Icon Realty buys building that housed Surma Books & Music for 98 years on 7th Street

Surma Books & Music closed earlier this summer at 11 E. Seventh St. near Cooper Square after 98 years in business.

Third-generation owner Markian Surmach had cited a decline in business and the expense of property tax and other charges related to owning the building.

According to public records, the Surmach family sold the property to the historically controversial Icon Realty for $5.75 million. (Surmach's grandfather reportedly paid $15,000 for the building in an undisclosed year.)

And the retail space that housed the Ukrainian specialty store is now on the retail market... signs went up yesterday...



According to the listing, the asking rent is $17,000 a month. The space "can be vented" and is "perfect for: Restaurant, bar, clothing store, salon, and all general retail uses."

Kati Roll Company still coming to 128 2nd Ave.

As we reported on July 1, the owners of the Kati Roll Company have designs on opening their fourth Manhattan location at 128 Second Ave., former home of the Stage. According to paperwork filed ahead of this month's CB3-SLA committee meeting, they are seeking a beer-wine license here.

However, a look at tonight's meeting docket at the CB3 website shows that Kati is now a scratch...



A cancellation is a fairly frequent occurrence. As CB3 District Manager Susan Stetzer said, "It is generally because information or paperwork is not finalized or negotiations with the landlord are not finalized to point where the applicant is ready to appear."

We asked Chris Coffey, a spokesperson for landlord Icon Realty, if Kati Roll was still coming to the space here between Seventh Street and St. Mark's Place.

"Kati Roll is moving forward with the space at 128 Second Avenue and we are excited to have them," he said via email.

While the liquor license paperwork is finalized, the former diner was gutted last week, as these photos via EVG correspondent Steven show...









Workers were also able to finally scrub off the spray-painted call for a boycott of this space...


[Photo from July 4]



The Stage, the 35-year-old lunch counter, closed March 30, 2015. Stage owner Roman Diakun had been involved in an ongoing legal/eviction battle with Icon. (You can read that background here.)

Updated 4:30 p.m.

Per Steven, the Stage signage came down today as workers put up the plywood for continued gut renovations...

Noted

As we reported back on Friday, the owners of the Kati Roll Company are looking to open their fourth Manhattan location at 128 Second Ave., former home of the Stage, according to preliminary paperwork filed ahead of this month's CB3-SLA committee meeting.

This spray-painted message arrived overnight here between St. Mark's Place and Seventh Street...





The Stage, the 35-year-old lunch counter, closed March 30, 2015. Stage owner Roman Diakun had been involved in an ongoing legal/eviction battle with landlord Icon Realty. (You can read that background here.)

Reps for the the well-liked Kati Roll Company will be seeking a beer-wine license during the CB3-SLA committee meeting next Monday, July 11.

Full reveal at Icon Realty's 327 E. 9th St.

Three-plus years in the making, Icon Realty’s six-story, two-unit residential building under construction at 327 E. Ninth St. has finally shown itself.

EVG contributor Steven noted that workers removed the scaffolding and construction netting here yesterday between First Avenue and Second Avenue...



We haven't seen any listings yet for the two units at this site of a former parking lot.

Issac & Stern Architects are the designers of record.

Previously on EV Grieve:
The big dig begins for 6-story, 2-unit condo on East 9th Street

East Ninth Street parking lot will yield to 6-floor residential building

Icon Realty announces public art project for the East Village

[Mural by Jerkface on the Icon-owned 402 E. 12th St.]

The Icon Realty Charm Offensive continues.

Icon previously announced that they had donated empty retail spaces for Celebrity Catwalk to hold adoption and fundraising events (Icon has been working with Celebrity Catwalk for the past four years) ... and hired a chief safety officer to oversee the construction and renovation work in Icon buildings.

Now Icon has unveiled plans for public art at several of its properties. Here's part of the release via the EVG inbox...

Icon Realty Management is working with local art galleries to create mural art on the sides of some of their buildings. Providing a public platform for artists to exhibit their works for New Yorkers to enjoy and contributing to the art community has been a continued endeavor that Icon has supported throughout the years.

