February 09, 2008
Beware fake no-photography rules in New York City
NewYorkology is a travel website about New York City, so it's of great interest when tourists, residents, or even Red Sox fans are harassed for taking pictures here.
NewYorkology was hasseled again today - this time by an Upper East Side doorman who mistakenly thought it was OK to demand identification from a person standing on public property taking pictures near his building.
Anecdotally, this type of harassment seems to be on the rise again, and not just in a post-September 11 type of way. We've also been harassed (while on public streets) by private security guards outside the AIG skyscraper in Lower Manhattan and near the site of a nearly demolished sugar factory next to the new Ikea store in Brooklyn.
In response to this type of behavior, the Atlantic Yards Camera Club has set a "photographers' rights free expression mobilization" for this Sunday at 3 p.m. at the Atlantic Yards in Brooklyn, a spot where other photographers said they have been harassed while taking pictures from public property.
For more backgrouond on what you are allowed to photograph, see the photographer's rights page.
As for NewYorkology's run-in today, it was outside the Carhart Mansion at 3 E. 95th St., map., (which conveniently has a picture of the structure on Google's street view.)
 Although the doorman would like to prohibit the public from taking pictures of the facade of the building, he's maybe unaware the Internet makes images of his private property readily availble. Here's one that ran in the New York Times real estate section; another in Wired New York; interior and exterior views were posted by Corcoran Real Estate.
For particularly nice views, see the four images of the Carhart Mansion on the website of John Simpson & Partners, who worked on the mansion's renovation in spare time not occupied with other projects such as Buckingham Palace. Most impressive may be the roof of the penthoue with a "full Doric portico with an arch that breaks into the pediment between the two central columns."
For historic views, check out the Carhart Mansion in a 1914 issue of the New York Times (in pdf format.)
In 2006, the New York Times noted that a triplex in the building was sold to American Express CEO Kenneth Chenault for $21.5 million. Last week, the Observer reported that Seagram liquor heir Edgar Bronfman Jr. will be moving into an $18.75 million condo at the the mansion as well.
To see more details about the landmarked building, head to the NYC Dept. of Buildings website, where you can read up on the violations and complaints about the building.
It's also listed on wedding.net, presumably as a rentable venue. (Just tell the bride not to invite the doorman, because apparently he's the only one who thinks the building's camera shy.)
An finally, here's a loose recap of our conversation with the doorman at the Carhart Mansion.
"You can't take pictures. This is private property."
"Yeah, but I'm on public property."
"It doesn't matter."
"Yes it does. You can call the police and ask them."
"Do you have i.d.?"
"Yes, do you?"
At that point, the doorman shut the door and diappeared inside, presumably to study the law and/or "Miss Manners."
Earlier: New NYC picture-taking rules discard permit plan
NYC withdraws aggressive plan to limit picture-taking
MTA cops to stop enforcing fake subway camera ban
Filmmaker sues over post-9/11 filming restrictions
NYPD: no need for subway camera ban
February 9, 2008 05:59 PM in Architecture, Out of Manhattan, Sightsology, Upper East Side
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