98-100 Avenue A used to be here

Ben Shaoul's demo gang pretty much has the former 98-100 Avenue A wiped out now between East Seventh Street and East Sixth Street...



Coming one day: a 6-floor residential building with 29 apartments.

Previously on EV Grieve:
A little bit of Hollywood on Avenue A

Inside the abandoned theater at East Village Farms on Avenue A

Reader reports: Village Farms closing Jan. 31; building will be demolished

Asbestos abatement continues at 98 Avenue A, Ben Shaoul's latest East Village trophy

Meanwhile, 98-100 Avenue A is lying in ruins

Workers back demolishing what's left of 98-100 Avenue A

[Cinema Treasures]

BSA tells Ben Shaoul to remove the illegal penthouse on East 5th Street within 60 days

The Board of Standards and Appeals (BSA) has finally ordered the removal of the long-contested penthouse at 515 E. Fifth Street.

A quickie recap: The BSA had previously ruled in 2008 that landlord Ben Shaoul needed to remove the 6th and 7th floors. However, his attorneys had requested that the city grant a zoning variance to "permit the constructed enlargement, minus the penthouse, to remain" here between Avenue A and Avenue B.

According to the Tenants Association of 515 East Fifth Street, the BSA gave Shaoul 60 days to complete demolition. Upon documentation of the removal, the BSA will consider granting the various zoning variances to keep the 6th floor.

As we understand it, there are four units in total on these two floors.

Meanwhile, will Shaoul actually comply within the 60-day timeframe? (No snickering!) It only took Shaoul about three years to start the demolition process on the illegal penthouse at 514-516 E. Sixth St. The scaffolding and sidewalk shed have been at the site for 15 months. And part of the penthouse remains, according to neighbors.

Previously on EV Grieve:
[Updated] 5 years later, another BSA hearing on illegal rooftop addition at 515 E. Fifth St.

Protest at 515 E. Fifth St. this morning, site of Ben Shaoul's illegal addition

The disappearing illegal penthouse of 514-516 E. 6th St.

Never-ending battle wages on over additional floors at 515 E. Fifth St.

Never-ending battle over additional floors at 515 E. Fifth St. promises to keep being never-ending

CB3 not into Ben Shaoul's zoning variance for 515 E. 5th St.

Another BSA hearing on Ben Shaoul's illegal rooftop addition; plus, rent 1 of the contested units!

Reports: Katz's sells air rights, but will remain in its home of 126 years

In case you missed this story from Friday … Katz's has sold its air rights. However, the 126-year-old deli isn't going anywhere. Just getting some new neighbors, mostly likely.

BoweryBoogie and The Lo-Down first reported on this Friday morning.

There is a lot of speculation on the future of the block of East Houston between Ludlow and Orchard…



First, part of the Katz's statement via BoweryBoogie from co-owner Jake Dell:

The most important thing is that the future of Katz’s is secure — at the end of the day, no developer can ever come in and knock us down to put in a high rise. At no point will anyone value the corner of Houston and Ludlow for anything other than Katz’s Delicatessen. A year after our 125th anniversary, this will help ensure that we can see our 150th, and hopefully many more to come.

As for the rest of the block… BoweryBoogie reported back in March that Ben Shaoul was close to buying that L-shaped parcel of single-level businesses. Several of the restaurants have already cleared out, including (sob) Bereket.

The 2008 Lower East Side rezoning allows for buildings up to 12 floors (120 feet) here.

You can get a choice seat to this likely incoming development from one of those new condos right behind Katz's.

Workers back demolishing what's left of 98-100 Avenue A

The demolition has picked up again at 98-100 Avenue A, where Ben Shaoul is building a 6-floor residential building with 29 apartments.

Work had come to a stand still here between East Sixth Street and East Seventh Street for several months … but workers are back knocking over the carcass of the former theater-turned grocery. You can see the remnants of the auditorium in these photos from EVG reader Erika…





Demolition started last November. At this rate, the new building should be up by, say, 2021. Not that anyone is in a hurry for another brick box from Ben Shaoul.



