow – a wall that is right next to and that holds up earth that is under the creekside wall of the Pyramid garage building. The contractor and the city are playing their games with each other while Alex and Pyramid are caught in between.
You can be sure the city will put their spin on this, as they’ve been doing all along. This is already apparent in an email sent by the city’s attorney to city council members and others announcing the posting of the Pyramid buildings. They are clearly going to work to stay out in front of this in a way that allows them to control community perception and understanding. This is what they’ve been doing since this began, as exemplified by their continuing to declare in public that the Pyramid buildings are unsafe, despite the fact this is not what is stated in the engineering report they present as evidence.
When Alex called the Mayor this afternoon, after the buildings were posted, to find out what was going on and to learn more about why things had shifted from promising to problematic, despite what he had been told by the key person in the building department, the mayor said it was now out of his hands. It would appear the spin has been on all along, and we can assume it will continue. From the beginning, this has felt like eminent domain without compensation or fair treatment – i.e., it has seemed like an illegal taking of a successful business’ building(s). It now feels more like that than ever. Many of us hoped that rational discourse and good faith attempts to support and engage principled action on the part of some key city officials would lead us to thoughtful resolution. Today I’m deeply disheartened by what is occurring and by how this has been handled by these city officials. It’s truly amazing this can be taking place, especially in Ithaca. Trust has been broken.
We don’t know what will happen next, but I’m still hoping that somehow there can principled resolution.
Wednesday, 20. June 2012
From the Mayor: Svante Myrick
On June 19, 2012, the City of Ithaca declared unsafe Pyramid Sound’s buildings, legally requiring that they be vacated immediately, and that repair or demolition commence by January 1, 2013. Many in the community have questions and concerns about these actions. I’ve tried to answer as many as I can individually. Below are some answers to frequently asked questions..
Q: Isn’t the City declaring Pyramid’s buildings unsafe just to make construction of the Clinton St. bridge easier or cheaper?
A: No. Pyramid’s buildings are structurally unsafe and in danger of collapse, and would be so even were the Clinton St. bridge project not underway. A structural engineering analysis of Pyramid’s building concluded that:
“The cracks and displacement are clearly indicative of prior damage, settlement, and rotation. . . . [T]he settlement and movement at the load-bearing walls is significant [and] a serious concern as further movement or settlement of either of those walls could cause catastrophic failure of the building as they support the steel roof beams.”
Q: Weren’t all the cracks in Pyramid’s building caused by the bridge project?
A: No. According to Pyramid’s own engineer’s preliminary report, the building “has aged and fractured much faster, with most of the cracks and displacement quite some time ago,” long before the bridge project began. As of Monday, June 18, bridge construction has done no known damage to Pyramid’s building, which has suffered for many years from serious structural damage to the walls and floor.
Q: Isn’t it true that Pyramid’s studio is a separate building from its garage?
A: No. Pyramid’s property is made up of a garage, which is connected to a second building, inside of which is a third building. Together, these second and third buildings contain the studio, which can be described as “a building within a building.” One external wall of the studio adjoins a garage wall, leading a structural engineering analysis of Pyramid’s building to conclude that:
“Collapse of the storage garage roof area would most certainly propagate to the adjacent recording studio building, which shares a common cinder block wall running north/south.”
Q: Why doesn’t the City alter or stop the bridge construction?
A: The Clinton St. bridge project is an essential public works project on which tens of thousands of Ithaca’s residents, workers, and visitors depend. Even a small delay in the bridge project could well push completion from fall 2012 to spring 2013, because winter work likely cannot proceed. And every day that the City delays bridge construction costs the City thousands of dollars in increased construction costs, further increasing the ~$3.5 million price tag for this bridge.
Q: Now that the City has declared Pyramid’s building unsafe, is Pyramid legally prevented from fixing the building?
A: No. Pyramid’s owner is welcome to fix his building, and need merely obtain appropriate building permits from the City’s building department in order for his contractor to obtain access.
Q: What information did the City review before declaring Pyramid’s building unsafe?
A: The City has extensively reviewed the information available to it in reaching the conclusion that it must declare Pyramid’s buildings unsafe. The City has reviewed:
the nearly-100-page structural engineering report (“Building Condition Survey”) conducted by Keystone Associates, Architects, Engineers, and Surveyors LLC at City expense (through a City contractor).
The City has reviewed the Structural Condition Assessment that Pyramid commissioned from its own structural engineer.
Q: Isn’t it true that the City Building Department has not recently been inside Pyramid’s buildings?
A: Yes, but Pyramid’s owner declined the City invitation for an on-site review by the Building Department.
Q: If Pyramid’s buildings are in such bad shape, why do they look fine from the outside?
A: Over the weekend of June 16, 2012, Pyramid’s buildings received a brand new paint job. While this has dramatically improved appearances, paint of course does not improve the structural integrity of a failing building, and so the same problems remain.
Q: Why doesn’t the City just buy Pyramid’s buildings from the owner?
A: Pyramid’s buildings, assessed at nearly $500,000, simply do not make sense as a City purchase, which would be an inappropriate use of taxpayer money. The City is in dire financial condition and is selling, not buying, property right now. Pyramid’s buildings are in a poor condition for which their owner must take responsibility.
Q: Why hasn’t the City tried to cooperate with Pyramid’s owner to find a collaborative solution?
A: The City has tried very hard to cooperate with Pyramid’s owner towards a collaborative solution. The Mayor and City Attorney have met with, called, and emailed Pyramid’s owner and his lawyer many times in an effort to find a solution. Many City employees have spent numerous hours working to find a collaborative solution. Those efforts are ongoing.
Q: Why hasn’t the City offered to help Pyramid pay to fix this situation?
