Emergency generator work underway at the Riis Houses on Avenue D

From the EVG inbox, a reader shares these photos from outside the Jacob Riis Houses along Avenue D... in case you saw this and wondered what was happening.

When asked, the workers said that this pavilion was for a backup power generator...



This is only but one of the upgrades planned for the Riis Houses in the years ahead. Back in December, WDF Inc. was granted a contract in excess of $71 million by the New York City Housing Authority for the Sandy Recovery Program Restoration.

According to a release announcing the contract:

The project scope of work includes both restoration and infrastructure improvements to the Jacob Riis Housing complex, which consists of 12 buildings spread over a three city block footprint. Upgrades include new emergency generators, electrical distribution equipment and gas services to the buildings. New flood elimination upgrades include deployable dry flood-proofing elements, waterproofing of structures, waterproof architectural finishes and upgrades to sewer/storm management systems.

Exterior upgrades include new roadways, sidewalks, green spaces and pedestrian lighting. Architectural improvements include the rehabilitation of building entrances, lobbies and storm damaged portions of all twelve buildings. Work on the project is expected to commence in the summer of 2019 with substantial completion anticipated by mid-2022.

In total, 210 NYCHA buildings are expected to be powered by permanent, full-load generators in case of outages.

5 years of portable boilers on 6th Street

[Photo from yesterday]

The temporary boilers that arrived shortly after Superstorm Sandy remain rather permanently on Sixth Street at Avenue C outside the NYCHA-owned building.

In September 2014, Sen. Schumer and Mayor de Blasio announced that $108 million in federal funding would be used to replace temporary boilers in NYCHA buildings damaged by Sandy. Apparently they haven't been able to get over here these past three years. (The Daily News once reported that a temporary boiler costs $5,000 a month to rent.)

Anyway, a look back at the boilers that have roughly cost the NYCHA $600,000 to rent these past five years.

October 2014...



October 2013...



April 2013...



Early 2013...

City removes Sandy-damaged willow on East 8th Street

A city crew is [finally] taking down a willow tree on East Eighth Street between Avenue B and Avenue C that didn't make it after Sandy...

Neighbor Alex Story, who took the top photo, also shared this shot of the healthy willow from several years back...



The city removed another Sandy-damanged willow from the 9th Street Community Garden Park back in August.

As for the the Eighth Street willow, as we recall, a local blogger had a cow wrote about the tree being pruned five or so years ago.

City removes Sandy-damaged willow from 9th Street Community Garden Park

An EVG reader let us know that a city crew is taking down a willow tree in the 9th Street Community Garden Park … Sandy's floodwaters killed the tree here on the northeast corner of Avenue C and Ninth …



As we understand it, the remaining willows at La Plaza Cultural across the way on the southwest corner of Ninth and C survived due to an underground stream beneath it that provides fresh water (and also makes development in that part of the neighborhood difficult). While those willows lost some branches, they remain healthy.

And EVG reader stickmanpk shared these photos…

Learn about the East River Resiliency Project tonight

[Photo of 8th and C during Sandy by Robert Walker]

Via the EVG inbox…

Join us to discuss the future of the East River Waterfront!

LOCATION: Church of St. Brigid, 119 Avenue B (enter on E. 8th Street)

DATE: Thursday, May 28, 6:30-8:30 P.M.

Community Design Workshop for Flood Protection on the East River

Join the Lower East Side/East Village community to discuss plans for the East Side Coastal Resiliency (ESCR) Project, intended to reduce risks from extreme weather and climate change and improve quality of life. We will discuss the potential for flood and storm protections to be built into community and park space along the East River.

What do you want flood protection on the East River waterfront to look like? Come and let your voice be heard!

Find a PDF of the presentation here.

2 years after Sandy

And the temporary boilers remained parked outside the NYCHA building along East Sixth Street at Avenue C … looking more like a permanent part of the streetscape with every passing day…

Previously on EV Grieve:
Sandy on Avenue C

The inside story of Con Ed and Superstorm Sandy

8 p.m., Avenue C, Oct. 29, 2012 and 2013

Photos courtesy of Andrew Adam Newman on Ave C.

Sandy on Avenue C

This video, uploaded just last week, was shot from East 11th Street at Avenue C one year ago tonight ... and it shows the Sandy storm surge headed down the Avenue ...

A series of images from that night and the next morning starts at the 3:30 mark.

