NEW YORK (PIX11)—
People who live in the historic neighborhood called Treadwell Farms Historic District between 60th and 63rd streets and between 2nd and 3rd Avenues say every evening around 5:30 when workers start blasting for the 2nd Avenue subway project, they brace themselves.It's like clockwork. And every day at the Manhattan Wine Xchange on 3rd Avenue, the blasting rattles more than just nerves. It rattles wine bottles and knocks light fixtures out of place.
That's why every bottle of Chianti and Cabernet sit 2 inches from the edge. Now, imagine what the blasting could rattle in your apartment, and what it would cost to replace, especially if you live in a swanky historic district.
Some of the beautiful brownstones in the area were built in the 1800s. Forty five of them are landmarks. One woman told us she's concerned about cracks in walls, and light fixtures falling right out of ceilings. She also said she and a group of residents are so upset they've hired a lawyer.
The MTA says the blasting is actually below acceptable levels set by the Department of Buildings. But, they've installed monitoring devices in two buildings to see how disruptive the vibrations are. They won't tell us where, but say they'll share the results with the building owners. Manhattan Wine Xchange Salesman Freddie Lopez says he doesn't need a monitor to tell you how it feels, "It's like a bomb going off. You hear the siren go off and then they start the blasting."
The group's attorney, Arthur Goldstein, says they may hire an independent blasting consultant. And further up 3rd avenue, apparently, construction continues late into the night, keeping people awake. Now, the MTA says they're considering making late night visits to hear it for them themselves.
