It's close to midnight somewhere: A 'Thriller' rehearsal in Tompkins Square Park

Photos by Stacie Joy 

The 53rd annual Village Halloween Parade takes place this Saturday. 

Ahead of the festivities, we spotted a group of dancers in Tompkins Square Park on Sunday rehearsing the choreography from Michael Jackson's "Thriller" to prepare for the parade...

They had the moves down, though the version of "Thriller" playing during their rehearsal wasn't actually Michael Jackson's recording...

Halloween parade Thriller practice at Tompkins Square Park to non-Michael Jackson music https://t.co/2I79uOiC70

— Stacie Joy (@Joy_of_photos) October 26, 2026

Different version, same killer moves...

Village View parking lot sale moves forward as shareholders raise financial questions

EVG file photos by Stacie Joy

The proposed sale of a parking lot at Village View is moving into another phase, even as some shareholders continue to question the co-op's finances and the process surrounding a potential deal. 

At an Oct. 20 Zoom meeting of the Village View board of directors, board president Christine Hadlow announced that the board had accepted bids from two developers, according to a report from the resident-run VillageViewCommunity.com. 

The developers are now expected to begin due diligence, which typically involves inspecting the property and reviewing financial and other information before a possible transaction. 

The property in question is Parking Lot 7, on Second Street between Avenue A and First Avenue, part of the 1,236-unit Mitchell-Lama cooperative.

As EVG reported in June, the board voted in January to hire Alan Cohen of ABS Partners to market the lot to prospective residential developers. 

The possibility of a sale has generated differing opinions among shareholders. Some see an opportunity to generate revenue for the aging cooperative and help pay for future capital improvements. Others have questioned the decision-making process, the potential loss of parking and whether any new development would include affordable housing. 

More recently, some residents have sought additional financial records to better understand a reported $15.7 million decline in Village View's reserve fund. The resident-run website says a Manhattan Supreme Court proceeding seeking access to the co-op's books and records remains unresolved. The decline has become a point of contention among shareholders, although the information provided does not establish what accounted for the change in reserves. 

The latest developments come ahead of Village View's board election, scheduled for Nov. 11, when five seats are to be filled. A candidates' night was scheduled for last night (Monday), allowing residents to hear from those seeking seats on the board. 

Meanwhile, management distributed a notice on Oct. 23 titled "Protect Your Shareholder Voting Rights," encouraging residents to report any intimidation or threatening behavior related to the election. 

The notice has prompted questions from some residents about why it was distributed. No specific incidents or election irregularities were identified in the information provided to EVG.

For now, the potential sale remains under consideration, with questions about the property's future, the co-op's financial needs and shareholder participation still to be resolved.

A very East Village Saturday, in photos

Photos by Stacie Joy 

There was no shortage of things to do around the neighborhood on Saturday, with fall festivals, an indie bookstore crawl and a milestone birthday celebration, among other events. 

Stacie Joy made the rounds, capturing scenes from the fourth annual Loisaida Fall Festival on Third Street, the Earth School Fall Fair on Fourth Street, pumpkin carving at the Sixth Street and Avenue B Community Garden, and a stop along the Lower East Side Halloween Bookstore Crawl at Afterword Bookshop on Sixth Street (below).

The day also included La Plaza Cultural's 50th birthday celebration, featuring Assemblymember Grace Lee presenting a plaque to the community garden organizers on Ninth Street and Avenue C... and a concert in Tompkins Square Park featuring the Voluptuous Horror of Karen Black. 

Here's a look back at a busy Saturday around the neighborhood...

Monday's parting shots

Photos by Stacie Joy 

We spotted Bronx-based artist Andre Trenier today on Avenue A at Sixth Street... where he was working on a second mural for the "Loisaida Walls" on the Con Ed building... featuring NYC native Mikey Cole of Mikey Likes It ice cream...

Treiner used to create the pop-culture murals for Mikey Likes It when the shop was on Avenue A.

A visitor one October evening

Via the EVG inbox... 

Early Sunday evening, long-time residents of Avenue A experienced a visitor. The visitor was perched outside one of their bedroom windows on the fire escape. A perch that for decades attracted the omnipresent cooing morning dove and neighborhood pigeons, occasionally a large, portly one. 

On this night, though, they were surprised by a very large, unexpected avian visitor perched in this very spot. It stayed long enough to pose for a few portraits, at least five minutes, before spreading its wings, dropping from its perch, then rising and soaring into the distance. 

The residents hadn't seen this in over 30 years and weren't sure the visitor would stop by again, but they'd be ready to greet them if they did.

