Reader report: This tree could use some help on 4th Street

An EVG reader shared these photos from outside 203 E. Fourth St., a Kushner-owned Westminster Management property between Avenue A and Avenue B.

Here's more via the reader: "I passed by this poor tree ... There is a deep hole between the torn roots and paved sidewalk." 

The reader asks who to contact to add soil to the tree pit.

"The tree is very much alive and we should not lose another tree in this neighborhood."

How long will this booted Dodge Durango sit here on 11th Street?

An EVG reader shared this photo... of a new-model Dodge Durango — parked with a boot — on 11th Street between Avenue B and Avenue C.

The boot arrived toward the end of September. The next day, the reader and a friend saw a young couple very thoroughly washing the vehicle inside and out. 

We assumed maybe they were killing time while waiting to have the boot removed. Hours later we came by again and the vehicle had been stripped clean of license plates, registration information, VIN, etc. 

The vehicle has sat here without plates and with deflated tires all of October.

Heading into November, the reader wonders how much longer the SUV will sit here. Perhaps it needs to be towed into the Avenue A bus lane to garner some city attention?

Reader report: A single-car crash on Clinton takes down a light pole

There were reports of a single-car crash this morning (around 7) on Clinton Street between Stanton and Houston. 

EVG reader Miriam Abrahams came across the scene shortly after the driver of the Volvo — for unknown reasons — veered into the bike lane and crashed into a light pole, which sent it to the sidewalk...

There was an initial report on the Citizen app that a person was "trapped underneath a pole after an auto-collision." There weren't any follow-up alerts. 

It also appeared that the car slammed into a pile of trash bags before striking the pole.

A search of the car's license plate revealed a variety of recent traffic offenses...

As of 09:46:57 AM EDT on October 19, 2022:

Violations by year for #NY_KPT3966:

2 | 2021
9 | 2022

— How's My Driving NY (@HowsMyDrivingNY) October 19, 2022

As of 09:46:57 AM EDT on October 19, 2022:

Known fines for #NY_KPT3966:

$1,410.33 | Fined
$1.37 | Reduced
$1,408.96 | Paid
$0.00 | Outstanding

— How's My Driving NY (@HowsMyDrivingNY) October 19, 2022

Reader report: A chaotic scene as man drives car into Tompkins Square Park; no arrests

Reader-submitted photo

Updated 8/16: We posted a video of the car in the Park here. Updated with comment from the NYPD below.

--

An EVG reader described a chaotic and frightening few minutes this morning in Tompkins Square Park just before 11. 

The reader was sitting in a car on Seventh Street between Avenue A and Avenue B. Inside the Park, just past the recently barricaded chess tables, a sanitation truck from the Parks Department was stopped while workers were collecting trash. 

According to the reader, a man grabbed one of the shovels off the back of the truck "and started beating a woman who was sitting on the bench screaming 'don't tell me how to handle my woman.'"

Several men sitting nearby jumped to the woman's defense, chasing away the attacker. Moments later, the man entered the Park in a car — "a gray/silver sedan, maybe a Nissan" — at the entrance to Seventh Street and Avenue A, "going down different rows while everyone is diving out of the way." 

Another EVG reader told us this: "He drove into the Park right in front of me across from Niagara. He was moving fast." 

The first reader said the car made a few passes up and down the rows of benches and weaved around Temperance Fountain before exiting again on Seventh and A. The vehicle eventually stopped on Avenue A near St. Mark's Place. There's speculation that the car broke down.

It's not immediately clear if the man was arrested. The second EVG reader said police let the man walk away. There are no further details available at this time. 

Thankfully, despite a busy Park day with the Greenmarket set up along Avenue A, there weren't any reports of injuries. (We don't know the condition of the woman who was hit with the shovel. Witnesses said an ambulance was in the Park.)

"I have no idea how no one was hurt, but it seems like everyone was OK," the first reader said.

Updated 6 p.m.

