Openings: Bungalow on 1st Avenue

Interior photo by Stacie Joy

Bungalow debuted yesterday at 24 First Ave. between First Street and Second Street. (Previously mentioned here.) 

Several readers have noted the grand entryway to the Indian restaurant run by Vikas Khanna, host and judge of "MasterChef India," and restaurateur Jimmy Rizvi of Bombay House hospitality group. (Khanna opened Junoon on West 24th Street in 2009 and earned a Michelin star in 2011.)

In an Instagram post, Khanna said March 23 would have been his sister Radhika's 50th birthday. "We open Bungalow on the auspicious day as a tribute to her life and also to honor millions of kitchens, chefs, cook book writers, street vendors, home cooks across India — and most importantly to our MOTHERS who have nurtured our souls forever." 

Bungalow has received a lot of pre-opening press... You can read more about the place in the Times, WWD, or Vogue India, among other outlets. (Restaurant website here.)

As we've noted, two addresses — 24 First Ave. and its property mate 99-101 E. Second St. — were demolished several years ago to make room for the new residential building here called the 101 Condominium.

No. 24 's previous occupants included the cabaret Lucky Cheng's (1993-2012).

Signage alert: Bungalow from restaurateur Jimmy Rizvi on 1st Avenue

Signage arrived last week for Bungalow, a new Indian concept from restaurateur Jimmy Rizvi, whose portfolio includes GupShup in Gramercy Park. 

CB3 approved a liquor license for the space in May 2023. (Find the original questionnaire here.) 

Vikas Khanna is serving as chef and partner for Bungalow, which is expected to open on March 23. 

In an Instagram post, Khanna said March 23 would have been his sister Radhika's 50th birthday. "We open Bungalow on the auspicious day as a tribute to her life and also to honor millions of kitchens, chefs, cook book writers, street vendors, home cooks across India — and most importantly to our MOTHERS who have nurtured our souls forever." 

The signage's arrival coincided with a recent refresh of the First Avenue storefront just south of Second Street  ... in the retail portion of the 101 Condominium (the residential entrance is on Second Street).

Two addresses — 24 First Ave. and its property mate 99-101 E. Second St. — were demolished several years ago to make room for the new residential building.

No. 24 's previous occupants included the cabaret Lucky Cheng's (1993-2012) and Club Baths, the first openly gay-owned bathhouse (1971-1983)... and Cave Canem and La Nouvelle Justine in between.

A full FULL reveal on 1st Avenue and 2nd Street

OK! Here's a look at the southeast corner of First Avenue and Second Street... where workers have cleared away most of the construction materials from outside the all-new 24 First Ave., including at the Second Street side of the development.

The two buildings that made up the L-shaped parcel — 24 First Ave. and  99-101 E. Second St. — were demolished to make room for the 101 Condominium, a 7-story, 23-unit condoplex.

And here's a view from the side along First Street between First Avenue and Avenue A...

Our previous post has the 411 on the 101.

Previously on EV Grieve:

• Onetime home of Lucky Cheng's and adjacent property sell for $12 million

• Demolition permits filed to bring down former Lucky Cheng's building on 1st Avenue

• The 411 on the 101 Condominium

Full reveal at the 101 Condominium's 1st Avenue side

A quick update: Workers recently removed the sidewalk bridge from outside the all-new 24 First Ave. — aka the 101 Condominium, Rybeck Development's 7-story, 23-unit condoplex ... 

The Second Street side of the development is still under wraps... as you will recall, two addresses — 24 First Ave. and its property mate 99-101 E. Second St. — were demolished to make room for the 101...

Our previous post has the 411 on the 101.

Previously on EV Grieve:

• Onetime home of Lucky Cheng's and adjacent property sell for $12 million

• Demolition permits filed to bring down former Lucky Cheng's building on 1st Avenue

• The 411 on the 101 Condominium

Partial reveal at the 101 Condominium

Workers late last week removed the scaffolding and netting from the all-new 24 First Ave. — aka the 101 Condominium, Rybeck Development's 7-story, 23-unit condoplex.

The Second Street side of the project remains behind the construction shroud... 

The building will feature residences from studios to three-bedroom units. (No mention of pricing.) Listed amenities include a full-time doorman, fitness center, lounge area, grill & wet bar and an "immaculate indoor/outdoor park." 

And here are two renderings of the building's lounge area for tenants via the 101 website...