Working with Dorian Grey Gallery in the East Village, Icon will have artists Penn and Lambros paint the side of their Mott Street building. Jeremy Penn is a NYC modern artist who has been exhibited and received honors from curators across museums. Penn uses mixed media to combine materials such as magazines, word plays and mirrors. Lambros is a NYC street artist focused on stencil art and graffiti illustrating recurring themes of power, lust and rebellion. Icon’s 307 Mott Street building has been a rotating art wall for the past four years with works by Jonathan Matas and most recently a mural by Mustart.

Icon is also working with artist Jerkface to paint 128 Second Ave. Jerkface is a NYC-based street artist and Queens native who is known for painting several nostalgia-inducing murals around the City.

“Public art is so important to the character of neighborhoods, especially in the East Village,” said Terrence Lowenberg, Principal at Icon. “As a lifelong New Yorker, art has always been a central part of our City. We are proud to do our part at Icon to continue that tradition. We look forward to doing even more in the future.”

In September 2014, Jerkface painted the faceless Charlie Brown mural on the side of the Icon-owned 402 E 12th St. Icon said that they also donated space on their walls to French street artist Invader, who installed his mosaics at 145 Avenue A, 130 Second Ave. and 133 E. Fourth St., among other buildings not owned by Icon.

Residents, tenant-rights organizations and local elected officials have accused Icon of aggressively displacing rent-regulated tenants with frivolous lawsuits and exposing them to hazardous health and safety threats.

Icon Realty hires a chief safety officer

[445 E. 9th St.]

On May 9, tenants from 445 E. Ninth St. and 57 Second Ave. joined up with community organizations and local elected officials to speak out against landlord Icon Realty.

In a statement, the Cooper Square Committee called for an end to Icon's "alleged campaign of construction-as-harassment against tenants and to meet the tenants’ demands."

Per the statement:

If Icon refuses to do so, the tenants – represented by the Urban Justice Center and Manhattan Legal Services – will file lawsuits against the landlord.

For years now, Icon Realty has been aggressively displacing rent-regulated tenants to make room for ultra-high rent paying tenants. Like other bad-acting landlords, Icon Realty has exposed tenants to hazardous health and safety threats, brought dozens of lawsuits against tenants, and continue to deny tenants their right to live in these buildings without fear of extreme tactics to remove them.

Icon tenants in gut-renovation hell aren't limited to these two addresses. For example, in March 2015, the tenants association at 128 Second Ave. filed an HP Action for Repairs and Services against Icon Realty in NYC Housing Court.

Yesterday, Icon principals Terrence Lowenberg and Todd Cohen announced that their company has hired a chief safety officer to oversee the construction and renovation work in Icon buildings.

According to a news release, the chief safety officer "will have a daily presence in Icon buildings during any construction/renovation phase to make certain that all applicable protocols are observed."

Here's more from the statement:

“After hearing from several tenant leaders in the last few weeks, Icon has added a new position of Building Safety Manager, to serve as an internal safety coordinator and tenant safety advocate. Icon has hired Felipe Olmeta to serve in that role. He started on Monday, May 16th. Felipe has a breadth of experience in the field of construction and construction protocols. Felipe will report directly to both of us and have vast discretion for tenant safey and as an advocate for tenants. Felipe will focus on 445 east 9th and 57 2nd Avenue at first, before expanding his role to other buildings.”

And:

Icon Realty Management is committed to building safety for its tenants and workers. As Icon works on repairs and renovations in several of its buildings, we have taken tenants concerns seriously and want to ensure that safety is the top priority.

Icon spokesperson Chris Coffey told us that all construction work in the two buildings has ceased for now. "We are looking at the tenants' concerns ... and work has been stopped while we evaluate those questions," he said.

Icon Realty providing free space for Celebrity Catwalk events this weekend

[152 2nd Ave. via the Icon website]

Via the EVG inbox... edited for length...

Icon Realty Management is working with Celebrity Catwalk to provide free space for adoption and fundraising events at available retail spaces in New York City.

Celebrity Catwalk works with local animal rescue organizations to help with fundraising and awareness of national animal rescue. Celebrities include Jamie Foxx, Nicole Richie, Heather Mills and Melissa Rivers.

Icon Realty Management owns and manages over 1,800 apartment units located throughout the City and also has retail space. Icon feels it is important to give back to the NYC community and local neighborhoods and helping save lives of NYC homeless pets is a great addition to our community work.

