Ben Shaoul's proposed new Avenue A building will be 8 stories with a roof deck

The former 98-100 Avenue A, most recently East Village Farms, is a mere shell of its former self as developer Ben Shaoul continues plans to build a retail-residential space here between East Seventh Street and East Sixth Street.

And we have a few more specifics now about what's next here.

Permits filed with the DOB last Thursday show plans for a proposed building that is 37,042 square feet — 29,881 for residential and 7,161 for a ground-floor retail space ... good for 8 stories and 43 residential units, plus bicycle storage in the basement and an "outdoor tenant recreation space" on the roof. Ramy Issac is listed as the architect of record.

The rendering on the plywood shows a 7-story structure.




There's also a retail listing (PDF) for the space, which doesn't exactly account for what the new building will look like…



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

Asbestos abatement continues at 98 Avenue A, Ben Shaoul's latest East Village trophy

The takedown of 100 Avenue A continues

[Bobby Williams]

Demolition work continues at 100 Avenue A… workers are gutting the former theater/grocery to make way for Ben Shaoul's 7-story retail-residential complex between East Sixth Street and East Seventh Street.

There seems to be a lot of interest among residents in this project, given its heart-of-the-East-Village location. These aerial views via EVG reader Paul Dougherty provide a look at what's left up top…




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

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

Demolishing 100 Avenue A

We noticed a few workers on top of 98-100 Avenue A on Friday… they were jackhammering away...



And a rooftop view...


[Photo by Paul Dougherty]

The former movie theater/grocery is coming down to make way for Ben Shaoul's retail-residential complex here between East Sixth Street and East Seventh Street. The rendering posted on the plywood shows a new building looking like this...



A retail listing that we posted in May stated that the building will contain 40 residential units.

Also on the plywood outside 98-100 Avenue A…



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

Asbestos abatement continues at 98 Avenue A, Ben Shaoul's latest East Village trophy

Construction watch: 100 Avenue A

[Bobby Williams]

Prep work for the demolition of 100 Avenue A is getting serious... the scaffolding has arrived... and workers put up the plywood along Avenue A...

The city OK'd a demolition permit in June for 98-100 Avenue A, which housed East Village Farms until Feb. 7, 2012.

Developer Ben Shaoul purchased the former theater turned market in May for $15.5 million, according to public records.

We don't know specifically what will be here... Shaoul's reps filed the plans in the hub self-service... and they will not be made public until the city approves them.

But a rendering on the plywood shows a building looking like this:



...six floors of residences above the retail component here between East Sixth Street and East Seventh Street.



A retail listing that we posted in May stated that the building will contain 40 residential units.

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

Asbestos abatement continues at 98 Avenue A, Ben Shaoul's latest East Village trophy

Scaffolding arriving for demolition of 100 Avenue A

[Photo by Katie Reifman]

Workers arrived this morning to start erecting the sidewalk bridge and various other things needed to demolish 100 Avenue A between East Sixth Street and East Seventh Street ... The city OK'd a demolition permit in June for 98-100 Avenue A, which housed East Village Farms until Feb. 7, 2012.

Developer Ben Shaoul purchased the former theater turned market in May for $15.5 million, according to public records.

We don't know specifically what will be here... as with 181 Avenue A, Shaoul reps filed the plans in the hub self-service... and they will not be made public until the city approves them.

However, a listing for the retail spaces that we noted in May provides an idea of what Shaoul and company have in mind ... a large retail space with 40 residential units above...



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

Asbestos abatement continues at 98 Avenue A, Ben Shaoul's latest East Village trophy

Permits filed to demolish former theater turned grocery at 100 Avenue A

[Bobby Williams]

The city OK'd a demolition permit yesterday for 98-100 Avenue A, which housed East Village Farms until Feb. 7, 2012.

Developer Ben Shaoul purchased the former theater turned market last month for $15.5 million, according to public records. (While the name of Shaoul, president of Magnum Real Estate Group, isn't listed on the records... his name appears as the owner of the property on the asbestos abatement flyers that went up in early June. Magnum's name is also on the demolition permit.)

