Nearly 3 years later, city is finishing the Avenue C bike lanes

Top 2 photos by Dave on 7th 

DOT crews were out yesterday working on bike lanes on both sides of Avenue C between Eighth Street and Ninth Street.

This work comes nearly three years after the city first marked Avenue C for the new bike lanes. However, with the pandemic-era curbside dining structures still in place outside several establishments between Sixth Street and Ninth Street, cyclists were forced to enter into traffic for several blocks before the marked lanes picked up again in both directions at Ninth Street. 

However, earlier this spring, the remaining streetside structures were removed, and there is now a protected bike lane between Sixth and Ninth Street on the east side of the avenue. Here's a look at the buffer zones that will protect cyclists from cars and trucks ...

On the west side, despite the freshly painted bike lane, drivers were observed parking between Eighth Street and Ninth Street, posing a potential hazard for cyclists...

There are also a few mixing spots on Avenue C where the bike lane passes through a bus stop, like just below Eighth Street outside the Associated...

Several years in the planning stages, the DOT added the protected north/south bike lanes on Avenue C and East Houston Street to help offset the closure of the East River Park greenway. 

You can find many more details in the presentation that DOT officials made to CB3 in April 2021. (PDF here)

Neighborhood Loading Zones, bike lane outlines arrive along Avenue C

Neighborhood Loading Zones have arrived on Seventh Street and Eighth Street at Avenue C... Dave on 7th shared these photos from the rain yesterday...

The loading zones for commercial vehicles, residents and taxis and car services are part of the DOT's plan for the Avenue C bike lanes. (Other loading zones are expected on side streets along this corridor.)

Meanwhile, last week, the DOT continued marking the roadway with the new bike-lane designations...

Still a work in progress... as cars and commercial trucks continued to park in the freshly marked bike lanes...

... and dueling bike lanes were spotted north of 10th Street...

As reported last fall, the DOT is adding the protected north/south bike lanes on Avenue C and East Houston Street to help offset the upcoming closure of the East River Park greenway.

Planned improvements for cyclists, pedestrians and motorists along C include: 

• Curbside bike lanes between Houston and Fourth Street 

• Parking-protected, bollard-protected and curbside bike lanes between Fourth Street and 18th Street 

• Updated parking regulations to provide truck loading zones 

• Neighborhood loading zones on select side streets 

• Painted pedestrian islands between 11th Street and 15th Street 

• New left-turn bays at 10th Street and 14th Street

You can find many more details in the presentation that DOT officials made to CB3 back in April. (PDF here)

Drawing lines ahead of the new Avenue C bike lanes

From this past week... workers from the Department of Transportation started marking Avenue C for the new bike lanes. 

Dave on 7th shared the top photo from between Ninth Street and 10th Street. He notes that on this stretch, there are also new "No Standing" signs installed. 

The new bike lanes will eliminate some free, non-metered street parking, which was the focus of a story this morning on NY1. Local Uber driver Myen Uddin told the station that he is concerned about being able to find a place to park.

"I already earn so less," Uddin said. "How can I afford a garage? $400 a month. No one can afford that!"

And...

... with outdoor dining structures and Citi Bike stations already replacing what used to be non-metered parking spaces near Avenue C and East 9th Streets, concerned residents like Uddin believe if the free parking spaces go away, he'll soon have to move outside the city.

"It's too much challenge for me for me right now," said Uddin. "I gotta leave the city. Go somewhere else."

NY1 also spoke with a local resident, Thomas Grenier, who welcomed the changes.

"The city is historically centered and organized around cars, so anything that will make the city more friendly to renewable energy and bicyclists is a good thing," Grenier said.

Meanwhile, other markings along the avenue show the buffer zones that will protect cyclists from cars and trucks.

As previously reported, DOT flyers along Avenue C provide details of the coming changes...

Improvements along C include: 

• Curbside bike lanes between Houston and Fourth Street 

• Parking-protected, bollard-protected and curbside bike lanes between Fourth Street and 18th Street 

• Updated parking regulations to provide truck loading zones 

• Neighborhood loading zones on select side streets 

• Painted pedestrian islands between 11th Street and 15th Street 

• New left-turn bays at 10th Street and 14th Street 

You can find many more details in the presentation that DOT officials made to CB3 back in April. (PDF here)

As reported last fall, the DOT is adding the protected north/south bike lanes on Avenue C and East Houston Street to help offset the upcoming closure of the East River Park greenway.

New bike lanes next for freshly paved Avenue C

The city repaved Avenue C from Houston to 18th Street in mid-July (maybe your car was towed during the milling/paving process?). 

All this was done ahead of improvements along the avenue for pedestrians and cyclists. 

DOT flyers are up now along Avenue C with details of the coming changes...

Improvements along C include: 

• Curbside bike lanes between Houston and Fourth Street 

• Parking-protected, bollard-protected and curbside bike lanes between Fourth Street and 18th Street 

• Updated parking regulations to provide truck loading zones 

• Neighborhood loading zones on select side streets 

• Painted pedestrian islands between 11th Street and 15th Street 

• New left-turn bays at 10th Street and 14th Street 

You can find many more details in the presentation that DOT officials made to CB3 back in April. (PDF here)

As reported last fall, the DOT is adding the protected north/south bike lanes on Avenue C and East Houston Street to help offset the closure of the East River Park greenway once construction starts someday.

