A few more details on the condo conversion of a former tenement synagogue on 4th Street

Photos by Stacie Joy

As we first reported on Feb. 10, workers are gutting the former Iglesia Bautista Emmanuel at 256 E. Fourth St. between Avenue B and Avenue C. 

As of this past Thursday, a partial demolition permit has been filed with the city. Some parts of the existing building will remain in place as the four-story structure will receive two additional floors to accommodate six condos. 

Since our story broke, there has been concern over the loss of this one-time historic tenement synagogue. 

Project architect Stephen Conte told the Post on Friday that ...

 ... there was no way to save the original facade, as decades of water damage rendered the already-thin front walls unsafe.

"We're going to see if there are any interior design elements we can keep that don't have any toxic materials or mold," such as stained glass windows and wooden doors, Conte told The Post, adding that the red brick exterior was chosen to keep the building "contextual" within the block.

Village Preservation continues to call for expanded landmark protections in the East Village, including swaths of Avenue B and Avenue C (more info here). Despite similar designations in other neighborhoods, the city's Landmarks Preservation Commission has ignored the proposal. 

Our previous post has more info on this building's history. 

Here's a New York Municipal Archive photo from the early 1940s, when this was the Lemberger Congregation Anshei Ashkenaz. The property, dating to 1859, was once part of Petrus Stuyvesant's estate.

Church to condo conversion underway on 4th Street

Photos by EVG reader Kait 

The gutting of the former Iglesia Bautista Emmanuel is underway at 256 E. Fourth St. between Avenue B and Avenue C. 

Workers arrived last week for a church-to-condo conversion. According to DOB permits, the four-story structure will receive two additional floors to accommodate six residences, presumably condos, based on the square footage.

The plywood includes a rendering of the all-new residences ... StudioSC is listed as the architect of record.

The church had been on the market for several years and changed hands last fall for $2.95 million. 

The new owner is listed as an LLC, per public records. 

As for history, there's plenty of it here...

According to Daytonian in Manhattan, the property, dating to 1859, was once part of the estate of Petrus Stuyvesant. It later became known as the Lemberger Shul.

In 1925, the Lemberger Congregation purchased the buildings and hired architect James J. Millman to design a shul, or synagogue, on the site. The congregation took its name from its native city, Lemberg, at the time the center of the Lwów Voivodeship of Poland. The city is known today as Lviv, Ukraine. 

The new building was faced in red brick and trimmed in stone. Millman's understated design relied mostly on Gothic arches over the openings. Projecting brickwork between the second and third floors, and on either side of the central rondel above the entrance provided interest. There were two entrances, one above a short, centered stoop, and another to the right for the women worshipers. It is unclear whether the rondel was always bricked in, or if it originally contained a rose window. 

In either case, it almost certainly displayed a Magen David, or Star of David. Set within the parapet is a stone Decalogue, representing the tablets of Moses. 

In the early 1970s, the synagogue became home to the Spanish-language Iglesia Bautista Emmanuel. As Daytonian noted (and the post is definitely worth a read): 

Iglesia Bautista Emmanuel remains in the converted synagogue — the Christian cross in the rondel happily coexisting with the Jewish Decalogue above it.

Based on the rendering, neither of those elements will co-exist at the address any more. 

Noted

[One Manhattan Square]

An analysis by The Real Deal published yesterday shows that the Lower East Side and the East Village have the second-highest number of condos on the market or in the pipeline when compared to all Manhattan neighborhoods.

In total, that makes 1,004 new units.

The is a big HOWEVER however.

It should be noted ... that its inventory count is significantly bolstered by one massive project: Extell Development’s 815-unit One Manhattan Square — the biggest condo development in Manhattan by unit count.

But some argued that sweeping the glassy condo project, which sits at 252 South Street in the Two Bridges section, in with Lower East Side inventory doesn’t make sense. They argued that the tower — which is shooting for a $1.9 billion sellout — is simply not in competition with the other inventory there.

As The Real Deal noted, Extell reported that it has sold 15 percent of its units. "And it’s going after a mostly Chinese clientele."

The published results of the analysis did not mention who was No. 1 on the list of condos on the market or in the pipeline.

Here's what the new condoplex at 118 E. 1st St. will look like

Back on Monday, we noted that construction had started in the empty lot at 118 E. First St. between Avenue A and First Avenue.

At that point, there hadn't been any sign of renderings for the 9-story condoplex with ground-floor retail.

However, workers affixed the rendering on the plywood yesterday. And here ya go...



As previously noted, the 9-story residential building will include seven units divided over 12,500 square feet of residential space — most likely condos. And from the look of the rendering, everyone will have a terrace to take in the sights and sounds of the tranquil East Houston Street and Essex intersection.