Nothing is on file yet with the DOB regarding a new building for the address here between East Sixth Street and East Seventh Street. However, a listing for the retail spaces that we noted last month provides an idea of what Shaoul and company have in mind ... a large retail space with 40 residential units above...



Last year, the previous landlord — Suh, Yon, Pak Associates, Inc. — proposed to keep the store on the first and second floor, and then add a third and fourth floor for residential use. For whatever reason, the landlord never got this plan approved. Subsequent plans on file with the DOB showed a proposed addition to the back of the building ... and increasing the size of the store at the first and second floors.

As we've previously posted, the Avenue A Theatre opened here in 1926. It was operated by RKO, followed by Loew's. It closed in 1959. The various markets here used the theater space for storage.

[1949, via Cinema Treasures]

On Jan. 12, 2012, we posted photos of the not-so-secret theater inside here from photographer Kevin Shea Adams. (You can read his post and see more photos here.)

[Kevin Shea Adams]

[Kevin Shea Adams]

Several residents were hopeful that a developer with the ways and means and desire to preserve would restore the building for use as a theater. But that's too much to ask for.

In any event, you likely won't be seeing less of this out front ...

[Bobby Williams]

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

Asbestos abatement continues at 98 Avenue A, Ben Shaoul's latest East Village trophy

Asbestos abatement continues at 98 Avenue A, Ben Shaoul's latest East Village trophy

[Bobby Williams]

Developer Ben Shaoul is the new owner of 98 Avenue A, the former theater-turned market at 100 Avenue A. Public records show that an entity called Partners Vii/98 Avenue A Owner LLC purchased the property last month for $15.5 million.

While the name of Shaoul, president of Magnum Real Estate Group, isn't listed on the records... his name appears as the owner of the property on the asbestos abatement flyers that went up this past week.





East Village Farms at 100 Avenue A between East Seventh Street and East Sixth Street closed Feb. 7, 2012. Since then, not much of anything has happened inside the space, though the sidewalk does serve as a makeshift shelter.


[March 2013 via Bobby Williams]

Last year, the landlord — Suh, Yon, Pak Associates, Inc. — was proposing to keep the store on the first and second floor, and then add a third and fourth floor for residential use. For whatever reason, the landlord never got this plan approved. Subsequent plans on file with the DOB showed a proposed addition to the back of the building ... and increasing the size of the store at the first and second floors.

Nothing is on file yet with the DOB to indicate either a demolition or new building for the address. However, a listing for the retail spaces that we noted last month provides an idea of what Shaoul and company have in mind:

Size
9,767 sf - Ground Floor
5,850 sf - Basement
*Divisions Accepted

Asking Rent
Upon Request

Currently
Vacant (New Residential Development)

Frontage
127'5" on Avenue A

Notes & Highlights:
• Landlord will deliver vanilla box space and new storefront(s)
• New residential building will be above the retail (40 units)
• Unique large piece of retail space available in the East Village

Here's is the latest rendering... (apparently the Sidewalk doesn't exist in this future)...



For now, the interior looks like this...


[By Edward Arrocha]

Shaoul is currently putting the finishing touches on Bloom 62, the luxury building on Avenue B and East Fifth Street that previously provided end-of-life care for up to 240 low-income elderly residents in the East Village. As Crain's reported yesterday, "Magnum chose the name Bloom 62 to highlight the large amount of green space in the property, including a 5,000-square-foot courtyard, and a well-planted 10,000 square foot roof."

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

New roll down gates for 98 Avenue A

This morning, we posted a rendering that offered a hint of what 98 Avenue A might look like some day... Meanwhile, workers arrived at the address of the former East Village Farm today to install new roll down gates... Photo by William Klayer.

The future of Avenue A is likely going to look something like this

Last Thursday, reps for developer Douglas Steiner filed permits to demolish the now-vacant parcel of Mary Help of Christians that includes the church, school and rectory, as we first reported.

