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Boxes That Held Mail Of Arthur Miller and Bob Dylan Not Good Enough For Arnold Tamasar and David Elder

Yesterday 

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We hope we're not getting an "upgrade," since these people running this place now have little or no taste.  Let's all pray to the landmarking god for the swift return of our historic mailboxes.  They may not look like much, but the mailboxes together with the surrounding woodwork at the desk were one of the most picturesque and widely photographed features of the lobby. Who knows what further "improvements" tomorrow may bring.   Bring back the mailboxes and bring back the Bards while you're at it.   Arthur Nash has more photos on myspace.
Update:  We were hoping that management was just going to repaint or refurbish the boxes in some way, but word is they have been destroyed, apparently out of spite. Plenty of people around the hotel, us included would have liked to have had them.  Tamsar and Elder no doubt knew this and so we hope this wanton act of vandalism makes Tamasar and Elder happy.

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32 responses to “Boxes That Held Mail Of Arthur Miller and Bob Dylan Not Good Enough For Arnold Tamasar and David Elder”

  1. Susan Avatar
    Susan

    Oh no. I am sitting at work in Minneapolis and trying not to cry.

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  2. save piri thomas Avatar
    save piri thomas

    the carnage took place right there behind the desk. complete overkill. electric saws and hammers. you’d think the mailboxes asked david elder where he stashed his stepdad’s million dollars

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  3. Randy Avatar
    Randy

    Would this not violate the stop work order?

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  4. Laughing Last Avatar
    Laughing Last

    This is a case of idle hands and the devil’s workshop. These clods have nothing to contribute to a Hotel they don’t begin to understand, so to appear busy for Mistress Krauss they mindlessly chip away at the novel little traditions that make the Chelsea so special. They intend to altogether erase the magic the Bards created, and I intend to laugh my ass off when they’re all rotting on an unemployment line somewhere.

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  5. David Elder is a Nothing Avatar
    David Elder is a Nothing

    Oh my God. Those boxes were there for decades. They were classic. Why destroy them? David Elder is in idiot as well as a punk and stealer of his stepfather’s money, not to mention stealer fo the Chelsea hotel. The sooner the little nothing is gone, the better.

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  6. Chelsea Tenant Avatar
    Chelsea Tenant

    I saw they had the painters slap some whitewash up today to make it appear is if they weren’t doing any demolition work. But the DOB is catching on.
    This is one of the most egregious offenses that Elder and Krauss have committed against the Hotel. They’ll be paid back in spades. They care nothing about the Hotel’s history, only that its not in the hands of the Bard Family.
    Their new carpet welcome mat out front is equally atrocious. I hope it catches every bit of dust and debris that Twenty Third has to offer. Two Chelsea Hotel trademarks destroyed in two days. Nice going!!!

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  7. Carrie Bedsore /Cherry Ramone / Rob from Aus Avatar
    Carrie Bedsore /Cherry Ramone / Rob from Aus

    Why? Because they’re philistine douchebags, I guess.

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  8. easy target Avatar
    easy target

    Can Landmarks not go after them for destroying a piece of history?
    They want to remove all traces of it being a home and receiving one’s mail there is a evidence that the Chelsea is not just a hotel, but a residential building.
    I am really appalled by this news.

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  9. Save the Chelsea Avatar
    Save the Chelsea

    I’ve never witnessed such idiocy. They are making a mess of the Chelsea.
    These scum have got to go before they do more damage.

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  10. Save the Chelsea Avatar
    Save the Chelsea

    P.S. the photos on Myspace are absolutely sickening. You can feel David Elder’s indifference to whats hes done. I hope Chelsea Now will write a story but I asked around and its still “banned”.

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  11. Brian Avatar
    Brian

    You’re right on the money, Ed. This is an act of VANDALISM
    If you’re a resident and aren’t offended by this, I’d venture the opinion you ought not live in the Chelsea.

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  12. Miss H Avatar
    Miss H

    This is sad. Those mailboxes were a piece of Old New York, authentic and full of history. This is just more proof that David Elder is a complete idiot.

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  13. Lobby Lizard Avatar
    Lobby Lizard

    The desk area looks f’n pathetic.
    I heard they want to open up the stairwell like it was long ago. If so, these numbskulls must not have heard the reason why the stair was blocked to begin with, things like falling property, falling housepets, even falling people.
    Won’t any of those be a nice addition to the lobby.

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  14. Hands Off The Chelsea!!! Avatar
    Hands Off The Chelsea!!!

    Those mailboxes had amazing character!@!! They’re taking a dump on everything we love and laughing all the way!!!

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  15. Wrecking Crew Avatar
    Wrecking Crew

    Even if the mail boxes were not officially Landmarked, they were Landmarked in the hearts and in the minds and all those past and present who love the Hotel Chelsea and I hope whateve bad actor had the idea to do this will be held accountable for depriving both current and future guests of a truly meaningful tradition.

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  16. BLAME IT ON THE BLOG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Avatar
    BLAME IT ON THE BLOG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    I’ve got it! David Elder is using the Chelsea Savoy as a model for remaking the Hotel Chelsea! Note the same entrance rug at the Savoy. From that dirt-catching sisal rug that will grow mushrooms around the borders after it rains, to gleefully tearing out the mailboxes, the gold elevator doors, useless security goons, and destroying the roof to make a bar, this guy is uselessly spending down any profits that the Chelsea might make.