“We are excited to work with Celebrity Catwalk to provide free space for adoption and fundraising events for animals,” said Terrence Lowenberg, Principal at Icon. “We are committed to giving back to the neighborhoods we are part of in as many different ways as we can and we are proud to do that here.”

Celebrity Catwalk will be hosting a weekend of events called “Paws in the City” including a “Pink Paws for a Cause” reception on May 20th 7-9 pm with an on-site veterinarian doing cancer pet screenings, which will take place at an Icon building. Additionally, on May 21st 5-8pm there will be the “Paws and PJ’s” event, which will also be held at an Icon building.

According to the release, Icon has been working with Celebrity Catwalk for the past four years.

Both events will take place in the vacant storefront at 152 Second Ave. between East Ninth Street and East 10th Street. The dress code for tomorrow evening's event is "Pajamas, Sleepwear, Loungewear."

Find more details on the events here.

As DNAinfo put it in their coverage of this: "The events will occur as Icon’s reputation in the neighborhood stands on shaky ground."

Stabilizing NYC, a coalition of City-funded tenant advocates and neighborhood organizations, named Icon Realty as one of the city's worst landlords last year.

During a rally outside two Icon properties on May 9, Cooper Square Committee and several elected officials accused Icon of employing "construction-as-harassment" tactics to displace rent-stabilized tenants.

Previously

Tenants and local elected officials speak out against Icon Realty

[Photo by Grant Shaffer]

Tenant groups, community organizations and local elected officials continue to put pressure on landlords behaving badly in the neighborhood.

Yesterday, it was Icon Realty's turn.

Here's part of the news release that the Cooper Square Committee released:

[On Monday], tenants of two Icon Realty-owned East Village buildings, 445 East Ninth Street and 57 Second Avenue, along with local elected officials and community groups, call on Icon Realty to end their alleged campaign of construction-as-harassment against tenants and to meet the tenants’ demands.

If Icon refuses to do so, the tenants – represented by the Urban Justice Center and Manhattan Legal Services – will file lawsuits against the landlord.

For years now, Icon Realty has been aggressively displacing rent-regulated tenants to make room for ultra-high rent paying tenants. Like other bad-acting landlords, Icon Realty has exposed tenants to hazardous health and safety threats, brought dozens of lawsuits against tenants, and continue to deny tenants their right to live in these buildings without fear of extreme tactics to remove them.

“At the end of the day, we don’t know what we’re coming home to. In two years of bad communication, bad accounting, loss of basic services, cycles of neglect and disregard, we are now accustomed to uncertainty where none should exist,” said Ben Coopersmith a member of the 445 E. 9th Street Tenants Association. “We will demand fair play for our tenancies with Icon Realty Management beyond the glad-handing of their representatives, the unfulfilled promises, even the possibility that they will flip us once the paint dries.”

During a rally outside the Icon-owned buildings at 445 E. Ninth St. and Avenue A and later at 57 Second Ave., Icon tenants announced their demands for proper lead mitigation, safe construction practices, unobstructed building entryways ... and for Icon Realty to respect rent-regulated tenants’ rights.

City Council Member Rosie Mendez and State Sen. Brad Hoylman were among the speakers.


[GS]


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[Photo by Derek Berg]


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Icon Realty bought the building at 445 E. Ninth St. for $10.1 million in April 2014, according to public records. The storefronts are now all vacant. The Upper Rust was the last to leave after a reported rent increase. Icon took over ownership of 57 Second Ave. in early 2015. Both longtime businesses have closed here too.

The Lo-Down has coverage here, including a statement from Icon spokesperson Chris Coffey.


[GS]

Asking rent for the former Stage Restaurant — $15,000 a month

[Image via Icon Realty]

Last Wednesday, Stage Restaurant owner Roman Diakun announced that he was permanently closing his 35-year-old diner at 128 Second Ave. between East Seventh Street and St. Mark's Place. (You may read more about it here. As we understand it, he had four years left on his lease.)

Now landlord Icon Realty, who had been trying to oust the Stage in court, has listed the 600-square-foot space (with another 600 feet in the basement).


[Click to go big]

The listing notes that the space is "perfect for a restaurant, cafe, or all general retail uses." The asking rent is $15,000 a month.