Bigger plans for 3rd Avenue: 2 buildings, 17 stories and 184 apartments

Top two photos by William Klayer

Foundation work continues at the proposed residential development on Third Avenue between 10th Street and 11th Street, which is also growing considerably.

Developers Kinsmen Property Group and SK Development are now proposing two adjoining 17-story buildings with a combined 184 apartments at 50-64 Third Ave., according to Crain's New York Business.

That's a substantial change from the plans we reported in May, when SK Development filed for a 13-story building with 69 residential units and approximately 12,000 square feet of commercial space. 

The latest proposal calls for approximately 150,230 square feet of development, including 37 affordable apartments for households earning no more than 80% of the area median income. The two buildings would contain 99 and 85 apartments, respectively, with shared residential amenities including a fitness center, sauna, an all-important golf simulator, and common terraces. 

The project would also feature approximately 12,500 square feet of ground-floor retail space and no parking. 

Crain's reports that dividing the development into two buildings appears intended to avoid construction wage requirements under the city's 485-x tax incentive program, which apply to projects with 100 or more residential units. 

The developers are also seeking approval from the Department of City Planning to transfer 26,100 square feet of unused development rights from St. Mark's Church in-the-Bowery at 131 E. 10th St. 

As we reported in August, the Landmarks Preservation Commission approved the proposed transfer on July 21. The arrangement would fund maintenance of the landmarked church while allowing a larger development on Third Avenue. 

Meanwhile, financing is coming together. Commercial real estate firm Walker & Dunlop announced that it arranged $203.5 million in construction financing from private debt manager Ironsand for the project. 

The latest plans follow several years of changes along this stretch of Third Avenue. 

As we've documented, Kinsmen assembled the properties over several years, paying more than $60 million for the six walk-up buildings that once occupied the site. The last remaining commercial tenant, TLK by Tigerlily Kitchen at 58 Third Ave., closed in August 2024. 

Demolition followed that fall, with the buildings completely gone by January 2025. The lot remained largely inactive until construction preparations began this year. In September, a rendering finally appeared on the construction plywood, showing a tiered building with large windows and setbacks above ground-floor retail. 

That earlier proposal listed an anticipated completion date of January 2029. It's not clear how the expanded plans will affect the design or construction timeline. 

 One building that isn't part of the development is 48 Third Ave., the longtime holdout on the northwest corner of 10th Street, where Healthy Greens Gourmet occupies the ground-floor retail space.

Topping out at 9th Street and 4th Avenue

The new residential building at 57 Fourth Ave. (aka 101 E. Ninth St.) reached its full height earlier this month, with workers marking the occasion by planting an American flag atop the structure. 

BKSK Architects confirmed the topping-out milestone on Oct. 6. 

As previously reported, the condoplex on the northeast corner of Ninth Street and Fourth Avenue will contain 15 residential units. 

According to a project overview from the Roebling Team at Compass, the apartments will average approximately 1,731 square feet. The building will also include ground-floor retail space. 

The project's condominium offering plan was submitted to the New York State Attorney General's Office on Aug. 18 but has not yet been accepted. No apartment prices have been announced. 

Published reports describe the building as 10 stories and approximately 115 feet tall, although Department of Buildings filings list 11 stories. 

Ilyas Abayev of Moonshot Development is behind the project, with BKSK Architects serving as the architect of record. 

The rendering on the construction plywood lists a fall 2027 completion date. 

The site previously housed the single-level Chris French Cleaners, which closed in September 2025 after 65 years in business.

Barnes & Noble's build-out continues on Avenue A

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy 

Work continues inside the incoming Barnes & Noble at 181 Avenue A between 11th Street and 12th Street. 

We spotted plenty of shelving during a recent look inside the space, and the build-out appears well underway...

According to the Barnes & Noble website, the East Village location is expected to open in November.

However, employees on site told us it could be another month or two before the store is ready, raising questions about that November target. 

The new outpost also has its own Instagram account. 

One question we've heard from readers: Will this Barnes & Noble have a cafe? (We've heard yes and no.) We asked the company, which promised to get back to us. UPDATED: No cafe, per management.

As we first reported in May, the national bookseller is taking over the Avenue A storefront (the first retail tenant here in the base of the Steiner East Village condo). Signage arrived in July.

Weekend's parting shot

Photo by Stacie Joy 

Spellbound in Tompkins...

Weekend's parting crane shot

Photo by Cecil Scheib 

A look to the west over Tompkins Square Park... we think the crane was on Seventh Street or St. Mark's Place near First Avenue...

EV Grieve's East Village Week in Review

Posts this past week included (with a fall morning view from Avenue C and Houston)...