Two addresses — 24 First Ave. and its property mate 99-101 E. Second St. — were demolished to make room for the 101.

No. 24 's previous occupants included the cabaret Lucky Cheng's (1993-2012) and Club Baths, the first openly gay-owned bathhouse (1971-1983)... and Cave Canem and La Nouvelle Justine in between.

Previously on EV Grieve:
• Building that housed Lucky Cheng's on 1st Avenue now on the auction block

• Onetime home of Lucky Cheng's and adjacent property sell for $12 million

• 7-story residential building pending at the former Lucky Cheng's space

• Demolition permits filed to bring down former Lucky Cheng's building on 1st Avenue

• The 411 on the 101 Condominium

Construction watch: 24 1st Ave./101 2nd St.

Nearly seven have months have passed since we checked in on the 101 Condominium, Rybeck Development's condoplex on First Avenue and Second Street.

There has been a lot of progress — despite the work stoppage during the COVID-19 PAUSE. The 7-story, 23-unit residential building, looks to have reached the top, as this Second Street view shows...

The work includes Saturdays, which has annoyed some neighbors. This past Saturday, a nearby resident wrote in to say: "They are using concrete pumps on diesel engine trucks — the engine never turns off and gets very loud during the pumping process — plus foghorns and car horns to communicate."

All this, the neighbor says, is at odds with the After Hour Variance Permits that notes "no loud noises or disturbances."

Calls to the DOB and 311 have not yielded any results about the Saturday disturbances.

"I don't want construction stopped, mainly because I know it will never happen," said the resident. "But the Saturday noise after a whole week of it is just annoying."

As for what's to come, the studios are starting at $895,000. The listed amenities include a full-time doorman, fitness center, lounge area, grill & wet bar and an "immaculate indoor/outdoor park."

Two addresses — 24 First Ave. and its property mate 99-101 E. Second St. — were demolished to make room for the 101.

No. 24 's previous occupants included the cabaret Lucky Cheng's (1993-2012) and Club Baths, the first openly gay-owned bathhouse (1971-1983)... and Cave Canem and La Nouvelle Justine in between.

Previously on EV Grieve:
• Building that housed Lucky Cheng's on 1st Avenue now on the auction block

• Onetime home of Lucky Cheng's and adjacent property sell for $12 million

• 7-story residential building pending at the former Lucky Cheng's space

• Demolition permits filed to bring down former Lucky Cheng's building on 1st Avenue

• The 411 on the 101 Condominium

More details made public about the 101 Condominium on 1st Avenue and 2nd Street

Workers put up the broker bunting yesterday at the 101 Condominium, Rybeck Development's condoplex rising on First Avenue and Second Street...



The signage offers more details on this 7-story, 23-unit residential building, including pricing. The studios are starting at $895,000. (No other pricing is mentioned.) The listed amenities include a full-time doorman, fitness center, lounge area, grill & wet bar and an "immaculate indoor/outdoor park" ...



Here's are a few new factoids about the building via the 101 website:

The 101’s facade of charcoal-gray masonry and pristine symmetrical glass surrounds its reinforced concrete structure in subtle curves, boasting a design that is, like the East Village itself, bold enough to dare and strong enough to last.

And!

The 101 developers have gone beyond the building code’s requirements to cushion and shield each residence with spray foam insulation. The absolute standard in modern homes, spray foam insulation seals your walls, floors, and ceiling cavities against air movement, including spaces around electrical outlets and light fixtures, and where walls meet windows and doorways. Never losing its shape, spray foam provides sound attenuation while reducing air flow, minimizing drafts and cold floors. Save on your monthly energy bill while keeping your home quieter, warmer, and more tranquil.

Sales will commence in the the third quarter of 2020.

Two addresses — 24 First Ave. and its property mate 99-101 E. Second St. — were demolished to make room for the 101.

No. 24 's previous occupants included the cabaret Lucky Cheng's (1993-2012) and Club Baths, the first openly gay-owned bathhouse (1971-1983)... and Cave Canem and La Nouvelle Justine in between.

Previously on EV Grieve:
• Building that housed Lucky Cheng's on 1st Avenue now on the auction block

• Onetime home of Lucky Cheng's and adjacent property sell for $12 million

• 7-story residential building pending at the former Lucky Cheng's space

• Demolition permits filed to bring down former Lucky Cheng's building on 1st Avenue

• The 411 on the 101 Condominium

Foundation watch: 24 1st Ave.