Writer Jeremiah Moss has an account of the incident on Instagram. He wrote in part:

I was walking in Tompkins Square this morning when a man drove his car through the park, narrowly missing people, going after the men who'd just beat him up. People fled. Witnesses said the man got beat up because he was beating a woman with a shovel, so hard the shovel head broke off the handle. Other witnesses said he beat the woman with the shovel because she stole from him. The cops talked to the man, and when they didn't arrest him, witnesses were outraged. One man on a bike, who'd nearly been run over, went to the man with the car and got an apology from him — they shook hands and made up. "That's the code," said the man on the bike, meaning the code of the street. 

Updated 8/15, 12:06 a.m. 

From a reader... the car that witnesses said was used to drive through the Park was still parked on Avenue A last night...

According to @HowsMyDrivingNY, the Pennsylvania plate has a total of 10 parking and camera violation tickets — all issued in the Bronx in 2020 — that resulted in $1,264.03 in fines. 

2 | Bus Lane Violation 1 | Blocking Crosswalk

1 | School Zone Speed Camera Violation 

1 | Front Or Back Plate Missing 

1 | No Standing - Day/Time Limits 

1 | No Parking - Day/Time Limits 

1 | No Parking - Street Cleaning 

1 | No Standing - Bus Stop 

1 | Double Parking

Updated 8/16 8 p.m. 

EVG contributor Stacie Joy asked a source at the 9th Precinct for a comment on what happened in Tompkins Square Park on Sunday morning. 

"The event in the Park was a result of a dispute between the car owner, who was with his female friend, and another group of men who robbed the car owner. The car owner tried to get back his belongings from the robbers but he was jumped ... The robbers chased him with a shovel and in the process, he got into the car to run away from them. He proceeded to drive into the Park — not knowing it is a Park because he is not from the neighborhood," the source said. "So far the owner of the car and his girlfriend were the victim of a crime and the complaint is still being worked on by the detectives. So there is still an ongoing investigation." 

The current NYPD storyline is at odds with what multiple residents said they saw transpire. According to several witnesses, the driver of the car allegedly hit his girlfriend with a shovel before a group of men intervened. Witnesses said they also have seen the man in the Park on several occasions.

Reader report: USA Super Stores (U-S-A!) coming to the former Duane Reade on 3rd Avenue and 10th Street

You may have noticed the paper on the windows at the former Duane Reade by Walgreens on the SW corner of Third Avenue and 10th Street... and maybe the arrival of some boxes and what not inside ...

We've been curious what might be going in here... Record store? Zine shop? An EVG tipster shared the following: This will be the second EV location of USA Super Stores. 

An outpost seemingly came out of nowhere this past November on the NW corner of Houston and Avenue D — site of a former Duane Reade by Walgreens. (There's also a USA Super Stores on the UES — AT A FORMER DUANE READE! PATTERN DETECTED.) 

USA Super Stores have a little bit of everything, from groceries to housewares to clothing — all at discounted prices. ("Cozy Fuzzy Sleep Pants" — $5.99; a 4-pound bag of Domino Sugar — $2.99.) 

No word on an opening date. One day it will just be open! 

This Duane Reade by Walgreens on the corner of Third and 10th closed in early March 2020 ... several years after expanding and gobbling up several small storefronts, forcing Excel Art and Framing Store and East Village Cheese (which was never the same) to relocate.

Reader report: Falling tree branch strikes man sitting in Tompkins Square Park

Earlier this evening, a tree branch fell in Tompkins Square Park and struck a man sitting on a bench at the Ninth Street and Avenue B entrance. 

An EVG reader shared the top photo and this narrative around 6:45: "People are helping him. He can walk. The branch is hanging precariously. It is still attached to the tree. A guy called 911." 

The FDNY arrived to remove the rest of the branch from the tree... EVG correspondent Steven took these photos...

According to witnesses, paramedics were treating the man, believed to be in his 60s, at the scene. Hopefully, he is OK...

Read this if you parked along Avenue C right now

An EVG reader shared this following... 

We parked our car on Avenue C between Fourth and Fifth this weekend. We should not have had to move it until street cleaning on Friday. We are vigilant about checking for parking signs and warnings, hate tickets. We were good to go. 

Yesterday afternoon I even went to the car to grab something — everything still fine. Last night around 10 I went to walk the dog and saw massive road work being done all along Avenue C. They were towing cars out like it was a parade. I managed to run home and grab my keys to move my car JUST in time. 

