447 Fort Washington Avenue • New York

Information for Residents


Bennett Park: The major renovation is nearly complete. Once an electrical box--that was discovered by chance--is made safe, the park could reopen by the end of the month. -11:06 a.m., February 6

Weekend picks: Freedom's Sisters, the nationally touring exhibit of African American women who helped create modern America, opens Saturday in Lower WaHi. NCAA basketball visits Fort George on Sunday night. -8:48 a.m., February 3

Bridge up: The Robert F. Kennedy Bridge's Harlem River Lift Span will be closed to all traffic between 1 and 3 this morning for maintenance. Use the Willis Avenue Bridge as an alternate route during this closure. -12:09 a.m., January 30



Application forms

       Download the forms you need. These are pdf files. If you don't see what you're looking for here, please call our property manager, who can also send you any of these forms through the mail.

Alteration Agreement
    Renovations fall into this category. Use this form to submit with your plans. If you believe your work is not extensive, please contact the property manager to see if you qualify to work under a decoration agreement (see below). Mail the completed form to Hedda at Argo, 50 West 17 Street, NYC 10011-5702.

 Automatic Payment
    Never be late again with your maintenance fee. Sign up for automatic payment from your checking account. It's ideal for travelers. There's no cost, and with it you'll never pay a late fee again.

Bike Racks
    Store your bicycle in the basement storage room. Please keep it locked to the rack. Here's the agreement form, which is the same as the Storage Cage form.

Decoration Agreement
     If the improvement you're planning is less extensive than a renovation but you're still planning to use outside help to complete the job, you may be eligible to use the decoration agreement. It's less extensive than the alteration agreement (above). Before submitting a decoration agreement, please visit with the property manager.

Gym

     Fees and conditions are included. Sign and mail the rules and conditions to Argo to join the fitness room.

Pets
      Have a new best friend? The building welcomes most pets but requires proof of their immunizations and, for dogs, a city license. Read the guidelines. If your pet is a pup and you need a dog license, just fill out this form. It needs to be notarized.

Renovations
    See "Alteration Agreement," above.

Sale/Purchase of Apartment Shares
    Two forms here. One is the cover sheet, which lists the documents the purchaser must supply. The application contains blank forms the purchaser must complete. Both are needed for a complete package.

STAR Property Tax Rebate
    With the economic crunch, this rebate is on hiatus. The idea was to  grant co-op owners (whose apartments are their primary residences) the same school tax relief that owners of real estate have received for years. If it returns—a decision made by the legislature—you must apply for it.
    Apply by filling out this form, then mail or fax it to the Department of Finance. The co-op is not involved.
    You'll need to fill in our Borough, Block and Lot numbers. They are:
    Borough = 1
    Block = 2177
    Lot = 87  

Storage Cage
    If your apartment is too cluttered, store your overflowing belongings in a sto- rage cage in the basement. Here's the agreement form, which is the same as the Bike Rack form.

Sublet
    If you plan to sublet your apartment, your proposed subtenant(s) need to pro- vide a complete package. That includes the cover sheet, which lists the docu- ments your subtenant must supply, and the application, which contains blank forms the subtenant must complete.





Contact Information

    Help us keep your contact information current so you will receive official mail from the corporation and Argo without delay. If you have children moving out or roommates moving in, please tell us. Your information will not appear on this web site. If you do not want it to appear on our internal contact sheet, simply say so.
    Send your contact information to the Board secretary, who is responsible for keeping our records current.




House Rules

     Our building is a community, as well as our home. Residents share the responsibility to ensure a safe and pleasant quality of life at reasonable cost.  We count on each other to treat all areas of the building as our home, and to protect and respect the rights of all of the Residents to a safe and comfortable home. A set of guidelines helps us achieve these goals.
     The House Rules are available here. 
     Please make yourself familiar with the information in this document, which is part of your Proprietary Lease.




Laundry Room

     Hercules maintains our laundry machines, both the washers and dryers. With our dryers, to add five minutes you must do so when at least five minutes remain in the cycle. If there is less time, you will be given 30 minutes and charged for a full cycle.
     If a machine is malfunctioning, please call Hercules at (800) 526-5760 to inform them so they may repair it. Alternatively, you may send an e-mail to service@hercnet.com, explaining the problem and asking for a refund if you lost money. Hercules will need to know:
    Building name: Pinehurst
    Building address: 447 Fort Washington Avenue
    Building location: Manhattan
    Laundry room location: Basement; super required for access
    Machine malfunctioning: Take note of the number on the machine
If you're asking for a refund, include your apartment number.




