More prep work for incoming St. Mark's Place office building

With Phase 1 underway and non-essential construction sites firing up again, there's activity to note on the northeast corner of Third Avenue and St. Mark's Place.

You may have noticed that workers have now blocked the sidewalk with a second level of plywood in front of where the 10-floor boutique office building will rise ...







However, as you can see through the blogger portal on the plywood, there's nothing going on inside the lot (yet).



And it has remained this way during the COVID-19 crisis.


[A rendering of 3 St. Mark's Place]

Where we left off on March 5: Local City Councilmember Carlina Rivera had joined the chorus of opposition to the air-rights transfer for the new building. Rivera, who holds the key vote when the proposal comes before City Council, had previously expressed concerns about the project, but hadn't gone as far as officially opposing it.

During the City Planning Commission hearing on March 4, Rivera submitted joint testimony with Assemblymember Deborah Glick and State Sen. Brad Hoylman.

The City Planning Commission will cast their vote at a later date as part of the city’s Uniform Land Use Review Procedure. They are expected to approve the plan to transfer air rights from the landmarked 4 St. Mark's Place to the new development across the street at 3 St. Mark's Place. In issues such as this, City Council usually follows the lead of the local Councilmember.

With the air-rights transfer, developer Real Estate Equities Corporation (REEC) would be allowed to build 8,386 square feet larger than the current zoning allows.

Regardless of an extra 8,000 square feet, the construction will eventually continue. As Gothamist reported in early March, the project's architect, Morris Adjmi, emphasized a building of a similar height size could be built as-of-right.

REEC picked up the 99-year leasehold for the properties here for nearly $150 million in November 2017. The corner lot is owned by the Gabay family.

Previously on EV Grieve:
• Demolition permits filed for northeast corner of 3rd Avenue and St. Mark's Place

• End is nearing for the businesses on the northeast corner of 3rd Avenue and St. Mark's Place

• New building plans revealed for 3rd Avenue and St. Mark's Place

• Concern over potential air-rights transfer for new office building on St. Mark's Place and 3rd Avenue

Carlina Rivera states her opposition over plan to transfer air rights for new St. Mark's Place office building

[A rendering of 3 St. Mark's Place]

Local City Councilmember Carlina Rivera yesterday joined the chorus of opposition to the air-rights transfer for the new office building planned for the northeast corner of St. Mark's Place and Third Avenue.

To date, Rivera, who holds the key vote when the proposal comes before City Council, had previously expressed concerns about the project, but hadn't gone as far as officially opposing it.

During yesterday's City Planning Commission hearing, Rivera submitted joint testimony with Assemblymember Deborah Glick and State Sen. Brad Hoylman, which read in part:

"This development would clearly be out of context with the landmarked 4 St. Mark’s Place, as well as the surrounding street scape and character. It's clear that the developers, in the wake of numerous concerns raised by neighborhood groups, Community Board 3, several members of the Landmarks Preservation Commission, and elected officials, have not proposed or addressed any serious 'appropriate conditions and safeguards' that the 74-79 permit states should be considered in order to 'minimize adverse effects on the character of the surrounding area."

St. Mark's Place is the gateway to the East Village - a globally recognized center of music, art and culture. This project fell short of the community's expectations and the neighborhood it leads to.

That’s why I urged the City Planning Commission to reject it. https://t.co/iZjps2UZ5Z

— Carlina Rivera 利華娜 (@CarlinaRivera) March 4, 2020

The City Planning Commission will cast their vote at a later date as part of the city’s Uniform Land Use Review Procedure. They are expected to approve the plan to transfer air rights from 4 St. Mark's Place to the new development across the street at 3 St. Mark's Place. In issues such as this, City Council usually follows the lead of the local Councilmember.

Andrew Berman, executive director of the Village Preservation, has long been opposed to this plan. He said that he was pleased by Rivera's decision.

