Long-vacant 8th Street building where worker died is being offered as a development site

EVG file photo

356 E. Eighth St., a vacant, four-story townhouse between Avenue C and Avenue D, is now available as a residential development site. 

The space is being offered for $3 million. Per the listing: "Property is a teardown. Existing structure is unsafe." 

On Dec. 24, 2015, a worker — 33-year-old Luis Alberto Pomboza — fell three floors to his death inside the building.

According to published reports, he was an undocumented Ecuadorian immigrant and father of five who lived in Brooklyn.

His death prompted then-Mayor de Blasio and Department of Buildings Commissioner Rick Chandler to announce in February 2016 that they were going to quadruple the penalties for serious construction-safety lapses, conduct a wave of more than 1,500 enforcement sweeps, and require new supervision at construction sites citywide to protect workers and the public amid the building boom.

No. 356 had been on and off the market in recent years (here and here). The listings pitched the space for "high-end apartments or a luxury home."

In the fall of 2015, there were approved work permits showing that the building would receive two new floors and a mezzanine.

After Pomboza's death, the DOB issued a stop work order and a full vacate order on the site. Ten different violations were reportedly uncovered at the worksite, including "failure to safeguard all persons and property affected by construction operations." A construction superintendent was to be present at 356 E. Eighth St. at the time of Pomboza's fall, but there wasn't one on site.

The owner is listed as Ingrid House LLC, per public records. 

A tribute to the construction worker who died at 356 E. 8th St.

Late in the summer, workers finally removed the scaffolding from the under-renovation 356 E. Eighth St., a vacant, four-story townhouse between Avenue C and Avenue D.

This was the first known activity here since Dec. 24, 2015, when a worker fell three floors to his death inside the building.

Now, an EVG reader tells us that there is a tribute to the man, 33-year-old Luis Alberto Pomboza...



According to published reports, he was an undocumented Ecuadorian immigrant and father of five who lived in Brooklyn.

His death prompted Mayor de Blasio and Department of Buildings Commissioner Rick Chandler to announce in February 2016 that they were going to quadruple the penalties for serious construction-safety lapses, conduct a wave of more than 1,500 enforcement sweeps, and require new supervision at construction sites citywide to protect workers and the public amid the building boom.

A construction superintendent was to be present at 356 E. Eighth St. at the time of Pomboza's fall, but there wasn't one on site.

No. 356 had been on and off the market in recent years (here and here). The listings pitched the space for "high-end apartments or a luxury home."

In the fall of 2015, there were approved work permits showing that the building would receive two new floors and a mezzanine.

After Pomboza's death, the DOB issued a stop work order and a full vacate order on the site. Ten different violations were reportedly uncovered at the worksite, including "failure to safeguard all persons and property affected by construction operations."

In June, the full stop order was lifted just for "installation of temporary bracing."

The owner is listed as Ingrid House LLC, per public records.



No word on what the plans are for the building now moving forward.

Previously on EV Grieve:
[Updated] Reader report: Partial building collapse on East 8th Street; unconfirmed report of a fatality

[Updated] Reader report: Mayor de Blasio to speak outside building where undocumented worker died on East 8th Street

[Photo from Dec. 24]

On Dec. 24, a partial building collapse at 356 E. Eighth St. between Avenue C and Avenue D led to the death of a worker, as we first reported here.

As far as we know, no other media outlet covered this tragedy. According to a reader, Alberto Pomboza, an undocumented worker from Ecuador, died after he fell from the third to the first floor in the townhouse undergoing a gut renovation.

An EVG reader who lives on the block reports that the NYPD is clearing the street ahead of an appearance this morning by the Mayor who will apparently address what happened here...

Updated 2:20 p.m.


[Photo via @zmack]

The Mayor was on the scene this morning to announce this new enforcement sweep... via the Mayor's office...

Mayor Bill de Blasio and Department of Buildings Commissioner Rick Chandler today announced that they will quadruple the penalties for serious construction-safety lapses, conduct a wave of more than 1,500 enforcement sweeps, and require new supervision at construction sites citywide to protect workers and the public amid the record building boom.

To make sure builders cannot profit by skirting safety rules, the City is raising the penalties for serious safety lapses from $2,400 to $10,000, and the penalty for lacking a construction superintendent will increase from $5,000 to a maximum of $25,000. Construction has surged more than 300 percent since 2009, contributing more jobs and more housing to New York City, but leading to an increase in preventable construction-related injuries and fatalities.

Updated 5:10 p.m.

DNAinfo has a piece on the city's inspection blitz here.

They also have more details about the worker who died here.

The worker, 33-year-old Luis Alberto Pomboza, was working on the renovation of 356 East 8th St. when he fell from the third to first floor, according to records from the Department of Buildings.

Pomboza — an undocumented Ecuadorian immigrant and father of five — was transported to Bellevue Hospital in serious condition with trauma to the head and face but later died of his injuries, according to the NYPD and Medical Examiner’s Office.

Updated 8 p.m.

Gothamist has a report here.

Previously on EV Grieve:
[Updated] Reader report: Partial building collapse on East 8th Street; unconfirmed report of a fatality

[Updated] Reader report: Partial building collapse on East 8th Street; unconfirmed report of a fatality

Several EVG readers have passed along word of a partial collapse at the under-renovation townhouse at 356 E. Eighth St. There is an unconfirmed report that one of the workers at the site was killed in the collapse that occurred earlier today, according to the super of a building on the block between Avenue C and Avenue D.