Previously on EV Grieve:
A little bit of Hollywood on Avenue A

East Village Farms is closing; renovations coming to 100 Avenue A

Inside the abandoned theater at East Village Farms on Avenue A

Reader reports: Village Farms closing Jan. 31; building will be demolished

Asbestos abatement continues at 98 Avenue A, Ben Shaoul's latest East Village trophy

Ben Shaoul's proposed new Avenue A building will be 8 stories with a roof deck

Meanwhile, 98-100 Avenue A is lying in ruins

Here's Ben Shaoul's new-look 2nd Avenue residential building

The construction gear and what not is off the front of 31-33 Second Ave., showing the exterior of Ben Shaoul's new residential building here just south of East Second Street.



According to plans on file with the city, workers remodeled the existing commercial space on the ground floor ... remodeled the existing apartments on the 2nd and 3rd floors ... and added three floors on top of the existing building. Each floor will contain two apartments, per the DOB documents.

The south side of the building appears to still need some work … or else the cinder-block look is in…



BoweryBoogie previously reported that a Petco-branded store is set for the retail space.



Previously on EV Grieve:
Ben Shaoul planning a 3-story addition at 31-33 Second Ave.

Bracing for 3 new floors at 31-33 Second Ave.

Checking in on the work in progress at 31-33 2nd Ave., where Ben Shaoul is adding 3 new floors

[Photo of 31-33 2nd Ave. from 2009 by LuciaM via Panoramio]

Another BSA hearing on Ben Shaoul's illegal rooftop addition; plus, rent 1 of the contested units!

The Board of Standards and Appeals (BSA) is holding another hearing today regarding 515 E. Fifth St., where the years-long saga over an illegal rooftop addition continues.

A quickie recap: The BSA had previously ruled in 2008 that landlord Ben Shaoul needs to remove the 6th and 7th floors. However, his attorneys had requested that the city grant a zoning variance to "permit the constructed enlargement, minus the penthouse, to remain" here between Avenue A and Avenue B.

Meanwhile, ahead of today's hearing, we hear that Shaoul has moved to evict one member of the Tenants Association of 515 East Fifth Street, and has offered to discuss a buyout with two of the others.

Finally, one of the contested units arrived for rent on Streeteasy last week. Per the listing:

BEAUTIFUL EAST VILLAGE DUPLEX 1 BEDROOM WITH PRIVATE TERRACE
BRAND NEW LISTING - AMAZING EAST VILLAGE LOCATION

Brand New Listing available for SEPT 1 - Move In! 1 Bedroom. Amazing Deal. This Apartment will not last!

True, the apartment will not last if the BSA grants the zoning variance … because the penthouse will need to be removed as part of the zoning variance deal.

It looks pretty nice, though…





The one-bedroom apartment is asking $3,195.

Anyway, this story promises to not end anytime soon. The extra floors were added in 2006.

You can read more about the history here at the Post, Curbed, DNAinfo and The Villager.

Previously on EV Grieve:
[Updated] 5 years later, another BSA hearing on illegal rooftop addition at 515 E. Fifth St.

Protest at 515 E. Fifth St. this morning, site of Ben Shaoul's illegal addition

The disappearing illegal penthouse of 514-516 E. 6th St.

Never-ending battle wages on over additional floors at 515 E. Fifth St.

Never-ending battle over additional floors at 515 E. Fifth St. promises to keep being never-ending

CB3 not into Ben Shaoul's zoning variance for 515 E. 5th St.

[Updated] Stray voltage warning along Ben Shaoul's Avenue A project

Con Ed has has put up cautionary tape and cones outside the rotting carcass of 98-100 Avenue A between East Sixth Street and East Seventh Street.



So be careful!

As for the address, there hasn't been any much activity in about six months at developer Ben Shaoul's incoming retail-residental complex. There are now approved plans for a 6-floor building with 29 apartments.

Meanwhile, the area under the sidewalk bridge has served as a makeshift shelter for a handful of people...


