Some Real Estate Developers Staged What Is Possibly the Most Offensive Party in NYC History

Last week, real estate developers The Chetrit Group and Somerset Partners celebrated their proposed rebranding of the historically rich South Bronx neighborhoods of Mott Haven and Port Morris with a party called "Macabre Street," Gothamist reports—and it may be one of the most egregious examples of gentrification the city has ever seen. On Thursday, the companies toasted the forthcoming construction of two forthcoming luxury towers on the waterfront with a decadent shindig at a former piano factory presented by artist Lucien Smith (who also curated the event), Somerset Partners head Keith Rubenstein, and art dealer Jeanne Greenberg-Rohatyn.

Celebrities such as Kendall Jenner, Adrien Brody, and Naomi Campbell were in attendance, partying amidst life-sized mock-ups of shot-up cars, projected shadows of chain-link fences, and burning trashcans. Notably, Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. was also there.

City Council Speaker Mark-Viverto rightfully had some criticism to share on Twitter about the party:

Trivializing legit community concerns not welcome. Neither are attempts to erase neighborhood's culture & history. https://t.co/k3BisgvPD6
— Melissa MarkViverito (@MMViverito) October 31, 2015

Plus, what's up with burnt out cars used as props at this event? Would like to hear thought process behind that.https://t.co/k3BisgvPD6
— Melissa MarkViverito (@MMViverito) October 31, 2015

Bronx Blogger Ed García Conde also wrote an incensed post on his blog Welcome 2 The Bronx about Macabre Suite on Saturday, here excerpted:

How could these individuals cosign such an event where there was no concern for the real world issues which the community faces outside the gates of the party on a daily basis? The struggles? The parents trying to provide food on the table for their families as they are working non-living wage jobs and are overburdened with rent?

Meanwhile, just across from the party lives a homeless man in a cardboard encampment and just a couple of blocks north you'll find Mitchel Houses, one of the largest public housing projects in the city where folks live in abject poverty and know all too well the realities of death, drug addiction, and many other issues which plagues our communities.

Locals have fought back against the proposed rebranding with the hashtag #WhatPianoDistrict.

Thanks to Gothamist for tipping us off.

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