The buzz about the bee hotel on Cooper Square

Photo by Carol from East 5th Street

ICYMI, this new hotel is on Cooper Square. 

This spring, the NYC Department of Transportation, the Horticultural Society of New York (The Hort!) and Rutgers University announced the Pollinator Port Project to create habitats for at-risk native bee populations in select NYC DOT public plazas and Open Streets. 

Per the city: 

As part of the project, 'bee hotels' and 'bee bunkers' will be installed, and vegetation will be planted to provide nourishment for bees and other pollinators. According to the United Nations' Environment Programme, bees are essential for the planet and are a crucial part of the biodiversity needed to sustain life. Bees have fewer habitats in urban areas and often have long distances between green spaces in cities. The installations announced today will provide connections between other green spaces across the city and will attract tickle bees, a small, native bee species that rarely sting.

Monday's parting shot

Photo by Derek Berg 

On Cooper Square, a shoot for a Maybelline commercial... maybe it's Maybelline!

'Americans in Paris' at the new Grey Art Museum on Cooper Square

The Grey Art Museum recently relocated from Washington Square East to 18 Cooper Square (roughly at Fifth Street). 

The inaugural show for NYU's fine art museum (fka, the Grey Art Gallery) opened on March 4 and is titled "Americans in Paris." 

A description: 

Following World War II, hundreds of artists from the United States flocked to the City of Light, which for centuries had been heralded as an artistic mecca and international cultural capital. Americans in Paris explores a vibrant community of expatriates who lived in France for a year or more during the period from 1946 to 1962. Many were ex-soldiers who took advantage of a newly enacted GI Bill, which covered tuition and living expenses; others, including women, financed their own sojourns. 

Showcased here are some 130 paintings, sculptures, photographs, films, textiles, and works on paper by nearly 70 artists, providing a fresh perspective on a creative ferment too often overshadowed by the contemporaneous ascendency of the New York art scene. 

And a brief look around...

This show runs through July 20. Related to the exhibit, there are also panel discussions and film screenings here (check the website). 

Hours: 

• Tuesday: 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. 
• Wednesday 11 a.m. - 8 p.m. 
• Thursday-Friday: 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. 
• Saturday: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

There isn't an admission fee... and the show is worth your time...

The city's first public e-bike charging site for delivery workers unveiled on Cooper Square

City officials yesterday: 

... activated the first of five public e-battery charging locations as part of the city's new six-month pilot program to test safe, public charging of lithium-ion batteries by an initial group of 100 delivery workers. The first charging site is located in Cooper Square ... and is a key component of the administration's overall “Charge Safe, Ride Safe: New York City's Electric Micromobility Action Plan" to support safe e-bike use and prevent deadly lithium-ion battery fires. New York City is among the first major cities in the United States to launch a public e-bike charging pilot program.

The Essex Market will also receive an e-bike charging station in the coming weeks. 

Per the Times:

During the pilot program, up to 100 delivery workers can volunteer to use the charging hubs for free and provide feedback to the city. The program will cost about $950,000 in city funding. Its results will inform the city’s efforts "to expand safe and affordable e-battery charging to all New Yorkers," city transportation officials said.

The new charging sites come amid ongoing concerns over fires sparked by lithium-ion batteries.

According to ABC 7 and other media outlets, 18 people died, and 150 people were injured in 268 fires caused by lithium-ion batteries in NYC last year. 

Last Friday, 27-year-old journalist Fazil Khan was killed and 22 others injured during a fire in a six-floor apartment building in Harlem. FDNY officials said the fire started in an apartment shared by six delivery workers charging lithium-ion batteries. 

Meanwhile, the Times pointed out that the city received "a $25 million federal grant last year to install 173 outdoor charging stations for e-bikes and other e-mobility devices at 53 of the city’s subsidized public housing complexes, but none have been built yet."

It will likely be months before you see any signs of these, The City reported.