Manhattan Maintenance Fees



     Manhattan maintenance: Our second biannual look at maintenance fees in neighborhoods across Manhattan looks at rates in 2006 and 2008. Download a copy of the report by clicking on the chart or here.
     We're recording 2012 data for a new comparison that will be available in early 2013. If you'd like to sign up to receive a copy when it's ready, send an e-mail to web@thepinehurst.org and put "maint" in the subject line.



Noise

     Washington Heights is known for its noise. Luckily, Hudson Heights is a bit quieter. However, if you are bothered by loud music, a party, fireworks or other terrestrial sound, please call 311.
     Other noise comes from the skies. Aircraft fly over our neighborhood en route to LaGuardia Airport or on their way to points west. Helicopters also fly nearby, and sometimes seems to hover. If these sounds are bothersome, please call the Economic Development Corporation at (212) 619-5000 with your concerns about helicopters, or for airplanes call (718) 533-5615 and press 3 for LaGuardia.


NYC Notify

     The city has a new way to keep you informed of emergency information as well as less-critical topics like parking changes. Sign up to receive notifications by e-mail, text, or phone messages. To stay informed, click here: https://a858-nycnotify.nyc.gov/notifynyc/


Recycling

     The Pinehurst is committed to recycling in accordance with New York City's goals. Most paper and plastic (but not all), glass and metal are recyclable in our bins in the garbage area.
     Compact fluorescent light bulbs require special recycling because their contents are hazardous. Also known as CFL's, these bulbs are typically curly in shape. In our neighborhood the designated recycling spot is at the Northern Manhattan Improvement Corporation offices at 76 Wadsworth Avenue (between 176th and 177th Streets). Open business hours.
     For more information on CFL recycling, click here.


Subways & Transportation

"A" Train
    Scheduled maintenance is posted here by the MTA.

The Weekender
     Changes to subway service from Friday afternoon to Monday morning are posted here.

181 Street: Congested Corridors Project
     The city's Department of Transportation is studying 181st Street to determine how to improve traffic flow of pedestrians, cyclists, and motor vehicles. Down- load the study here, and make your voice heard at any of the public hearings.



Tornadoes, Hurricanes and Severe Weather

     Severe weather is an uncommon but dangerous phenomenon. In the summer and early fall, hurricanes may threaten the northeast. Here's the city's readiness guide for hurricanes.
     The late spring and summer can produce tornadoes. Before you hear of a tornado watch (which means that weather conditions could produce a tornado) or a tornado warning (which means a funnel cloud has been spotted, though it may not have touched the ground yet), please review these safety precautions for you and your family.
     In short, go to the lowest level of the building, stay there until the all-clear sign has been given (by the National Weather Service, typically), and have a first aid kit handy.



Announcement archive

Hidden automat: Remember those? Even if you're stumped you'll be amazed by what is--or was--behind the façade of the Sleepy's mattress store on 181st Street in Fort George. (Oh, an automat was a self-serve restaurant.) -6:56 a.m., January 29

Weekend picks: Enjoy a jazz saxophonist's concert tonight in Hudson Heights. Recycle your old and unwanted electronics tomorrow in Inwood. Go birding for eagles on Sunday in Inwood Hill Park. -8:39 a.m., January 26

Park cleanup: You know the area in Inwood Hill Park by the tennis courts? The Parks Department is rehabilitating it and would like your help. Put on work clothes and bring your energy to the site on Saturday and Sunday mornings at 10. For more info e-mail yekaterina.gluzberg@parks.nyc.gov. -10:46 a.m., January 25

Manhattan maintenance: Our popular review of co-op maintenance fees by neighborhood, with results from 2006 and 2008 (see below, under "Manhattan Maintenance Fees"), is being updated to show fees in 2012. It will be completed in January 2013, but if you'd like the mid-year figures in July, send an e-mail to get on the list. -1:02 p.m., January 24

Wet weather: With the snow comes the reminder to be careful on the tile floors. It's super slippery, so try to stomp it off when you come in. -5:17 p.m., January 21

