Voorhies Tower Is ‘The Beginning Of The End’

A big, brown, inflatable rat with a money bag shackled around its neck has set up shop outside of the AvalonBay construction site at 1501 Voorhies Ave.

The rat, which has signs that say “AvalonBay doesn’t pay fair salaries,” and “AvalonBay be fair,” pasted to its torso, was put up by the Local 79 Construction and General Building Laborers’ Union because AvalonBay isn’t using union contractors for the project, according to Anna Taveras, a union representative at the site.

“I find it ironic how people who are working on this building probably won’t be able to afford to live in it,” Taveras said pointing at the tower, which is already tall enough to see from all around Sheepshead Bay.

Construction jobs that are done without union workers tend to cut corners to save on costs, which puts the laborers at risk of injury and the future tenants of the building at risk of issues regarding their new luxury apartments, according to Taveras.

“Unions are more for safety; they give you respect,” said Lebit Rodriguez, a Local 79  carpenter who was working at a nearby site. “I just bought a second house because of the union. It’s a better life for me and my family — can’t go wrong with the union.”

The Voorhies tower also represents a new era of development in Sheepshead Bay. The people who have been living in the neighborhood for generations won’t be able to afford to live in the luxury condominiums and apartments that are being made in the area, according to Taveras.

“It’s the beginning of the end,” said Taveras, pointing at the tower’s skeleton. “It’s bringing in new people with a new attitude that come in and try to change the culture.”

The rat, and the union, will remain at the site for at least another week. Beyond that, Taveras is unsure of how long they will stay there. A sit-down or a phone call with AvalonBay would be great, Taveras said, but AvalonBay has virtually ignored their being there.

AvalonBay also did not respond to Sheepshead Bites’ request for comment.