One year later on East Sixth Street

As far as we know, these are the only temporary boilers that remain in the neighborhood from Sandy... on East Sixth Street at Avenue C outside this NYCHA-owned building.

Of course, there are other less-visible lingering effects from the storm...

Con Ed making strides so that the East 13th Street substation doesn't explode again

[14th and C last Nov. 4 via faces]

On Monday, Con Ed officials unveiled the repaired substation on East 13th Street nearly a year after Hurricane Sandy.

As you'll painfully recall, the storm surge caused a relay station inside the substation off of Avenue C to explode, leaving the lower half of Manhattan eating peanut butter, drinking warm beer and [______] in bags, among many other things worse than that.

Con Ed issued this video to show their improvements to its systems as part of a $1 billion plan to fortify critical infrastructure from major storms. Per Con Ed officials: Overhead equipment is now tougher and more resilient. Substations have new walls and raised equipment. Gas and steam infrastructure also is protected with water-proofing measures.

And here's WABC with a report... Last November, Fortune published an inside look at the Con Ed's Sandy experience. Find that here.

MCNY extends call for submissions of Hurricane Sandy photographs

[East 8th St. on Oct. 29. Photo by Gudren Georges]

From the EVG inbox...

The Museum of the City of New York announced that it has received an overwhelming response to its call for submissions of iconic images of Hurricane Sandy – from the region’s preparations to acts of heroism to and resiliency and rebuilding of communities in the greater New York City metropolitan area.

More than 650 amateur and novice photographers from across the region responded – many sending multiple photos — before the original deadline in March. Given the depth of interest, the Museum is calling for additional images documenting the recovery process during a second open-call period to he held July 1 to August 1, 2013.

The Museum of the City of New York’s Call for Submissions invites both novice and professional photographers to submit images depicting the stages of preparation, destruction and rebuilding for a juried exhibition to coincide with the one-year anniversary of the storm. Consideration will particularly be paid to before and after images of the same subject, highlighting the dramatic effect of the storm.

The exhibition will mark the Museum’s latest foray into collecting and recognizing the photographic works of people from all walks of life as they capture pivotal moments in the city’s history.

Deadline for entries is 11:59 PM on August 1, 2013. For more information detailing submission requirements, please go here.

6 months after Sandy

I don't have anything really to add to the numerous "6 months after Sandy" stories (like this one) that were in the media today... However, I did notice that a temporary boiler is still needed at the NYCHA houses on East Sixth Street at Avenue C... it's the last one that I'm aware of in the neighborhood.

[Updated] Remnants of Sandy off Avenue C; FEMA deadline tomorrow

A quick survey of damage caused by Superstorm Sandy's floodwaters on Avenue C... Two businesses that were shut due to storm damage recently reopened — C-Town and Verso ... (Kasadela on East 11th Street near C was unable to reopen.)

Late last week, workers removed the portable boiler set up outside Eastville Gardens on Avenue C and East Eighth Street...


[November]

...now...



There's still a portable heating system set up outside the NYCHA property on East Sixth Street at Avenue C...



And from the EVG Grieve inbox ... via Paul Newell, Democratic District Leader, 65th Assembly District ...

This Wednesday, February 27th is the deadline to register for FEMA disaster recovery plans. I strongly encourage everyone impacted by Superstorm Sandy to register – as damages sustained may not yet be known, and insurance payouts may be less than predicted. Wednesday is the last day for Sandy survivors in the 13 New York counties designated for federal disaster assistance to register with FEMA and complete and return low-interest Small Business Administration disaster loan applications, an important step in the FEMA grant process.

Survivors who register may be eligible for federal grants to help cover various disaster-related expenses including rent, essential home repairs, personal property losses and other serious disaster-related needs not covered by insurance.

For more information, here's FEMA's Hurricane Sandy website.

Updated:
Gov. Cuomo extended the deadline day from Feb. 27 to March 29, per The Real Deal.

Museum of the City of New York seeking Superstorm Sandy photos

From the EV Grieve inbox...

[East 11th Street last November. Photo by Goggla]

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS – Superstorm Sandy Photography Exhibition

Museum of the City of New York

On October 29, 2012, Superstorm Sandy moved into the greater New York metropolitan area and altered the physical and psychological fabric of the region. As recovery efforts progress and the future of essential infrastructure, including waterfront repair, is considered, the Museum of the City of New York seeks contemporary photographs of the areas and people affected by the storm – photographs that portray the region before the storm, during the dramatic hours of the storm’s landfall, the immediate aftermath, and the relief, recovery, and rebuilding efforts of individuals, organizations, and government agencies – for consideration for inclusion in an exhibition at the Museum to open in April.