The Stage gate has been up since Feb. 29. Despite being closed for nearly a year (March 30), it looks ready for business...


[EVG photo from Sunday]

Previously on EV Grieve:
An appreciation: Breakfast at Stage

Troubling talk about 128 Second Ave, and the long-term future of the Stage

The possibility that the Stage won't reopen on 2nd Avenue

[Updated] Report: Icon Realty serves the Stage an eviction notice

Stage owner Roman Diakun responds to allegations of illegally siphoning gas

Petition to help reopen the Stage

[Updated] The Stage is giving away its bulk food and supplies to charity

Report: The Stage is suing landlord Icon Realty to halt eviction process

The Stage is now crowdfunding to help in its legal fight with Icon Realty

The Stage Restaurant will not be reopening

'Gentrification in Progress' tape arrives at former Trash & Vaudeville and Stage Restaurant spaces

No deposits: Baiting the former Chase branch on 2nd Avenue for rats ahead of demolition

The orders are in to demolish the former Chase branch on Second Avenue and St. Mark's Place.

Ahead of that, workers are baiting the building for rats, as you can see from the subtle placements of the baiting stations that arrived on the sidewalk on Wednesday ...



The Commercial Observer reported in August that J.P. Morgan Chase sold the 2-level space to Stellar Management for $12 million. (Stellar and Icon teamed up to buy No. 128 next door.) The former Chase site allows for redevelopment of the 2,380-square-foot site into a mixed-use retail and residential project of 9,520 square feet, according to the Observer.

Icon Realty had been trying to lease the space with an asking monthly rent of $72,000.

The branch consolidated with the Chase two blocks up Second Avenue back in November.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Chase space on 2nd Avenue and St. Mark's Place is for rent

2 East Village Chase Bank branches are closing for good on Nov. 12

Chase branch on 2nd Avenue at St. Mark's Place has the potential to get 4x larger with new owner

The East Village is down 2 Chase branches

Icon wraps former Chase branch at St. Mark's Place with retail ribbon

'Good riddance' Chase, and — a development to watch in 2016

Noted at the former Stage Restaurant

Someone has quickly expressed his or her displeasure to the news today that the Stage Restaurant at 128 Second Ave. will not be reopening... the fake NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene sign takes aim at landlord Icon Realty...



H/T Steven

Icon Realty files permits to demolish the former Chase branch on 2nd Avenue and St. Mark's Place

[Photo from December by Steven]

Last time we checked in on the former Chase branch on Second Avenue at St. Mark's Place, someone seemed pleased that the bank had merged with the location two blocks to the north...


[Photo from January by Steven]

Anyway, good riddance is accurate — to the whole two-story building. As Bedford + Bowery first noted yesterday, owner Icon Realty filed demolition permits for the address, 130 Second Ave., this past Friday.

Apparently there weren't any takers for the space, which had been on the market since last summer with an asking price of $72,000 a month, per the listing. The address was being marketed for use as retail, a restaurants/bar, office space or a gym. (The listing remains on the Icon website.)

The Commercial Observer reported in August that J.P. Morgan Chase sold the 2-level space to Stellar Management for $12 million. (Stellar and Icon teamed up to buy the gas-challenged No. 128 next door.)

The former Chase site allows for redevelopment of the 2,380-square-foot site into a mixed-use retail and residential project of 9,520 square feet, the Observer noted.

EVG regular commenter nygrump is among those who speculate that both 130 and 128 Second Ave. could potentially yield to some kind of large development. Here's nygrump on our last post on this address: "If Icon owns the corner lot and also the building next door where The Stage is, then they are probably strategizing to maximize the entire lot, take both buildings down and put up a tower. If zoning doesn't now allow, don't worry, it will. They'll do to 2nd Ave what they did to 3rd."

Previously on EV Grieve:
Chase space on 2nd Avenue and St. Mark's Place is for rent

2 East Village Chase Bank branches are closing for good on Nov. 12

Chase branch on 2nd Avenue at St. Mark's Place has the potential to get 4x larger with new owner

The East Village is down 2 Chase branches

Icon wraps former Chase branch at St. Mark's Place with retail ribbon

'Good riddance' Chase, and — a development to watch in 2016

The Upper Rust is moving away from East 9th Street and the East Village

The 14-year-old antiques shop on East Ninth Street at Avenue A is closing ... and moving to Chelsea.

