Excavator spotted at 1st Avenue site as plans for 7-story residential building await city approval

Photos by Steven 

On Friday, we spotted a lone excavator in the pit where three buildings — 33-37 First Ave. — once stood on this NW corner of Second Street. 

This is the first notable activity we've seen here since workers removed the sidewalk bridge in late June. 

To update on the situation here, a 7-story residential building with ground-floor retail is still awaiting city approval for its new address, 88 E. Second St. 

According to DOB paperwork, the proposed building will be 19,278 square feet, with 2,994 square feet designated for commercial space. Plans call for 22 residential units, which would likely be rentals given the square footage.

Read our previous posts for more about the project and prior businesses at 33-37 First Ave.

The NW corner of 1st Avenue and 2nd Street awaits its new development

Late last week, workers removed the sidewalk bridge from around the NW corner of First Avenue and Second Street, ending the demoliton phase of this new development...

And a view of the pit... (photo by Steven)...

As previously reported, a 7-floor residential building with ground-floor retail is awaiting city approval for the new address, 88 E. Second St. 

According to DOB paperwork, the proposed building will be 19,278 square feet, with 2,994 square feet designated for commercial space. Plans call for 22 residential units, likely rentals, given the square footage. 

Read our previous posts for more about the project and prior businesses at 33-37 First Ave. 

Previously on EV Grieve:

• 37 1st Ave., once home to some East Village music history, is now rubble

37 1st Ave., once home to some East Village music history, is now rubble

The three buildings at 33-37 First Ave. are now a pile of bricks and rubble on the NW corner of Second Street. 

Late last spring, EVG's Stacie Joy toured the No. 37's basement, home to HaveAHeart, one of the last underground East Village music studio spaces. 

Stacie and her tour guide also ventured upstairs to the apartments that had been vacated ahead of the pending demoliton...

Aside from the once-common basement studio, it turns out there was another music connection upstairs at No. 37.

Billy Ficca, a drummer best known for his work in Television, The Waitresses and The Washington Squares, lived here... there was even a piece of a drum kit left behind...

You can read about pending development coming to this parcel here.

The present and future of the NW corner of 1st Avenue and 2nd Street

The three-parcel property at 33-37 First Ave. is disappearing. Workers are focusing on demolishing the tallest building, the 5-story No. 37 (where the New Double Dragon was in the retail space).

As previously reported, a 7-floor residential building with ground-floor retail is now slated for 33-37 First Ave., the vacant three-building assemblage between Second Street and Third Street. 

According to DOB paperwork, the proposed building — using the address 88 E. Second St. — will be 19,278 square feet, with 2,994 square feet designated for commercial space. Plans call for 22 residential units, likely rentals, given the square footage. 

We haven't seen a rendering for the project yet... though we did spot this schematic for the address...

If this is, in fact, an accurate look at the new building, it appears the residential entrance will be on Second Street. 

The filings list Manny Ashourzadeh of Romah Management Corp. as the owner.

Demolition watch: The NW corner of 1st Avenue and 2nd Street

Top photo from Friday by Steven; others from Saturday

Demo crews have made pretty quick work of the two two-level structures at 33 and 35 First Ave. at Second Street (33 housed First Avenue Laundry Center on the main level and Serenity Spa upstairs) ...

As previously reported, a 7-floor residential building with ground-floor retail is now slated for 33-37 First Ave., the vacant three-building assemblage between Second Street and Third Street. 

According to DOB paperwork, the proposed building — using the address 88 E. Second St. — will be 19,278 square feet, with 2,994 square feet designated for commercial space. Plans call for 22 residential units, likely rentals, given the square footage.

Spa treatment

The demoliton has recently picked up on the NW corner of First Avenue at Second Street... where workers are gutting the former Serenity Spa on the second level...

As we reported earlier last week, a 7-floor residential building with ground-floor retail is now slated for 33-37 First Ave., the vacant three-building assemblage between Second Street and Third Street. 

Developers filed the permits with the city this past Friday. According to the paperwork, the proposed building — using the address 88 E. Second St. — will be 19,278 square feet, with 2,994 square feet designated for commercial space. Plans call for 22 residential units (likely rentals, given the square footage). 

The filings list Manny Ashourzadeh of Romah Management Corp. as the owner (they also have a 13-floor building in the works on Fifth Street and Avenue D). Queens-based Gerry Caliendo is named as the architect of record.

Demolition permits were filed last summer.

A 7-floor development in the works for the NW corner of 1st Avenue and 2nd Street

A 7-floor residential building with ground-floor retail is now slated for 33-37 First Ave., the vacant three-building assemblage between Second Street and Third Street. 

Developers filed the permits with the city this past Friday. According to the paperwork, the proposed building — using the address 88 E. Second St. — will be 19,278 square feet, with 2,994 square feet designated for commercial space. Plans call for 22 residential units (likely rentals, given the square footage). 

