Development watch: 50-64 3rd Ave. (and TLK by Tigerlily Kitchen is still open)

Demoliton prep continues on the west side of Third Avenue between 10th Street and 11th Street, where six buildings will come down in the months ahead. 

As we first reported, a residential complex is expected to rise along this parcel — 50-64 Third Ave. (See the rendering here.) 

Per previous reports, Kinsmen Property Group — a joint venture between State Building Group and another Toronto company, Madison Group — bought the walk-up buildings over the past three years, paying more than $60 million for the parcel. 

Only one building will remain on the block after the demolition — 48 Third Ave., the 5-story property owned by Isfahany Realty Corp. on the northwest corner at 10th Street with Healthy Greens Gourmet in the retail space. 

On Tuesday, workers were spotted removing the fire escape from the corner building at 11th Street, where Ainsworth was the last retail tenant in the space ...  (thanks to Jacob Ford for these two shots)... 

Meanwhile, plywood now covers the other vacant storefronts and entrances on the block...  

... except for TLK by Tigerlily Kitchen at No. 58... which, despite the appearance of its neighbors, remains in business...

A TLK rep told us that they are open and serving as usual. At this point, the rep said it is not clear how long they will be able to do so.

However, they are participating in the winter Restaurant Week (Jan. 16 – Feb. 4) with a special dinner prix fixe.

Hospitality veteran Michelle Morgan opened the restaurant featuring a healthy, Hong Kong-inspired menu in late 2021.

P.S.

Kotobuki closed in the fall at 56 Third Ave. ... the restaurant is still offering deliveries in the area and plans to open in a new space in the East Village. More here.  

Kotobuki is moving to a new East Village location

Kotobuki ended its run at 56 Third Ave. after service last Wednesday night.

In an update following the closure notice to patrons, Kotobuki announced that they will be moving to a new undisclosed East Village location in the weeks ahead...

For now, you can continue to order delivery ... as ownership explained in an Instagram post on Friday...

 

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A post shared by Kotobuki (@dinekotobuki)

As we've been reporting, the building that housed Kotobuki is one of six slated for demolition here between 10th Street and 11th Street. We haven't heard any further updates about what the developers have planned for the properties...   

Updated: Kotobuki has closed on 3rd Avenue; new East Village location in the works

Kotobuki has closed at 56 Third Ave., shutting down after service last night.

Multiple readers shared the news, and an employee confirmed it.

This was an expected closure, as six buildings on the west side of Third Avenue between 10th Street and 11th Street are slated for demolition in the weeks/months ahead. A residential complex is expected to rise along this lot. (See the rendering here.) 

As previously reported, Kinsmen Property Group — a joint venture between State Building Group and another Toronto company, Madison Group — has been buying the walk-up buildings over the past two years, paying more than $60 million for the parcel. 

Only one building will remain on the block after the demolition — 48 Third Ave., the 4-story property owned by Isfahany Realty Corp. on the northwest corner at 10th Street with Healthy Greens Gourmet in the retail space. 

Kotobuki, which has three outposts on Long Island, had two stints at this address, 2012-2014 ... with a return in 2016. 

The last business left in these buildings is TLK by Tigerlily Kitchen at No. 58. No word about a closing date here.

Updated 11/4: 

After news of the closure, Kotobuki said they will be moving to a new undisclosed location... for now, they say they will continue to offer delivery service...

And details...

 

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A post shared by Kotobuki (@dinekotobuki)

Here's the first look at the new building slated for 50-64 Third Ave.

With permits in place to demolish six East Village buildings on the west side of Third Avenue between 10th Street and 11th Street, we have our first look at a rendering for the new development...

A reader shared this from the State Building Group website, the Toronto-based real-estate company behind this project. 

The address — 50-64 Third Ave. — is listed under the company's "residential" portfolio. (At first glance, the building looks more commercial/office. We reached out to confirm the residential use and other details, such as number of units.) 

Here's the information included with the listing:

50-64 3rd Avenue is a 6-building assemblage located at the nexus of the East Village, Greenwich Village and Astor Place. The site allows for 160,000 sq. ft. of new construction and has a land area of 16,500 sq. ft. Construction is expected to commence in late 2023.

Late 2023 seems ambitious for a start date. So far, there aren't any new building permits on file with the Department of Buildings. In addition, the existing buildings are still awaiting demolition.

In late August, according to Straus News, which publishes several local weekly newspapers and associated websites, including Our Town — Eastsider, a spokesperson for the DOB said "that outstanding objections" have interrupted the developer's plans. 

