This was news 2 days ago (at least here in NYC) - I was amazed to see no one had picked up on it yet.
From: News and Views | City Beat | Thursday, March 07, 2002
Seinfeld's $1.4M Garage Irks Neighbors
By JOSE MARTINEZ Daily News Staff Writer
After years of being driven crazy by Kramer, it's Jerry Seinfeld's turn to be the wacky neighbor.
The former TV funnyman has earned the ire of some upper West Siders with noise and dust being kicked up by his construction of a $1.4 million garage — all to house his collection of Porsches.
"It's frivolous, it's annoying," griped Eddie Ortiz of ALP Signs, next door to the plywood-covered construction site on W. 83rd St. "It's something the characters on his show would have screamed bloody murder over."
Master of His Domain: Jerry Seinfeld has found a home for his many Porsches at W. 83rd St. The work has gone on for more than two years, but with construction crews now digging into the basement, walls — and nerves — are being rattled.
"It feels like a No. 1 train is continually rumbling through here," said Gene Harrison, who runs Manhattan Treehouse, an activity center for kids.
To make nice with the neighbors, and two shops uprooted by the construction, Seinfeld is offering perks that include cash and cases of wine. He also has set up tests to make sure the work doesn't cause structural damage to any buildings on the block.
The 16-by-52-foot brick building, formerly a plumbing shop, is being converted into an air-conditioned, three-story garage — complete with terrazzo floors, an elevator, kitchenette and an office.
The building is a few blocks from Seinfeld's Central Park West pad and across the street from a couple of garages where New Yorkers pay a few hundred bucks a month to house their cars.
Big-Bucks Cars
But not Seinfeld, whose 1957 Porsche Carrera GT Racer fetched $92,800 at auction last year — and who has been known to swear at the sight of nicks and scratches picked up by his cars in public parking areas.
"If you had 20 Porsches, wouldn't you want to park them in your own garage?" said Ralph Ramos, manager of a New York Rent-A-Car. "Why trust anybody else to park it?"
A Seinfeld spokesman yesterday declined to comment on the comic's luxury carport. But at least one neighbor said he doesn't mind Seinfeld becoming the master of a new domain.
"The garage might actually be good for the block," said Adolfo Bilchez, who lives next door. "He wouldn't be parking his car here if it wasn't a good street."