[Photo by Edward Arrocha]

Updated 7:01 p.m.

The warning signs are gone ...



Previously on EV Grieve:
A little bit of Hollywood on Avenue A

East Village Farms is closing; renovations coming to 100 Avenue A

Inside the abandoned theater at East Village Farms on Avenue A

Reader reports: Village Farms closing Jan. 31; building will be demolished

Asbestos abatement continues at 98 Avenue A, Ben Shaoul's latest East Village trophy

Ben Shaoul's proposed new Avenue A building will be 8 stories with a roof deck

Meanwhile, 98-100 Avenue A is lying in ruins

Bereket has closed

Several EVG readers passed along the news that Bereket closed for good early this morning after 19 years on East Houston and Orchard.

Jeremiah Moss first reported the impending closure yesterday.

EVG reader Bill Imprint stopped by around 1 a.m., and the quick-serve Turkish restaurant had already run out of falafels and doner kebab sandwiches with several hours to go.

As BoweryBoogie reported back in March, developer Ben Shaoul is apparently buying up the properties occupied by 196-198 Orchard and 187 East Houston for God knows what.

BB pointed out that Katz's is not part of the Shaoul land grab.



Jeremiah noted that Bereket hopes to reopen nearby on Allen Street.

The giant rat is back outside Ben Shaoul-owned building on East 5th Street

The inflatable union rat was back out this morning at 515 E. Fifth St., where landlord/developer Ben Shaoul continues to fight for a zoning variance that would make legal the illegal addition that he added in 2006.

An EVG reader sent along these photos ... and the flyer explains the presence of the rat ...





As for No. 515 here between Avenue A and Avenue B, they'll be another Board of Standards and Appeals hearing about the illegal addition on July 15.

[Updated] Inflatable rat pays visit to controversial Ben Shaoul building on East 5th Street

The inflatable union rat is out this morning at 515 E. Fifth St., where notorious landlord/developer Ben Shaoul has been fighting for a zoning variance that would make legal the illegal addition that his crew added back in 2006.

There's another hearing on the matter on July 15. (We'll have more about this later.) Meanwhile, we're not sure why the rat is here today, though, with Ben Shaoul involved, anything is possible.

Updated 10:30 a.m.

A tipster says that the rat in front of the building is actually part of a protest over non-union workers at 140 West St., where Shaoul is converting the top floors of the Verizon Building into condos. The rat will apparently be making the rounds of Shaoul-owned properties today.

Previously on EV Grieve:
[Updated] 5 years later, another BSA hearing on illegal rooftop addition at 515 E. Fifth St.

Protest at 515 E. Fifth St. this morning, site of Ben Shaoul's illegal addition

The disappearing illegal penthouse of 514-516 E. 6th St.

Never-ending battle wages on over additional floors at 515 E. Fifth St.

Ben Shaoul linked to another possible LES development; bye bye Bereket?

Ben Shaoul is reportedly close to buying that L-shaped parcel of single-level businesses on East Houston at Orchard Street.

BoweryBoogie had the scoop yesterday that Shaoul, the East Village-LES Developer-Landlord of the Year seven years running, was in (or close) to contract for 196-198 Orchard and 187 East Houston.

While the deal EXCLUDES Katz's, the rest of the businesses, including Bereket, Empanada Mama and Ray's Pizza, will need to vacate in the coming months. None of the restaurants that Gothamist's Christopher Robbins contacted were aware of the upcoming deal. "The man who answered the phone at Bereket said he believed the restaurant had another year on its lease."

News of Bereket possibly closing was particularly upsetting to EVG reader Danny:

"Their lentil soup is essentially a panacea for all the ailments that might plague a body, mind or spirit. (Of course, it must be eaten with hot sauce and with lemon.) And at $5, it's quite possibly the most bang for a buck to be had in all of Manhattan. Plus, all the guys that work there are incredibly warm and friendly. I'll be really sad to see it go. I only hope it'll move (not far away) and not close up shop for good."