Weekend picks: Cosi fan Tutte, performed by Delphi Theatre, opens tonight. A course of wilderness survival takes place tomorrow. Scan the skies at an astronomy session Sunday. -6:12 a.m. January 20

Ukelele ride: An Uptowner who had her ukelele on the A Train joined an impromptu duet with an on-board drummer, strumming her way into the latest YouTube sensation. It's been viewed a million times, which is roughly the same number of people who crowd into a rush hour train. -8:38 p.m., January 18

Day of Service: Happy MLK Day. Find a way to make a difference in someone's life today. And remember that Bud's off, so please help us keep the building clean: if you see some trash, throw it away.-9:51 a.m., January 16

Weekend picks: Listen to One Night Stanzas tonight and figure out the connection between your drinking water and that tower in Highbridge Park on Saturday. -7:32 a.m., January 13

Inwood author: Lin-Manuel Miranda, author and star of In The Heights, is working on a new show about another Upper Manhattanite: Alexander Hamilton. (Have you been to The Grange?) The article includes a photo of one of the step-sidewalks in the area. -10:51 a.m., January 9

Mulchfest update: With Bennett Park under construction, the city realized that collecting trees there just won't work. Your easiest option is to leave them by the stairs to 181st Street. If you're green-minded, you can go to J. Hood Wright Park or the Sherman Creek Center. -11:02 a.m., January 6

Weekend picks: Mike Fittelson's photographs of Upper Manhattanites are up Friday. Open Mic Night features local talent on Saturday. Cafe Bark holds a rare second-Sunday meet-up. -10:22 a.m., January 6

Lords a-leaping: It may be only the tenth day of Christmas, but if you have more pine needles on the floor than on our tree or wreath, it's time to take them out. When you do, please wrap them so you don't leave a trail of needles! [Updated Jan 6:] If you want to make your greenery go greener, take it to Mulchfest in J. Hood Wright Park.  Otherwise, take it out back. -3:42 p.m., January 3

Happy 2012: Enjoy your day of rest. Bud has the day off too, so if you see a piece of trash on the floor please pick it up and pitch it. -9:23 a.m., January 2

Weekend picks: Cure your kids of cabin fever with a squirrel excursion today, and start the new year off right with a brisk walk across the GWB on Sunday. Oh, and there's some party in Times Square tomorrow. -9:46 a.m., December 30

Parking crackdown: Word on the street is the 34th Precinct is ticketing cars that are double-parked on Broadway, including the stretch between 179th Street and the precinct house at 185th Street. Be careful out there! -12:43 p.m., December 29

Upstate Manhattan: There's now a video series about the lives of fictional Inwoodites. In the 'Wood is taped north of us, so if the show gets famous, we'll finally be downtown of someone. -10:11 a.m., December 28

Happy holiday: Enjoy your day of rest. Bud has the day off too, so if you see a piece of trash on the floor please pick it up and pitch it. -9:23 a.m., December 26

Roof noises: Bud is responding to several calls from sixth-floor residents who report the clatter of hooves and footsteps near the chimney. -12:02 a.m., December 25

Sugarplum ferries: Let you wee ones track Santa's progress before tucking them in tonight, courtesy of NORAD. Be sure to hang your stockings by the fireplace! -9:09 a.m., December 24

Weekend picks: It's going to be a quiet weekend in Hudson Heights. If you listen carefully, however, you may hear the sounds of hooves on a roof or two late tomorrow night. Check here for visits to the Pinehurst. -10:22 a.m., December 23

Winter starts: The season changed yesterday (and you thought it was just damp). That means today is the perfect time to change the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Need help? Ask Bud. -8:32 a.m., December 22

Happy Chanukah: The Festival of Lights begins tonight, and a concert at Yeshiva starts shortly and goes on until 4. May your Chanukah be filled with love, light and laughter. -9:21 a.m., December 21

Chopper flights: The sound in the sky you're likely to hear today will be a ConEd a helicopter inspecting overhead power lines until 4. -10:07 a.m., December 19

Decorations safety: Greenery and miniature lights make the season more festive. Just remember basic safety precautions. Water your greenery or mist it to keep it from drying out and becoming a fire hazard, and turn off your lights at night and when away. -9:21 a.m., December 19