A: Despite the owner’s legal responsibility for his own building, the City has offered to help Pyramid pay to fix this situation. Subject to approval of the City legislature, the City offered Pyramid’s owner $20,000 to assist with whatever solution Pyramid’s owner might choose to pursue. As yet, he has not accepted this offer from the City.
Q: Shouldn’t the City value pioneering, independent businesses like Pyramid Sound?
A: Yes. The City does value Pyramid sound and greatly hopes that it will remain and thrive in downtown Ithaca after addressing the public safety issues created by its buildings.
Saturday, 21. July 2012
From: Alex Perialas
Date: May 21, 2012 6:59:13 AM EDT, Kristina Perialas
Bcc: Guy Krogh
To: kgehring@cityofithaca.org, Addisu Gebre
Cc: Alex Perialas
Subject: Mr. Gray, 105-109 E.Clinton street
[copy/pasted from the Facebook page. note date! -editor]
Mr. Gray,
In continuation of the ongoing issues with access to my buildings, along with the lack of communication from NYSE&G to notify me 24 hours in advance of work that will be done at my door step (said notice has not occur), I am making a formal request for a meeting with all involved parties to discuss the ongoing issues and how to find a way to coexist over the next 6 months.
I have the summer booked with recording sessions. Clients will be coming from out of state as well as all around the region. I understand that you have a job to do and a bridge needs to be built, but I also have a responsibility to my clients and family not be stifled from a revenue stream that allows me to pay my bills, including my property taxes. I would like to show you the interior of a building that houses a multimillion dollar recording facility that has a 38 year history of successful national and regional accomplishments which includes gold and platinum recordings, Grammy nominations and film and television credits. I am hopeful that we can set up a time for you and your staff to take a tour of Pyramid Sound within the next few days.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Cordially,
Alex Perialas
Alex Perialas
President, Pyramid Sound
22 minutes ago · Like · 1
Alex Perialas:
No one from the city including Mr. Gray ever replied to this email dated 5-21-2012. I’m not going to get into a long conversation on FB about this post, I want you all to see the facts. In respect of the Mayor, he has been very reachable durning this troubling ordeal even if the conversations we have had are taken out of context to serve a position.
Tuesday, 24. July 2012
Approval sought for new Ithaca apartments
Cayuga Street complex, Holiday Inn expansion to be discussed by the City of Ithaca Planning and Development Board
http://www.theithacajournal.com/article/20120717/NEWS01/307170040/
ITHACA — Two major building projects on Cayuga Street are nearing approval after a meeting with the City of Ithaca Project Review Committee.
After some major layout changes, the Cayuga Place Residences project — named Cayuga Green Two as well — is nearing final city authorization. Also, an expansion of the Holiday Inn on Cayuga Street is nearing approval by the City of Ithaca Planning Board.
During a Tuesday morning meeting with the project review committee, the developer of the $6 million Cayuga Place Residences requested significant modifications.
The building is planned for a site behind the Tompkins County Public Library and Cayuga Street garage.
A site plan for the project was approved in 2008, but the new plan calls for an increase in the number of units to 39 from 30, reduction in gross floor area from 47,400 to 42,600 square feet, reduction in stories to four from seven, a change from conventional to loft-style apartments, among other significant changes.
Ken Schon, co-owner of Bloomfield/Schon and Partners, said the estimated project cost is $200 a square foot to build.
“The market has dropped so significantly, from maybe $250 a square foot to maybe $150 to $200 a square foot; it’s going to cost us $200 a square foot to build this,” Schon said.
Under Schon’s estimate, the 42,600 square foot project would cost $8,520,000.
The building’s footprint shape is changed from the 2008 design. Removed from the original plan are previously approved balconies and a rooftop terrace, exterior patio, and a reduction in the number of new trees from 40 to 11 and removal of all landscaping on library property.
The new plan also changes building materials from wood panel to pre-cast concrete panels, increases lawn area and swapping a stone wall with hedge plantings.
The apartments will have high ceilings, and lofts overlooking the main apartments.
Schon said there are two ways to create the upscale housing his company sought. One way was using upscale, luxurious materials, and the second is spacial interior architecture.
“Since we’re hopelessly architects, we decided to go with the architecture,” he said.
In the proposed building, there are apartments that are studio-like, with a loft; one-bedrooms with a loft; and two-bedroom, two-bath units, with a loft, according to Schon.
The apartments will be high-end luxury apartments, according to City of Ithaca Planning Department Director JoAnn Cornish.
Schon said the housing isn’t a good fit for undergraduate students. “Our living rooms and dining rooms and bedrooms are way too big for them, and it just doesn’t fit. So, we’ve had maybe one or two undergraduate tenants, and we tried to encourage them to leave as quickly as possible,” he said.
“We don’t like undergraduates at all. It’s not a good fit; this is not designed at all for student housing.”
Holiday Inn expansion
Also discussed at the meeting was a proposed expansion to the Holiday Inn at 235 Cayuga St.
Holiday Inn, planning to demolish the existing north, south and west guest wing rooms, proposed two additions.
The changes would add 15 rooms to the total room count, but would triple the hotel’s capacity for conferences and other group events.
One addition would be a one-story 13,845 square foot banquet and meeting facility on the north side of the main building.
The other addition would be a 10-story tower housing 115 guest rooms and a rooftop entertainment complex.
The expansion plan will result in the loss of 21 parking spaces, removal of nine mature trees and much of Holiday Inn’s existing landscaping along Cayuga Street.
New landscaping, sidewalks lighting and signage is planned with the project.
Tuesday, 24. July 2012
There is a lot of discussion on this topic here https://www.facebook.com/events/335143496522126/