Updated: NYPD investigating report of man shot on Avenue C

There's a report of police activity late this afternoon on Avenue C between 10th Street and 12th Street... EVG regular Jose Garcia shared these photos...



The Citizen app reports that two people were shot with a pellet gun... and that police were searching for a suspect. There isn't much more information at the moment. Will update when more details are available. (An ABC-7 news truck was spotted on the scene.)

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Updated: 7:30 p.m.

The Post reports that one man was shot... and that police arrested one man. And from the article: "Police said the shooter was armed with either a BB gun or a low-caliber pistol."

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According to the MTA, M9 and M14D buses are being rerouted ...

M9 and M14D-SBS buses are detoured because of NYPD Activity between 10 St and 12 St at Avenue C. Details at https://t.co/4PI10QaRnr

— NYCT Buses (@NYCTBus) January 16, 2020

Updated: 9:48 p.m.

Christopher J. Ryan shared these photos from the scene tonight... there was still a large NYPD presence, suggesting that the shooting may have involved more than a pellet gun ...





As for the timeline, the first report of the shooting came in around 3:45 p.m. ... Avenue C between 10th Street and 13th Street was on lockdown, per Ryan, until 9:38 p.m., when the NYPD removed the police tape and allowed traffic to return to the Avenue.

Updated: 1/17

Citizen provided an update... the info about a lack of an arrest contradicts the Post's coverage ...



Updated: 1/22

The Village Sun received more details from police sources, including that it was in face a .22 and not a pellet gun used in the shooting.

Police sources also confirmed an arrest in the case, which happened on Saturday when police cuffed Tyshawn Morris, 21, of Albany, N.Y.

Morris was charged with attempted murder, assault, criminal possession of a loaded firearm, criminal possession of a defaced weapon — a weapon with its manufacturer’s serial number scratched off, removed or concealed — and criminal possession of a firearm.

No word on a motive.

Purple reign (or, today in discarded plush, purple couches on Avenue C)

Between 11th Street and 12th Street. #SundayFunday

For a limited time only, catch the J/Z on 9th and C

[Thanks to Alexandra Story for this photo!]

Thanks to the magic of TV pilot making, there's now a J/Z stop for the Bowery on Ninth Street at Avenue C...


[Photo via @evan_kapitansky]

And across the Avenue, A & C Kitchen is standing in for the Avenue C Deli (signs include a double cheeseburger for $6.50 and Molten Velvet in concert)...


[Photo via @EdenBrower]

As previously mentioned, crews for the CBS pilot "God Friended Me" will be filming along Avenue C and side streets today and tomorrow.

Updated:

Here's one more shot, via Salim, showing the arrival of the J/Z stop this morning...



Updated 3/13:

EVG reader Peter D. shared this photo from today... that J/Z stop looking rather lonely there on the corner...

A short-lived sidewalk-bridge-free section of Avenue C

[Photo from Oct. 6]

In a links roundup on Oct. 7, I posted the above photo noting that workers removed the remaining sidewalk bridge and scaffolding on the west side of Avenue C between Seventh Street and Sixth Street ... in front of the NYCHA-owned buildings.

Per an EVG reader: "I've been living on C for 6 years now and can't remember a day when it wasn't a fixture of the buildings along that stretch of sidewalk."

Anyway, the sidewalk freedom was short-lived... another sidewalk bridge returned this past week...





The DOB webiste doesn't offer much about what's exactly happening with the address (99-103 Avenue C), other than "INSTALLATION OF TEMPORARY SIDEWALK SHED AS PER PLANS."

On the Sixth Street side, the temporary boilers that arrived after Sandy will be celebrating their 5-year anniversary on Oct. 29.

The campaign to save the TV series 'Uncle Buck' is underway on Avenue C

This flyer, spotted last evening on Avenue C at Eighth Street, is asking fans of "Uncle Buck" – based on the 1989 film starring John Candy — to sign a petition in an effort to bring the canceled ABC series with Mike Epps back for a second season.

News of that the show's demise was first reported last July.

The petition, also created last year, currently has 264 signatures.

Meanwhile, maybe ABC will bring back "Blood & Oil" starring Don Johnson.

H/T @david_reyer

Backyard, Avenue C style

A new listing arrived this week for a "true" four bedroom apartment at 19 Avenue C between Second Street and Third Street.

Kind of a starter apartment. Get four friends (or more!) and split up the $4,400 monthly fee.

There are plenty of selling points, such as the "tons of closets" and "tons of light." And more! Per the listing at Streeteasy:

I have a beautiful TRUE 4 bedroom (doesn't need to be converted) DUPLEX apartment on the edge of the LES and East Village. There's a LARGE PRIVATE BACKYARD for the apt. The apt has 1 AND A HALF BATHS, hard wood floors, tons of closets, and gets tons of light/ numerous windows. There is a BACKYARD for laying out/ grilling etc.