+1

As for what might be coming next, BoweryBoogie points out that developers are permitted to build up to 12 stories (or 120 feet) with inclusionary housing.

Per a BB tipster:

"It's hard to imagine a single block is being subjected to such a massive unwanted upheaval (with absolutely no benefit to the residents)."

Report: Ben Shaoul's parents are suing him for $50 million

Developer Ben Shaoul is being sued by his parents for $50 million, according to The Real Deal.

“The people he is stealing from are his own parents – the same parents who worked hard all their lives and saved their money, the same parents that bailed him out of jail, took him back into their home when he dropped out of school, the same parents who paid for him to learn the real estate business and the same parents who provided the millions in seed money to begin the family real estate business,” the complaint states.

Jail? Do tell!

And!

Abraham and Minoo Shaoul are accusing their son of treating Magnum, a major Manhattan real estate investment company co-founded by Shaoul and his parents, like his “own personal piggy bank,” using clever legal maneuvers to derive payouts from buildings purchased by the company without their permission.

For his part, Ben told The Real Deal in a statement that he "categorically" denied "all of the allegations contained in the complaint." He said that it was a private matter, and blamed it on "the deterioration of my relationship with my mother."

Meanwhile, in reporting on the matter. Curbed is the clear winner in the Paragraphs of the Year Awards:

Developer/80s breakdance movie villain, Ben "The Sledgehammer" Shaoul is well known for his hated developments in the East Village/LES. But when he isn't tearing down nursing homes and shrieking with maniacal laughter, he's also getting into ugly legal entanglements with his own parents.

Ben Shaoul looks to make a whole lot of money converting nursing home into high-end housing

[EVG file photo]

In a discussion on "The Stoler Report" last summer, developer Ben Shaoul, president of Magnum Real Estate Group, mentioned that he was looking to sell his current "conversion of a nursing home" in a year or two.

Apparently the time is here. The Post reports that Bloom 62 on Avenue B and East Fifth Street — the former Cabrini Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation — "is being shown to investors and expected to sell for roughly $70 million."

In December 2011, Shaoul and company purchased Cabrini for $25.5 million from a family trust made up of the estates of Jacob W. Friedman and Sol Henkind. Cabrini closed for good on June 30, 2012.

The 240-bed Cabrini Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation — sponsored by the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus — provided health care for low-income elderly residents in the East Village. The center opened in 1993 and served 240 patients and employed nearly 300 employees.

At Bloom 62, four-bedroom apartments for upwards of $7,600 ... in the upscale dorm building whose amenities include roof deck with showers, Weber grills and a yoga room.

The Post also mentions that "one retail unit in the process of being leased." The rumor is a 7-Eleven. The corner space will be home to the New Amsterdam School, according to signs along Avenue B.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Claim: Ben Shaoul is the new owner of Cabrini nursing home, will convert to condos

Report: Local politicians reach out to Ben Shaoul as re-sale of the Cabrini Nursing Center seems likely

More details on Cabrini's closing announcement

Q-and-A with Patricia Krasnausky, president and CEO of Cabrini Eldercare

Ben Shaoul's proposed new Avenue A building will be 8 stories with a roof deck

The former 98-100 Avenue A, most recently East Village Farms, is a mere shell of its former self as developer Ben Shaoul continues plans to build a retail-residential space here between East Seventh Street and East Sixth Street.

And we have a few more specifics now about what's next here.

Permits filed with the DOB last Thursday show plans for a proposed building that is 37,042 square feet — 29,881 for residential and 7,161 for a ground-floor retail space ... good for 8 stories and 43 residential units, plus bicycle storage in the basement and an "outdoor tenant recreation space" on the roof. Ramy Issac is listed as the architect of record.

The rendering on the plywood shows a 7-story structure.




There's also a retail listing (PDF) for the space, which doesn't exactly account for what the new building will look like…



Previously on EV Grieve:
A little bit of Hollywood on Avenue A

East Village Farms is closing; renovations coming to 100 Avenue A

Inside the abandoned theater at East Village Farms on Avenue A

Reader reports: Village Farms closing Jan. 31; building will be demolished

Asbestos abatement continues at 98 Avenue A, Ben Shaoul's latest East Village trophy

Meanwhile at Bloom 62...