On our last visit to 24 First Ave. and its property mate 99-101 E. Second St., workers had just demolished the structures on the property.



These buildings were leveled to make way for a 7-story, 22-unit residential building called The 101 Condominium.


[Rendering of the 1st Avenue side via Zproekt Architects]

Work is now in the pit stage... here's a look through the blogger portals on the plywood to see how foundation is coming along...


[1st Avenue side]


[2nd Street side]

No. 24 's previous occupants included the cabaret Lucky Cheng's (1993-2012) and Club Baths, the first openly gay-owned bathhouse (1971-1983)... and Cave Canem and La Nouvelle Justine in between.

Previously on EV Grieve:
• Building that housed Lucky Cheng's on 1st Avenue now on the auction block

• Onetime home of Lucky Cheng's and adjacent property sell for $12 million

• 7-story residential building pending at the former Lucky Cheng's space

• Demolition permits filed to bring down former Lucky Cheng's building on 1st Avenue

• The 411 on the 101 Condominium


[Photo from 2011 by Jeremiah Moss]

24 1st Ave. has been demolished

Workers have finished bringing down 24 First Ave. ... it now joins its property mate, 99-101 E. Second St., in demolition.

These buildings were leveled to make way for a 7-story, 22-unit residential building called The 101 Condominium.


[Rendering of the 1st Avenue side via Zproekt Architects]

24 First Ave.'s previous occupants included the cabaret Lucky Cheng's (1993-2012) and Club Baths, the first openly gay-owned bathhouse (1971-1983)... and Cave Canem and La Nouvelle Justine in between.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Building that housed Lucky Cheng's on 1st Avenue now on the auction block

Onetime home of Lucky Cheng's and adjacent property sell for $12 million

7-story residential building pending at the former Lucky Cheng's space

Demolition permits filed to bring down former Lucky Cheng's building on 1st Avenue

The 411 on the 101 Condominium

The 411 on the 101 Condominium

[99-101 E. 2nd St. from last month]

As we've been reporting, 99-101 E. Second St. and its property mate, 24 First Ave. (the onetime home of Lucky Cheng's), are making way for a 7-story, 22-unit residential building with ground-floor retail via developer Sergey Rybak.


[24 1st Ave.]

We first saw renderings back in February. Now Rybak has released more details on what to expect. For starters, the condoplex is now known as The 101 Condominium...


[Rendering of the 1st Avenue side via Zproekt Architects]

The 101 Condo website notes this in all caps:

HIP GROWS UP.
CHIC EVOLVES.
STYLE ENDURES.

The site also contains several interior renderings ...





Residential amenities include a gym as well as an indoor/outdoor communal courtyard with lounge areas, cooking areas and a wet bar. Residences run in size from studios to three-bedroom units. The 101 will also feature "two one-of-a-kind luxury penthouse units exclusive to 101 East 2nd Street." No word on pricing.

Project delivery is expected by the first quarter of 2021, per New York Yimby.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Building that housed Lucky Cheng's on 1st Avenue now on the auction block

Onetime home of Lucky Cheng's and adjacent property sell for $12 million

7-story residential building pending at the former Lucky Cheng's space

Demolition permits filed to bring down former Lucky Cheng's building on 1st Avenue

Demolition watch: 99-101 E. 2nd St. (Stop Work Order edition)

Here's a look at what was 99-101 E. Second St. just east of First Avenue...



This two-story space housed several short-lived restaurant concepts in recent years, including Bento Burger ... Marfa... and Waikiki Wally's.

No. 99-101 and its property mate, 24 First Ave. (below), are coming down to make way for a 7-story, 22-unit residential building called 101E2 via developer Sergey Rybak.



Meanwhile, on Wednesday afternoon, we spotted a DOB honcho outside the plywood speaking with a worker... telling him that he needed to have — something to the effect of — the proper paperwork for the property.

The official then slapped a full Stop Work Order on the site...



According to the DOB website: "STOP ALL WORK, PROVIDE FENCE AS PER SSP [Site Safety Plan], PROVIDE MONITORING PLAN/REPORT."

Previously on EV Grieve:
Building that housed Lucky Cheng's on 1st Avenue now on the auction block

Onetime home of Lucky Cheng's and adjacent property sell for $12 million

7-story residential building pending at the former Lucky Cheng's space

Demolition permits filed to bring down former Lucky Cheng's building on 1st Avenue

Plywood report: 101E2, aka 101 E. 2nd St.

