Monday, October 31, 2016
402 E. 12th St. is for sale
The 6-story walkup between First Avenue and Avenue A is now on the market.
Here's the description via Cushman & Wakefield:
The 7,740 square foot building benefits from 30’ of frontage and recently received a full gut renovation of all but one apartment. Of the 16 residential units, there is a mix of one-bedroom and two-bedroom units which consist of 15 Free Market and 1 is Rent Stabilized unit. In addition to the common areas being fully gut renovated, the Free Market apartments have experienced substantial renovations which include Carrara marble countertops, brand new stainless steel appliances including a dishwasher and microwave, luxury bathrooms with carefully curated mosaic tile work, Bosch washer & dryer units, recessed lighting, exposed brick, espresso cabinets, ebony hardwood floors, and crown/baseboard moldings. The building is currently generating an annual gross income of $690,000 with a net operating income of $477,000.
And the neighborhood?
Located in the heart of the East Village, 402 East 12th Street benefits from a wide array of the city’s best shopping, dining and nightlife options. The area continues to attract local and global visitors on a daily basis due to its dynamic culture and convenient access throughout Manhattan and Brooklyn via countless subway lines and buses.
Public records show that Icon Realty bought the building in 2013 for $4.65 million. The current asking price is $11.3 million. (Perhaps that Jerkface mural on the east-facing wall helped up the property value.)
The former spaces for Nino's and Hop Devil Grill have been combined
In recent weeks the former Nino's Pizza storefront on Avenue A and St. Mark's Place has been blanketed in graffiti... making it difficult to see what might be going on inside the vacant space. (Not to mention the brown paper.)
The other day a worker wiped away part of the tags, offering a view of the interior...
[From St. Mark's looking north]
[From A looking to the west]
The wall separating the former Hop Devil Grill at 129 St. Mark's Place has been removed, creating one big(ger) space...
There are work permits, dated Oct. 14, on file with the DOB for "interior demo."
No word if there's a tenant for the space or if the landlord is just giving it the vanilla box treatment to show potential tenants.
James Morrissey, who owns The Late Late on East Houston and now VNYL on Third Avenue, had been after the spaces to create The Honey Fitz. Those plans were put on hold, though Morrissey told DNAinfo back in February the he "remains interested in the location, assuming all outstanding lease issues have been resolved."
A for rent sign (which arrived back in April) is barely visible now at the Nino's space...
Nino's closed in October 2015. As previously reported, owner Nino Camaj accepted a low six-figure amount to walk away from his remaining 10-year lease and surrender the pizza shop that he opened in 1989. He had been in a dispute with the landlord over back rent and a closure due to a gas leak in the building.
Hop Devil Grill and its sister bar next door, The Belgian Room, were seized by the state in April 2015 for nonpayment of taxes.
A few more details on the East Houston condoplosion
The New York Times yesterday checked in with a piece on the luxury boom along the East Houston
East Houston was once dotted with gas stations, parking areas and weedy lots.
And now? Let's ask developer Ben Shaoul, who's putting in the Katz's-adajecent condos at 196 Orchard St.
“It’s evolving into more of a luxury neighborhood from a grungy neighborhood,” Mr. Shaoul said. “But it’s still a very cool, very hip spot.”
The article offers more details on the million-dollar condos coming to 287 E. Houston St. between Clinton and Suffolk.
[Rendering via Familiar Control]
For starters, the development is a joint project between "Hogg Holdings and Vinci Partners USA, a firm with a Brazilian parent company that is undertaking its first American project."
Likewise, the master baths will have marble slabs or tiles on every surface but the ceiling. Originally, [Vinci rep Jose Antonio] Grabowsky said, the stone was to be deployed much less extensively.
Other features of the apartments include floor-to-ceiling windows, in a building that will stand above most of the surrounding blocks, courtesy of a 2008 rezoning that allowed taller structures on major streets and avenues.
Previously on EV Grieve:
(More) Condos coming soon on East Houston
11 stories of condos to join the growing East Houston residential corridor
On East Houston, empty lot awaits million-dollar condos
An abandoned car in an empty lot that will soon yield a 13-floor residential building
Pourt signage arrives at Cooper Square dorm retail space
Back in August, we noted that one of the retail spaces in the base of the Marymount Manhattan College dormitory on Cooper Square was becoming a "shared office space and café concept" called BRUD (or Brud, depending on the source).