"We are hopeful that her statement ... will be followed by a no vote in the Council and a call to her colleagues to do the same," Berman said in an email. "We have said from the beginning that this proposal to increase the size of the planned tech office tower at the 'gateway to the East Village' is wrong, and would only serve to accelerate the spread of Midtown South and Silicon Alley to this neighborhood."

The Village Preservation and more than a dozen residents also spoke out against the plan yesterday.


[Photo yesterday via Village Preservation]

With the air-rights transfer, developer Real Estate Equities Corporation (REEC) would be allowed to build 8,386 square feet larger than the current zoning allows.

Regardless of an extra 8,000 square feet, the project will continue. Per Gothamist:

At Wednesday's public hearing, the project's architect Morris Adjmi emphasized a building of a similar height size could be built as-of-right, saying, "one could build this building without a special permit, without transferring any air rights, and it is 22 feet taller at the street wall and also more or less the same height overall."

A rep for the developers, Adam Taubman of the law firm Kramer Levin, also said at the hearing the currently vacant lot would see construction whether or not the permit is approved.

REEC picked up the 99-year leasehold for the properties here for nearly $150 million in November 2017. The corner assemblage is owned by the Gabay family.

Previously on EV Grieve:
• Demolition permits filed for northeast corner of 3rd Avenue and St. Mark's Place

• End is nearing for the businesses on the northeast corner of 3rd Avenue and St. Mark's Place

• New building plans revealed for 3rd Avenue and St. Mark's Place

• Concern over potential air-rights transfer for new office building on St. Mark's Place and 3rd Avenue

City Planning Commission holding public hearing today on air-rights transfer for 3 St. Mark's Place

[EVG file photo]

--

Updated 5 p.m.
Local City Councilmember Carlina Rivera came out against the transfer today.

--

The City Planning Commission is holding a public hearing today on the application to transfer air rights to allow the pending office building at the northeast corner of Third Avenue and St. Mark's Place to grow 20 percent larger than the current zoning allows.

As you likely know, a 10-floor office building is in the works for 3 St. Mark's Place. The total size of this new building has yet to be officially determined. Real Estate Equities Corporation (REEC) wants to transfer the air rights from the landmarked Hamilton-Holly House at 4 St. Mark's Place to add more square footage.

This marks the second stage for the application. In round one, the Landmarks Preservation Commission voted to support the plan this past June, and issued a report to the City Planning Commission to allow the proposal under a specific zoning resolution. The opposition to the application included Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer, State Sen. Brad Hoylman and Assemblymember Deborah Glick, as well as Community Board 3 and other community groups, including Village Preservation. (Read about their efforts here.)

Stage two's route as part of the city’s Uniform Land Use Review Procedure will ultimately end up before City Council, who will have the final vote at a future date.

REEC picked up the 99-year leasehold for the properties here for nearly $150 million in November 2017. Their development plans call for a 68,224-square-foot building with eight floors of office space, a fitness center, roof deck and retail.


[A rendering of 3 St. Mark's Place]

REEC is reportedly eyeing rents in the area of a Midtown-esque $150 per square foot.

Today's hearing is in the basement concourse of 120 Broadway between Cedar and Pine. The festivities start at 10, though this is the last item on the agenda. No word yet on an exact time.

Previously on EV Grieve:
• Demolition permits filed for northeast corner of 3rd Avenue and St. Mark's Place

• End is nearing for the businesses on the northeast corner of 3rd Avenue and St. Mark's Place

• New building plans revealed for 3rd Avenue and St. Mark's Place

• Concern over potential air-rights transfer for new office building on St. Mark's Place and 3rd Avenue

CB3 hearing tonight about the air-rights transfer for new office building on St. Mark's Place

Tonight, CB3's Land Use, Zoning, Public & Private Housing Committee is holding a public hearing on the special permit to transfer air rights from the landmarked 4 St. Marks Place to increase the size of the proposed office building across the street.