Weekend picks: High school track athletes tear up an indoor track tonight. Go owl watching on Saturday night. And on Sunday you can here the annual reading of "A Visit from St. Nick," better known by its opening line, "'Twas the Night Before Christmas." -1:42 p.m., December 16

GWB repair: For the first time in its eighty-year life, the George Washington Bridge will have its suspension ropes--the vertical wires--replaced. It will be an eight-year job, totaling $1 billion. Which probably means we can expect delays until about 2020. -11:09 a.m., December 14

Wassail & friends: Thanks for making our holiday party such a treat. Care to share your photos? We'll post them here. -5:52 p.m., December 12

Holiday party: Come as you are to our annual winter get-together today. Renew friendships with your neighbors and meet new ones. Refreshment are provided, but we won't say no if you bring a favorite dish. Shutterbugs: Send in your favorite photos and we'll post them here. -12:37 p.m., December 11

Weekend picks: Three concerts on Saturday, in Fort Tryon Park, in Hudson Heights and in Lower WaHi. Head up to Inwood Sunday for a vigorous hike led by rangers. -4:39 p.m., December 9

Sunday night: Make sure you've set aside some time Sunday to drop by our holiday party. We'll be making merry in the lobby with refreshments, music, and your neighbors. -1:49 p.m., December 6

Weekend picks: The String Cheese Incident plays tonight and tomorrow, when there's basketball too. On Sunday you can choose from among several concerts: One features a fifteenth-century Mass, another centers on folk music for the holidays, and the third includes a New York premier.  -10:27 a.m., December 2

Dog run: The FtDog group announced today a clean-up of Sir Williams' Dog Run on Saturday. They point out that it will be light work, with no new wood chips to spread, "so there is no excuse for staying away even if you have a diagnosed wheelbarrow phobia." On Sunday: doughnuts! -10:51 p.m., November 30 

    

 

Three months: That's how long it's been since Hurricane Irene menaced the east coast, generally shutting down the city for a weekend. Irene was a tropical storm by the time it reached us. But that was enough to dump ten inches of rain on the building (left, top) and to give ducks the chance to swim on sidewalks in Inwood Hill Park. A view of Riverside Drive in Lower WaHi (lower left), and a map showing the storm surge in Fort George. -9:12 p.m., November 29

Weekend picks: Medieval chess pieces carved from ivory await your next move today, or for an outdoor adventure, take a tour of the autumn blooms of Heather Garden on Sunday. -1:32 p.m. November 25

Happy Thanksgiving: All our best wishes, and safe travels to those on the move. If you'll be staying at home, remember that Bud will be off too, so if you see a bit of trash please pick it up and pitch in. -10:37 a.m., November 23

In the papers: Journalists stumble upon us every now and again. Recently the topic was Hudson Heights' livability and hills. Now it's the treasures of art in WaHi, from the Hispanic Society (which may change the name of its museum) to medieval chess pieces at the Cloisters. -10:44 a.m., November 21

Weekend picks: Dave Matthews plays at the United Palace tonight. Columbia closes its football season at home tomorrow. And on Sunday you can peak at the stars after dark. -10:17 a.m., November 18

Uphill climb: You've seen the weekend bicyclists, struggling up our hills and along our narrow streets. The Times noticed them recently too and wrote up this dispatch from Hudson Heights. -9:32 a.m., November 17

Holiday party: We hope you'll make plans to attend our annual holiday party for food, merriment, and saying hello to your neighbors. Sunday afternoon, December 11, from 5 to 7 in the lobby. -8:27 p.m., November 15

United Palace: The congregation that calls the United Palace Theatre its home has a new pastor. The Rev. Jack Bomar will preach this morning. His predecessor, the Rev. Frederick J. Eikerenkoetter ("Rev. Ike"), died in 2009, forty-two years after founding the church that transformed a neighborhood. -9:33 a.m., November 13

Weekend picks: The Hudson View Arts Group's annual show of Upper Manhattan work is open this weekend. On Sunday is the 235th commemoration of the Battle of Fort Washington. -3:21 p.m., November 11

Steam heat: With the weather turning chilly at night, it's a good time to remember that your radiators must be turned all the way on or all the way off. Turning the knob to a middle setting risks rusting the iron and a terrible mess. Questions? Ask Bud. -9:49 a.m., November 7