The filings list Manny Ashourzadeh of Romah Management Corp. as the owner (they also have a 13-floor building in the works on Fifth Street and Avenue D). Queens-based Gerry Caliendo is named as the architect of record.

Demolition permits were filed last summer, and some asbestos abatement taking place. 

New Double Dragon, the last business in these buildings, closed last July. The basement was home to the HaveAHeart recording studio.

The First Avenue Laundry Center and the Serenity Spa upstairs were previous business casualties in these three buildings. The other retail spot had been various quick-serve places, last occupied in 2015.

An EVG reader shared this view of the three doomed buildings that will yield the new development... 

If this helps... the three buildings to the left of the spaces that house Popeyes and d.b.a at 39 and 41 First Ave. ...

2024 development watch: 33-37 1st Ave.

As we start the new year, we'll look at a few of the developments that will likely take shape in 2024.

We begin with 33-37 First Ave., a vacant three-building assemblage between Second Street and Third Street.

Demolition permits are already on file. While some asbestos abatement occurred over the summer, we haven't seen much other activity. 

So far, no sign of any new building permits — or renderings to provide a clue as to the development in the works. Public records list R.M.H. Estates as the landlord of both properties.

New Double Dragon, the last business in these buildings, closed in July. Perhaps in 2024, owner Shawn Lin will open another quick-serve Chinese restaurant in a new location. At least we know where that great New Double Dragon signage is.

Thursday's parting shot

Photo by Steven 

A future East Village trivia question: What was the last ad on the south-facing wall at 37 First Ave. before it was demolished? 

Answer: Little Simz for Vans.

Asbestos abatement ahead of demolition at the NW corner of 1st Avenue and 2nd Street

Photos by Stacie Joy 

As we previously reported, demolition permits are on file for the three-building parcel of 33-37 First Ave. at Second Street. 

Last week, asbestos abatement notices went up at 33 First Ave., the building on the corner that previously housed the First Avenue Laundry Center (and the spa upstairs) ...

Asbestos abatement notices also just arrived at No. 37,where New Double Dragon was the longtime tenant... the quick-serve restaurant closed earlier this month with hopes of relocating someday. The middle space, No. 35, has been vacant since Stars shuttered in 2015. The storefront had been home to a string of concepts, including Empire Pizza II, IL Gusto Italiano and Farid's Middle Eastern Grill Food & Pizza, among others. 

Public records list R.M.H. Estates as the landlord of all three properties dating to 1984. There are no permits on file for a new building on this corner as of now.

In other news, there's a new mural on the wall along Second Street (where KRS-One was) ... a statement piece from Adrian Wilson (@Plannedalism) incorporating the immigrants crossing sign that the California Department of Transportation started using in 1990...

We've also spotted workers prepping the south-facing wall at atop No. 37 for a new ad.

Previously on EV Grieve:

• Goodbye for now to HaveAHeart Studio, the rehearsal space below New Double Dragon

• On 1st Avenue, New Double Dragon is closing, and maybe reopening

• First Avenue Laundry Center is closed for now

[Updated] TODAY is the last day in business on 1st Avenue for East Village staple New Double Dragon

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy 

Updated 7/5: The restaurant was able to stay open for a little longer... through Friday, July 7. There is a limited selection of menu items available. You can call (212) 598-0730.

-----

Today (July 4) is the last day in business for New Double Dragon, the inexpensive and reliable quick-serve Chinese restaurant at 37 First Ave. between Second Street and Third Street. 

We first reported on this pending closure in February, when there were rumors that the building's landlord was planning to either renovate or demolish the building and the two properties to the south. 

According to the Department of Buildings, the landlord is going the demolition route, as permits are on file for the three buildings — 33-37 First Ave.

We'll have more about the demolition and what might be next at another time.

Meanwhile, owner Shawn Lin said he has restaurant items available to sell and give away.

Among the items for sale: large woks, fridges, fryers, a freezer. And the freebies include large rice warmers, prep tables and kitchen supplies. You can take a look today and pick up items tomorrow or Thursday. 

Shawn says he has been looking for another space but has not found one. (He'd like the opportunity to lease a space someday in the new development here but realizes he likely couldn't afford the new rent.)

In the interim, he hopes he and everyone else at New Double Dragon can get short-term jobs. If an employment opportunity doesn't work out for him in the weeks ahead, he may visit his extended family in China.

While bagging up some orders, Shawn reiterated a message on the flyers: He was grateful for all the patronage through the years and looked forward to seeing everyone again some day at New Double Dragon — here or elsewhere.

Public records list R.M.H. Estates as the landlord of both properties ... with ownership of No. 33 and 35 dating to 1984... they also own 37 First Ave. 

Previously on EV Grieve:

• Goodbye for now to HaveAHeart Studio, the rehearsal space below New Double Dragon

• On 1st Avenue, New Double Dragon is closing, and maybe reopening

• First Avenue Laundry Center is closed for now