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 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. ...