Tomorrow (Monday!) is the last day here.

Here's part of the email the owners sent to their customers...



This marks the last business in the corner building. According to one previous tenant here, landlord Icon Realty either hasn't been renewing leases or offering new terms with unmanageable rent increases.

Cafe Pick Me Up (who moved into part of the Gnocco space on East 10th Street) and Dusty Buttons (who has a new storefront further west on Ninth Street) were the most recent tenants to vacate.


[EVG photo from July]

Icon Realty bought the building at 145 Avenue A for $10.1 million in April 2014, according to public records.

Previously on EV Grieve:
On East 9th Street Dusty Buttons is closing after 125% rent hike: 'Saying goodbye will hurt like hell'

Icon wraps former Chase branch at St. Mark's Place with retail ribbon

It's now a little more obvious that the now-closed Chase branch on Second Avenue at St. Mark's Place is for rent.

The retail ribbon has arrived on the property via Icon Realty. The retail space has been on the market, with an asking price of $72,000 a month, per the listing, which notes the address is acceptable for "General Retail Use, Restaurants/Bar, Office Space, Gyms/Fitness Centers."

As the Commercial Observer first reported back in August, J.P. Morgan Chase sold the 2-level space to Stellar Management for $12 million. (Stellar and Icon teamed up to buy the gas-challenged No. 128 next door.)

The former Chase site allows for redevelopment of the 2,380-square-foot site into a mixed-use retail and residential project of 9,520 square feet, the Observer noted.

The branch here at 130 Second Ave. closed after Nov. 12 and consolidated with the location two blocks to the north at No. 156.



Photos by EVG correspondent Steven

Previously on EV Grieve:
Chase space on 2nd Avenue and St. Mark's Place is for rent

The retail space at 20 Avenue A is on the market

2 East Village Chase Bank branches are closing for good on Nov. 12

Chase branch on 2nd Avenue at St. Mark's Place has the potential to get 4x larger with new owner

The East Village is down 2 Chase branches

Report: Icon Realty made 5x what it paid in sale of 2 East Village buildings

[326-328 E. 4th St.]

A South Carolina-based investor bought two East Village buildings from Icon Realty Management for $30.9 million, The Real Deal reports.

The buildings: 82 Second Ave. between East Fourth Street and East Fifth Street and 326-328 E. Fourth St. between Avenue C and Avenue D.

According to The Real Deal, the total price is nearly five times what Icon paid just a few years ago. "The Icon deal, which penciled out to more than $1 million per unit, is also further evidence of how quickly prices are escalating."

In November 2010, preservationists and local politicians unsuccessfully lobbied to landmark 326-328 E. Fourth St., the former Uranian Phalanstery and First New York Gnostic Lyceum Temple, an artists’ collective and burial society.

The average price for a rental at No. 328 is $4,845, per Streeteasy.

Previously on EV Grieve:
How's life by 326-328 E. Fourth St. these days?

Historic East Fourth Street artists' collective soon to be condos

Two side-by-side townhouses on East Fourth Street await your renovation

City doesn't give a shit about these historic East Village townhouses

Construction watch: 327 E. 9th St.

[Photo from March 2013 by Jeff Day]

Work started on the new residential building at 327 E. Ninth St., a former parking lot between First Avenue and Second Avenue, back in February 2013.

As we first reported in August 2012, a six-story, two-unit residential building via Icon Realty will eventually rise here.

Here's a look at the progress a few months short of its three-year construction anniversary...





Eventually, No. 327 will look like ...

[Via Curbed]

Construction workers told an EVG reader who lives nearby that construction wouldn't be complete for another year. The reader found that hard to believe ("how long does it take to build a six-story residence?"), but that's what he was told.

Previously on EV Grieve:
The big dig begins for 6-story, 2-unit condo on East 9th Street

East Ninth Street parking lot will yield to 6-floor residential building

Report: A small victory for the Stage vs. Icon Realty

[Photo last Tuesday by Steven]

In our post last week about the sidewalk message outside the Stage at 128 Second Ave., an EVG commenter had some info about a recent judge's decision about the ongoing legal battle here with landlord Icon Realty.

