[Updated] Excavation continues outside the former Cabrini Center on Avenue B

On Friday, a resident who lives adjacent to the former Cabrini Center noted the unbearable jackhammering taking place in the building's parking lot off Avenue B at East Fifth Street. The health care facility for elderly patients is being converted into luxury residences.

Today, another resident passes along photos of the ongoing excavation (pointing out that few of the workers chose not to wear hard hats for this job). The nearby resident refers to the work here today as "obscenely loud."









Here's a little video action of the work...



Not sure what's going on out back... workers jackhammered out the former parking lot. One local joked that they were putting in a pool. Hmm. More likely the pump service room, the water room, etc., in the basement.

DOB permits show 81 units here, including a rooftop "public recreation space" as well as retail space.

Previously.

Next phase in Cabrini conversion: Unbearable jackhammering

Developer Ben Shaoul's conversion of the former Cabrini Center into residences continues on Avenue B and East Fifth Street.

Now, according to a Cabrini neighbor, workers have turned their attention to the surrounding area.

"Having jackhammered every inch on the ground floor of the Cabrini building ... they have taken to jackhammering the pavement around the building," the neighbor told us. "If it was loud before, it is even louder now. My floor, walls and entire apartment shake like a minor earthquake. The noise starts just before 7 and doesn't end until after 6."

The resident describes the noise as "unbearable." The resident has called 311. But. The resident wonders if there are alternate solutions for filing a complaint.

"They post no notices or heads-up to the surrounding residences and appear to have no regard for people who live in the neighborhood and have to deal with the constant noise," the resident said. "It remains to be seen if this is also acceptable for their Saturday permit."

The workers are back at the outdoor jackhammering this morning.



Previously on EV Grieve:
Cabrini Center patients out by the end of today; closes for good June 30

More details on Cabrini's closing announcement

The 8 Rs outside the former Cabrini Center

East Fifth Street at Avenue B.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Cabrini Center patients out by the end of today; closes for good June 30

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

As you may have read in the Nov. 3 edition of The Villager, the Cabrini Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation on East Fifth Street at Avenue B is in danger of closing.

The Villager's Lesley Sussman reported that the building's current owner is an unnamed family trust, which is in the process of selling the property.

During the weekend, an anonymous reader left a comment on our post about 515 E. Fifth St., the site of a recent protest about the illegal addition to the building. The property is owned by Ben Shaoul's Magnum Management.

Per the commenter:

We just learned that Ben has purchased the property where Cabrini Home is at 542 East 5th Street from another private owner to convert to condos. The home says their lease runs out in April 2012 and they are being forced to close. Can't anyone stop him? They want to stay but so far, no dice.

According to a neighborhood source monitoring the situation, until the deal closed this past week, no one at Cabrini knew the names of the buyer. The source said that Cabrini officials have made an offer to the previously unknown new owner to pay a substantial amount of money just to receive a lease extension — in addition to more rent.

Previously, local politicians — including Assemblymember Speaker Sheldon Silver, City Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn, City Councilmember Rosie Mendez and members of the Community Board 3 — sent a letter to attorney Kenneth Fisher, who is representing the buyer, asking for an extension of the current lease, The Villager reported.

The nonprofit, 240-bed nursing home — sponsored by the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus — provides health care for low-income elderly residents in the East Village. The location at Fifth Street and Avenue B opened in 1993. This location serves 240 patients and employs nearly 300 employees.

As The Villager noted, Cabrini officials have been planning to relocate to a still-unspecified site owned by the Archdiocese of New York in the next five years. However, without a lease extension and ample opportunity to find a new home, the facility is at risk of losing its state-issued operating license.