Usually, when this happens, [the city] places signs up at least a day before to warn people. But for last night's work, this was not the case. Here's a pic [above!] of a paper sign closest to my car — it's still crisp and dry meaning it wasn’t put up until AFTER the rain late yesterday afternoon. 

How does the city get away with acting like this? I can’t imagine how many poor people came out to their cars this morning to find them missing. There were SO many cars to be towed because NO ONE had any idea because the city gave NO notice this would happen. Outrageous. 

And the work is set to happen again tonight.

But today the signs were all ripped down again. So people may have parked there today and will be towed tonight. Would be great to warn them.

Spiegel said to be returning to 1st Avenue

Multiple tipsters have shared the news that Spiegel will return to its former home at 26 First Ave. at Second Street. 

Several readers say they have seen owner Shmulik Avital at the space in recent days. (He apparently confirmed the news of the return to one reader.) 

There isn't any notice of a reopening on the Spiegel Instagram account, and no one responded to a message about the comeback.

The corner cafe that first opened in 2014 was serving takeout and delivery for part of last summer before going dark in early August. While there wasn't an official notice about a closure on any fronts, workers removed the signage on Sept. 9. The storefront has remained vacant since then.

Reader report: Someone stole USPS key keepers along Avenue B

An EVG reader who lives on Avenue B between Sixth Street and Seventh Street reports that someone stole the USPS key keeper that holds the building's lobby key on Saturday night. 

Per the reader:

As one walks up Avenue B, you can see several buildings had this happen. A kid's scooter was stolen from the lobby of our building, and clearly people are getting desperate to do this kind of break in as it takes some effort. We're going to file a police report but just thought your readers might chime in if they have similar experiences or should be made aware.

The locksmith had to come and change all the locks... and the USPS has to replace the lockbox.

It is annoying more than anything. I think people are just really desperate.

Reader reports: E. 10th St. Finest Deli will close next month

Multiple readers have shared the news that the E. 10th St. Finest Deli on the southeast corner of First Avenue will be closing next month.

Per our tipster: "The landlord wouldn't work out a rent deal with them."

While there isn't an exact closing date made public, there are 2-for-1 signs posted on a variety of items in the store to help thin the stock.

This will be the second corner deli on this stretch of First Avenue to close this fall. Best Price Deli & Grocery on the southeast corner of 12th Street closed in late October.

Reader report: A gas leak and bureaucracy

An EVG reader shared details about a gas leak reported on Thursday afternoon at 91 First Ave. between Fifth Street and Sixth Street. 

From Thursday:

Workers came, dug a hole, turned off the gas set up a half-assed looking barricade and left.

ConEd on the phone said this is an "emergency situation" and therefore there were no notifications, no instructions. no information for residents.
 
Also said a replacement valve was "on order" and the job was in progress.

Residents (several elderly) and businesses are currently without hot water or gas for cooking.

And a weekend update:

There was a "pressure change" detected on the main line feeding into the building from the street. A gas smell was reported by someone either on the street or a resident.

Several years ago (3-4?) there was an un-regulated repair on the water/sewer lines leading into 93 First Avenue that exposed more than 4 feet of gas line for 91 First Ave., which then had to be emergency-repaired by ConEd/the City.

They replaced an entire block of gas line up from Fourth Street to Sixth Street at that time but left the OVER-100 year-old connector valves that actually feed into these 114-year old buildings.

So...Thursday afternoon there was a leak on our valve reported (No. 91) and ConEd came, dug a hole and said, "We're just here to dig the hole and turn it off."

Apparently, once the gas is shut off, it is no longer considered an "emergency" and since the valve "needed to be ordered" AND it happened on a Thursday work will not commence until Monday at the soonest IF they get the part delivered on time.

That means everyone in this building, during a pandemic, is currently without heat and hot water for bathing or working stoves for cooking for what will be at least four-five days.

With no notice, no support and no information from any agency involved. Residents had to call up multiple city offices to find out what was even happening.

Reader report: Needles in the dugout at East River Park

From the EVG inbox... via a reader who was at East River Park today...