As you likely know, a 10-floor office building is in the works for the northeast corner of Third Avenue and St. Mark's Place. The total size of this new building has yet to be officially determined. Real Estate Equities Corporation (REEC) wants to transfer the air rights from the landmarked Hamilton-Holly House to add more square footage, which is 20 percent larger than current zoning allows.

This marks the second stage for the application. In round one, the Landmarks Preservation Commission voted to support the plan in June, and issued a report to the City Planning Commission to allow the proposal under a specific zoning resolution. The opposition to the application included Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer, State Sen. Brad Hoylman and Assemblymember Deborah Glick, as well as Community Board 3, Village Preservation and other community groups.

Stage two's route as part of the city’s Uniform Land Use Review Procedure eventually includes a trip to the City Planning Commission and City Council, who will have the final vote at a future date.

REEC picked up the 99-year leasehold for the properties here for nearly $150 million in November 2017. Their development plans call for a 68,224-square-foot building with eight floors of office space, a fitness center, roof deck, and 7,886 square feet of retail.


[A rendering of 3 St. Mark's Place]

REEC is reportedly eyeing rents in the area of a Midtown-esque $150 per square foot.

And these types of rent and development are the reasons that Village Preservation remains opposed to the plan. As they write:

[W]e do not want to see an even larger tech-related office tower rising at this location. This project has already resulted in the demolition of a nearly 200 year old house containing residential units. The replacement of low-rise, historic, and often residential buildings in this area south of Union Square by high-rise office towers is part of the city’s plan for this area in the wake of the approval last year of the Mayor’s 14th Street “Tech Hub,” with the support of Councilmember Carlina Rivera.

Tonight's CB3 committee starts at 6:30 p.m. at the Meltzer Senior Center, 94 E. First St. between Avenue A and First Avenue.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Demolition permits filed for northeast corner of 3rd Avenue and St. Mark's Place

End is nearing for the businesses on the northeast corner of 3rd Avenue and St. Mark's Place

New building plans revealed for 3rd Avenue and St. Mark's Place

Concern over potential air-rights transfer for new office building on St. Mark's Place and 3rd Avenue

Developers of 3 St. Mark's Place are looking to increase the size of their proposed office building at 3rd Avenue to 10 floors with air-rights deal

The lobbyists behind the air-rights transfer and zoning variance for 3 St. Mark's Place

Final demolition phase for 1 St. Mark's Place; more questions about lobbyists attached to project

Report: LPC approves transfer of air rights across St. Mark's Place

Financing comes together for the office building planned for the gateway of the East Village

Financing comes together for the office building planned for the gateway of the East Village

[Photo from yesterday]

All has been quiet on the northeast corner of Third Avenue and St. Mark's Place since workers cleared the lot in late summer of the assemblage of buildings that housed Korilla BBQ, the Continental and McDonald's, among other businesses.

For the foreseeable future, the RIP ST. MARKS message, which arrived over the summer on the west-facing wall of 5 St. Mark's Place, will continue to greet passersby.

As you likely know, a 10-floor office building with ground-floor retail is in the works here. The total size of this new building has yet to be officially determined. Real Estate Equities Corporation (REEC) wants to transfer the air rights from the landmarked Hamilton-Holly House at 4 St. Mark's Place to add more square footage, a move that has plenty of critics.

In June, the Landmarks Preservation Commission voted to support the plan, and has issued a report to the City Planning Commission to allow the proposal under a specific zoning resolution.

The City Planning Commission will likely sign off on the project next as part of the city’s Uniform Land Use Review Procedure. City Council will have the final say on the Morris Adjimi-designed building. Those meeting dates have not yet been made public. (This Zoning Application Portal provides a project status. The most recent activity by the developer: filing the Land Use application on Oct. 3.)

Meanwhile, the financial elements are coming together for the project.

This press release — citing square footage even though it hasn't been determined — landed in our inbox last Friday:

Madison Realty Capital (MRC) has provided a $48 million senior loan for the funding of a $79.1 million financing package for the development of a mixed-use office project at 3 St. Mark’s Place ...