As of 2 p.m., a reader reported that the site is cordoned off... with building and police officials on hand.

There isn't any other information available at the moment. We'll update as necessary.

As previously reported, the vacant townhouse had been on and off the market in recent years (here and here). The most recent listing pitched the space for "high-end apartments or a luxury home."

Recently approved work permits show that the existing 4-level structure will receive two new floors and a mezzanine. Here's the all-cap DOB recap of the permit:

FILED HEREWITH PLANS AND APPLICATIONS TO ADD A SIX STORY HORIZONTAL REAR ENLARGEMENT AND A THREE STORY + MEZZANINE VERTICAL ENLARGEMENT WITH SIX FAMILIES TO AN EXISTING FOUR STORY, THREE FAMILY BUILDING.

[EVG photo from September]

The owner is an LLC with a Kew Gardens address, according to DOB paperwork.

Here's a photo of the house from 2014...



Updated 12/25

The city has issued a Full Vacate on the address... "due to stability concerns," according to the DOB website...



The Firemen's Garden next to the property has also been hit with a Full Vacate...





As for the report from a neighboring super about a worker fatality... we have not heard anything further about this. There is a candle at the scene now. Someone wrote "May the Lord be with you now and forever."



According to the DOB website, the FDNY ordered the inspection after a worker fell from the third to first floor.

Updated 12/27

There is a new chalk message outside the site ... along with more candles...



"May God Bless your soul eternally. Godspeed."

Updated 1/11

A reliable source says that the construction worker who died was a 33-year-old man from El Salvador, a married father of five. The accident happened around 11 a.m., and the man died later that afternoon at a hospital. According to the source, workers were demolishing the existing rear wall when a large chunk of masonry broke off and somehow landed on the scaffolding the was on and he fell.

Construction watch: 356 E. Eighth St.

The townhouse at 356 E. Eighth St. between Avenue C and Avenue D had been on and off the market in recent years (here and here).

The listing pitched the space for "high-end apartments or a luxury home."

Now it appears the new owner — an LLC that shares the address with M Development in Queens — opted for the apartment route. Recently approved work permits show that the existing 4-level structure will receive two new floors and a mezzanine.

Here's the all-cap DOBese:

FILED HEREWITH PLANS AND APPLICATIONS TO ADD A SIX STORY HORIZONTAL REAR ENLARGEMENT AND A THREE STORY + MEZZANINE VERTICAL ENLARGEMENT WITH SIX FAMILIES TO AN EXISTING FOUR STORY, THREE FAMILY BUILDING.

And here's a look at the rendering on the plywood…

East 8th Street townhouse back on the market, now seeking $4.5 million

[Image via Leslie J. Garfield]

The townhouse at 356 E. Eighth St. between Avenue C and Avenue D is back on the market. Last time around, the house, not yet vacant, wanted $3.75 million. But times have changes. And so has the price and occupancy.

Per the listing at Leslie J. Garfield:

536 East 8th Street is a vacant townhouse situated between Avenue C and Avenue D. With an allowed FAR of 4.0, the building offers prospective purchasers the chance to develop the property to approximately 7,200 square feet.

The property is currently configured as a garden duplex with two floor-through units above measuring approximately 3,000 square feet. With a rapidly growing condominium and home sales market in the East Village/Alphabet City, the opportunity to develop either high-end apartments or a luxury home for use or resale is strong. Incredibly low taxes on the property make the opportunity for development additionally appealing.

356 E. Eighth St. back on the market

The building at 356 E. Eighth St. between Avenue C and Avenue D has been on the market a few times in recent years...

And the listing appeared again last Friday. It's now going for $3.75 million. Here are the details via Streeteasy:

AMAZING EAST VILLAGE TOWNHOUSE OPPORTUNITYPOSSIBLE OPTION TO CREATE A SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENCE, OWNERS RESIDENCE PLUS INCOME, OR INVESTMENT PROPERTY. This historic townhouse is located on a beautiful tree-lined street, just a block away from Tompkins Square Park in the chic East Village! With approx. 3000sf already built, and 6211sf in total potential use, this is the ultimate investment opportunity. The building consists of 4 fair market apartments and a basement level. The current rent-roll potential is $144,000, but with minor renovations to each unit could reach $164,000 (potential cap-rate over 4%). The building borders a huge and beautiful planted garden offering views from the building’s east side. The lot size is 18.5 X 97.5 and the building is 18.5 X 40 with the potential to extend at least 25 additional feet from the back of the building (the first floor has already been extended). First floor: Owner’s bi-level floor thru with private deck and garden. Second Floor: 2 bedroom floorthru with one bath paying $3000/mo. Third Floor: 1 bed with home office, wide plank floors, amazing garden views paying $2600/mo. Third Floor: 2 bedroom, great views paying $2825/mo. BUILDING CAN BE DELIVERED VACANT WITHIN 90 DAYS. The annual taxes are an exceptionally low $1,139! BE THE THIS BEAUTIFUL TOWNHOUSE’S FIRST OWNER IN ALMOST 30 YEARS

Previous listings didn't mention anything about being delivered "vacant" though.