Look, activity at 100 Avenue A

Several residents were startled by this sight yesterday at 100 Avenue A... A truck! Traffic cones!

[Bobby Williams]

[BW]

[Bill the libertarian anarchist]

Because nothing has basically happened since East Village Farms closed in February 2012. The city disapproved the first round of plans to renovate the space, including adding a "dwelling unit" and roof garden on the upper floors.

The sidewalk outside the storefront has mostly been used to accommodate some people in need of a place to sleep this past year.

[Last Tuesday, via Bobby Williams]

Anyway, we're hearing some funny rumors about all this... Maybe you have too?

Today outside 100 Avenue A

Previously. Photo by Bobby Williams.

The scene outside 100 Avenue A

Previously.

In the shade this afternoon at 100 Avenue A

[Photo by Bobby Williams]

Previously.

Today outside 100 Avenue A

Photo by Bobby Williams.

Previously.

This afternoon outside 100 Avenue A

Photo by Bobby Williams.

Previously.

Meanwhile, thoughtless construction equipment ruins a perfectly good pizza on Avenue A

A reader notes the following this morning in front of (a surprisingly clean-looking) 100 Avenue A...



One of the pieces of equipment the workers are using on the (gas?) main repair on Sixth and A made a special delivery...



Not sure which came first — the pizza or the wheel.

This afternoon outside 100 Avenue A

Previously.

Photo by Bobby Williams.

[Updated] First sign of future construction About the outside of 100 Avenue A

A Davey Drill arrived yesterday near 100 Avenue A at Seventh Street...


[Bobby Williams]

But it apparently has nothing to do with 100 Avenue A as we previously suggested. (Has to do with with Niagara and Black Market.) Our apologies.

It's the first sign of any work activity related to the future of the former East Village Farms, which closed back in February. The city disapproved the first round of plans to renovate the space, including adding a "dwelling unit" and roof garden on the upper floors.

Workers bring in the drill before a construction/demolition job to test water levels and gauge the composition of the soil and stuff beneath the street. (H/t, BoweryBoogie.) This doesn't mean work will be starting tomorrow. But it's on the way.

So! Let's move right into this then.

Meanwhile, as you've probably noticed... the space in front of the former grocery has turned into a makeshift shelter at times... (We first noted this back on April 6.)


[Bobby Williams]


[Bobby Williams]

In recent weeks, it appears an effort has been made to clean up the space.


[Dave on 7th]

As the signs show, Anthony is trying to keep it tidy.


[Dave on 7th]


[Dave on 7th]

On numerous occasions, we've watched the NYPD move people along...





Typically they head to the Park or congregate on the corner of St. Mark's and Avenue A. Or they simply move around the corner...



Previously on EV Grieve:
A little bit of Hollywood on Avenue A

East Village Farms is closing; renovations coming to 100 Avenue A

Inside the abandoned theater at East Village Farms on Avenue A

Reader reports: Village Farms closing Jan. 31; building will be demolished

DOB disapproves plans for former East Village Farms

According to the Department of Buildings (DOB) website, city officials have disapproved initial plans last Thursday to renovate the former East Village Farms at 100 Avenue A.

Here's the all-cap job description filed on Feb. 21, as we reported:

TO RENOVATE EXIST. HIGH TWO STORY BUILDING INCLUDING THE EXPANSION OF THE CELLAR FLOOR, THE RAISING OF THE ENTIRE SECOND FLOOR AND INSTALLING A NEW STOREFRONT. 2) TO ADD A NEW PARTIAL THIRD AND FOURTH FLOOR FOR ONE DWELLING UNIT WITH A ROOF GARDEN ON THE 2ND FLOOR ROOF ACCESSORY TO THE DWELLING UNIT.

The DOB files have Flushing-based Paul Mok as the architect engineer of record. According to the DOB, Mok was one of 20 NYC-based architects or engineers to find themselves on the "Voluntary Surrender of Privileges" list.

Mok's name also turns up in The New York Times archives. He was associated with the so-called "Leaning Tower of Flushing," a problem-plagued 15-story condo at 143-51 Roosevelt Ave.

As the Times reported on July 14, 1998, "there were constant leaks, and residents in the corner apartments started to complain about cracks appearing in their floors. Complaints to the condominium board, which was dominated by the developers, went largely unheeded. In 1994, a new board was elected and complaints were filed with the State Attorney General's office, along with lawsuits against the building's developers and builders. The Attorney General has a lawsuit pending against Paul Mok, the engineer and architect who designed Vista."

The Times noted that city inspectors found that the building "had been built as though it were a low-rise structure and that it had no steel structure for bracing."

Meanwhile, workers have removed most traces of the former East Village Farms, which closed last month.

[Bobby Williams]

Now, the place sits mostly empty... waiting for whatever the revised plans are...

Previously on EV Grieve:
A little bit of Hollywood on Avenue A

East Village Farms is closing; renovations coming to 100 Avenue A

Inside the abandoned theater at East Village Farms on Avenue A

Reader reports: Village Farms closing Jan. 31; building will be demolished

What's happening next to the former East Village Farms at 100 Avenue A

[Bobby Williams]

After a rather long goodbye, East Village Farms closed for good on Feb. 9. (The flower guys stuck around until last Wednesday.)

