We are two tenant associations who joined together to defend ourselves against a corporate real estate investment hydra that seeks to expel us from our homes in order to maximize their profits.
The Brick Squad
It appears as if Fortune East has co-opted the courtyard of 120 E 4 St as a staging ground for its other projects about town. Dusty sloppy haphazard piles of medium grey toned bricks have accumulated there. Various sorts of tools and equipment are stored there too. Hand held tools. Machines that require electricity or gasoline. As I walked south on 1st Ave the other day, I passed the construction site on 1st and 3rd. The same medium grey toned bricks were being applied to the surface of the establishment, which is rumored to be yet another Starbucks. Yes! another one! The property is another Fortune East/ Magnum project. How many other Magnum projects are facilitated by the 120 courtyard/ warehouse/ dumpsite?
I was sitting outside Pinisi Bakery having my morning coffee. As I left the building I could hear the grinding of the brick cutter (and that's only a wild guess as to the name of...well, the brick cutter!). So there I am , sitting outside Pinisi having my morning cup o' coffee, when I see a laborer come out of 120 with a canvas sack over his shoulder heading down to 1st Ave. I thought it was strange, but when I saw a SECOND worker do the same, I FOLLOWED him. They were bringing materials to Starbucks. Nice! It's bad enough that there is the constant grit on the floor, dust on the walls, and I don't even want to THINK about what I'm breathing, but that it's for STAR-F#CK#NG-BUCKS????
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