More about Treetops, the name of the condoplex coming to 14 2nd Ave.

As we've been reporting, a 10-story residential building with full-floor luxury condos are in the works for 14 Second Ave. adjacent to First Street Green Art Park.

Curbed has more details about new owner Daniel Vislocky (of development firm Station Companies) and his plans for the site, the former Irreplaceable Artifacts.

Vislocky said that he "expects prices to be in the $2.8 million to $3.5 million range" for the building's units, where residents will have access to ground-floor storage and a gym.

Next steps: working with a consultant to take the appropriate steps to remedy the Stop Work Orders dating to 2009 and 2000.

Per Curbed:

Vislocky was attracted to the property because of its openness; it’s adjacent to First Park, so the south side and rear of the building will have guaranteed views. “It’s such a luxury to live in New York City and have treetop views,” says Vislocky, “especially in the East Village.” The leafy surroundings were such a draw, in fact, that the developer decided to name the new development Treetops.

In July 2000, the city demolished the four-story building that housed Irreplaceable Artifacts. According to the Times, a wall and two floors collapsed at 14 Second Ave., which forced the evacuation of 51 apartments in three nearby buildings.

The Times reported that a construction crew was making alterations to the first floor of Irreplaceable Artifacts in defiance of a stop-work order.

The deal for 14 Second Ave. was part of a bankruptcy proceeding, as we previously reported.

Construction here is expected to start in about six months.

Photos from Saturday.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Workers remove artifacts from the vacant 14 2nd Ave., fueling speculation of new development

Development watch: 14 2nd Ave.

Vacant lot at 14 2nd Ave. sells for $7 million; will yield to 10-floor condoplex

Vacant lot at 14 2nd Ave. sells for $7 million; will yield to 10-floor condoplex

That empty parcel at 14 Second Ave. between First Street and Houston has a new owner who plans on building condos on this spot adjacent to First Street Green Art Park.

According to a real-estate transaction posted yesterday, Evan Blum, who owned the previous business on the property, Irreplaceable Artifacts, sold the parcel to developer Daniel Vislocky of Station Companies for $7 million.

The site offers 15,042 buildable square feet as of right. In a news release on the sale, Vislocky said his firm plans to build a 10-story residential building with full-floor luxury condominium units on the property.

To date, there's nothing yet on file with the Department of Buildings for the address. (And there are still Stop Work Orders dating to 2009 and 2000.)

The deal for 14 Second Ave. was part of a bankruptcy proceeding. In a separate transaction, 212-216 E. 125th St., also owned by Blum, changed hands for $10 million.

In July 2000, the city demolished the four-story building that housed Irreplaceable Artifacts at 14 Second Ave. According to the Times, a wall and two floors collapsed at No. 14, which forced the evacuation of 51 apartments in three nearby buildings.

The Times reported that a construction crew was making alterations to the first floor of Irreplaceable Artifacts in defiance of a stop-work order.

On Oct. 26, an EVG reader spotted workers at 14 Second Ave. removing several artifacts that remained on the site following the building's demolition

As the reader noted then: "Can luxury condos be far behind?"

Previously on EV Grieve:
Workers remove artifacts from the vacant 14 2nd Ave., fueling speculation of new development

Development watch: 14 2nd Ave.

Workers remove artifacts from the vacant 14 2nd Ave., fueling speculation of new development

On Friday, an EVG reader spotted workers at 14 Second Ave., the now (mostly) empty lot adjacent to First Park that housed Irreplaceable Artifacts until its demolition by the city in July 2000.

As these reader photos show, some artifacts remained on site...





... and workers were removing them...









A little recent history for the address. According to published reports from the summer of 2000, a wall and two floors collapsed at 14 Second Ave. between First Street and Houston, which forced the evacuation of 51 apartments in three nearby buildings.

As The New York Times reported at the time:

A construction crew was making alterations to the first floor of the four-story shop, Irreplaceable Artifacts, in defiance of an order to stop work, a spokesman for the city's Buildings Department said.

City officials ordered the building destroyed, along with everything inside — including several Tiffany windows valued at $50,000 each and a walnut ceiling from William Randolph Hearst's collection. Evan Blum, the owner of Irreplaceable Artifacts, salvages fixtures from demolished buildings and refurbishes them. The collection was worth millions of dollars, Mr. Blum said.

No one was injured. (No. 14 was not for residential use at this time.)

The site has been tied up for years with litigation between Blum and the city. (The Observer has a nice recap here.)

