New York Shitty Day Ender: Much Ado About Edge

No, not that Edge, this one!

Anonymous writes:

Hi Miss Heather,

I enjoy reading your blog from time-to-time and especially appreciate the news on the developments around the neighborhood.

I’d like to share with you some information about a building on the Southside, in hopes that it can get out to others who deserve to know… So, here goes:

The building has a retail space in the bottom which is currently owned by the developer and being rented to a John Suarez, who is running it as a gym, called Cutting Edge.

Well, there are many problems here:

1) The space isn’t zoned to be a gym
2) He is occupying space in the basement and using it for classes and workout space when it is only supposed to be used as storage
3) There’s no proper emergency exit from the basement
4) He’s illegally (i.e., with no work permit) installing showers/bathrooms in the basement

The biggest problem of all is that John Suarez has been forbidden by the Attorney General to ever operate a gym. A few years back he had advertised the opening of a new gym in the neighborhood, called Core Health and Fitness. He never opened the gym, even after taking people’s money. He was ordered to pay back $172,000 in restitution, but I know for a fact (a neighbor was a victim of the scam) that people did not get their money back…

As you can see my anonymous friend has a lot to say. Let’s take a break for a moment and evaluate points 1-4.

1. The space isn’t zoned to be a gym

This is, in a manner of speaking, correct. You see, 117 South 3 Street has no Certificate of Occupancy on file. None. Zero. Zippo. Therefore, the fact this building is occupied at all— be it by tenants or businesses— is an issue. Then again (and this is where it get really interesting), this depends on which 117 South 3 Street you look up. You see, for some inexplicable reason this building has two Building Information Numbers (BINS): the latter has a Certificate of Occupancy on file. Not that it allows the basement to be used as a commercial space: it doesn’t.

Point numbers 2 & 3:

He is occupying space in the basement and using it for classes and workout space when it is only supposed to be used as storage… There’s no proper emergency exit from the basement…

Okay, I haven’t actually been in this building so I cannot verify this. Which brings me to to point number 4:

He’s illegally (i.e., with no work permit) installing showers/bathrooms in the basement.

Now this one I can prove! You see, the Department of Buildings paid 117 South 3 Street’s basement a visit last month.

In fact, it even netted him a Stop Work Order.

Not that this appears to have done much, mind you:

How this tale end? Will Mr. Suarez get caught— and if so, by who:

• the Department of Buildings?
• the office of the Attorney General?
• The Edge’s trademark infringement attorneys?

Or:

• have my tipster and my copyrighted material plagiarized by the New York Post? Flagrantly and without apology.

I suppose only time will tell. In the meantime, caveat emptor.

Miss Heather

P.S.: Those of you harboring any doubts as to whether or not John Suarez is behind this business (and is at large at 117 South 3 Street), Google the phone number on the below flier.

Here’s what you’ll find.