Hana Financial Group, a leading South Korean financial services company, provided Real Estate Equities Corporation (REEC), an experienced local developer with an additional $31.1 million of mezzanine financing to fully capitalize the project.

REEC’s development plans call for a 10-story, 68,224-square-foot modern boutique office building with eight floors of office space, a fitness center, roof deck, and 7,886 square feet of retail.

The property is well-located at the corner of St. Mark’s Place and 3rd Avenue in a section of Manhattan’s East Village that has seen significant growth in demand for quality office space from a mix of tech, finance, law, and family office tenants in recent years.

The site is adjacent to 51 Astor Place, a 400,000-square-foot office and retail asset developed by Minskoff Equities that is home to anchor tenants IBM Watson and St. John’s University, in addition to a strong retail roster that includes Shake Shack, Flywheel, Bluestone Lane and Orange Theory.

In reporting on this financing, The Real Deal noted:

The developers will be eyeing rents in the area of $150 per square foot. Such figures were once only seen in the most expensive locations in Midtown but now are commonplace for newly constructed office buildings in areas like the Meatpacking District, Soho and Greenwich Village.

[A rendering of 3 St. Mark's Place]

Madison Realty Capital, who provided the senior loan, is a familiar name for some EV residents. In the fall of 2015, they loaned $124 million to Rafael Toledano, a then 25 year old with no track record as a landlord so that he could buy a portfolio of 15 buildings, mostly in the East Village. He eventually defaulted on Madison's loan.

REEC picked up the 99-year leasehold for the properties here for nearly $150 million in November 2017. The corner assemblage is owned by the Gabay family.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Demolition permits filed for northeast corner of 3rd Avenue and St. Mark's Place

End is nearing for the businesses on the northeast corner of 3rd Avenue and St. Mark's Place

New building plans revealed for 3rd Avenue and St. Mark's Place

Concern over potential air-rights transfer for new office building on St. Mark's Place and 3rd Avenue

Developers of 3 St. Mark's Place are looking to increase the size of their proposed office building at 3rd Avenue to 10 floors with air-rights deal

The lobbyists behind the air-rights transfer and zoning variance for 3 St. Mark's Place

Final demolition phase for 1 St. Mark's Place; more questions about lobbyists attached to project

Report: LPC approves transfer of air rights across St. Mark's Place

Live at 1 St. Mark's Place this summer; views of 51 Astor Place are free

What's left of the northeast corner of 3rd Avenue and St. Mark's Place

If the headline was a question, then the answer would be not much.

A look through the handy blogger portals on the plywood reveals the scattered remains of the northeast corner of Third Avenue and St. Mark's Place... the buildings that previously housed Korilla BBQ, the Continental and McDonald's are gone. (No word on what finally happened to the Continental's 6-shots-of-anything-for-$12 signage that was still intact as of last Thursday.)




[Photo yesterday by Derek Berg]

And with the demolition of the buildings, the RIP ST. MARKS message on the west-facing wall of 5 St. Mark's Place is now fully visible from across the street...



As you likely know, a 10-floor office building with ground-floor retail is due here. The total size of this new building has yet to be determined. Real Estate Equities Corporation (REEC) wants to transfer the air rights from the landmarked Hamilton-Holly House at 4 St. Mark's Place to add more square footage, a move that has had its critics.

In June, the Landmarks Preservation Commission voted to support the plan, and has issued a report to the City Planning Commission to allow the proposal under a specific zoning resolution.