Behold the backyard...



From this photo supplied to Streeteasy, it looks more like a concrete pit than a backyard. Wonder if you can plug any drains and fill it with water for a pool?

On the corners of Avenue C: Albert Trummer's incoming Sanatorium; a closed pizzeria

Yesterday, we reported that the demo orders are now in to take down the Mobil station on Avenue C and East Second Street/East Houston to make way for a 10-story residential building.

This prompted several readers to note the changes on other nearby corners of Avenue C.

So let's start with the northeast corner of Avenue C and Second Street... as reported last summer, mixologist Albert Trummer is opening a cocktail bar in the space that last housed Adinah's Farm...


[Photo from Wednesday]


[Photo from March 26]

The space is called Sanatorium ... no word on an official opening date just yet... (their Instagram account said February...)

Albert Trummer announces his new NYC bar Sanatorium - opening New York Fashion Week February 2016

A photo posted by @sanatoriumnyc on Dec 13, 2015 at 5:56pm PST

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Meanwhile, Majesty Pizza and Grill on the southwest corner of Avenue C and Third Street closed back in January...



...an eviction notice followed in early February...



An EVG reader who lives nearby notes the pizzeria started selling fresh fruits and vegetables at the end of the year... to give people who didn't want pizza a reason to stop by... apparently they didn't.

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And across Avenue C... the corner buildings remain abandoned...



There has been a full vacate order on 32 Avenue C at the corner since August 2012. There's nothing on file with the DOB to suggestion anything happening here any time soon.

Report: M9 stop on Avenue C gets light after 7 years in the dark

The city's first solar-powered bus shelter is now in place at the southbound M9 bus stop on Avenue C and East 16th Street, DNAinfo reports.

The shelter has been dark since 2009, when a Con Ed crew disconnected lights from its power source, according to a Community Board 6 member.

Per the article:

Residents have avoided using the stop for years and, in 2013, a [Con Ed] truck fatally struck 88-year-old Stella Huang as she crossed East 16th Street, a tragedy that many blamed on the area’s poor lighting...

As for the solar lights, the city may install a similar set-up at other unlit bus shelters around NYC.

Image via Google Street View

After shooting Thursday night, patrol tower arrives on Avenue C and 12th Street

[Reader-submitted photo]

As previously noted, an EVG reader told us that there were three shots fired in front of 193 Avenue C at East 12th Street late Thursday night.

According to a report in the Post, a 23-year-old man had been shot in the left leg. Police said that the victim, who was trying to leave the scene in a cab, "was uncooperative and refused to give them a description of the suspect."

Yesterday, a reader as well as EVG contributor Bobby Williams pointed out the arrival of an NYPD patrol tower (SkyWatch) on Avenue C at East 12th Street.


[Photo by Peter Brownscombe]

Report: Avenue C gunshot victim tries to leave in cab, refuses to cooperate with police

[Photo from Friday morning]

Just after midnight on Thursday, an EVG reader told us that there were three shots fired in front of 193 Avenue C at East 12th Street. The NYPD, the reader said, had taped off the scene... and recovered spent 9mm shell casings.

The Post today has more information in its Daily Blotter. According to police officials, a 23-year-old man had been shot in the left leg. He was spotted trying to leave the scene in a cab. "Cops said the man was uncooperative and refused to give them a description of the suspect."

The man was treated at Bellevue for non-life-threatening injuries.

Get ready for some overnight milling of the streets

The city has posted these advisory notices around... noting work starting "on/about" today through Friday (from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m.).

Per the flyers: "Work scheduled on this project includes the milling of streets in preparation for resurfacing by the NYC Department of Transportation Roadway Repair & Maintenance (RRM) division." (Those early RRM records were pretty good.)



Looks like Avenue C will be taking the brunt of this project, from East Houston to East 20th... and First Avenue just between East 14th Street and East 15th Street. Keep an eye out for the No Parking notices along Avenue C too.

Free clothing exchange this afternoon on Avenue C

Starting at 1 tomorrow at 116 Avenue C between East Seventh Street and East Eighth Street... you can drop off unwanted clothes... and you can pick up new (used) clothes... the residents behind the giveaway have been doing this 2-3 times a year since 2009. Here's a Facebook page with more details and photos.

Rest area

Avenue C between East Ninth Street and East 10th Street … photo via Bobby Williams

1 business left on this stretch of Avenue C

Adinah's Farm on Avenue C and East Second Street closed on Sunday night.

With the market's closure, there is one remaining business on the east side of Avenue C between East Second Street and East Third Street — the liquor store...



The storefronts to the north remain boarded up.


[EVG file photo]

As we've noted, there has been a full vacate order on 32 Avenue C at East Third Street since August 2012 ... the building is in disrepair, and will eventually be demolished ... along with everything to (and including) 26 Avenue C (the former Impulse Footwear).

Plans were filed with the city in July 2005 for a new 6-floor residential building here. The city disapproved the plans in May 2006, and nothing more happened with the project.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Concern for 32 Avenue C