Tuesday, February 8, 2011

East Fifth bliss? Looking at the new apartments at 343 E. Fifth St.


Last March, I wrote about 343 E. Fifth St., the apartment building between First Avenue and Second Avenue that inspired the novel "East Fifth Bliss" (and coming soon to a theater near you...).

The gut renovations of the former railcar apartments are apparently done, and some of the dorm rooms units are on the market from our good friends at 9300 Realty/Croman Real Estate Inc. Let's take a look at what's available starting March 1.


To help attract the usual high-paying, quick-turnover renters in the market for three- and four-bedroom apartments, they'll even toss in a free month's rent.


There are all sorts of stories about the tenants — many of whom lived here for decades — being forced out here. A lot of it was hearsay, of course.

Last March, "East Fifth Bliss" author Douglas Light, who lived at 343 E. Fifth St. for several years, told me in an e-mail:

"My wife actually ran into an old tenant from there ... and he was telling her some wild stories about $250k buy-out offers (which he turned down, of course), arson by the building owner (to flush-out the remaining hold-outs), and the police cuffing and perp-walking the owner out of the building. As for the validity of the stories I can't say. This is the same guy who believed my wife was a spy that the owner planted in the building to keep tabs on everyone."

Anyway, speaking of the movie — starring Michael C. Hall, Lucy Liu, Peter Fonda and Slum Goddess — it's done. You can watch a trailer for it on Facebook. The dramatic comedy was filmed around the neighborhood, so there's plenty of locations to recognize...

Previously on EV Grieve:
About the building that inspired the novel "East Fifth Bliss"

Q-and-A with 'East Fifth Bliss' author Douglas Light

6 comments:

  1. Now that's a source. . .

    ReplyDelete
  2. Wow. I took a peek in a ground-floor unit, which I thought was a studio, but perhaps it runs to the back of the building. Anyway, it was really, rally small - a little closet and what looked like a sleeping loft, but perhaps this was just a bedroom. If so, there's no privacy from the street.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I noticed that myself, Goggla. Must be one of the 4 bedrooms. Maybe it will become a Hotel Toshi.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I believe the guy. how come you are so quick to believe the slumlord?

    ReplyDelete
  5. heh. If they don't edit me out, I think i'm an extra in a bar scene playing a bar fly! You will admire my skills at pretending to talk and putting money in the jukebox..Fun set to be on though..I learned Lucy Liu is an inch taller than me and that MC Hall is a hell of an actor and a nice guy..

    ReplyDelete
  6. Nice choice of apartment it is really good place where you can live without any problem.I will prefer you should take first floor it is for your kind of personality.

    ReplyDelete

Your remarks and lively debates are welcome, whether supportive or critical of the views herein. Your articulate, well-informed remarks that are relevant to an article are welcome.

However, commentary that is intended to "flame" or attack, that contains violence, racist comments and potential libel will not be published. Facts are helpful.

If you'd like to make personal attacks and libelous claims against people and businesses, then you may do so on your own social media accounts. Also, comments predicting when a new business will close ("I give it six weeks") will not be approved.