The City Planning Commission will likely sign off on the project next as part of the city’s Uniform Land Use Review Procedure. City Council will have the final say on the Morris Adjimi-designed building. Those meeting dates have not yet been made public.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Demolition permits filed for northeast corner of 3rd Avenue and St. Mark's Place

End is nearing for the businesses on the northeast corner of 3rd Avenue and St. Mark's Place

New building plans revealed for 3rd Avenue and St. Mark's Place

Concern over potential air-rights transfer for new office building on St. Mark's Place and 3rd Avenue

Developers of 3 St. Mark's Place are looking to increase the size of their proposed office building at 3rd Avenue to 10 floors with air-rights deal

The lobbyists behind the air-rights transfer and zoning variance for 3 St. Mark's Place

Final demolition phase for 1 St. Mark's Place; more questions about lobbyists attached to project

Report: LPC approves transfer of air rights across St. Mark's Place

Live at 1 St. Mark's Place this summer; views of 51 Astor Place are free

The disappearing northeast corner of 3rd Avenue and St. Mark's Place

Workers continue to demolish the northeast corner of Third Avenue and St. Mark's Place... the building that previously housed Korilla BBQ is about half of what it used to be (the building that housed the Continental next door is still standing) ...



... you can catch a glimpse of what's left behind the construction shroud...



As you likely know, 3 St. Mark’s Place, 23 and 25-27 Third Avenue are coming down to make way for an office building with ground-floor retail.

The size of this new building has yet to be determined. As previously reported, Real Estate Equities Corporation (REEC) wants to transfer the air rights from the landmarked Hamilton-Holly House at 4 St. Mark's Place to add more square footage to their office building, a move that has had its critics.

In June, the LPC ultimately lent its support to the plan, and has issued a report to the City Planning Commission to allow the proposal under a specific zoning resolution.

The City Planning Commission will likely sign off on the project next as part of the city’s Uniform Land Use Review Procedure. City Council will have the final say on the size of the Morris Adjimi-designed building.


[The proposed 3 St. Mark's Place as seen from Astor Place]

Meanwhile, as you may have noticed, someone recently wrote an obituary on the west-facing wall of 5 St. Mark's Place...





RIP St. Mark's...



This wall was once home for years to the John Spacely "Gringo" mural... from 1983 to the early 2000s ...


[Image via]

And a view from 1983 via the "Lower East Side: Back In The Days" Facebook group...



Previously on EV Grieve:
Demolition permits filed for northeast corner of 3rd Avenue and St. Mark's Place

End is nearing for the businesses on the northeast corner of 3rd Avenue and St. Mark's Place

New building plans revealed for 3rd Avenue and St. Mark's Place

Concern over potential air-rights transfer for new office building on St. Mark's Place and 3rd Avenue

Developers of 3 St. Mark's Place are looking to increase the size of their proposed office building at 3rd Avenue to 10 floors with air-rights deal

The lobbyists behind the air-rights transfer and zoning variance for 3 St. Mark's Place

Final demolition phase for 1 St. Mark's Place; more questions about lobbyists attached to project

Report: LPC approves transfer of air rights across St. Mark's Place

Live at 1 St. Mark's Place this summer; views of 51 Astor Place are free

Report: LPC approves transfer of air rights across St. Mark's Place

[The proposed 3 St. Mark's Place as seen from Astor Place]

As expected on Tuesday, the Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) approved developer Real Estate Equities Corporation's (REEC) plan to transfer air rights from the landmarked Hamilton-Holly House at 4 St. Mark's Place to add square footage to their office building coming to the northeast corner of Third Avenue and St. Mark's Place.

As previously reported, REEC wants to buy $4 million in air rights from the landmarked Hamilton-Holly House at 4 St. Mark's Place. According to terms of the deal, 5 percent of the $4 million — $200,000 — would go to maintaining No. 4, whose history includes being home to Alexander Hamilton's son and Trash & Vaudeville. The circa-1831 building was recently privy to a full gut renovation over the course of two years.


[4 St. Mark's Place as seen in January]

Here's Curbed with coverage from Tuesday:

LPC commissioners had reservations about the proposal, but ultimately relented and gave it the green light to ensure the continued maintenance of the Hamilton-Holly House.

“This is an important building to get right and I think it’s a tradeoff that we’re talking about,” said Frederick Bland, LPC vice chair, during the Tuesday vote. “We’re going to have that building, so let’s have the building with the landmark.”

