Photos by Stacie Joy
Workers today started taking down the curbside dining structure at the now-closed Root & Bone on Third Street at Avenue B.
This removal might make some folks happy: Several readers/residents noted (in the comments and in emails) that this space was a "rat bonanza" or "rat haven."
We're told that some of the wood here is up for grabs...
Root & Bone closed on April 17 after eight years in service.
Thanks to the reader for the initial tip!
14 comments:
Isn't it suspicious that people blame these outdoor sheds for the "rat bonanza" when the place has been closed (& hasn't been serving food) for just a week? What are the rats eating, exactly?
Maybe the rats are happening because the city is screwing up in other ways.
Sorry that restaurant closed but thrilled that shed is history.
Who is responsible for removing thesr?
Time for more citibike docks!
If it’s the Root & Bone people who are paying for this, kudos. Compare with the August Laura jerks from earlier in the year.
@Brian Van, the rats live in the structures, under the floor boards and in the double walls that the city mandates. They get their food not from the shacks (how could they?) but rather from the trash. As there’s still lots of trash up and down the block, the rats would happily eat there and then return to sleep and have sex in their comfortable abodes.
Thanks for being responsible.
Sounds like the issue is more to do with not having modern & efficient containerized trash collection and less to do with having nice outdoor dining options. Either way, anything is better than more ugly cars hogging up the curb space
The shed in front of Frangos Peri Peri on Ave B and 11th and 12th was just dismantled as well. Rat nests within the walls of the structure (12 inch wide voids) was exposed consisting of leaves, paper, misc trash dragged in by the rats which served as bedding. Glad to see it gone finally!
I witness first hand what is under one of these structures on Ave B when it was getting restored. Wheel barrels of loose sand which anchor the shed also collect sew water and provide a nasty but cozy if you are a rate living space. As the floor panels were removed rats literally came flying out, running in every direction for cover, some under cars, others into holes other rats had made in tree wells, and a few even went into the restaurant which had its doors open. The workers then shoveled the putrid sand and rat shit onto the a pile in the road and sidewalk. The smell was horrific. Think of this the next time you eat in one of these sheds, there is all kinds of living things below you. feet from rats to disease.
The issue with these sheds is they were never meant to be permanent when originally proposed - just a stop-gap to help keep cash flowing. The rushed process meant zero attention to basic Health Dept. guidelines for restaurants. Of course, as the DOH stopped inspections during the lockdowns, these sheds were allowed to become homes for vermin. the vast majority of these sheds fail two major DOH rules: they are not sealed against vermin & they cannot be secured (as in locked & shuttered) outside of business hours. Add to this the usual third violation - evidence of vermin - and an inspection of most of these sheds would likely result in $$$ in fines or even getting the restaurant closed. It's going to be interesting to see how many remain when the DOH finally gets back to full on inspections.
Thank God. At least someone who closes pulls down this shit. That structure single handedly destroyed the community garden there, I talked to people who work in there, and all the rats nesting under that structure became a huge problem. Anyway, it looks like they didn't finish the job (maybe they were just taking the usable wood?) Hopefully they take down the rest of it.
lol anon 7:48 what a weird comment "anything is better than more ugly cars hogging up the curb space".
It's the side of the road and public shared space. Cars are used for things and they move. Be glad the shed is gone.
Get over it. People use and some actually need cars. The sheds make it difficult to sweep the street and it's gross.
Kudos for it being removed. Last night there were petrified rat mummy/corpses on the sidewalk that were unearthed during tear down-so yeah, it was BAD. Again so great they didn't go the August Laura route. Hopefully this will make it better for E. 3rd residents. It affected the gardens and nearby apartment buildings.
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