New East Village Hotel may eventually look like a Yes album cover

We've been watching the painting on the new East Village Hotel at 147 First Ave. and East Ninth Street.

Looks like it's still in progress, so we'll check back later... So far, has a little 1970s vinyl art feel to it...

h/t @JacobDAnderson

Previously on EV Grieve:
[Updated] Hotel Toshi takes up residency at newly renovated 147 First Avenue

The Bean's First Avenue location opens Thursday

The Bean's Ike Escava tells us that the location at 147 First Ave. (at East Ninth Street) will open on Thursday ... Meanwhile, EVG regular jdx wandered into the location yesterday for a look...











Previously on EV Grieve:
A bigger Bean coming now to 147 First Ave.

Rumors: Ground floor at 147 First Avenue will include the Bean AND a bar

The Bean is now apparently opening on every corner in the East Village

[Updated] Hotel Toshi takes up residency at newly renovated 147 First Avenue

Funny, back in May 2010, a construction worker told Matt at Neighbohoodr that 147 First Avenue was going to be a motel. Ha, ha. Good one!

Anyway, work looks pretty complete on the upper levels here at East Ninth Street... and we've been waiting for any kind of rental-condo listings to go live at the Icon Realty website.

Well, turns out the construction worker was nearly right — the space is now part of the Hotel Toshi/Smart Apartments empire. Per the Smart Apartments website ...

"This is a self-service apartment style hotel located in the East Village on the corner of E9th Street and 1st Avenue. There is no front desk and check-ins must be completed at an iPad kiosk located in the building lobby. At a compact 280 square feet, this corner unit studio apartment packs everything you need for a modern and comfortable stay in New York City. The East Village is full of things to do: consignment and vintage shopping (Tokio 7, Ina), brunch (Prune, Sunburnt Cow), bars, cafes, lounges, and boutique shopping."

We typed in some random dates this month to see about rates. The "studio: corner series" is $299 a night ... and the "studio — standard" is $279.

[Updated] Here is the temporary certificate of occupancy.... the city issued this on May 4; it expires on Aug. 2. (The PDF is here.) It shows a Class B designation, which allows for short-term occupancy, such as hotel rooms...



Icon Realty is also listed on DOB permits as the owner of 325 E. 10th St. where another short-term apartment has been operating ...

Previously on EV Grieve:
Ninth Street and First Avenue shocker: Motel ... Hello?

Hotel Toshi takes over 325 E. 10th St.

When Hotel Toshi took over an East Village building

Hotel Toshi hit with all sorts of violations on East 10th Street

The Bean sprouts artwork on First Avenue

Work continues at the incoming Bean location at 147 Ave. at East Ninth Street ... in the last few days, Walker Fee, who is part of artist Nicolina's team, has been creating the artwork here... adds a nice splash of color to a cellblocky-looking building...

Photos by William Klayer

A bigger Bean coming now to 147 First Ave.

Last August, we first reported that the Bean would open an outpost on First Avenue at Ninth Street, home once to Anjelica's Herbs. At the time, the Bean planned on just taking the corner location. The smaller space on East Ninth Street remained for rent.

However, the Bean's Ike Escava told us that they ended up leasing the adjacent storefront as well, and they will combine the two. He said that the work will begin next week, with a June opening in mind.

Escava also said that he will commission Jim Power, who created mosaics for the Bean's Second Avenue location, to do more art for the new cafe ... along with other artists, including Nicolina.

Meanwhile, no word yet on when the upstairs will be ready for residential use. And hey — it was just two years ago that workers said they were putting in a motel here.

Plywood removal on First Avenue shows off the new Bean; plus, mystery space!

Workers yesterday removed the plywood around the ground floor at 147 First Avenue at East Ninth Street...

And it looks as if there is room for two storefronts here...

Ike Escava confirmed last night that the Bean, as we first reported, will be taking the front part of the space on the corner... he said that he did not know who the other tenant would be...

Regardless, there are always rumors... last fall a reader heard that a bar was taking the other part of the space. (This tidbit from the always reliable construction worker!)

The for rent banner that went up in August 2010 did tout this as restaurant space... so this is certainly a possibility...


According to the listings at Icon Realty Management, the second space is still available. The space is 700 square feet with an asking price of $7,000 per month. Per the listing (PDF):

[A] brand new fully gut renovated building, in the heart of the East Village is close by to the collegiate environment of the nearby universities. This new space with a floor to ceiling frameless glass storefront is perfect for all retail or a restaurant.

The upper levels will soon be home to nice apartments.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Rumors: Ground floor at 147 First Avenue will include the Bean AND a bar

Ninth Street and First Avenue shocker: Motel ... Hello?

Blockbuster: 147 First Ave. set for demolition

Rumors: Ground floor at 147 First Avenue will include the Bean AND a bar

As we first reported, The Bean is opening an outpost at the former home of Anjelica's Herbs on First Avenue and Ninth Street...

And, now, that persistent rumor: The ground floor will also house a bar. Per an EVG reader:

"I heard from someone who talked to the workmen that a BAR is going to take half the former herb store on the ground floor. The Bean will have half, and a bar will have the other half. I dunno, seems like very small spaces for two establishments. And dear God, ANOTHER bar???"

Yes! The always reliable construction worker! Sure, it's possible. But we've been wrong here before... remember the motel? Or the full demolition? (Hey, we're one out of three so far!)

Meanwhile! Looks like the painting is continuing... and we see some charcoal gray creeping up...

The upper floors are still set for luxury apartments... still looking like what a reader described as something that blew in from the Hamptons...

First Avenue white out

As we first pointed out, the Bean will open up in the retail space at 147 First Avenue at Ninth Street, the former home of Anjelica's Herbs ...