However, there are new/updated demolition permits on the DOB website dated Sept. 6 and Sept. 12.

As PincusCo. first reported in May, Kinsmen Property Group — a joint venture between State Building Group and another Toronto company, Madison Group — has been buying the walk-up buildings over the past two years, paying more than $60 million for the parcel.

Most of the retail spaces in the properties were already closed, including, most recently, the Ainsworth on the SW corner of 11th Street in July 2022. (No. 62 was home to New York Central Art Supply for decades until its 2016 closure.)

Only one building will remain on the block after the demolition — 48 Third Ave., the 4-story property owned by Isfahany Realty Corp. on the northwest corner at 10th Street with Healthy Greens Gourmet in the retail space. 

Report: City temporarily halts demolition of 6-building parcel on 3rd Avenue

The demoliton of six walk-up buildings on the west side of Third Avenue between 10th Street and 11th Street is on hold for now. 

As previously reported, Kinsmen Property Group bought the buildings over the past two years through the entity 62-64 Third Ave., paying more than $60 million for the parcel. 

According to Straus News, which publishes several local weekly newspapers and associated websites, including Our Town — Eastsider, a spokesperson for the Department of Buildings said "that outstanding objections" have interrupted the developer's plans. 

Further study of the objections indicates issues with the "phased demolition sequence," specified as "a clear and detailed demolition sequence in narrative and illustrated on the plans. All phases shall be designated by a number or letter to clearly depict the required sequence of the work." Other requirements such as pedestrian protections, debris removal plans, and the "context" of the demolition vis-à-vis adjoining buildings are also seemingly being objected to as inadequate. 

Inadequate, in this case, reportedly means nowhere to be found. Essentially, as the DOB spokesperson put it, Kinsmen was "missing a lot of the required drawings for the proposed demolitions."

It is not publicly known what Kinsmen has planned for this west side of the block, a development that will not include 48 Third Ave., the 4-story building owned by Isfahany Realty Corp. on the northwest corner at 10th Street with Healthy Greens Gourmet in the retail space.

Meanwhile, Village Preservation continues campaigning for landmark designation for their proposed South of Union Square Historic District. Find more details at this link. 

These 6 East Village buildings will be demolished for a new development on 3rd Avenue

Permits were filed last Wednesday to demolish six East Village buildings on the west side of Third Avenue between 10th Street and 11th Street, according to permits with the Department of Buildings. 

The addresses are 50-64 Third Ave. NOT included: 48 Third Ave., the 4-story building owned by Isfahany Realty Corp. on the northwest corner at 10th Street with Healthy Greens Gourmet in the retail space...

As PincusCo. first reported in May, Kinsmen Property Group, through the entity 62-64 Third Ave., has been buying up the walk-up buildings over the past two years, paying more than $60 million for the parcel.

Most of the retail spaces in the properties were already closed, including, most recently, the Ainsworth on the SW corner of 11th Street in July 2022. (No. 62 was home to New York Central Art Supply for decades until its 2016 closure.)

It's not known what Kinsmen has planned for this parcel, which features 167 feet of prime Third Avenue frontage. According to Real Estate Weekly, Kinsmen Property Group is a joint venture between Toronto-based firms — Madison Group and State Building Group. There are not any new building permits on file with the city. Kinsmen founder and CEO Ari Zagdanski did not respond to a request for comment via Crain's, who reported on the demolition Friday.

Meanwhile, work got underway last week with asbestos abatement at 64 Third Ave. ...

... and soil sampling...

The residential portions of these buildings — said to be 31 units in total — have been vacant for several months...

Two restaurants remain operating along this stretch — TLK — by Tigerlily Kitchen and Kotobuki...

There has been talk (especially in the EVG comments) of another development along this corridor following the construction of the 13-story Moxy hotel around the corner on 11th Street.

Five walk-up buildings between Third Avenue and Fourth Avenue —112-120 E. 11th St. — were demolished in 2016 to make way for the project. Preservations tried to get the strip of residences landmarked, but the LPC refused to hold a hearing. 

It was later reported that the buildings had been purchased by David Lichenstein, a significant donor to then-Mayor de Blasio, "one of his political allies, and one of his appointees to the Economic Development Corporation."  Lichtenstein and his Lightstone Group later developed the hotel, per Village Preservation. 

Previous development along this corridor included the demolition of the two buildings at 74-76 Third Ave. (plus a parking lot) between 11th Street and 12th Street in 2011... which yielded the 9-story luxury residential building the Nathaniel in 2014 with Westside Market in the retail space.