[24 1st Ave.]

The plywood arrived this week outside 24 First Ave. and 99-101 E. Second St., which have been in the preliminary demolition phases...



As previously reported, developer Sergey Rybak has plans for a 7-story, 22-unit residential building called 101E2 on these properties. The Rybak website lists that the residences are condos with ground-floor space designated for retail use.

If this helps ... an aerial view of the block, showing how the two buildings are currently configured ...



The plywood rendering is the same one we saw last year via the Ryback website... this appears to be the Second Street side...



The Ryback website now has a second rendering, which looks like the First Avenue profile...



Hayne Suthon, who owned and and operated Lucky Cheng's, the cross-dressing cabaret at 24 First Ave., owned the properties. She died of cancer at age 57 in June 2014.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Building that housed Lucky Cheng's on 1st Avenue now on the auction block

Onetime home of Lucky Cheng's and adjacent property sell for $12 million

7-story residential building pending at the former Lucky Cheng's space

Demolition permits filed to bring down former Lucky Cheng's building on 1st Avenue

These two buildings are now wrapped and apparently prepped for demolition

Workers spent part of last week putting up sidewalk bridges and scaffolding at the adjacent properties — 24 First Ave. and 99-101 E. Second St. ...



Per our previous posts, demolition permits are on file to bring down both buildings. Developer Sergey Rybak was the high bidder ($12 million and change) during an auction earlier this year ... he has submitted plans for a 7-story, 22-unit residential building on the property of the current 24 First Ave. and 99-101 E. Second St.

The Rybak website list that the residences are condos (building name for now — 101E2). The ground-floor space is designated for retail use.

And the open-air dumpster marked "asbestos" that alarmed a few nearby neighbors was removed as of Friday.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Onetime home of Lucky Cheng's and adjacent property sell for $12 million

Demolition permits filed to bring down former Lucky Cheng's building on 1st Avenue

Demolition permits filed for 99-101 E. 2nd St.; first look at the condoplex to come

Preliminary demolition work at 99-101 E. 2nd St. is — surprise — in the asbestos-removal phase

Preliminary demolition work at 99-101 E. 2nd St. is — surprise — in the asbestos-removal phase

The two-level 99-101 E. Second St. at First Avenue will be demolished in the weeks/months ahead... but not before workers remove the asbestos from the space.

That operation is apparently underway...



One EVG reader thought this set-up looked a little casual given the potential severity of the work... The reader also noted the lack of notice, which has prompted concerns among a few neighbors who learned of this activity via a sign on the dumpster...



As previously reported, developer Sergey Rybak has submitted plans for a 7-story, 22-unit residential building on the property of the current 24 First Ave. and 99-101 E. Second St.



And as a reminder, here's a rendering for the space via the Rybak website...



According to the site, the residences will be condos (building name for now — 101E2). The ground-floor space is designated for retail use.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Onetime home of Lucky Cheng's and adjacent property sell for $12 million

Demolition permits filed to bring down former Lucky Cheng's building on 1st Avenue

Demolition permits filed for 99-101 E. 2nd St.; first look at the condoplex to come

Demolition permits filed for 99-101 E. 2nd St.; first look at the condoplex to come

As previously reported, developer Sergey Rybak has submitted plans for a 7-story, 22-unit residential building on the property of the current 24 First Ave. and 99-101 E. Second St.



The demolition permits were filed with the city back on June 1 to bring down 24 First Ave.

And last Thursday, the permits arrived to demolish No. 99-101 — just a formality at this point.

Meanwhile, here's the first look at the rendering for the space via the Rybak website...



According to the site, the residences will be condos (building name for now — 101E2).

No. 99-101 has been vacant for the past six years (there was that whole Pride & Joy BBQ debacle). It housed a variety of short-lived restaurants in recent years, including Bento Burger ... Marfa... and Waikiki Wally's.

The work permits for the new building show that there'll be 600 square feet for commercial purposes.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Onetime home of Lucky Cheng's and adjacent property on the development market for $26 million

Building that housed Lucky Cheng's on 1st Avenue now on the auction block

Onetime home of Lucky Cheng's and adjacent property sell for $12 million

7-story residential building pending at the former Lucky Cheng's space

Demolition permits filed to bring down former Lucky Cheng's building on 1st Avenue