DNAinfo has more details about the order issued on Oct. 15 by Judge Nancy M. Bannon, which bars Icon from evicting the Stage based on gas-tampering charges, pending the outcome of the lawsuit owner Roman Diakun filed in the spring.

In addition to preventing an eviction based on the gas-siphoning claims, Bannon also ordered Stage to make “timely and full payments of all rent and additional charges as required by the lease,” according to court documents.

“It’s a nice victory for Stage but the case is not over, unfortunately,” said Diakun’s attorney Ross Kordas about the court’s most recent decision. “We hope that we can resolve it and be open soon.”

Diakun has strongly denied any wrongdoing.

The landlord, however, remains convinced the restaurant worked on the gas lines illegally, putting the building’s tenants at risk, said representative Chris Coffey.

“We are confident that the right thing will happen and they will vacate that space,” he said.

Meanwhile, expect to continue seeing the gate down here between St. Mark's Place and East Seventh Street for the near future. Bannon ordered both parties to appear for a preliminary conference this coming Jan. 28, per DNAinfo.

The 35-year-old diner has been closed since March 30.

Previously on EV Grieve:
[Updated] Report: Icon Realty serves the Stage an eviction notice

Stage owner Roman Diakun responds to allegations of illegally siphoning gas

Petition to help reopen the Stage

[Updated] The Stage is giving away its bulk food and supplies to charity

Report: The Stage is suing landlord Icon Realty to halt eviction process

The Stage is now crowdfunding to help in its legal fight with Icon Realty

Familiar names on the list of the city's most demo-happy developers

[View of 500 E. 14th Street in June via an EVG reader]

From The Real Deal today:

Gary Barnett’s Extell Development filed a whopping 18 demolition permits between Jan. 1, 2014 and Sept. 30, 2015, twice as many as the next most prolific filer, Icon Realty Management, according to an analysis of Department of Buildings filings for Manhattan projects by The Real Deal.

Around here, Extell demolished a row of single-level businesses (Blarney Cove, Bargain Bazaar, ABC Animal Hospital, who moved to 200 Avenue A, etc.) on East 14th Street between Avenue A and Avenue B to make way for two 7-floor retail-residential buildings.

As for Icon, we can't recall them demolishing anything, just adding on to existing buildings and helping close several small businesses with rent increases (Allied Hardware, Alex Shoe Repair, Dusty Buttons, Cafe Pick Me Up...)

A sidewalk message outside the Stage on 2nd Avenue

Seen outside 128 Second Ave. this afternoon … a new message that reads: "Push back predatory landlords! Icon we see you!"

The 35-year-old diner has been closed since March 30 here between East Seventh Street and St. Mark's Place during an ongoing legal tussle with landlord Icon Reality.

Thanks to EVG contributor Steven for the photo.

Previously on EV Grieve:
[Updated] Report: Icon Realty serves the Stage an eviction notice

Stage owner Roman Diakun responds to allegations of illegally siphoning gas

Petition to help reopen the Stage

[Updated] The Stage is giving away its bulk food and supplies to charity

Report: The Stage is suing landlord Icon Realty to halt eviction process

The Stage is now crowdfunding to help in its legal fight with Icon Realty

Last days for Allied Hardware on 2nd Avenue

The family-run business is wrapping it up here at 59 Second Ave. between East Third Street and East Fourth Street after closing sales these past few weeks.

EVG reader Danielle Baskin stopped by the store yesterday, and learned that the owners have to turn over their keys to landlord Icon Realty on Friday. An auctioneer is coming by later today to take things in bulk, so there might not be too much left.

And a few of the items on the shelf look as if they have been here as long as the store has these past 30-plus years…





Danielle also notes that the owners have sold the 33-year-old front signage — for $100…

And the sign came down last evening...


[Photo via @JwalkinNYC]

Apparently there's also a second Allied sign that lights up that is also for sale, though there aren't any bids yet.

The hardware store had apparently been on a month-to-month lease with the previous owner. Icon, who bought the building earlier this year, is now asking $26,000 for the space.

Top 3 photos via Danielle Baskin

Previously on EV Grieve:
57 Second Ave. hits the market for $30 million

Reader report: Icon Realty new owner of 57 Second Ave.

Last day for Alex Shoe Repair on 2nd Avenue

Allied Hardware makes impending closure official on 2nd Avenue