There were all sorts of rumors about this space that included a not-so-secret old movie house. The employees of East Village Farms had said the building's landlord would demolish the building.

However, there weren't any work permits to back up these claims.

But there are now.

There's a permit pending — dated today — at the DOB. According to the all-cap job description:

TO RENOVATE EXIST. HIGH TWO STORY BUILDING INCLUDING THE EXPANSION OF THE CELLAR FLOOR, THE RAISING OF THE ENTIRE SECOND FLOOR AND INSTALLING A NEW STOREFRONT. 2) TO ADD A NEW PARTIAL THIRD AND FOURTH FLOOR FOR ONE DWELLING UNIT WITH A ROOF GARDEN ON THE 2ND FLOOR ROOF ACCESSORY TO THE DWELLING UNIT.

So, no demolition. But, if approved, the landlord plans to renovate the existing building, including the storefront, and add one doozy of an apartment (3,000 square feet in total) with an outdoor space.

We'll have more on this later.

At first glance, though, this sounds like the $4.8 million "owner's triplex" above Sunny and Annie's on Sixth Street and Avenue B...


Previously on EV Grieve:
A little bit of Hollywood on Avenue A

East Village Farms is closing; renovations coming to 100 Avenue A

Inside the abandoned theater at East Village Farms on Avenue A

Reader reports: Village Farms closing Jan. 31; building will be demolished

That's it for East Village Farms

The folks at East Village Farms on Avenue A stayed open two days past their original Feb. 5 closing date... and by last night, the store was fairly miserable... workers had pulled most everything off the shelves...

They were just selling off the rest of the beer and soda, really... and anything else that you might want to buy — those lousy deli umbrellas, some dinted cans of Libby's products... the fellow working said they were closing after last night... (though I wouldn't be surprised to find them open today...)

Meanwhile, evilsugar25 passed along this photo of Jimmy from behind the deli counter on his last day on Sunday...

He wasn't sure what he was going to do for work. Take a few days off then start looking for another job...

Finally, the flowers will be on sale outside through Feb. 14...

Previously on EV Grieve:
A little bit of Hollywood on Avenue A

East Village Farms is closing; renovations coming to 100 Avenue A

Inside the abandoned theater at East Village Farms on Avenue A

Reader reports: Village Farms closing Jan. 31; building will be demolished

Updated: East Village Farms posts its going-out-of-business signs

[Kevin Shea Adams]

As we first reported on Jan. 6, East Village Farms is closing on Avenue A between Seventh Street and Sixth Street. Earlier today, workers were taking out still-wrapped flats of unopened food and merchandise. (The owners are moving to a store on 48th Street.)

The store closes for good Sunday. And today, as our friends at the Big Gay Ice Cream Shop note, the going-out-of-business signs are on the doors.

While the building's owners haven't commented on the plans for the space, the persistent rumor is a full demolition. There still aren't any permits on file with the DOB either.

And a reader just sent these along from the other night here...

Previously on EV Grieve:
A little bit of Hollywood on Avenue A

East Village Farms is closing; renovations coming to 100 Avenue A

Inside the abandoned theater at East Village Farms on Avenue A

Reader reports: Village Farms closing Jan. 31; building will be demolished

Another look inside the East Village Farms and the old Hollywood Theatre on Avenue A

[Kevin Shea Adams]

The East Village Farms on Avenue A between Seventh Street and Sixth Street is on the clock... we now understand that the closing date has been moved to Feb. 5, with a sale starting next Wednesday. (The owners will take any leftover inventory to their new store on 48th Street.)

The staff here says the building's owner will demolish the structure. There still aren't any permits on file with the DOB ... and still no official word from the landlord.

Anyway, as you know, the space was originally a theater in operation from 1926-1959. EV Grieve reader Lambert Jack got a look at the sort-of-secret theater a few weeks back ...

Now, East Village-based photographer Kevin Shea Adams shares his photos from a recent trip inside the bowels of the store. (You can read his post and see more photos here.)

Find more of Kevin's photography here.

Previously on EV Grieve:
A little bit of Hollywood on Avenue A

East Village Farms is closing; renovations coming to 100 Avenue A

Inside the abandoned theater at East Village Farms on Avenue A

Reader reports: Village Farms closing Jan. 31; building will be demolished

Inside the abandoned theater at East Village Farms on Avenue A

As we've been reporting, East Village Farms is closing on Avenue A on Jan. 31. One worker said the building's owner will be demolishing the structure for lord knows what...

Anyway, as you know, the space was originally a theater in operation from 1926-1959.

[Via Cinema Treasures]

We've seen a few tantalizing bits and pieces of the theater's remains... as far as we know, the auditorium is still intact.

EV Grieve reader Lambert Jack was one of the many curious about what's behind and above the grocery... He took a look the other night...

Per Lambert Jack: "We went into the main theater room, and poked around the offices and other abandoned rooms. There were some amazing painted tin roof parts. I hope someone strips the cool stuff ... before the place is razed."

His opinion on the space? "I'm not sure the building is worth saving — the cool parts of it seem really run down and unusable — but the ornate period works need to be preserved as best as they can. I would love to have a theater there, but I suspect it's headed for new housing."

Previously on EV Grieve:
East Village Farms is closing; renovations coming to 100 Avenue A

A little bit of Hollywood on Avenue A