Picturesque ivy coming down on East 8th Street

The abundant ivy on the east-facing wall that frames the De Colores Community Yard & Cultural Center on Eighth Street between Avenue B and Avenue C won't be around for much longer.

A volunteer gardener at De Colores explained that the ivy has been obscuring some windows at 309 E. Eighth St. and has been harboring an untold number of pests. ("Lots of bugs, rodents, squirrels, bees, wasps, birds — you name it.")

In addition, parts of the wall that haven't been covered with ivy are also damaged, so there's some hope that the landlord (Steve Croman) of the gut-renovated building will make some repairs on the exterior.

The ivy is nearly 3-feet thick in areas and is nearly 60-feet high.

"The main roots — the size of a tree trunk — have been cut and it will probably start dying soon," the volunteer gardener said. "People love the ivy and stop and take pictures of it all the time, so here's your last chance."

New sidewalk bridge for 309 E. 8th St. as tenants face landlord Steve Croman in court

[309 E. Eighth St. file photo]

As The Real Deal reported, five tenants of 309 E. Eighth St have filed suit seeking a halt to construction at the building owned by Steve Croman of 9300 Realty.

This is on top of the lawsuit some residents filed against Croman here claiming that he has has engaged in a "campaign of harassment, abuse and neglect" since taking over the property between Avenue B and Avenue C in December 2012.

According to The Real Deal, Croman will face the tenants today in New York City Housing Court.

Meanwhile, on Saturday, we noticed a truck parked in a rather dangerous fashion on Avenue B at East Eighth Street. Workers were unloaded pieces for a scaffolding.



Turns out that it was for a new sidewalk bridge outside 309 E. Eighth St.



Previously on EV Grieve:
Report: Steve Croman facing another lawsuit from East 8th Street residents

Report: East 8th Street residents sue landlord Steve Croman, allege intimidation, harassment

Watch a lot of people speak out against Steve Croman and 9300 Realty

Report: State Attorney General launches Steve Croman investigation

Report: Steve Croman facing another lawsuit from East 8th Street residents

As previously reported, two tenants at 309 E. Eighth St. are suing their landlord, Steve Croman of 9300 Realty, claiming that he has has engaged in a "campaign of harassment, abuse and neglect" since taking over the property between Avenue B and Avenue C in December 2012.

Now five tenants have filed suit seeking a halt to construction at No. 309, as The Real Deal reported.

According to the suit, filed Aug. 7, the five tenants claim that the landlord has engaged in gut renovations of multiple vacant apartments at the building since 2013, causing the ceilings to collapse in several occupied apartments.

The renovations at the 17-unit building also caused a gas leak that resulted in a month-long gas suspension, according to lawyers for the tenants.

"I would say that this case is symptomatic of what is going on in the Lower East Side today," said attorney Sadia Rahman, who represents the five tenants. "Violations like the broken front door and broken cornices have been in place for years, but owners instead are investing considerable sums of money into vacant apartments so that they can be deregulated and rented at market value."

As the Daily News reported on July 26, State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman has launched a probe into Croman's potentially illegal tactics. On July 25, the Daily News reported that Schneiderman slapped a cease-and-desist order on Falconite, who "tenants say has engaged in a campaign of harassment and intimidation to force them out."

Meanwhile, Croman and his wife Harriet, an official with 9300 Realty, have been enjoying another August in the Hamptons. On Tuesday, Page Six reported that the Cromans "created a Playboy-themed bash ... complete with a replica of Hugh Hefner’s famed grotto in the center of a tent. Completing the theme, pale pink carpeting surrounded a dance floor."

In her Gimme Shelter column at the Post yesterday, Jennifer Gould Keil noted that the Cromans paid $650,000 this month to rent a Water Mill home "while their own beach mansion, in Sagaponack, is being built."

As for the Playboy bash, "some of Croman's guests told Gimme Shelter they wondered what the couple is celebrating."

Report: East 8th Street residents sue landlord Steve Croman, allege intimidation, harassment

[309 E. Eighth St.]

Tenants at 309 E. Eighth St. are suing their landlord, Steve Croman, claiming that he has has engaged in a "campaign of harassment, abuse and neglect" since taking over the property between Avenue B and Avenue C in December 2012, according to The Real Deal.

The lawsuit, filed Aug. 6 in Manhattan Supreme Court, also alleges that Croman is using former police officer Anthony Falconite to intimidate rent stabilized tenants into leaving the building.

As the Daily News reported on July 26, State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman has launched a probe into Croman's potentially illegal tactics. On July 25, the Daily News reported that Schneiderman slapped a cease-and-desist order on Falconite, who "tenants say has engaged in a campaign of harassment and intimidation to force them out."