In June, CB3 OK'd a beer-wine license for BRUD. And the retail listing for the adjacent space mentions BRUD as a neighbor.
Anyway, we mention all this because new signage up at the space at Sixth Street shows a business called Pourt (or maybe pourt)...
Looks like a cafe — the U being a coffee cup and all. And Pourt/pourt is more cafe-sounding than BRUD/brud, which maybe rhymes with C.H.U.D., a pretty good bad movie to watch this time of year.
Anyway! The CB3 application fshowed daily hours of 7 a.m. to midnight for BRUD/brud
Soft opening weekend for Three Seat Espresso & Barber on Avenue A
[Photo by Steven]
As previously noted here, a new cafe, barber and bar concept is in the works for 137 Avenue A between St. Mark's Place and Ninth Street.
Over the weekend, several EVG readers noted that the space was open for business...
The cafe will be serving coffee and tea as well as a several menu items at breakfast (avocado toast, for example), lunch and dinner. You can find their menu here. They also have a beer-wine license.
The cafe hours are 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Wednesday; until 10 p.m. on Thursday and Friday. The hours Saturday and Sunday are 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. The barber hours are 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday; 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday; and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday. (The barber portion of the business is in the back of the storefront, and there is a wall separating this from the cafe.)
The previous tenant here, Top A Nails, moved next door to No. 139 in May.
Sunday, October 30, 2016
Sunday's Parting Shot
[Click to go big]
A view of the crowd this afternoon in Tompkins Square Park for Choking Victim via Goggla...
Week in Grieview
[Photo outside Gem Spa by Derek Berg]
New ownership makes it official at the former Red Square on East Houston (Tuesday)
Ribbon-cutting ceremony marks return of a community garden on Avenue C (Friday)
City says no to landmarking row of Seventh Street homes, clearing way for demolition of No. 264 (Friday)
New life for Bolt, the dog abandoned in Tompkins Square Park (Saturday)
Wayland team opening Drift Inn at former Evelyn Drinkery space on Avenue C (Monday)
Sigmund Pretzel Shop makes closing official on Avenue B (Tuesday)
Blink Fitness is now open on Avenue A (Tuesday)
Another broker for former Chase branch on Avenue A, where the asking rent is nearly $50k a month (Monday)
Virgola is no more on Seventh Street (Monday)
Fall greetings from Kita the Wonder Dog of East 10th Street (Tuesday)
Lamia's Fish Market headed to SLA for a beer-wine license for 45 Avenue B (Tuesday)
Three new name possibilities for Church of Most Holy Redeemer and Nativity on Third Street (Tuesday)
Squish Marshmallows signage arrives at 120 St. Mark's Place (Friday)
Out and About with Grant Stitt (Wednesday)
Something new to sit on at Astor Place (Wednesday)
Pit crew preps for 22-unit condo on First Avenue (Friday)
Tiny food for Astor Place (Thursday)
Celebrate Halloween with construction and water service interruptions! (Thursday)
Humongous fungus (Monday ... Tuesday)
Divya's Kitchen now open in the Bhakti Center on First Avenue (Wednesday)
Both storefronts at 111 E. Seventh St. are now for rent (Thursday)
The Dump Trump Collection (Monday)
SantaCon is Dec. 10 this year (Wednesday)
Turning over some new leaves for Cooper Square (Wednesday)
...and this is why we can't leave out nice discarded toilets...
[Photo on 10th Street by Steven]
[Updated] Roaming East Village streets somewhere
EVG regular William Klayer spotted this today on Astor Place... be warned!
Unless this is more new, bespoke seating.
Updated 12:35 p.m.
A clearer picture of what happened is beginning to emerge... EVG coffin contributor Derek Berg took this photo yesterday... (which is what might happen if you carry a coffin through the neighborhood ...)
Officials from the Department of Design and Construction are seeking the identity of the two men in the photo to seek their permission to turn the coffin into an attraction for an upcoming Astor Alive! event.