Deadline for entries is 12pm March 3, 2013. For full guidelines and to submit images, click here.

A new-look Verso reopens on Avenue C for the first time since Sandy

[Several days after Sandy]

Verso, the Italian bistro on Avenue C at East Eighth Street, hasn't been open since Sandy's floodwaters filled up the restaurant's basement. Looked grim for awhile here, a time that included a back-rent notice taped to the front door in late December.

Workers have been busy of late...


[Wednesday via Bobby Williams]

And last night, Dave on 7th noted that the refurbished restaurant was back open...



Per Dave on 7th: There's a "new, more rustic look. I actually like it. The interior is stripped down. Exposed beams and joists. Barn cladding in front."

The owners tell us that they're in soft-opening mode this weekend, with a "full force" reopening at the end of the month.

Avenue C leads the Year in Pictures

I didn't look at the Times today. Just too much going on... However, Dave on 7th sent me a photo of the front of the Sunday Review section... a photo looking north on Avenue C from East Seventh Street following the Superstorm Sandy surge... looking at this photo, I'm amazed that anything is back open, to be honest ...

Updated:

Here's a direct link to the above image... thanks to Andrew Adam Newman on Ave C for the link...

Relief supply giveaway tomorrow at Dry Dock Park

From the EV Grieve inbox...

American Red Cross contributes 50,000 new coats, scarves, boots and more in unprecedented partnership with churches and faith-based groups.

Who: Abounding Grace Ministries, Trinity Grace Church, Somebody Cares America, New York City Christian Resource Center, and American Red Cross

What: Pop-Up Relief Site Winter Clothes Giveaway

When: Saturday, December 1, 9 am - 5 pm while supplies last

Where: Dry Dock Park at Avenue D and 10th Street

Lower East Side churches and volunteers will distribute 5,000 coats, scarves, boots and other winter supplies at Dry Dock Park on Saturday, December 1, in the shadow of the power plant that darkened lower Manhattan during Super Storm Sandy. The only Manhattan location is one of eleven regional hubs created by a unique partnership between American Red Cross, Somebody Cares America, New York Christian Resource Center, and local faith-based groups that collectively will distribute 50,000 coats and more this weekend to communities most directly impacted by the storm.

On Friday afternoon the American Red Cross shipment will arrive in a 53’ tractor trailer which volunteers will unload, sort and prepare for distribution on Saturday. Dry Dock Park will open to the public on December 1 at 9am, and will remain open as long as supplies last. Recipients must be present at the park to receive supplies.

For more information about how and where to volunteer, and what happened in the days immediately following the storm, visit the ministries’ shared blog.

Mobil station on Avenue C provides screen for 'Hurricane Exxon' film

Per Nick Pinto at Runnin' Scared:

The Exxon Mobil station on 2nd Street and Avenue C became an impromptu movie theater last night, as a coalition of climate-change activists projected a short film about Hurricane Sandy recovery onto the wall above it.

Said Josh Fox, one of the filmmakers: ""We're dealing with a hurricane that was supercharged by climate change. Really, we should be calling it Hurricane Exxon."

The New York Times had more on the screening here.

[Photo by Jenna Pope via Facebook]

Unfortunately, we didn't find out about the screening until it was too late... But! The 24-minute film is on vimeo...


OCCUPY SANDY from JFOX on Vimeo.

A benefit for Trinity's Services & Food for the Homeless

From the EV Grieve inbox... Trinity's Services & Food for the Homeless is a 501c3 that feeds 250-300 meals per day at 9th Street and Avenue B. We do it all with two part time staff who work so hard. We lost about 10,000 pounds of food due to Sandy — so this year our fundraiser is really important. We are trying to raise $60,000. Each entry ticket covers the cost of 20 meals.

Find info about Trinity's SAFH here.

Find out more about tickets for the fundraiser here.

Tonight, 'The Last Waltz,' a fundraiser for the victims of Hurricane Sandy

From the EV Grieve inbox... a free show tonight featuring 30 LES-based musicians at the Rockwood Music Hall on Allen Street...

We'll be donating proceeds to the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation, which is a great local charity that is on the ground actively helping and fixing things in many of the hardest hit communities, including Staten Island, Brooklyn, and the Rockaways. You can even earmark what area you want your donations to go to, when you give.

Here is the event page on Facebook.