• New signs of activity at the former P.S. 64, but questions remain (Oct. 20) 

• City-funded pet food program comes to 3 East Village pantries (Oct. 22) 

• Remembering Rose Friedman, East Village resident and NPR editor (Oct. 23) 

• CB3 committee backs major overhaul of Tompkins Square Park recreation area (Oct. 21) 

• Repairs planned for Tompkins Square Park's pothole-filled paths (Oct. 23) 

• Report: Landlord of 1st Avenue building with Michael Jackson murals faces foreclosure (Oct. 24) 

• A finishing touch for the 6-story Basquiat mural on the Bowery (Oct. 21) 

• The full exterior reveal at the new ABC No Rio (Oct. 19) 

• How you can get a copy of the latest East Village Vintage Clothing Map (Oct. 24) 

• Checking in on Ichibantei and its late-night dining hours (Oct. 20) 

• Soup for a good cause on Sunday (Oct. 22) 

• Dreaming on Ludlow: 3 nights of shoegaze and dream pop at Pianos (Oct. 21) 

• "LAND BACK in Cities" exhibition continues on 6th Street (Oct. 24) 

• Manic Panic's colorful history on display at the City Reliquary (Oct. 18) 

• Halloween at Key (Oct. 22) 

And our homemade tribute to one of our favorite bands, the Damned, who were in town this past week for their 50th anniversary tour. (Pics from the "New Rose" video.) Revisit our 2024 interview with Captain Sensible on the importance of the Ramones and the legend of CBGB. 

Today in Tompkins Square Park: A meetup to support the bars and courts

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy 

The Save Tompkins Square Park Fitness organizers (from left): 

Melody Knight-Brown, Jahmal Kirwan, Thea Rae and Rob Hollander. 

A two-day community meetup supporting the future of the bars and courts in Tompkins Square Park continues today (Sunday) from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

Organized by Save Tompkins Square Park, the gathering invites people of all ages and abilities to stop by, work out, play basketball, dance or simply meet others who use the recreation area.

The event comes ahead of an important vote on the park's proposed $9.93 million renovation. As we reported last week, Community Board 3's Parks, Recreation, Waterfront, & Resiliency Committee voted on Oct. 15 to recommend the most extensive of three renovation options presented by the Parks Department. 

The proposal calls for replacing the existing mini-pool with a new in-ground pool, renovating the basketball courts, replacing the fitness equipment and resurfacing the recreation area. Construction is expected to take approximately 18 months. 

While Parks officials say they've revised the plans to address concerns about the replacement fitness equipment, some longtime users continue to push for repairs rather than a wholesale reconstruction.

They're also concerned about losing access to the popular recreation area during construction. The committee's recommendation is not final. 

The full Community Board 3 will consider the proposal on Tuesday, Oct. 27, at 6:30 p.m. at P.S. 20, 166 Essex St. The meeting is open to the public, with a Zoom option available. Residents who wish to speak during the public session can register online by 3 p.m. Tuesday or sign up in person between 6 and 6:30 p.m. Speakers are limited to two minutes each, with four speakers permitted on each side of an issue, per CB3 officials.

Organizers of today's gathering encourage residents to attend and share their views.

Halloween on 7th Street

Photos by Stacie Joy 

As seen on Seventh Street between Avenue B and Avenue C... a favorite building this time of year, during Halloween...

Election 2026: Early voting begins TODAY

Find more info, including what's on the ballot, at NYCvotes. Find your polling site here.

Report: Landlord of 1st Avenue building with Michael Jackson murals faces foreclosure

An East Village landlord is facing foreclosure on his building at 180 First Ave... on the SE corner of 11th Street. (On the far left above.)

 According to Crain's New York Business, investors in a $7.1 million mortgage allege that owner Moshe Khoshkheraman has not made a loan payment since May. 

A lawsuit filed Tuesday in Manhattan Supreme Court seeks to force an auction of the five-story building with the Michael Jackson murals on the north-facing wall, which arrived here in 2018.

Khoshkheraman purchased the property in 2022; it contains 16 apartments and a ground-floor commercial space, last home for a few weeks (for real) to UZ Grill House.

The lawsuit also alleges that Khoshkheraman refused to allow an investor-appointed inspector into the building in September, another condition of default under the loan agreement. 

Crain's reports that state housing records show none of the building's apartments are rent-stabilized. A renovated one-bedroom apartment last rented for approximately $3,600 a month in June.

Khoshkheraman has acquired several properties in recent years, including 51 E. Houston St., home to Milano's, the 146-year-old bar near Mott Street. 

The foreclosure action concerns only 180 First Ave. The report indicates no indication that Milano's or its building is affected.