Saturday, October 29, 2016
At East Village Meat Market's 2nd Annual Pierogi Tasting Day
Photos and text by EVG contributor Stacie Joy
The 2nd annual Pierogi Tasting Day event took place today at East Village Meat Market at 139 Second Ave. between St. Mark's Place and Ninth Street.
The lines were long (stretching all the way down the block to St. Mark’s Place), and there had been more than 800 visitors when I arrived around 1 p.m. People patiently waited for free samples of pierogi and blintzes from Veselka, Rosa-Ly Pierogi, Streecha Ukrainian Kitchen, Ukrainian National Home in Jersey City, and a handful of other vendors.
Up for grabs were traditional pierogi flavors like potato, cheese, mushroom-barley, and buckwheat but also newer flavors like short rib, buffalo chicken, arugula-goat cheese, and taco.
[Store manager Andrew Ilnicki]
[Ilnicki family and friends]
Roman Ilnicki, the store’s social media director (and son of manager Andrew), said that he and his family were delighted at the massive turnout and happy to see so many friends, neighbors and visitors at the shop.
Sunday in Tompkins Square Park
Via the EVG inbox...
This is our last show of the season in Tompkins Square Park. Performers include:
• Transgendered Jesus
• Choking Victim
• Ache
• Clitorium
• (A) Truth
The fun begins at 2 p.m. sharp.
Following the bands (roughly 5:30 p.m.), cartoonist/artist Seth Tobocman will be projecting images from his graphic novel, "A War in the Neighborhood." Find more details here.
Checking in on Bolt, the dog abandoned Thursday morning in Tompkins Square Park
[Photo Thursday morning by Derek Berg]
On Thursday morning, someone abandoned the dog in the above photo in the Tompkins Square Park dog run...
Several residents called Social Tees on Fifth Street, and their director Samantha Brody was there within 10 minutes. Social Tees took the dog to the vet ... and had him groomed...
Social Tees provided an update on the dog, named Bolt...
Friday, October 28, 2016
Catching 'Fire'
Girls Against Boys are playing at St. Vitus in Brooklyn on Nov. 3.
I like their bio: "out of the ashes of dc punk rock dischord band soulside, moved up to new york, put out a ton of records since 1990, have 2 bass players, did a bunch of stuff with a bunch of people and we eat, drink, sleep and walk around."
This year marks the 20th anniversary of their Touch & Go release "House of GVSB."
From that record is "Super-fire."
Squish Marshmallows signage arrives at 120 St. Mark's Place
[Photo by Steven]
A worker today unveiled the signage at 120 St. Mark's Place, where Squish Marshmallows is opening in the long-empty storefront between Avenue A and First Avenue.
This is the first retail outlet for Katherine Sprung, the creator behind Squish Marshmallows. (They are available online and at Abigail's Bake Shop in Brooklyn.)
Per the Squish website:
The goal of Squish Marshmallows is to make a quality, delicious product, using natural ingredients in the marshmallow base, that makes people happy and changes the way they view the humble marshmallow. Whether you choose to enjoy the marshmallows by themselves, or use them to make the most decadent and whimsical s’mores, the idea is to simply eat them and be happy.
The previous tenant, Addiction Ink, left in 2014.
And as you may recall, 120 St. Mark's Place was once the artists collective known as The Cave. (Among other people, it was the home of the Mosaic Man.) Developer Ben Shaoul took over the property in 2006, where he earned his "sledgehammer" nickname from Curbed.