And another angle brought up in Streetsblog's coverage:

When it comes to electric charging infrastructure for cars, DOT has been able to install 100 chargers at sidewalks in all five boroughs within 18 months, and the agency is eyeing tens of thousands more in the coming decade, Streetsblog reported. 

Nevertheless, the asked why it appeared to be easier for the agency to accommodate electric cars than e-bikes, DOT Commissioner Ydanis Commissioner contended it was not more challenging to set up the e-bike infrastructure.

Photos courtesy of the DOT

Saturday's opening shot

The sunflowers of Cooper Square...

Time for the Life Time signage on Cooper Square

You may have noticed activity in the now-former New York Health & Racquet Club on Cooper Square... that gym closed on Dec. 1 ahead of renovations for a rebranding to Life Time. That signage is now up in the storefront windows in the circa-1926 Carl Fisher building.

Here's more via a message from NYHRC: "Life Time is investing in excess of $25 million dollars, renovating this location ... to the highest standards, and will begin operating this location upon the completion of the renovations."

Here's some vague description of this new Life Time (good names also for magazines!):

"Soon to arrive in Cooper Square in the vibrant NoHo neighborhood, this renovated club will feature boutique fitness programs, industry-leading amenities and equipment, and an updated fitness floor and dedicated studios."

The gym club is expected to be ready late in the summer, per the Life Time website and coming-soon signage.

Report: 18 years to life for man who murdered Elizabeth Lee on Cooper Square

[Photo from March 2018]

Vincent Verdi, a former federal intelligence officer, received a sentence of 18 years to life yesterday after pleading guilty to gunning down Elizabeth Lee on Cooper Square as she arrived for work on Nov. 1, 2017.

As the Daily News reported, Verdi, 63, "offered a self-pitying apology that drew jeers and groans from his victim’s loved ones" at a hearing in Manhattan Supreme Court yesterday.

“I can only hope one day the New York State criminal justice system will allow me to rejoin my family,” Verdi said.

“Never!” one critic said behind him.

“You’re the devil!” another chimed in.

Lee, who was 56 and a mother of two grown children, lived on the Upper East Side. She had just docked a Citi Bike when Verdi approached her and shot her twice. He then shot himself in the head.

According to previous reports in the Daily News, Verdi spent four months stalking and harassing Lee. Police had arrested him previously for stalking. She had an order of protection barring him from contacting her, which was in place the morning he killed her.

The DA's office originally charged him with murder, weapons possession, aggravated criminal contempt and stalking.

Lee was a longtime administrator at the nearby Grace Church School. She was remembered as a devoted mother and a friend to many.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Memorial for Elizabeth Lee on Cooper Square

Report: Ex admits to murdering Elizabeth Lee on Cooper Square

[Photo from March 2018]

Vincent Verdi, a former federal intelligence officer, pleaded guilty to murder in the 2nd degree yesterday for gunning down Elizabeth Lee on Cooper Square as she arrived for work on Nov. 1, 2017.

As the Daily News reported last evening, Verdi told a judge he was remorseful for killing Lee.

"These words come of a heavy heart,” Verdi said in Manhattan Supreme Court. "My sorrow for what I did has no limit, and is also true of my regret for the pain and anguish I have caused to many, many people."

The terms of this deal will see Verdi, 63, serve at least 18 years for the murder.

Lee, who was 56 and a mother of two grown children, lived on the Upper East Side. She had just docked a Citi Bike when Verdi approached her and shot her twice. He then shot himself in the head.

According to previous reports in the Daily News, Verdi spent four months stalking and harassing Lee. Police had arrested him previously for stalking. She had an order of protection barring him from contacting her, which was in place the morning he killed her.

The DA's office originally charged him with murder, weapons possession, aggravated criminal contempt and stalking.

Lee was a longtime administrator at the nearby Grace Church School. She was remembered as a devoted mother and a friend to many.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Memorial for Elizabeth Lee on Cooper Square

Today in unicorn sightings on Cooper Square

A dispatch from peter radley:

if I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes
I would have thought that someone
was more than a little delirious to
tell such a tale?

