Monday, August 30, 2021

This East Village business strip has been cleared out ahead of rumored new development

As EVG contributor Stacie Joy has been reporting (here and here), the businesses in the old section of 250 E. Houston St. have either closed or moved ahead of a rumored new development here between Avenue A and Avenue B. 

Here's a recap of the moves to date: 
  • Kapri Cleaners — the last day is tomorrow; moving to a new storefront in the renovated section of 250 E. Houston St. 
  • China Town — closed, possible move to Avenue C in the works. 
  • Subway (sandwich shop) — closed. No relocation notice. 
  • FedEx Office Print & Ship Center — moved to a new storefront in the renovated section of 250 E. Houston St. 
  • Dunkin'/Baskin-Robbins combo — closed. No relocation notice.
  • Mattress Mart — closed. 
So that is all the businesses in the portion of the strip to the east (where the new paint stops!)...
Multiple sources along this corridor have said a new residential building is in the works for this space. Four sources have told Stacie that the one-level row of storefronts is facing demolition. Nothing about a new building or demolition has shown up in DOB records.

And we'll find out in the weeks/months ahead if, perhaps (and purely speculative now), the long-empty 6 Avenue B at the NW corner might be part of a new development... [Updated: Likely NO]
The 13-floor residential building at 250 E. Houston St., the former Red Square, changed ownership in the fall of 2016 ... and underwent extensive renovations

Previously on EV Grieve:

13 comments:

  1. Fingers crossed 6 Avenue B is part of this project. What a waste of perfectly usable space and an ugly corner.

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  2. While the scaffolding is annoying, I disagree with it being ugly. The beauty and look of the old buildings is the character of our neighborhood and city.

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  3. The homeless guy with all his luggage who camps out under that scaffolding regularly will not like losing his living space.

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  4. Old buildings that are well maintained are great, but this building is a blight and not maintained. The scaffolding is there because bricks have fallen off it on multiple occasions. It is also vacant and has been for decades, which is offensive.

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  5. I remember way back when there was a Blockbuster on that strip

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  6. It was nice to see above the buildings.
    The people that live behind the soon-to-be chopped down buildings
    will have their views ruined.

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  7. Let's get some actual affordable housing in here!

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  8. Only partly related: I've always wonder why the old 6 Ave B buiding has no windows on the south facing facade? Typically that only happens when the adjacent lot has air rights, but given that Houston is right there, there's no way a building would go up there. In that sense, wouldn't be surprised if that building ends up part of this. Some new valuable southern exposure to be had there!

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  9. 6 Ave B, by the look of those windows, is a classic Old Law tenement that probably faced right into another Old Law tenement next to it. My guess is that when Houston was widened, one of those buildings was demolished, and so you have the current 'lot line' look of 6. You'd think an enterprising (read: profit-seeking) landlord would cut a few holes in those walls, since the view would probably be incredible, but maybe they're just waiting to demolish the whole thing.

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    Replies
    1. I never thought of this but it makes so much sense now that you say it. What an insightful observation!

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  10. Interestingly from what I find online it looks like 250 E Houston has no air rights available. I'm not that educated on how this works but how high could they build up on that lot if none available?

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  11. Not that high! They will not block my air or view of sunlight.

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