Work stops, plans change for new building on 1st Avenue and 2nd Street

Work has come to a halt over the past six weeks at the northwest corner of First Avenue and Second Street, where the first few floors of a new residential building are visible above the plywood. 

Turns out there’s a good reason for the pause. According to Department of Buildings filings, the project has changed from a seven-story, 22-unit building to an eight-story structure with 24 units.

So expect to restart here in the weeks ahead ... and keep an eye out for an updated plywood rendering for the mixed-use building, officially 88 E. Second St.

The site previously housed three buildings — 33, 35 and 37 First Ave. — which were demolished in early 2024. 

Previously on EV Grieve: 

• 37 1st Ave., once home to some East Village music history, is now rubble 

• Goodbye for now to HaveAHeart Studio, the rehearsal space below New Double Dragon