14th & C development watch: The beast of 'The East'

Here's our first look in several months at 644 14th St., the imposing ("The Beast," according to an EVG reader) 24-story residential building on the southwest corner of Avenue C. 

Workers are nearly finished with placing the façade of terracotta panels and staggered floor-to-ceiling windows. 

The building that now dominates the eastern skyline also has a new name: The East (formerly 14+C).

According to the building's website, the units are scheduled to be available this fall. You can sign up for more info here. 

The branding goes like this: 

Relaxed, Refined Living from an Eastside Perspective

Reside where quiet meets cool in Manhattan's East Village. Panoramic river and skyline views converge with well-composed interiors for a refreshed take on city life.

The 234-foot-tall building, developed by Madison Realty Capital, will feature 197 residential units, a fitness room, a yoga studio, and a rooftop deck. Information about the number of "affordable" units here, one of the stipulations for being allowed to build a more extensive (by nine floors) building, has not been made public. There will also be ground-floor retail.

There have also been no updates on the status of the residents of the neighboring 5-story building at 642 E. 14th St., many of whom were in rent-stabilized units. The building was abruptly vacated in November 2023 after foundation work next door reportedly caused it to become unstable. 

The full demolition order from 642's landlord remains on hold, as per DOB records, from last summer.