1-floor expansion planned for Avenue A building that housed the Sidewalk

The new owner of 96-98 Avenue A has filed plans with the city for a one-floor extension at the building that previously housed Sidewalk Bar and Restaurant.

Plans were filed with the Department of Buildings (H/T to the tipster!) back on Friday for the expansion, which will see the building at Sixth Street go from four to five floors.

Despite the expansion, the taller No. 96-98 would have 10 residential units instead of the current 11. The filing also shows that there are plans for a roof deck.

As we've been reporting, a new bar-restaurant is in the works for the ground floor. (Details are scarce.) The Sidewalk, with a long-standing open-mic night, closed in February after 32-plus years in business.

Workers have gutted the former Sidewalk. Here's a look inside the space the other day...


[Reader-submitted photo]

Penn South Capital closed the deal for 96-98 Avenue A for $9.6 million back in March. The listing for the property had stated that the floor area ratio allowed for one more floor to be added to the building.

Pini Milstein was the principal owner of the building as well as the operator of the Sidewalk. Parag Sawhney, founder of Penn South, told Patch in early April that Milstein decided to retire.

As for the new landlord's plans for the building (aside from the extra floor): "We have a new restaurant tenant that will keep the open mic tradition alive. We love the East Village and believe in preserving what make its so special."