There's activity at the long-dormant corner of Avenue C and East 3rd Street

[EVG file photo]

Looks as if something is finally going to happen with the empty buildings on the southeast corner of Avenue C and Third Street.

As we've noted, there has been a full vacate order on 32 Avenue C at East Third Street since August 2012. The building is in disrepair, and will eventually be demolished — along with everything to (and including) 26 Avenue C (the former Impulse Footwear), according to various tipsters.

Plans were filed with the city in July 2005 for a new 6-floor residential building here. The city disapproved the plans in May 2006, and nothing more happened with the project.

On Monday, plans were filed for another heavy duty sidewalk shed here. More important, someone filed plans through the city's Hub self-service thing (where architects and engineers "can professionally certify plans for small construction projects without visiting a Department office").

So, unfortunately, we won't be able to see the application until it is accepted into the DOB system. So for now, we don't know what is in store for this space.

Meanwhile, Maria's Cafe has had to leave its longtime corner stand. (Maria left in January, but returned in April for weekend-only business.)

For now, she will be selling her empanadas and coffee from a cart across the street in front of the Capitol One branch.



Previously on EV Grieve:
Maria's Cafe is leaving the East Village for West Harlem

Concern for 32 Avenue C

Maria's Cafe returns for weekend-only business

[Last Saturday]

Maria's Cafe left its longtime corner stand at East Third Street and Avenue C back in January for a new gig in West Harlem.

Last week, some people were surprised to see Maria's back open here for business. Maria said that they're still at the place in Harlem during the week, but they'll be open on Saturdays and Sundays for the foreseeable future.

As a neighborhood tipster has told us last year, several of the small buildings here at the southeast corner of East Third Street and Avenue C will be demolished in the near future to make way for a new residential complex. (There's still nothing on file with the Department of Buildings to indicate any impending demolition.)

Anyway, enjoy Maria's strong coffee and inexpensive breakfast fare while you still can.

Thanks to EVG reader Billy for the tip!

Previously on EV Grieve:
Maria's Cafe is leaving the East Village for West Harlem

Concern for 32 Avenue C

Maria's Cafe is leaving the East Village for West Harlem

We recently heard that Maria's Cafe was leaving her sliver of a food stand on East Third Street and Avenue C… Our source said that she would be subleasing space from a restaurant on Broadway around East 10th Street… We had it wrong. Well, the Broadway part is correct … however, it's Broadway and 131st Street in West Harlem.

As we understand it, there just wasn't enough business anymore on this corner, where nearby storefronts have been boarded up … the building on the corner is in disrepair, and will eventually be demolished… Word is the buildings from 26 Avenue C to the corner will eventually be razed for housing of some sort…



Plans were filed with the city in July 2005 for a new 6-floor residential building here … The city disapproved the plans in May 2006, and nothing more happened with the project.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Maria's Cafe is leaving the corner of 3rd and C

Concern for 32 Avenue C

Maria's Cafe is leaving the corner of 3rd and C

Maria's Cafe, which serves up inexpensive food and strong coffee, is leaving its longtime home on East Third Street and Avenue C. We hear that today is the last day here in this sliver of a space.


[Last summer]

Word is Maria will be sub-leasing space at a restaurant on Broadway near East 10th Street… not sure exactly which restaurant at the moment. Will pass along that information when we get it. (The stand wasn't open when we stopped by.)

While we're happy that she has found new space… it means, of course, that she's won't be here any longer… Worse, as we hear from a neighborhood tipster, several of the small buildings here at the southeast corner of East Third Street and Avenue C will be demolished in the months ahead to make way for a new residential complex. (There's nothing on file with the Department of Buildings to indicate any impending demolition.)

Meanwhile, there's still a "Full Vacate Order" from the city for 32 Avenue C dating to August 2012. (In March 2012, the sidewalk bridge arrived along with a scary DOB message: "THE FACADE OF THE BUILDING IS CAVING IN; COMMERCIAL BUILDING; BUILDING NEEDS TO BE VACATED.")




Previously on EV Grieve:
Concern for 32 Avenue C