Reader report: Potential geyser on East 12th Street?

A reader notes that people have called 311 to report water bubbling up through a crack on East 12th Street.

"They said to call 911 if it gets worse. People are stopping to check it out. Maybe I should charge admission to this natural wonder."

Looking at the East Village Brownstone

So 13 months have passed since we checked in on this under-renovation brownstone at 224 E. 12th St. between Second Avenue and Third Avenue...

Last year!

Now!

The building is called The Brownstone.

Per the organization's website:

The Brownstone uses New York City as an experiential classroom to promote personal, communal and social responsibilities for young Jewish participants to develop a code of ethics for living with integrity and purpose as contributing and leading members of society.We collaborate and build partnerships with a wide range of organizations to further Jewish education and identity and to strengthen young Jews’ commitment to Israel.

Our mission is to strengthen Jewish identity and peoplehood, foster community development, and cultivate the next generation of leaders.

The building will include a rooftop terrace, sleeping quarters, library, and classroom and workshop space. No word on a completion date.

Here's a rendering...

Previously on EV Grieve:
12th Street brownstone becoming mini university for Jewish education

2 signs of summer on East 12th Street

Near Avenue B.

[Updated] Breaking: Hostage situation on East 12th Street

Sources say that it's at 514 E. 12th St. ... also from the Gothamist news map...

NYPD on scene say that four shots were fired.

Photos via EVG reader Rick V.

Updated: 11:01 a.m. People on the scene say that it's over... NYPD has left... We'll see if we can any details on what happened.

[Updated] Reader reports: Pedestrian in 'extremely critical condition' after being struck by motorcycle on East 12th Street early this morning

[@robbyohara]

We're putting together various reader reports of a fatality early this morning on East 12th Street just east of Avenue A. According to readers, a motorcycle struck and killed a man sometime around 4:30 a.m.

An account from a reader who lives near the scene of the accident:

I heard a sickening crash. I thought two cars had hit each other. I jumped up and looked out the window and saw a silver BMW motorcycle in the street in front of 503 East 12th Street facing the wrong way. Then I saw a man laying in the middle of the road. People were attending to him and yelling call 911, so I called 911. The cops, firemen and ambulance came quickly. It looked like he was bleeding from the head. There is still blood on the street.

Anyway, I thought he was the motorcyclist and maybe a car had hit him and took off. I went out this morning, though, and asked the cops if the motorcyclist was okay, and the cop said he's fine, but the person he hit is dead.

No charges have been filed, we hear. We'll have more on this soon... WABC and NY1 are at the scene...

UPDATE:
Based on comments and emails with witnesses...

The victim is at Beth Israel in critical condition. The victim, who is 33, was apparently walking with two friends at the time of the accident. Police sources say it is the victim's birthday today. No charges have been filed against the motorcyclist.

DNAinfo reports that the victim is in "extremely critical condition."

UPDATE Jan. 2:

The Post has this today in the NYPD Daily Blotter:

An intoxicated man walking home with friends early yesterday morning was hit by a motorcyclist on an East Village street.

Daniel Hiwale, 33, was crossing East 12th Street, near Avenue A, against the light at 4:18 a.m. when he fell and was struck by the 38-year-old biker, who was traveling eastbound on East 12th Street, cops said.

Hiwale was in extremely critical condition at Beth Israel Hospital, cops added. The biker, who tried to avoid the crash, remained at the scene, and there was no criminality, police said.

East 12th Street and Avenue A tonight: Waiting for the President to pass by

Our photographer friend Michael Sean Edwards was among the many stuck waiting at 12th Street and Avenue A tonight ... He passed along a few photos from the corner...

... and the money shot...

So what was the story? The NYPD wasn't letting anyone cross 12th Street from C to Fifth Avenue for nearly 30 minutes? One person told me that, though we weren't sure exactly what the wait time was...

[Updated] All the President's motorcades

A few moments ago on East 12th Street... as President Obama zipped through town ...

Via @PatriciaSexton ...

... and a little video shot by @AndrewGothelf ...



...EV Grieve reader Robbie sent along these shots... the endless motorcade heading west...

... and an officer telling residents that they need to still inside their apartment building...

Previously.

A few minutes on ago on East 12th Street

Lockdown! (Pretty much.) Between First Avenue and Avenue A (all of East 12th Street actually)... waiting for the President's motorcade to pass... Here's why.

