Tuesday, October 26, 2021

Taking a look at the NW corner of 14th Street and 1st Avenue

For starters, ICYMI: Papaya Dog has closed here on the NW corner of First Avenue and 14th Street after 16 years of peddling hot dogs and sandwich combos ... as we first reported back on Thursday. (Thanks to KT and Pinch!)
This corner has been on a watch-list for years ... with the mostly single-level strip of commercial buildings seemingly waiting to be gobbled up for new development. Plus, the four-story 239 First Ave., where the shuttered Salt & Pepper sold Indian and Chinese cuisine from the storefront next to Papaya Dog, remains vacant. 

Anyway, there's nothing in public records to suggest anything is afoot here for the time being.

A lot of people also had feelings about Papaya Dog's departure, especially on Twitter. And there was a lot of conversation about the ongoing issues — fights, drug use, etc. — along this corridor.   

7 comments:

JAMES said...

I feel real real sorry for the Fruit/Veg stand in front of CVS. The amount of shit and danger this guy has to go through is astounding.

Anonymous said...

Moving three blocks south, it looks like Lhasa may have bitten the dust - they've been closed the past few weekends during what are supposed to be operating hours, with nothing on the door or their answering machine as to why.

Olly said...

James @ 8.31am. Completely agree. He is one of the best in the area.
Hopefully this junction has a better future ahead of it. I know people are against the gentrification of the east village but no-body can be proud of this 1st ave / 14th street intersection the way that it is. I do not know what the solution is but in this specific corner of my world, that I walk through at least four times a day, never feels like a positive experience.

Spencer said...

I know what you are saying, but this is a meeting area for people who otherwise have little chance at community. Hard to understand unless you've been there. I live right there and have no problem passing by. The city or con ed might consider running the lights at papaya

Scuba Diva said...

I'll be sorry to see that little 4-story building go; it's clearly constructed pre-1850 and probably has some stories to tell.

Anonymous said...

Just because they may have little chance in the community, does not mean it is okay to make life miserable for everyone who lives there…

Several accounts of fights and innocent bystanders getting assaulted and harassed just walking on that corner, for serval months now

Anonymous said...

C.WILKIN is written on the building. I've tried to find out the story behind him and the building but can't seem to locate any information other then the commercial spaces that share the 249 number was built in 1950. Does anyone know what's up this this joint and who C.Wilkin is?