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  17. BLAME IT ON THE BLOG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Avatar
    BLAME IT ON THE BLOG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    You’re correct Lobby Lizard. Additionally, how about fire code violations. If anyone sees them open up the ceiling to the stairwell, you don’t even need to call 311, call the 10th precinct immediately. They are directed to do so by the DOB.

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  18. David Elder is a Phony Avatar
    David Elder is a Phony

    Elder is destroying the hotel for the sake of his (unjustified) big ego. We must make plenty of fun of this weaselly little layabout, any way we can.

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  19. Beth Avatar
    Beth

    When you see the mailboxes behind the desk, you think, this is the way it was so many years ago, and how it will always be. It made you feel good. And now it’s gone, and for no reason. And what about the destruction of the doors? When I saw the pictures of the doors out on the curb I was stunned. I feel as though I should hurry back to the Chelsea while I can still recognize it. My heart breaks for those of you who live in the Chelsea, and for those of us who wish we did.

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  20. No Respect Avatar
    No Respect

    The mailboxes said “Community” to a million guests who passed through the Hotel lobby.
    The big blank space left behind by Elder just says “Bring Back the Bards”
    The boxes were irreplaceable. Just like the Bards.

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  21. Where's Piri's Money? Avatar
    Where’s Piri’s Money?

    QUACK! QUACK!
    I’M THE DECIDER
    IN THIS HERE OLD SHACK!

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  22. Rocket Science Avatar
    Rocket Science

    OH! I see EXACTLY what Elder and his little doggie did, and why they did it!
    They counted up how many long term residents are left, and thats how many mailboxes they kept hidden behind the wall where the reservation computer is.
    Since they’re convinced no long-term tenants are ever going to live in the Hotel again, they didn’t figure they needed all those other boxes!
    Plus, it prevents “short term guests” from receiving mail in an actual box designated to them. If they don’t receive mail, they have a harder time claiming residency.

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  23. Worth repeating Avatar
    Worth repeating

    Dsvid Elder and Marlene Krauss are both talentless egomaniacs with a small stake in the hotel and with malignantly ginormous egos. The sooner they leave, the better for them.

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  24. Miss H Avatar
    Miss H

    This is typical of David Elder, Marlene Krauss and their minions. They have been steadily destroying everything authentic, eccentric, humane and interesting about the hotel since the day they took over. When they are finished, there will be nothing real or fantastic left of the hotel. It will be banal and fake. Nice job, David Elder. You must be so proud of yourself.

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  25. Here To Stay Avatar
    Here To Stay

    I agree with the Rocket Scientist. While the dilletantes in management try to score points with a few gullible tenants (tenants they now realize they can’t get rid of anyway), their actions speak volumes: they want us all out of here, so theres no real need for a couple hundred transient room boxes.

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  26. Rochelle Avatar
    Rochelle

    Trashing the Chelsea’s mailboxes is just one more way Marlene Krauss and David Elder have found to disrespect the Bard Family and what they built here. They are out to erase everything the Bards brought to the Chelsea – such as long-term guests – and not just the old long term guests – NEW long term guests. The photograph of David Elder grinning as he walks past the whacked-up version of those guests’ mailboxes is enough to make me vomit.

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  27. Miss H Avatar
    Miss H

    Rochelle, is there any phoo of David Elder in which he doesn’t look totally creepy?

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  28. The Elder Plan Avatar
    The Elder Plan

    “Not Good Enough” for Elder and Tamasar, eh?
    Probably should have seen it coming. One of these lottery winners is qualified to beautify toilets and the other might be qualified to drive a car.
    And thats it.
    And it shows.
    And they know it.
    Somebody will write a book about these fly by night charlatans and the Millions they’re costing the hotel.

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  29. Never Weres Avatar
    Never Weres

    I hope these scum never hear the end of this outrage!
    Who the hell are these David Elder and Arnold Tamasar anyway but BIG NOBODIES who have accomplished nothing in their lives.

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  30. Fab or Pre Fab? Avatar
    Fab or Pre Fab?

    This is sure no upgrade — its downright degrading!
    What happened to the Chelsea? Did Bush and Cheney vacate the White House and move into the Bard’s house?
    The Hotel’s new “administration” is essentially that ticket’s equivalent and its no real surprise that minority shareholders caught a prevailing wind and staged their coup while those warmongering bozos were still in charge.
    But its a new day, its a new economy, a new real estate market, even a new set of imbeciles in the back office, but still the same old greed-fueled, disingenous shite. It’d be time to run out the riff raff if the riff raff wasn’t doing a good job of it themselves.

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  31. XXX Avatar
    XXX

    Its been three weeks or so since the maiboxes were torn down and what stroke of genius did Elder and Tamasar implement as a subtitute for a half century of Hotel legend and lore?
    They hung a painting!
    WOW!
    Mindblowing!
    You deserve a big pat on the back, fellas!!
    I agree with the commenter who said David Elder wished away the mailboxes like he and Marlene have been wishing away long term tenants. And butchering the mailboxes is how he feeds his denial over the fact that– whether it happens tomorrow afternoon or four years from now– the Bard family WILL come home and will once again allow long term guests. And he will slink back to obscurity where he belongs.
    Whether the unholy three lose now or lose later is of no consequence; the important thing is they WILL eventually lose. They know it also, and thats why they take it out on the Hotel, poisoning its traditions while they’re still able.

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  32. Neal and Bob Avatar
    Neal and Bob

    Elder who and Tama-what? Bring back the Bards already

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