Here's another shot via @pinsuda ...

The rare backhouses of East 12th Street

So back in July we reported that the long-dormant pit also-known-as 427. E. 12th St. is primed for a six-story, 11-unit residence courtesy of Montreal-based architect Karl Fischer ...

Until that soulless glass coffin goes up, you have the chance to enjoy not one but two backhouses. In a post yesterday, Off The Grid — the blog of the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation — wrote about the history of backhouses ... namely "residential structures which are separate from and located behind other buildings (usually, but not always, residential buildings) which face the street."

Here's a look at them via Google...

Let's go back to Off the Grid for more.

"The newly- (and temporarily-) revealed backhouses at 425 and 429 East 12th Street, between First Avenue and Avenue A, present a variation on these backhouse scenarios, one which we believe may be somewhat rare. The four-story front-buildings at 425 and 429 were both built in 1852, and appear to be very early, purpose-built tenements (i.e. they were built as tenements, not structures built as single-family homes which were converted to multi-family housing).

Off the Grid has more photos, history... as well as a street map from 1853. Find all that here.

[Updated] 17 year old shot and killed on East 12th Street early this morning

There have been multiple reports of a fatal shooting last night on 12th Street and Avenue C. According to the Daily News this afternoon, someone shot 17-year-old Keith Salgado (pictured, right) about 1:50 a.m., police said. He later died from his wounds at Bellevue Hospital.

"His life was taken too soon," Salgado's cousin, Jahaira Rivera, told the Daily News. "We were hanging out last night and he decided to split for five minutes. In five minutes, he got shot."

The Lo-Down reported that Salgado's mother was the leader of an anti-violence youth group.

[Photo via the Daily News]

On East 12th Street, a 'rambling home' renting for $18,500 monthly

So 215 E. 12th St. is now on the market. Here's what you get for $18,500 a month these days. Per the Stribling listing:

Majestic 4 story 25 foot wide townhouse brimming with original detail, charm and a chic sensibility. Even the toughest critic will be impressed by the sheer scale and expanse of the 43 foot living and dining room situated on the parlour floor. This dramatic north and south facing room has two wood burning fireplaces,14 foot ceilings and 9'4" windows. The huge renovated eat in kitchen,(30'x7'8") with beautiful marble counters and floors, high end appliances,including a 6 burner restaurant grade stove, has a door to the small terrace and a staircase to the enormous garden which is 45'4x25. The 3rd floor has the large bright master bedroom (15'7x22) with dressing room, a sitting/tv area and ensuite good condition original bath. Travel down the hall to the 2nd bedroom across from the hall bath. Upstairs are 3 additional bedrooms,a tv/playroom and a large renovated bath with 2 sinks, soaking tub, double shower and 2 windows. The entry floor has laundry/mudroom and an additional room that could be a bedroom/office which has access to the garden. This light filled, rambling home has 5 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, high ceilings, dramatic arched doorways, hardwood floors,laundry and a large garden. Owner prefers to rent furnished but unfurnished is possible — pets on a case by case basis

Hey, why isn't there a mention of that backyard basketball hoop in the listing?

A large NYPD presence on East 12th Street

A reader report from late this afternoon on 12th Street between Avenue A and B... a reader heard someone yell "Stop him!"

"I saw people from the street and cops running down 12th Street. Got outside and saw them wrestling with this kid. They finally got him under control and took him back down 12th Street toward B. Tons of people outside, tons of cops. Don’t know what he did ..."

Anyone have more details?

Earlier today on East 12th Street

At Avenue C. Photos by Bobby Williams.

Chico paints a Gil Scott-Heron tribute

Spotted by Dave on 7th at 12th Street and Avenue C.

Meanwhile, Bobby Williams caught up with Chico working on the front of the building...

And Crazy Eddie checks in with what it looked like right before Chico started...

Is this your abandoned Vespa on East 12th Street?

A reader notes that this Vespa has been chained to a tree here in the 500 block of East 12th Street for some time now ... Neighbors believe that the owner has abandoned the Vespa. The reader asks, "Is it illegal to chain Vespas to trees? Am I crazy for feeling bad for the tree?"

Probably a good thing this isn't parked on East Third Street.