Plans call for some type of residential-retail complex. Now a retail listing at Ripco Real Estate provides a few clues as to what is possibly in store for this parcel of Avenue A between East 11th Street and East 12th Street:



Per the listing:

Size
11,356 sf - Ground Floor
11,508 sf - Basement Possible
*Divisions possible

Asking Rent
Upon Request

Possession
4Q 2014

Currently
New Construction

Frontage
150’ on Avenue A
70’ on 11th Street

Notes & Highlights:
• New construction at the base of 140 unit market luxury rental building
• Steps from Stuyvesant Town/Peter Cooper Village with 30,000 residents
• Close proximity to Tompkins Square Park
• Located in the heart of the East Village and Alphabet City

In addition, the Ripco site has a listing for 98 Avenue A, the former theater-turned-grocery that was most recently East Village Farm between East Seventh Street and East Sixth. Currently home to the last skid row in the East Village.


[Photo from Monday by Bobby Williams]

To date, plans (that are still waiting for approval) on file with the DOB show a modest renovation of the existing space. The marketing materials at Ripco shows something far different.



Here is the rest of the listing:

Size
9,767 sf - Ground Floor
5,850 sf - Basement
*Divisions Accepted

Asking Rent
Upon Request

Currently
Vacant (New Residential Development)

Frontage
127'5" on Avenue A

Notes & Highlights:
• Landlord will deliver vanilla box space and new storefront(s)
• New residential building will be above the retail (40 units)
• Unique large piece of retail space available in the East Village
• Steps from Tompkins Square Park
• Surrounded by a mix of local and national retailers and restaurants
• Dense residential neighborhood with 11,471 households in 1/4 mile

Nothing is on file yet with the DOB to indicate either a demolition or new building for 98 Avenue A. Property records show that Suh, Yon, Pak Associates, Inc. is still the owner.

[March 2012 via Bobby Williams]

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

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

Inside the abandoned theater at East Village Farm on Avenue A

Amex shoot takes over Avenue A skid row for the afternoon

A crew was on Avenue A at East Seventh Street today filming some sort of commercial involving, well – all this...



... along the site that usually looks like this of late...





Perhaps becoming the edgy go-to spot now for shoots.

Photos today by Bobby Williams.

Today outside 100 Avenue A

Still waiting for something to happen with the building. Photo by Bobby Williams.

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

[Updated!] An afternoon in the life of 100 Avenue A

Not sure what the photo shoot was for — someone looking for that edgy, authentic East Village vibe, no doubt. In any event, the Bible Crusaders needed to move their table during the shoot.

Photos yesterday by Bobby Williams.

UPDATED

Well, our friend Barbara L. Hanson came across this scene too...





For moving, the Bible Crusaders got to pose with the models.



Thank you God!

Noted

Spotted outside 100 Avenue A yesterday by Bobby Williams.

A game of chess at 100 Avenue A

Under the awning this afternoon at 100 Avenue A, where East Village Farms closed on Feb. 7, 2012.

Photo by Bobby Williams.

Now what's going on with 100 Avenue A?

[Last March via Bobby Williams]

East Village Farms at 100 Avenue A between East Seventh Street and East Sixth Street closed Feb. 7, 2012. (A whole year already? Jeez.) Since then, not much of anything has happened inside the space, though the sidewalk does serve as a makeshift shelter.

[Feb. 2 via Bobby Williams]


[Wednesday via Bobby Williams]

However, in recent days, there has been some activity inside the former grocery...

And plans have changed here. Last year, the landlord was proposing to keep the store on the first and second floor, and then add a third and fourth floor for residential use.



For whatever reason, the landlord never got this plan approved. Now, as a tipster notes, the landlord has ditched the idea of adding the additional floors. Plans on file now with the DOB show a proposed addition to the back of the building ... and increasing the size of the store at the first and second floors.





Per our tipster: "I just wonder by increasing the floor area for the first and second floor, what sort of commercial entity are they looking for? Who would need such a large floor plate (and 2 stories) besides a market/grocery or a Duane Reade-type pharmacy? It's too big for a restaurant, bar or clothing store. So I wonder who they think will lease the space?"

Good question. Have any guesses? Or any tips about the space? Then please leave a comment or drop us a note via the EV Grieve email.

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