205 Avenue A is now all snug behind scaffolding and construction netting ... and work continues on adding a two-floor extension to the existing four-floor building via developer Terrence Lowenberg and architect Ramy Issac, aka "the controversial penthouse king of the East Village."
With all the construction gear, it is difficult to tell what is happening from out front on Avenue A. However, there's a clearer view from behind No. 205, where EVG regular Greg Masters notes that the back building is already at seven stories (the street-level story is hidden in the photo below).
And there's a palette of cinder blocks in the backyard, which portends the addition of another story. Still, as it stands now, the building is seven stories — one more than the DOB permitted. Certainly not the first time a renovated building has suddenly become taller without the OK from the city...
Previously on EV Grieve:
205 Avenue A primed for 2 new floors
Time to call 311!
ReplyDeleteDuring more interesting times about 40-some years ago the building next door, 203 Avenue A was the 'Secret Location' where 'Fuck You: A Magazine for the Arts' was published by Ed Sanders of The Fugs.
ReplyDeleteLooks like those days are gone..
DOB needs to be DOBusted for corruption. This "looking the other way" has gone on for too long. Oh, and its a crime.
ReplyDeleteWhere's the dang DA?!
I don't know the specfics of the bulding but you are allowed to build on 7 th floor provided it is only 1/3 of total area of the roof
ReplyDeleteI dunno, EV. That backyard looks street-level to me, there are patches of grass on the ground next door. Meaning that it stands at 6 stories. And the front view makes things really confusing if it was taken at the same time as the rear photos. It stands no higher in the current scaffold picture than it did pre-renovation: http://evgrieve.com/2013/01/205-avenue-primed-for-2-new-floors.html
ReplyDeleteThanks to Greg Masters and EV on this. I live two buildings away and have been watching this out my living room window as they began adding the additional floor yesterday. I thought I was going to see them preparing to top it off, but I agree it looks like another floor is being added on the rear two thirds of the building. It's strange that they seem not to have begun addition on the front third. I'm sending this thread to Rosie's office and calling 311.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Ken- from the back it does appear to be six not seven floors. I think that stack of cinder blocks is street level. In any case- it's six floors. The work today could still be building up to prep the roof for topping off, but will still be good to see what DOB has to say.
ReplyDeleteThere is another level obscured by the palette of cinder blocks, perhaps below street level, but it's there, the result of digging out the back yard to accommodate another level.
ReplyDeletePleased to receive comments and concern from the neighbors, thanks all.
205 avenue a was the location of one of the first episodes of Queer Eye for a Straight Guy. He lived on the ground floor in the back and had private access to the backyard.
ReplyDeletethese guys are slim shady
ReplyDeleteSeems to be 6 floors. In addition to the grass someone mentioned the fence seems to be one floor tall. I doubt there are two floor tall fences.. I think they excavated the basement to maybe shore up the foundation to accomadate the additional weight and so those cinder blocks are a floor tall from the basement level thus matching street level.
ReplyDeletethanks, Jill!
ReplyDeletePerhaps they will put a a six-bedroom duplex on the first floor going down into the basement, as they did in my building. "Dorm like conditions" is what they like to create in their buildings. It creates a higher turn-over for them and they get to keep raising the rents.
ReplyDelete