As Curbed reported last year, developer Terrence Lowenberg of Icon Realty is the owner of 147 First Avenue ... and he hired Ramy Issac — "the controversial penthouse king of the East Village" — to design the luxury apartments coming to the upper floors here...

Per the DOB, there aren't any additional floors or penthouses slated for the property. While Issac & Stern haven't released any renderings, we have an idea of what it might look like... As you may have noticed in recent days, workers spent the weekend painting the building white...

Friday!

Saturday!

Sunday!

Monday!

One reader thinks the building will ultimately "look like something that blew in from the Hamptons."

EV Grieve reader Anthony Devers passed along a few before shots...

Previously on EV Grieve:
Ninth Street and First Avenue shocker: Motel ... Hello?

Blockbuster: 147 First Ave. set for demolition

The Bean is now apparently opening on every corner in the East Village

Last week, we reported that the Bean was opening at the Crazy Landlord building on Second Avenue and East Third Street...

[Via The Bean on Facebook]

... and they just opened on Broadway and East 12th Street...

Now EV Grieve regular Esquared sends this along... sign went up today on First Avenue at Ninth Street, the former home of Anjelica's Herbs ...

The upper levels will soon be home to luxury apartments.

AND. According to their Facebook page, they will remain at Third Street and First Avenue, their original location.

Womp, there it is: Tagging 147 E. Ninth St.

We usually don't note this kind of thing (or do we?), but Jim Joe/WOMP broke out the fire extinguisher here on the side of 147 First Ave. at Ninth Street, which will be demolished become a motel become luxury rentals with a yet-unknown ground-floor restaurant.

This Womp went up in the last few days...

Previously on EV Grieve:
Ninth Street and First Avenue shocker: Motel ... Hello?

Blockbuster: 147 First Ave. set for demolition

Sidewalk shed returns to 147 First Ave.

Workers arrived this morning at First Avenue and Ninth Street to erect a new sidewalk shed for the mystery building...

Workers removed the other sidewalk shed here last Wednesday... The upper levels will soon be home to luxury apartments.

Previously.

Sidewalk shed comes down at 147 First Ave. — now what?

Several readers noted yesterday that workers removed the sidewalk shed from 147 First Ave. at Ninth Street... Not much has seemingly been going on here since we reported that the space would be demolished... or become a motel.

Anyway!

The "for rent" signs went up in August...





Icon Realty has the listing for the ground-floor space ... which states "perfect for retail store, restaurant." (We sent an e-mail to Icon asking for details.)

We're not sure what's next for the rest of the building. The DOB issued new permits last week for work on "apartment houses."

Last year, Curbed reported that developer Terrence Lowenberg was the owner .. and he hired the notorious Issac & Stern firm as the architects. (New York magazine called Ramy Issac "the controversial penthouse king of the East Village.")

Here's what the space looks like as of last evening.

There's also no word yet where the panhandlers have relocated... In any event, keep an eye on this space.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Ninth Street and First Avenue shocker: Motel ... Hello?

Blockbuster: 147 First Ave. set for demolition

Is 147 First Avenue the current ugliest building in the East Village?

A reader sent along a note about 147 First Avenue at Ninth Street... most recently the home of Angelica's Herbs ...



The e-mail read, in part:

Have you seen what has to be the plug-ugliest building in the EV, 147 1st Avenue, NW corner of 9th Street?

It used to be a herb store ... and it might become a restaurant soon.

But what about the ugly floors above it? The ones that are boarded up and look more like an ex-prison than anything else?

The ones that make the building easily the ugliest in the EV?

Hmm, I don't know. Is this the ugliest building in the East Village?




[Sidewalk photo by Blue Glass]

Previously on EV Grieve:
Ninth Street and First Avenue shocker: Motel ... Hello?

Blockbuster: 147 First Ave. set for demolition

Stop Work Oder for 147 First Ave.

Here at 147 First Avenue at Ninth Street...



...a new Stop Work Order was stuck on the front gate... so new, there's no record of it just yet on the DOB website....



The most recent complaint was posted on Friday:

CLR STS THAT ON THE SOUTHWEST CORNER THE ARE SLEDGEHAMMERING BEARING WALLS AND THE BUILDING STRUCTURE IS BEING AFFECTED. CONTRARY TO APPROVED PLANS. THEY ARE ALSO REMOVING BRICK FROM BEARING WALL

The space will likely eventually be home to new fancy apartments and restaurants....

Previously on EV Grieve:
Ninth Street and First Avenue shocker: Motel ... Hello?

Blockbuster: 147 First Ave. set for demolition

Motel for First Avenue and Ninth Street looks less likely now

Several readers have passed along this news (thank you!) after signage went up on Friday...We now have a better idea of what's going in here at 147 First Avenue at Ninth Street...




So much for our motel theory! Anyway, whatever comes here promises to drive up the rents for nearby businesses who are already struggling... soon, this whole stretch will be one big Momofuku...

And EV Grieve reader Blue Glass sent along a photo with another angle...




Previously on EV Grieve:
Ninth Street and First Avenue shocker: Motel ... Hello?

Blockbuster: 147 First Ave. set for demolition

Hidden documents expose sidewalk troubles on First Avenue

While walking by 147 First Ave. the other day at Ninth Street., which may or may not be destroyed ... or turned into a motel.... I noticed some important-looking documents stuffed to the side of the front door... looked as if they'd been there for a few days. So. Naturally. I took a peek.

Well! Apparently the sidewalk along here needs some work.



So says the city, anyway...








Anyway, all sorts of letters and charts and stuff to say that the sidewalk needs to be fixed... or the owners (Midon Realty) will have to pay the city for doing it for them...which could be $10 or $13 a square foot....

Previously on EV Grieve:
Blockbuster: 147 First Ave. set for demolition