Commissioners didn’t have say over the design of the building because it isn’t within a historic district; instead, they were tasked with reviewing restoration plans for the landmark and determining how “harmonious” a specific sliver of the new building created out of the air rights exchange is with the Hamilton-Holly House.

Gothamist was also at the meeting, and pointed out the opposition to this plan:

All told, the commission said it had received 390 emails campaigning against the project.

Despite that, of the 11 commissioners, only one voted against the transfer of air rights. Among the conditions that must be met for the city to grant the air rights is that the project must have a “harmonious relationship” with the landmarked site.

“I just can’t seem to wrap my head around this,” said Michael Goldblum, the commissioner who voted against the application. “The historical context of the landmark was a continuous row of three-to-four story buildings. That is the context in which this landmark has been seen for decades, at the very least.”

Goldblum added that he could not see how a building of this scale “could be deemed as a positive enhancement to the landmark.”

Up next: The project now moves before the City Planning Commission as part of the city’s Uniform Land Use Review Procedure. City Council will have the final say.

Even if the LPC had rejected the plan, REEC's office building with ground-floor retail would still happen — only without the extra square footage from the air-rights deal.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Demolition permits filed for northeast corner of 3rd Avenue and St. Mark's Place

End is nearing for the businesses on the northeast corner of 3rd Avenue and St. Mark's Place

New building plans revealed for 3rd Avenue and St. Mark's Place

Concern over potential air-rights transfer for new office building on St. Mark's Place and 3rd Avenue

Developers of 3 St. Mark's Place are looking to increase the size of their proposed office building at 3rd Avenue to 10 floors with air-rights deal

The lobbyists behind the air-rights transfer and zoning variance for 3 St. Mark's Place

Final demolition phase for 1 St. Mark's Place; more questions about lobbyists attached to project

Air rights transfer to make 3 St. Mark's Place larger returns to the Landmarks Preservation Commission today

Updated 6/19: The LPC "reluctantly" approved the plan, per Curbed.

The Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) will review — and possibly vote on — a revised application today to allow an air rights transfer from 4 St. Mark’s Place across the street to a planned new office building on the northeast corner of St. Mark’s Place and Third Avenue.

As previously reported, Real Estate Equities Corporation (REEC) wants to transfer the air rights from the landmarked Hamilton-Holly House to add square footage to their office building.

In April, the LPC asked REEC reps to alter their proposal to incorporate the commission’s recommendation that they lower the structure’s first setback to better align with the St. Mark’s Place street wall, among other items, as Curbed reported at the time.

And here are some updated renderings from the latest application (PDF here) ...





The proposed air rights transfer must be approved by the Landmarks Preservation Commission, the City Planning Commission and ultimately City Council.

The Village Preservation, who have lobbied against the transfer, noted the following about the approval process in an email on Friday: "As the [LPC and City Planning Commission] are controlled by appointees of the Mayor, we expect them to likely approve the plan. Which means the final decision will likely come down to the Council, which will defer to local Councilmember Carlina Rivera for their decision."

During the April LPC meeting, Jeremy Unger, Rivera's spokesperson, voiced skepticism of the precedent the project could set for the East Village and other neighborhoods, according to Curbed.

Community Board 3, State Sen. Brad Hoylman and Assemblywoman Deborah Glick have all spoken out against the bulk waiver.

Regardless of the outcome, REEC will still be able to build a slightly less bulky mixed-use office building with ground-floor retail.



