7-Eleven AC Units Force Residents To Abandon Their Bedrooms

Last week, we had an update on 7-Eleven and Westminster Management’s illegally placed AC and refrigeration units at the newish Avenue A 7-Eleven which, so far, have racked up $17K+ in fines. Today, we hear first hand from tenants who live in these buildings how the plethora of units outside their windows impact their lives, for example, like not being able to sleep in their bedrooms.

Three illegally placed AC units clutter the small alley between 500 and 502 East 11th St. The large, industrial units block the first floor side window of 502 East 11th St and, when active, create a constant hum, banging and vibration (let alone blocking any light that made its way to the first floor window) and establish an unlivable environment for the first floor tenant (of which there is only one).

The illegal refrigeration unit is placed on the one story roof between 500 and 502 East 11th St. immediately outside of the bedrooms of four separate, second floor apartments (two in each building). This unit significantly violates the noise pollution laws (twice cited by the DEP). The noise and vibrations that this unit emits have resulted in tenants in 502 East 11th St. to abandon their bedrooms and re-position their entire family in the living room. The noise is constantly grinding, clicking, and vibrating making it unbearable for ALL the tenants on all the floors between the two buildings — one of whom is a freelance film editor who is now unable to work at home. ALL tenants are suffering in one form or another.

Dozens of calls have been placed to 311. The Department of Environmental Protection has come to take noise measurements two times, each time resulting in a significant violation. Both 7-Eleven and Westminster refuse to relocate the refrigeration unit to either the basement (where it belongs) or to the roof of 500 East 11th St. (a viable alternative).

In one month, the tenants will request another noise reading; and once the violation is issued, Westminster will be taken to court where a judge may require that the refrigeration unit be removed immediately or the establishment (7-Eleven) closed.

7-Eleven has a sore arm from patting themselves on the back recently over their new Amazon lockers and KeyMe kiosks.

“We have to stay on top of what the consumer wants,” said Margaret Chabris, director of public relations at Dallas-based 7-Eleven. “Our ultimate goal is to provide products and services that solve the everyday problems for our customers in making their lives better.” [Source]

Hey Margaret, 7-Eleven has created problems, lots of problems, for the very people you are desperate to win over. The “consumers” and their families want to sleep in their bedrooms. Solve that every day problem.

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Thank Heaven! A 7-Eleven AC Unit Outside Your Bedroom Window!

7-Eleven / Westminster Rack up $17K+ In Fines

7-Eleven and Westminster Management have racked up some major fines at their Avenue A location over 7-Eleven’s illegally placed AC and refrigeration units – over $17K to be exact!

Multiple NYC DOB complaints were filed last fall, like this one for the industrial sized AC Units placed 14 inches away from the residents bedroom windows – they turn on and off every 15 minutes! Another complaint was filed for a rooftop refrigeration unit which blocks access to a fire escape. A Partial Stop Work Order was issued but that didn’t top 7-Eleven from continuing work on their exteriors or removing their plywood shanty town shed to open.

All of 7-Eleven / Westminster Management’s DOB violations are listed here, but in short they are for:

DOB Violation Display for 011514AEUHAZ100184
Issue Date: 01/15/2014
Description: FAILURE TO CERTIFY CORRECTION ON IMMEDIATELY HAZARDOUS (CLASS 1) ECB VIOLATION
DOB Civil Penalty Due: $1,500

Specific Violation Condition(s) and Remedy:
SEC. BC 1001.3. FAILURE TO MAINTAIN EGRESS CLEAR & UNOBSTRUCTED. NOTED: AT 1ST FLR SETBACK ROOF INSTALLATION OF AN AC UNIT HAS PARTIALLY OBSTRUCTED EGRESS 2 STEEL I-BEAMS ARE INSTALLED ACROSS THE ROOF APPROX.
Penalty Balance Due: $8,000.00

DOB Violation Display for 011514AEUHAZ100185
Issue Date: 01/15/2014
Description: FAILURE TO CERTIFY CORRECTION ON IMMEDIATELY HAZARDOUS (CLASS 1) ECB VIOLATION
DOB Civil Penalty Due: $1,500

Specific Violation Condition(s) and Remedy:
FAILURE TO PROVIDE UNOBSTRUCTED NOTED: CONSTRUCTION FENCE OBSTRUCTIONFIRE ESCAPE IN SEVERAL LOCATION. REMEDY: REMOVE OBSTRUCTION.
Penalty Balance Due: $6,000.00

DOB Violation Display for 011514AEUHAZ100186
Issue Date: 01/15/2014
Description: FAILURE TO CERTIFY CORRECTION ON IMMEDIATELY HAZARDOUS (CLASS 1) ECB VIOLATION
DOB Civil Penalty Due: $1,500