Back in 2007, Blum proposed a 10-story hotel for the property. The idea didn't really go over well at a CB3 committee meeting in the summer of 2007. Per The Villager:

While presenting the preview of the hotel proposal to C.B. 3’s Land Use Committee, Blum’s attorney was met by passionate testimony from tenants of the neighboring Cube Building urging committee members to block it based on Blum’s previous record.

“Given the history of Mr. Evan Blum, it’s very hard to have a positive take on any proposal coming from him,” said Valerio Orselli, executive director of Cooper Square Mutual Housing Association, which manages the Cube Building. “He has a very cavalier attitude when it comes to laws and regulations in the city of New York.”

Blum later expounded on the project to The Villager:

“We intend to do something really nice and interesting and beautiful that the neighborhood could be proud of, as opposed to the crap that is being built around the neighborhood,” he said.

Blum described the project as “more philanthropic in nature, rather than a self-serving commercial interest,” and said it would be “geared toward the arts.”

The hotel would also venture into new gastronomic territory.

“We will be attempting to build the finest vegan restaurant in the city,” Blum said. “It’s something I’ve practiced for many years and it’s finally gaining more stature in society. I think it’s important that one evokes these principles.”

Back to Friday, the reader who shared these photos wryly noted: "Can luxury condos be far behind?"

Probably, but there's nothing yet on file with the Department of Buildings for the address. (And there are still Stop Work Orders dating to 2009 and 2000.)

Given all the luxurious developments — new and existing, like here and here — around this address, the parcel likely won't sit empty for too many more years.

Development watch: 14 2nd Ave.

There's finally some activity to note at 14 Second Ave. ... the now (mostly) empty lot adjacent to First Park that housed Irreplaceable Artifacts until its demolition by the city in July 2000.

According to published reports that summer, a wall and two floors collapsed, which forced the evacuation of 51 apartments in three nearby buildings.

As The New York Times reported at the time:

A construction crew was making alterations to the first floor of the four-story shop, Irreplaceable Artifacts, in defiance of an order to stop work, a spokesman for the city's Buildings Department said.

City officials ordered the building destroyed, along with everything inside — including several Tiffany windows valued at $50,000 each and a walnut ceiling from William Randolph Hearst's collection. Evan Blum, the owner of Irreplaceable Artifacts, salvages fixtures from demolished buildings and refurbishes them. The collection was worth millions of dollars, Mr. Blum said.

No one was injured. (No. 14 was not for residential use at this time.)

The site has been tied up for years with litigation between Blum and the city. (The Observer has a nice recap here.)





Yesterday, in a rather vague post, Real Estate Weekly noted the following:

SKW Funding closed a $12 million first lien mortgage loan for the refinance and cross-collateralization of two Manhattan properties.

The first asset is located between Houston Street and East 1st Street on Second Avenue in the East Village.

The site is a predominately vacant land which contains the foundation from a prior structure that was demolished in 2000.

The second site is on 125th Street... which also happens to be where the Blum-owned Demolition Depot is located.

While there's some financial paperwork (and cross-collateralization!) happening, to date, there aren't any new work permits on file with the city for the address.

Back in 2007, Blum proposed a 10-story hotel for the property. The idea didn't really go over well at a CB3 committee meeting in the summer of 2007. Per The Villager:

While presenting the preview of the hotel proposal to C.B. 3’s Land Use Committee, Blum’s attorney was met by passionate testimony from tenants of the neighboring Cube Building urging committee members to block it based on Blum’s previous record.

“Given the history of Mr. Evan Blum, it’s very hard to have a positive take on any proposal coming from him,” said Valerio Orselli, executive director of Cooper Square Mutual Housing Association, which manages the Cube Building. “He has a very cavalier attitude when it comes to laws and regulations in the city of New York.”

Blum later expounded on the project to The Villager:

“We intend to do something really nice and interesting and beautiful that the neighborhood could be proud of, as opposed to the crap that is being built around the neighborhood,” he said.

Blum described the project as “more philanthropic in nature, rather than a self-serving commercial interest,” and said it would be “geared toward the arts.”

The hotel would also venture into new gastronomic territory.

“We will be attempting to build the finest vegan restaurant in the city,” Blum said. “It’s something I’ve practiced for many years and it’s finally gaining more stature in society. I think it’s important that one evokes these principles.”

We're looking forward (mostly!) hearing about what might be next for the lot.