More about the church vs. the travelers on Cooper Square

[Photo on Cooper Square at Seventh Street from June]

Last month, we noted that the travelers who slept outside the First Ukrainian Assembly of God on Cooper Square at Seventh Street had been driven away after someone from the building sprinkled bleach powder on the sidewalk.

Later, someone dumped garbage at the spot (including used toilet paper) and tagged the building.

The Post has a follow-up on this today with a piece titled "Vagrants are going to war against an East Village pastor." The paper talks with the church's leaders, Irina and Ivan Belets.

Alarmed by a growing daily gathering of junkies and hobos, the Belets took matters into their own hands July 22 by sprinkling Comet bleach powder all over the sidewalk in front of the church...

The cleanser fended off the unwelcome interlopers for just a day. “They retaliated and spray-painted all kinds of profanity like ‘f–k you’ on the walls,” Irina said. “They also dumped garbage all over the powder and left a garbage bag filled with used toilet paper.”

And...

The vagrants urinated on the church steps — forcing the Belets to scrub them every day for months in a futile effort to get rid of the “unbearable” stench, Irina said.

Some members of their flock began to skip their weekly Sunday service because of the putrid smells.

And the city reportedly won't do anything about it...

The Belets say they have complained to the city constantly to no avail. They say they have filed at least five complaints through the 311 hotline, and the NYPD confirmed it has received at least 14 calls to 911 this year for the church address, including five reports of disorderly persons...

For now, Irina Belet said the powder has kept the travelers at bay, but she believes they will return. "We need real help. We need the city to do something."


[Photo from today]

Updated

An EVG reader just said that this is a cover story...

Reader report: Cleaning power and a clean up on Cooper Square

[Photo on Cooper Square at Seventh Street from June]

You may have noticed a group of travelers camping out in front of 59 Cooper Square at Seventh Street this summer.

An EVG reader, who works nearby, said that on Monday, the group was gone — "replaced by a bleach cleaning powder. Looked like the church [the First Ukrainian Assembly of God] figured out how to 'clean out' the crusties."

Yesterday morning, someone dumped garbage on the sidewalk where the sleeping bags had been, on top of the cleaning powder ... prompting the reader to wonder if this was an act of retaliation...

Report: Cab strikes and kills man on Cooper Square

A yellow cab going southbound struck and killed a man last night on Cooper Square at Fifth Street, according to published reports.

The collision between the cab, an SUV, and the man happened around 9 p.m. The Associated Press article in the Daily News lists the victim as 87. The Post puts his age at 70. EMTs took the man to Bellevue, where he died from his injuries. Authorities did not release the man's name pending notification of his family.

The driver, 45, remained at the scene and has not been charged. Both news reports say the investigation is ongoing. Neither report offers up other details, such as if the cab driver ran a light or if the pedestrian was crossing at a crosswalk.

Updated 9:30 a.m.

Per DNAinfo:

The man was crossing east to west near East Fifth Street when he was hit by the yellow cab about 9 p.m., the NYPD said.

He was in the crosswalk but did not have the light, police said.

DOT looking for feedback about the Village Plaza

EVG reader Sheila shared this info... reps for the Department of Transportation (DOT) were out on Saturday soliciting input from residents about the Village Plaza south of the Peter Cooper Triangle (roughly that area in front of the former Village Voice Building at 36 Cooper Square)...

They were looking for feedback regarding suggested uses as well as complaints about the recently revamped Plaza, which was part of the $21 million Astor Place-Cooper Square reconstruction project. (While the Village Alliance maintains the Alamo Plaza and the cube, the DOT is responsible for the Astor Place Subway Plaza and this area.)

The reps said that the Village Plaza is available for use by any community group with the proper application.