So how are things settling in over at Bloom 62, Ben Shaoul's luxury conversion of the former nursing home on Avenue B and East Fifth Street? Everyone getting along?

Spotted on the currently vacant retail space...



Previously on EV Grieve:
Claim: Ben Shaoul is the new owner of Cabrini nursing home, will convert to condos

Report: Local politicians reach out to Ben Shaoul as re-sale of the Cabrini Nursing Center seems likely

More details on Cabrini's closing announcement

Q-and-A with Patricia Krasnausky, president and CEO of Cabrini Eldercare

CB3 not into Ben Shaoul's zoning variance for 515 E. 5th St.

News on the never-ending saga regarding developer Ben Shaoul's additions to 515 E. Fifth St. On Wednesday night, Community Board 3's Land Use, Zoning, Public & Private Housing Committee voted to recommend that the Board of Standards and Appeals (BSA) deny the zoning
variance application filed by Shaoul's reps.

Members of the Tenants Association of 515 East 5th Street say that the CB3 vote will clear the path for the case to be heard at the BSA. "It might take a month or two for all the necessary paperwork to change hands, but the decision probably won't be made until the middle of next year," said one Association member.

A recap on the situation here: The BSA had previously ruled that Shaoul needs to remove the 6th and 7th floors. However, his attorneys had requested that the city grant a zoning variance to "permit the constructed enlargement, minus the penthouse, to remain."

Given the seven-plus-year history here, this is likely far from being resolved. The extra floors were added in 2006.

You can read more about the history here at the Post, Curbed, DNAinfo and The Villager.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Never-ending battle wages on over additional floors at 515 E. Fifth St.

CB3 hearing on illegal rooftop additions at 515 E. 5th St. re-scheduled for another month

Never-ending battle over additional floors at 515 E. Fifth St. promises to keep being never-ending

A look at the 'Hip young crowd planting roots at Bloom 62'

[EVG file photo]

Real Estate Weekly files a puff piece on Bloom 62, Ben Shaoul's newish luxury rentals on Avenue B and East Fifth Street. According to REW, the 81-unit building is 82 percent leased some six months after making its debut.

To the article, titled "Hip young crowd planting roots at Bloom 62":

On a recent Friday, a group of young tenants was lounging on the terrace’s garden chairs, enjoying one of the last warm days of the year.

The smell of barbecue coming from the built-in outdoor grills and the blooming hydrangea summed up the building’s message: Just because you’re in Manhattan, doesn’t mean you can’t live as if you’re out in the country.

And what's the point of living in Manha... aw, forget it!

And!

The building’s brand new, polished exterior provides a stark contrast to its run-down East Village surroundings. Neighboring buildings are showing their age and sport the occasional graffiti over rusty fire escapes, leftovers of a time when the area was known more for its punks and basement clubs than for its fine dining.

But times have changed: “East Village” and “luxury rental” can now be said in the same sentence with a straight face. Coffee shops and restaurants are in abundance, and the Lower East Side, with its numerous clubs and bars, is just blocks away.

Oh boy.

The building's previous tenant was the 240-bed Cabrini Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation, sponsored by the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, which provided health care for low-income elderly residents in the East Village. The center opened in 1993 and served 240 patients and employed nearly 300 employees. Cabrini closed for good on June 30, 2012.

Now excuse us while we throw ourselves on the built-in outdoor grills.

Updated 10:22

Here Curbed's headline on this REW piece:

Ben Shaoul's Bloom 62 Dances on the East Village's Grave

Previously on EV Grieve:
Claim: Ben Shaoul is the new owner of Cabrini nursing home, will convert to condos

Report: Local politicians reach out to Ben Shaoul as re-sale of the Cabrini Nursing Center seems likely

More details on Cabrini's closing announcement

Q-and-A with Patricia Krasnausky, president and CEO of Cabrini Eldercare

Never-ending battle over additional floors at 515 E. Fifth St. promises to keep being never-ending

The saga of developer Ben Shaoul's additions to 515 E. Fifth St. continues. This was on the docket for this month's CB3 Land Use, Zoning, Public & Private Housing Committee meeting, but Shaoul's reps reportedly rescheduled it at the last minute for another month.