Specific Violation Condition(s) and Remedy:
FAILURE TO PROVIDE UNOBSTRUCTED EXIT PASSAGEWAY.NOTE:@ EXP 1&4 CONSTPLYWOOD FENCE APPROX 8’HIGH ERECTED W/APPL #121420845,& FIRE-ESCAPESARE ENCLOSE W/O ANY EXIT OR PASSAGEWAY PROVIDED FOR TENANTS IN CASE OF
Penalty Balance Due: $0.00

DOB Violation Display for 011514AEUHAZ100187
Issue Date: 01/15/2014
Description: FAILURE TO CERTIFY CORRECTION ON IMMEDIATELY HAZARDOUS (CLASS 1) ECB VIOLATION
DOB Civil Penalty Due: $1,500

Specific Violation Condition(s) and Remedy:
FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE HOUSEKEEPING – NOTED- JOB FENCE OPEN ANDUNGUARDED LEAVING SITE ACCESSIBLE TO PUBLIC. REMEDY: MAKE SAFE IMMEDIATELY – MAINTAIN.
Penalty Balance Due: $0.00

DOB Violation Display for 011514AEUHAZ100188
Issue Date: 01/15/2014
Description: FAILURE TO CERTIFY CORRECTION ON IMMEDIATELY HAZARDOUS (CLASS 1) ECB VIOLATION
DOB Civil Penalty Due: $1,500

Specific Violation Condition(s) and Remedy:
FAILURE TO PROVIDE UNOBSTRUCTED EXIT PASSAGEWAY DEFECT NOTED: AT TIMEOF INSPECTION WINDOW IN REAR BEDROOM OR APARTMENT #9 HAS BEEN SCREWEDSHUT W/METAL SCREWS LEAVING TENANTS EXIT TO FIRE ESCAPE OBSTRUCTED.TEN
Penalty Balance Due: -1,000.00

But hey, who needs a good night’s sleep in a safe building when there are KEYS to be had?!

When DOES This Corporate Blight Open?

Photo: Michael Paul

No time soon! 7-Eleven, the Texas-based based gas/beer/cigarette chain, was originally scheduled to open its East Village location in May only to have their opening date pushed to June, then to November and now October. However, there’s still the complicated matter of the various Partial Stop Work Orders in place.

In order for construction to resume at 7-Eleven, a NYC DOB inspector said the 3 industrial size AC units will have to be moved at least 14 feet away from the apartment windows. Currently they are 14 INCHES away from the apartment windows.

The Department of Environmental Protection is hauling the property manager of 170 Avenue A – Westminster Management – into court over the external refrigeration units. The refrigeration units also have to be moved because they block passage to a fire escape. The DEP has ordered the units to be turned off but 7-Eleven is above the law so they continue to run 24/7.

The 7-Eleven continues to sit vacant and boarded up as it has most of the year, continuing to be little more than an eye-sore for the neighborhood and a lightening rod of controversy for the corporation. One has to wonder, with all the aggravation its presence has caused for the neighborhood, 7-Eleven and Westminster Management, is it really worth it?

Work Continues at 7-Eleven Despite Stop Work Order

A tipster sends in this photo taken today of work being done to the exterior of the new 7-Eleven at 170 Avenue A despite several Stop Work Orders issued by the NYC DOB. Westminster Management is the building’s property manager.

Thank Heaven! A New DOB Violation for 7-Eleven!

There’s never a dull moment when you’re an unwanted chain store forcing yourself on a neighborhood! Today we learn the perpetually-under-construction 7-Eleven at 170 Avenue A has been slapped with a second DOB complaint, this time for blocking fire escapes.

Owner: VILLAGE JV 500 EAST 11TH LLC
Last Inspection: 09/27/2013 – – BY BADGE # 2283
Disposition: 09/27/2013 – A8 – ECB VIOLATION SERVED
Comments: INSTALLATION OF A/C PARTIALLY OBSTRUCTED EGRESS.PASSAGEWAY STEEL BEAMS ACROSS PASSAGEWAY APPROX. 1.5’ABOVESETBACKROOF
DOB Violation #: 092713CERDL01
ECB Violation #s: 35029661Y
Previous Violations: ECB: 35029661Y – DOB: 092713CERDL01

You may remember it was just a few weeks ago 7-Eleven was hit with their first Partial Stop Work Order by the DOB for installing the AC units a mere 14 inches from tenants windows. A source close to the construction say it’s in fact the property manager, Westminster Management, who may responsible for these violations.