[File photo]

Unfortunately, as Sheila notes, there isn't a set time that the survey takers will be working here, but they will continue to pitch their DOT tent until they have 100 responses.

Anyway, in case you see them and want to provide some feedback... plus there's a free prize for taking the survey!

'this concrete park...'

Astor Place

 

Non aquatic trees succumb,

to generous water.

By design or lack of care,

this concrete park does suffer.

•

peter radley

[Photos from last week]

Previously

The remaining unpaved portion of Cooper Square now with asphalt

Much to the delight of motorists, pedestrians, cyclists, skateboarders and exhaust systems, that last stretch of Cooper Square between Fifth Street and Fourth Street has its new asphalt ... (as well as Fourth Street between Broadway and Second Avenue)...

The crew left the equipment out in case you see any spots they missed. (The keys are hidden in a compartment in the smokebox.)



Maybe they should keep milling and paving... the rest of the Bowery could used a new roadway...



According to the Astor Place-Cooper Square Reconstruction Newsletter (PDF), workers will be putting the pavement markings on the new asphalt next week.

The $29.5 million triplex penthouse on Cooper Square

[Image via Streeteasy]

62 Cooper Square was home, starting in 1926, to sheet-music company Carl Fischer. The 12-story building was converted to condos (26 in total) in 2001.

The building's crown jewel, the three-level penthouse, hit the market back in the late spring. And, as I learned in a post at Luxury Listings (h/t The Real Deal) yesterday, the home remains on the market. Perhaps because the asking price is $29.5 million?

Here are some details via the listing at Stribling:

The Penthouse at 62 Cooper Square ... covers 15,781 interior square feet, with an additional 2,400 square feet of beautifully landscaped terraces. Located on the top three floors of the Carl Fischer Building, this triplex penthouse offers soaring 10'8 ceilings; 90+ windows; North, South, East, and West exposures; and includes 2 guest apartments and an adjacent guest suite. This truly extraordinary home currently consists of 8 bedrooms, 8 full bathrooms, 3 half bathrooms, 2 private terraces, a billiard room, library, and personal yoga studio.

And a photo or two...





Move in now and you'll likely be able to watch the last few years months of the Astor Place-Cooper Square reconstruction.

Images via Stribling

Cooper Square now with new crosswalks

Another sign of progress in the ongoing Astor Place/Cooper Square Reconstruction project... workers have painted the crosswalks on the newly paved surrounding streets...



Not sure what's next on the to-do list... the weekly construction bulletin is still dated from Aug. 12.

Thanks to Vinny & O for these photos!

Cooper Square street renovations claim 1st exhaust system

(That we know about...)

Photo by Derek Berg

More shade arrives for Cooper Square

Another sign of progress today in the ongoing Astor Place/Cooper Square Reconstruction Project... workers started planting new trees around the plaza area of Cooper Square as the above photo via EVG reader Mona W. shows.

As for when Astor Place's more famous tenant, the Alamo, will return... we now hear late May/early June. Workers packed up and carted off The Alamo for the duration of the reconstruction back on Nov. 25, 2014.

Here's a link to a weekly bulletin (PDF), noting what's happening this week.

The anticipated project completion date is now summer 2016, according to the reconstruction newsletter (PDF here).

Previously on EV Grieve:
The Alamo returns to Astor Place this Halloween

Five years later, Astor Place apparently ready for its 2-year reconstruction project

This is what it might be like living inside the Alamo on Astor Place

RIP Tony Rosenthal, the sculptor who created the Astor Place cube

The Alamo has been away from Astor Place for 1 year now

The all-new Astor Place is coming along (for real)

Important advice for motorists during Cooper Square reconstruction

Workers yesterday started replacing the roadway on Cooper Square starting at East Fourth Street (part of the ongoing Astor Place-Cooper Square reconstruction) ... cutting down the traffic to two lanes through Seventh Street...





And keep an eye out of this helpful sign for motorists...



Work is expected to be completed by Friday.

Ha. Kidding!