EV Grieve Etc.: Getting catty over a Yelp review; crowning Mr. LES
[Photo by Derek Berg]
71-year-old man robbed inside his apartment in the Wald Houses (Daily News)
Highlights of the Mr. LES Pageant — in Ridgewood (Slum Goddess)
A visit to the EV apartment of photographers Karla and James Murray (6sqft)
Yelper complains about the cat at S.K. Deli Market on Second Avenue; Internet responds (PIX11)
History of the Public Theater on Lafayette (Off the Grid)
Zagat names Kingsley on Avenue B as "top newcomer" (Zagat)
Bleecker Street Records closes for good (Jeremiah's Vanishing New York)
The birds of Lower Manhattan (Laura Goggin Photography)
A great lineup for "The Medium is the Massacre" series, including "Videodrome," "Demon Seed" and "Poltergeist." (Anthology Film Archives)
Momofuku Ssäm Bar reopens on Second Avenue (Eater)
"Shark Tank" alum sells East 13th Street home (The Post)
Metrograph presents "Trouble Every Day," a Halloween-themed slate of films named "in honor of Claire Denis's bloody film audit" (Official Site)
NYPD looking for suspect who threw a dog into a dumpster (The Lo-Down)
John Cale will perform the Velvet Underground & Nico live in NYC next year (Quietus)
How about a 30th anniversary celebration for Pussy Galore’s Exile on Main St.? (Dangerous Minds)
“The Ramones Way” street naming is Sunday (Gallery98)
...on Sunday, local restaurateur Ravi DeRossi is hosting a fundraiser for his nonprofit animal-rights organization BEAST (Benefits to End Animal Suffering Today) ... the event (it's a Dios de Los Muertos party) is at Mayahuel, 304 E. Sixth St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue. It's $25 from 4-6 p.m., and includes drinks, veggie tacos, etc. All the proceeds will go to helping put an end to animal cruelty. There's no cover from 6 p.m. to midnight. Details here.
[Updated] City says no to landmarking row of 7th Street homes, clearing way for demolition of No. 264
[EVG photo of No. 264 from last month]
In early September, a permit was filed with the DOB to demolish the 3-level house at 264 E. Seventh St between Avenue C and Avenue D.
Preservations rallied to try to have the string of pastel-colored residences here considered for landmarking. However, yesterday, the Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) rejected the request. As Patch first reported: "The city's official reasoning was that there was no precedent for them to designate historic districts when the buildings cover just one side of the street."
For his part, Andrew Berman, executive director of the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation, cited "at least eight examples of past historic designations by the LPC that covered just one side of the street, including a row of buildings on East 10th Street that's just a few blocks away."
In 2008, LPC said that the row of houses, from No 258 to 266, "appear to be an LPC-eligible historic district," as Patch pointed out.
Felicia Bond lived in the Garden Duplex when she illustrated the renowned children's book "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie" in the mid-1980s.
According to public records, Norris Chumley and Catherine Stine Chumley sold the property to Globalserv Property One, LLC, for $3.775 million.
In 2011, the home hit the market. Here was the broker pitch:
This incredible East Village three unit townhouse has great bones and endless possibilities! Currently set up as a parlor floor duplex with back yard and two floor through apartments, this classic townhouse is a great investment property or could be made into your own single family home!
[The backyard at No. 264]
Globalserv Property One, LLC has yet to make their intentions known for the-soon-to-be-demolished home.
Updated 10/29
Here's more about the homes via GVSHP:
Once part of what was known as “Political Row”, these five ca. 1842 houses, located between Avenues C and D, have rare and beautiful intact Greek Revival ornament, and are linked to the history of the early development of New York’s waterfront and to critical political figures of the 19th and early 20th century in New York.
Previously on EV Grieve:
Live in the house that inspired the art for 'If You Give a Mouse a Cookie'
Pit crew preps for 22-unit condo on 1st Avenue
Crews have started digging into the pit at 75 First Ave. between Fourth Street and Fifth Street...
Doing the preliminary work for the foundation of an 8-story condoplex — featuring 22 residences in total.
And please mind the cattle pen and porta-potty set up on the bike lane...
As previously noted, here's what the Colonnade Group has planned for the lot:
Designed by HTO-Architect, the building will rise 8 stories and will stand out with its contemporary and timeless glassy structure. Comprised of 22 residential units, ranging from 1 to 3 bedroom condominiums, 75 I˚ AVE is the ultimate destination for New York sophisticated buyers looking for all the comforts of a high-end residence in a young and dynamic environment.
All of the units will benefit from a number of amenities, including Fitness Center, Lounge and Library, Private and Common Roof Deck, Storage, Bike Storage & Doormanand a no-wait express line next door at Rite Aid.
Still haven't seen the full rendering — just this thumbnail of an image...