Previously on EV Grieve:
Demolition permits filed for northeast corner of 3rd Avenue and St. Mark's Place

End is nearing for the businesses on the northeast corner of 3rd Avenue and St. Mark's Place

New building plans revealed for 3rd Avenue and St. Mark's Place

Concern over potential air-rights transfer for new office building on St. Mark's Place and 3rd Avenue

Developers of 3 St. Mark's Place are looking to increase the size of their proposed office building at 3rd Avenue to 10 floors with air-rights deal

The lobbyists behind the air-rights transfer and zoning variance for 3 St. Mark's Place

Final demolition phase for 1 St. Mark's Place; more questions about lobbyists attached to project

Final demolition phase for 1 St. Mark's Place; more questions about lobbyists attached to project

Workers shrouded the exterior here on the northeast corner of Third Avenue and St. Mark's Place last week as demolition enters the final phase.

As previously reported, 3 St. Mark’s Place, 23 and 25-27 Third Avenue are coming down to make way for an office building with ground-floor retail.





The size of this new building has yet to be determined. As previously reported, Real Estate Equities Corporation (REEC) wants to transfer the air rights from the landmarked Hamilton-Holly House at 4 St. Mark's Place to add more floors and square footage to their office building, a move that has its critics, including Community Board 3 and State Sen. Brad Hoylman and Assemblywoman Deborah Glick, who reportedly called on the Landmarks Preservation Commission to deny the bulk waiver.

REEC has already filed permits (last October) for an as-of-right five-story, 29,030-square-foot building on the corner. If the air rights deal is ultimately OK'd, then the Morris Adjimi-designed building at 3 St. Mark's Place could bulk up to 10 stories.

Yesterday, the Daily News looked at the lobbyists tied to the project — those who happen to have connections with Mayor de Blasio. (We explored this angle back in February.)

Andrew Berman, executive director of Village Preservation, told this to the News:

"The mayor’s prodigious fundraiser, lobbyist Jim Capalino, is seeking favors from City Hall for his clients to lift restrictions and facilitate inappropriate development in the East Village. The number of projects this lobbying firm has gotten approvals for in this neighborhood is mind-boggling.

"Each new favor builds upon the next,” he continued. "First he got permission for an upzoning south of Union Square for an oversized ‘tech hub.’ Now he’s seeking air rights transfers to continue the spread of ‘Silicon Alley’ to St. Mark’s Place. The mayor’s pay-to-play practices are utterly transforming this neighborhood."

Capalino's spokesperson, Kenneth Fisher, had this response:

"Projects like these require multiple levels of public review and hearings and consideration of the merits by numerous public officials and professionals. Perhaps [Berman] would be more successful arguing on these merits rather than spreading absurd rumors."

As far as next steps, here's Curbed after the previous LPC meeting in April:

REEC will return to LPC at a not-yet-scheduled public meeting once they have altered their proposal to incorporate the commission’s recommendation that they lower the structure’s first setback to better align with St. Mark’s street wall and other feedback.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Demolition permits filed for northeast corner of 3rd Avenue and St. Mark's Place

End is nearing for the businesses on the northeast corner of 3rd Avenue and St. Mark's Place

New building plans revealed for 3rd Avenue and St. Mark's Place

Concern over potential air-rights transfer for new office building on St. Mark's Place and 3rd Avenue

Developers of 3 St. Mark's Place are looking to increase the size of their proposed office building at 3rd Avenue to 10 floors with air-rights deal

The lobbyists behind the air-rights transfer and zoning variance for 3 St. Mark's Place

Thursday's parting shots

EVG reader Dan Scheffey took these photos earlier today... showing the ongoing demolition on the northeast corner of Third Avenue and St. Mark's Place... and subsequent road work...



Welcome to the neighborhood!

New building plans revealed for 3rd Avenue and St. Mark's Place

Nearly a year has passed since the initial reports about the future of the northeast corner of Third Avenue and St. Mark's Place were revealed. According to The Real Deal last November, a seven-story, 66,000-square-foot office building with ground-floor retail was slated for this corner.

However, as New York Yimby first noted yesterday, leaseholder Real Estate Equities Corporation (REEC) has filed new permits for 3 St. Mark's Place (the address of the former Papaya King) for a 5-story, 29,030-square-foot building.

This is obviously much smaller than what was originally floated. There's some thought that there might be a second smaller building coming to this parcel. (That's 100-percent speculation via some EVG corner watchers.)