While my family and I were playing tag in the baseball field along the FDR, we came across a pile of about 12-14 syringes scattered in the dugout. We called 311 and they didn't give us much confidence that they would clean that up. I am horrified. We need to make people aware that this is happening in places where children play and that 311 isn't terribly concerned.

Reader report: Coyote Ugly looks to be taking the former Blind Pig space

As we first reported yesterday, Coyote Ugly permanently closed its home of 27 years at 153 First Ave. between Ninth Street and 10th Street.

Workers who were clearing out the space said that the saloon would be moving to 14th Street between Second Avenue and Third Avenue. 

EVG reader Brian Van confirmed that Coyote Ugly was on this month's Community Board 6 agenda for a new license at 233 E. 14th St. — the former Blind Pig.

The Blind Pig, the sports bar/pub (home to Arsenal supporters in the English Premier League), closed after service in June 2019. As previously reported, the owners of the 13-year-old Blind Pig were hit with an untenable 50-percent rent increase.

In announcing the closure, Coyote Ugly CEO and founder Lil Lovell said that they there would be a new NYC Coyote Ugly. She didn't disclose the location, only saying that it will be “a little bit nicer” and have “better bathrooms.” 

Looking for information on a hit-and-run from Saturday night

The following information comes via the EVG inbox.

A reader is seeking information about the driver-vehicle who struck his friend on Third Street at First Avenue this past Saturday night and kept going.

The hit-and-run victim, who lives on the Lower East Side, was skateboarding on Third Street around 9:30 p.m. She was crossing the intersection at First Avenue just as the light started to change. She had time to get though the intersection.

Meanwhile, according to the reader, a slate blue Hummer H2 with New York plates heading north on First Avenue — going at what seemed like a high rate of speed — "blindsided" the skateboarder and kept going.

"It is possible the Hummer technically had the light but basically was blowing through the intersection timing the light. The driver did not even stop after they hit her. Not sure if any witnesses might have gotten a license plate or, since it is a unique car/unique color, if someone knows the owner of the car."

And his friend?

"She is home now and honestly it's a miracle she is alive. She suffered a very serious leg injury that required a bunch of stuff that night and the next day and will again require surgery down the road."

He filed a police report at the scene, but is not hopeful after reading articles like this one about hit-and-run drivers getting off scot-free.

Info? Use this email.

The photo on this post is an example of the make and color of the Hummer.

Reader report: 'Vomit situation' on Avenue B (aka noted)

From the EVG inbox... location: West side of Avenue B between 10th Street and 11th Street...

"The smell came Friday. There was a large industrial black trash bag that was leaking vomit. It was terrible and stunk up the whole block all weekend."

Mmmm. And this morning?

"Now it appears the trash bag has disappeared and all that is left is an industrial amount of vomit."

The reader signed the email: ?????????

Reader mailbag: Is this a new dog run in Tompkins Square Park?

[Reader-submitted photo of the West Lawn]

From the EVG inbox...

I was playing with my toddler in the unlocked area in Tompkins Square Park — north of the chess tables and south of the St. Mark's Place entrance. I’ve noticed the New Amsterdam School playing there so I assumed it was a space where children are allowed. A couple of people came in and let their very large dogs off leash. One woman informed me that this area was now an official dog area, though there is no sign posted. She said that for over a year this is the only area (besides the official dog run) where you won’t get a ticket for letting your dog off-leash.

I was wondering if you knew if this area is an official dog area, or just an area that dog owners are claiming for themselves.

The reader asked to put this question out to readers. (One vote for B — dog owners are claiming it for themselves.)

This came up several times last year... when Park regulars complained about more and more people letting their (large) dogs run loose in sections of Tompkins Square Park — especially in that West Lawn the reader above described ...



One owner of a large dog said at the time last year that he didn't like to use the official dog run because it gets too crowded.

Park officials eventually padlocked the West Lawn... for awhile.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Makeshift dog run in Tompkins Square Park has been padlocked

Reader report: A dog-kicking incident on 10th Street

An EVG reader shared the following:

Yesterday (9/3) at around 4:40 p.m., a man approached my two friends and I as we stood on the sidewalk talking on 10th Street between 1st Avenue and 2nd Avenue ...