And Ryan Serhant's team is responsible for the condo sales... here's a photo of some suits and shovels during the official groundbreaking at No. 75 a few weeks ago...
Previously on EV Grieve:
Developer: A shorter building in the works now for 75 First Avenue
High-rise for 75 First Avenue back in play
Long-stalled First Avenue site now has a brand-new rendering
Report: Long-dormant 1st Avenue development site changes hands
Plywood report and the future of 75 1st Ave. (Spoiler: condos)
Ribbon-cutting ceremony marks return of a community garden on Avenue C
[Image via @RosieMendez]
As we've been noting in recent months, the empty lot between Eastville Gardens and 115 Avenue C (between Eighth Street and Seventh Street) has been renovated to create a new community garden.
On Wednesday afternoon, local elected officials, led by City Councilmember Rosie Mendez, held a ribbon-cutting ceremony marking the official opening of the Carmen Pabon Garden ... named for the longtime LES activist and community gardner. (She is in the above photo to the right of the sign.)
There's some contentious history here... Eastville Gardens, the apartment complex whose official address is 342 E. Eighth St., is on the site once occupied by El Jardin de la Esperanza. The 22-year-old garden was bulldozed in February 2000 to make way for the new development via Donald Capoccia of BFC Partners. (You can read more background here.)
According to the Lo-Down, who attended the ceremony:
Before the ribbon cutting, Capoccia made brief remarks, telling community activists gathered in the newly opened space, “It’s really the beginning of my rehabilitation” in the neighborhood. Capoccia said he’s now an, “embracer of community gardens.”
DNAinfo reports that local architect Paul Castrucci designed the garden, which features Magnolia and Pink Dogwood trees, cherry laurel and holly shrubs. It will reportedly be open year-round.
You can watch a video biography of Pabon here.
[Photo from last month by Dave on 7th]
Previously on EV Grieve:
Part of a community garden reappears 16 years after it was bulldozed
95 E. 3rd St., former home of the Edge, is for rent
The for rent signs are up now here between First Avenue and Second Avenue... can't recall seeing this broker around here before — Green Pond Real Estate (based in Clifton, N.J.) ...
We didn't spot any listing yet for the space, which is 1,300 square feet on the ground floor with another 650 square feet in the basement.
The neighborhood bar the Edge closed here in late September after 29 years in business.
Thursday, October 27, 2016
Someone abandoned this dog in Tompkins Square Park this morning
EVG contributor Derek Berg reports that someone "dumped" this dog in the small dog run this morning ... Derek's photos are from around 9:30.
Residents called Social Tees on Fifth Street, and someone was there within 10 minutes. Social Tees is taking the dog to the vet for chip information and a check up. Derek guesses that the dog is between 1 and 2 years old...
Updated
Here's more ...
Updated 10/29
Find an update on Bolt here.
Something Tiny for Astor Place the next few days
Crews were setting up for something this morning on the all-new Astor Place...
Here's more about what's happening today through Saturday... a Zagat-sponsored "Tiny Cafe" concept featuring Brooklyn's Pizza Loves Emily... and chocolate-chip cookies from "Master Pastry Chef" Jacques Torres, among other items ...
Per Zagat:
At this one-of-a-kind pop-up cafe, visitors can taste these mini creations, snap Instagram-worthy photos of a tiny food display featuring additional Zagat rated restaurants such as Magnolia Bakery and watch hands meticulously assemble tiny food.
And if you need any seating options. Here's one.
Updated 9:15 a.m.
An updated look via Vinny & O...
Celebrate Halloween with construction and water service interruptions!
[EVG reader photo]
Just a heads up if you haven't seen these flyers... advising "that on or about the week of Monday, October 31, 2016, the New York City Department of Design & Construction will begin replacement of water mains at various locations."
As you can see, the "actual work boundaries" include 10th Street between First Avenue and Avenue B, Avenue A between 11th Street and 12th Street and First Avenue between 10th Street and 12th Street.
And there will be some water service interruptions in some of these areas, the flyers warn. (The city is supposed to allow 72 hours notice of any water shut off)... no word on just how long this will take. Feel free to leave your guesses in the comments.