Here's an aerial view of the property...


[Via Google Maps and EV Square]

A quick note — the Cooper Union Student Residence Hall at 29 Third Ave. is in the square above — that's not part of the new development and is staying put.

Anyway, here's what is known from the permits, as NYY noted: "Retail will occupy a portion of the ground floor and cellar space. The offices will have a lobby on the first floor, with workspace occupying the rest of the structure. Tenants will have access to bicycle storage, a fitness center, golf simulator, an amenities foyer, and a rooftop terrace."

(Golf simulator???)

Morris Adjmi Architects is listed as the designer of record. There aren't any renderings floating around the public sphere just yet.

For a sampling of Adjmi's work, look no further than the 7-story building he/they designed for the explosion site at 121 Second Ave. ...


[Rendering via Morris Adjmi]

For a little perspective on the size of the structure coming to 3 St. Mark's Place, the above building is 22,800 square feet.

In the meantime, workers continue to chip away at the mostly vacant buildings on St. Mark's Place and Third Avenue. (Permits were filed this past March 15 to demolish 1 St. Mark's Place, 3 St. Mark’s Place, 23 and 25-27 Third Ave.)

These photos are from Thursday...







While the interior demo is underway in these spaces, the Continental remains open — the last of the main businesses here. The bar was set to close in July after a 27-year run at 23 Third Ave. However, Trigger, the Continental's owner, announced a three-month lease extension until some time in October.

Well, we are now in October. In a recent Facebook post, Trigger said that they might be open until May 2019.

I asked him about that. "It’s possible that we’ll go till May but far from definite," he said in a Facebook message the other day, adding that he wants to stay until the developers get their permits approved. "It’s all I’ve got."

REEC picked up the 99-year leasehold for the properties here for some $150 million, per The Real Deal last November. The corner assemblage is owned by the Gabay family.

Previously on EV Grieve:
The Shake Shack effect? McDonald's on 3rd Avenue at St. Mark's Place has closed after 20 years

Report: Northeast corner of St. Mark's Place and 3rd Ave. fetching $50 million for development site

Report: NE corner of St. Mark's Place and 3rd Avenue will yield to a 7-story office building

Demolition permits filed for northeast corner of 3rd Avenue and St. Mark's Place

End is nearing for the businesses on the northeast corner of 3rd Avenue and St. Mark's Place

The Continental gets a 3-month reprieve

Live at 1 St. Mark's Place this summer; views of 51 Astor Place are free

This past weekend, I took photos of the "for rent" signs at the now-vacant Little Italy Pizza at 23 Third Ave. ... I've always been curious by the building that stands here on the northeast corner of Third Avenue and St. Mark's Place... long a witness to generations of new people entering and exploring St. Mark's Place and the East Village...

What's it like to live up there, behind that Falafel/Shawarma lettering? Turns out there's a new listing for a summer-only rental here. And it turns out to be much more luxurious than I ever imagined.

Check out the listing for 1 St. Mark's Place aka 23 Third Ave.:

Furnished Loft Rental – 1 Saint Marks – At Astor Place, the Heart of the Village, with views of Cooper Union and the Cube.

Enjoy loft living this summer in this spectacular Astor Place townhouse. This approximately 2000 square foot floor-through duplex features 14’ ceilings, exposed brick, original plank floors and oversize windows. There is also top of the line open kitchen with stainless steel appliances and granite counter-tops. Baths are modern with marble and an en-suite washer/dryer.

AND, there is an enormous private patio, an ideal space for entertaining this summer.

Here's a shot of that patio... (and it would be better with a view of the Gringo mural)

...and the interior...

The monthly rent: $6,000, and it's only available for July and August.

Just think, by then, you'll likely be able to see new office workers arrive inside the Death Star 51 Astor Place directly across the street...

Bonus shot of the corner from 1980 via our friend Michael Sean Edwards ...