A quick recap to a really long story: The Board of Standards and Appeals (BSA) had previously ruled that Shaoul needs to remove the 6th and 7th floors. However, his attorneys had requested that the city grant a zoning variance to "permit the constructed enlargement, minus the penthouse, to remain."

Now the Tenants Association of 515 East 5th Street, who has been fighting all this for years, passes along word of yet another delay to any resolution in the near future. Shaoul's attorneys have apparently filed an Article 78 petition to get the New York State Supreme Court to compel the BSA and DOB to reverse their decisions in the vesting case.

We'll report back to you when this is all resolved in 2023.

(You can read more about the history here at the Post, Curbed, DNAinfo and The Villager.)

Previously on EV Grieve:
Never-ending battle wages on over additional floors at 515 E. Fifth St.

CB3 hearing on illegal rooftop additions at 515 E. 5th St. re-scheduled for another month

CB3 hearing on illegal rooftop additions at 515 E. 5th St. re-scheduled for another month

The illegal rooftop additions at 515 E. Fifth St. were on the docket for Wednesday night's CB3 Land Use, Zoning, Public & Private Housing Committee meeting.

The Board of Standards and Appeals (BSA) had previously ruled that landlord Ben Shaoul needs to remove the 6th and 7th floors. However, his attorneys are requesting that the city grant a zoning variance to "permit the constructed enlargement, minus the penthouse, to remain."

And how did this go? A tenant reported that "the landlord pulled out of the CB3 hearing at the last minute. They have re-scheduled it for next month."

In 2008, the BSA decreed that the additions were illegal and should be removed.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Never-ending battle wages on over additional floors at 515 E. Fifth St.

Never-ending battle wages on over additional floors at 515 E. Fifth St.

[EVG file photo]

A familiar address makes an appearance at tonight's CB3 Land Use, Zoning, Public & Private Housing Committee meeting:

• BSA 266-13-BZ, 515 E 5th St: request variance of ZR23-145 to legalize enlargement of a 6-story family dwelling

To quickly rehash a few previous posts: Back in 2008, the Board of Standards and Appeals (BSA) decreed that developer Ben Shaoul's additions to 515 E. Fifth St. were illegal and should be removed. Work on the additional 6th floor and penthouse commenced in 2006 after the Buildings Department approved the enlargements ... however, the additions were later found to skirt certain fire and safety regulations, per published reports. (Read more about the ruling at the Post and Curbed.)

In recent years there have been protests ... and hearings...

In early September, attorneys for a handful of 515's longer-tenured residents argued that not only was there no legal basis for granting Shaoul vesting under the old zoning laws, there was also no guarantee that he would use this opportunity to correct the violations of the Multiple Dwelling Laws that exist in the building. The BSA upheld this argument.

However, Shaoul's attorneys are appealing the BSA's decision. You can find volumes of legalese about all this right here. (PDF!)



To make a long legal document short, Shaoul's attorneys are requesting that the city grant a zoning variance to "permit the constructed enlargement, minus the penthouse, to remain, which is in character with the surrounding neighborhood." (According to the documents, the estimated cost of removing the sixth floor and penthouse is $452,000.)

In 2010, the BSA told Shaoul that he needed to remove the seventh-floor penthouse at a nearby property at 516-516 E. Sixth St. (The BSA said that the sixth-floor addition could stay.) Workers finally started removing the penthouse, which was never occupied, last month.

Previously on EV Grieve:
[Updated] 5 years later, another BSA hearing on illegal rooftop addition at 515 E. Fifth St.

Protest at 515 E. Fifth St. this morning, site of Ben Shaoul's illegal addition

The disappearing illegal penthouse of 514-516 E. 6th St.