He asked us something along the lines of “what are you doing in my spot?” Completely unprovoked, he then kicked my friend's dog across the sidewalk — hard enough that the dog flew about five feet in the air and yelped loudly. He then walked off as though nothing had happened.

We called the cops immediately and they turned up pretty fast but no luck so far in tracking the guy down.

The reader snapped a photo of the man as he walked away. The reader said the dog-kicking suspect was a black male, 5-7 and in his late teens or early 20s with hazel-colored eyes. He did not seem "with it."

Per the reader: "Thought I’d try and make as many people in the neighborhood aware in case he tries to approach anyone else and do the same thing ..."

And the dog is doing OK.

Updated 7:15 p.m.

There are now flyers on 10th Street...


[Photo by Steven]

Report of a stolen car on Fifth and A

An EVG reader shared this video from last night ... when there was an unconfirmed report of a stolen car on Fifth Street at Avenue A just before 8:30.

Per the reader: "Some woman threw herself on top of the car ... and said her car was being stolen... everyone nearby jumped in and tried to get in the car to stop."

Here's the video...



The Citizen app notes that the police were called to the scene and reported "there was no carjacking."



Regardless of what transpired, the reader called this "a strange scenario."

Trader Joe's: No current plans for grocery at 432-438 E. 14th St.

The Trader Joe's opens today down in one of the Essex Crossing buildings on Clinton and Grand.

The company first made this announcement on Oct. 4, 2016.

News of this debut has prompted questions about the TJ's reported/alleged for the new development — EVE! — in the former Peter Stuyvesant Post Office at 432-438 E. 14th St. at Avenue A.

As the above photo shows, that space remains pretty much a shell. (The residential portion of the building is progressing, especially as seen from the 13th Street side. Leasing is expected this fall, per one report.)

In May 2017, The Real Deal, citing anonymous sources, reported that Trader Joe's "quietly signed a lease about two months ago with Mack Real Estate and Benenson Capital Partners ... for 8,531 square on the ground floor and 14,170 square feet on the lower level."

There hasn't been much else mentioned about this location (aside from some TJ clerk gossip that it wasn't happening). However, in a preview of EVE in August, City Realty noted: "To the delight of residents and neighbors, Trader Joe’s is the building’s retail tenant."

Aside from the ground-floor space looking pretty raw, the area outside this storefront will reportedly serve as one of the the main staging areas for repairs during the L-train shutdown. While the L-train service ends for 18 months starting this coming April, the prep work has been ongoing since the summer of 2017.

Anyway, now that I've buried the lead... I asked the Trader Joe's PR office if they are still opening an outpost at this address. Their response: "Unfortunately, we do not have any current plans for a store at that location."

Previously on EV Grieve:
Claim: A Trader Joe's won't be coming to new development at 14th and A after all

All about EVE, the Peter Stuyvesant Post Office-replacing rentals on 14th Street

Nightmare scenario for residents who learn that 14th Street and Avenue A will be the main staging area for the L-train reconstruction

Reader reports: An early-morning police search on 5th Street and 6th Street

[Reader-submitted photo]

Several EVG readers asked about the presence of the NYPD helicopter hovering over parts of the neighborhood with a searchlight around 4:30-4:45 a.m.

There isn't anything from officials sources at the moment. Based on reader emails and the (sometimes reliable) Citizen app, police were searching for a burglary suspect. The Citizen app puts the scene of the incident at 519 E. Fifth St. between Avenue A and Avenue B.

The Citizen app had these updates... including request for the K-9 unit...



One reader put the helicopter in the air over parts of Fifth Street and Sixth Street between Avenue A and Avenue B at between 20 to 30 minutes. The last report from Citizen listed the suspect as still at large. Will update this post if any more info becomes available.

Updated 11:45 a.m.

Thanks to the commenter who pointed out this tweet from this morning...

Great example last night of “If you see something, say something” when a building super alerted our #NYPD AntiCrime team of a suspicious person which lead to the arrest of a serial burglar in the #EastVillage. @NYPDnews pic.twitter.com/eyb7VLLq0M

— NYPD 9th Precinct (@NYPD9Pct) August 15, 2018