Warren Freyer's Freyer Architects is designing the building. The developers have been previously ID'd as Acacia 118, LLC, based in Nolita, and fronted by Cynthia Wu and Robert Marty.

Previously on EV Grieve:
118 E. 1st St. arrives on the market with so many possibilities, and air rights

118 E. 1st. St. will yield to a new 9-floor residential building

Demolition of 118 E. 1st St. begins to make way for 9-story residential building

Construction starts at 118 E. 1st St., future home of a 9-floor residential building

Sales underway for Ben Shaoul's Liberty Toye — at the 'crossroads that cradled the Culture of Cool'

[Liberty Toye's sale office at 44 Avenue B]

As previously mentioned (here and here and here), Liberty Toye is the name of Ben Shaoul's condoplex taking over his nursing-home replacing rentals at 62 Avenue B.

And now sales are underway at the 81-unit building at Fifth Street. Here's the eye-rolling description::

Liberty Toye is located in the legendary East Village. Born in the creative clash of the 70’s and rocketing to iconic status in the 80’s, the neighborhood emerged as the epicenter of cool, producing a galaxy of stars and shaping an indelible worldview of New York City.

Today, at 62 Avenue B, stands Liberty Toye at the very crossroads that cradled the Culture of Cool. Modern luxuries abound in this urban sanctuary, where studio, one and two bedroom condominiums and private outdoor spaces provide the setting for the next chapter in the epic tale of downtown grit and glamour.

A lush entry garden leads to the marble and brass lobby where a doorman waits to greet you 24 hours a day. Experience a full suite of amenities, a recreation room, fitness center with a yoga room, and a landscaped roof deck outfitted with grills, dining areas, a lounge, an outdoor shower, and a 360-degree view of the vibrant city.

A residence at Liberty Toye evokes the allure of downtown New York City with a style all its own. Available as studio, one and two bedroom condominiums with dark-stained or light grey stained hardwood floors throughout. The kitchen features custom cabinets, white marble counters, and brushed brass fixtures, and is completed by stainless steel Bosch appliances. Bathrooms complement the space with white marble, chrome fixtures, and grey vanity with touches of brushed brass.

And here are photos of the model homes ... featuring framed photos of Joey Ramone, Grace Jones and Debbie Harry, among others...





Prices range from $660K to $1.8 million for buyers who may use Bitcoin for the purchase. (Shaoul's sales team is renting an office from the imprisoned Steve Croman at 44 Avenue B between Third Street and Fourth Street.)

Shaoul previously leveraged the neighborhood's history to potential renters at Bloom 62 in May 2013 with this unforgettable copy:

It sounds impossible: a fully-appointed luxury building has sprouted in the beating heart of the East Village. A 24-hour doorman greets you before work in the morning, after returning from a cafe in the evening and when heading out to Tompkins Square Park on the weekends. You'll have every modern convenience, from a gym to a roof deck to in-unit laundry, on the same streets where names like The Ramones, Warhol and Hendrix and [sic] paved the history of this neighborhood for years to come.

Previously on EV Grieve:
More details on Cabrini's closing announcement

A look at the 'Hip young crowd planting roots at Bloom 62'

1st signs of Ben Shaoul's Bloom 62 going condo on Avenue B?

More details on Ben Shaoul's condo conversion Liberty Toye, where you can buy with bitcoins

A look at 3 condoplexes rising — or topping out

Starting with...

1) 198 Orchard St. at East Houston Street...



Ben Shaoul's 11-story, 94-unit building has units ranging in price from $1.075 million to $5.995 million. And there will be an Equinox Fitness center here too. Previously.

2) 32 E. First St. at Second Avenue...



A 10-story, 33-unit condoplex (with ground-floor retail) on the site of the former BP station. No pricing for the homes just yet. Previously.



3) 80 E. 10th St. at Fourth Avenue...



A 10-story, retail-residential condoplex with 12 residential units. No pricing for the homes just yet. Previously.

12-story condoplex set for this corner of Bleecker and Mulberry

Leaving the neighborhood for a moment... where demolition is set for two nondescript apartment buildings on Bleecker and Mulberry.

Broad Street Development is tossing up a 12-story, 61-unit condoplex here at 40 Bleecker St., part of a new development that encompasses 304 Mulberry and 298 Mulberry.

The teaser site for the project is now live ... noting that this place is for "a new generation of connoisseurs."


[Rendering Williams New York]

Curbed, who first reported on this back on Monday, has more details here. This is just the latest upscale housing complex to crop up around here, joining next-door neighbor the Schumacher, among others.

New East Houston condos 'effortlessly embody the sophistication of Lower East Side living'

Some seven months after the "condos coming soon" banner was unveiled at 265 E. Houston St., developer Central Construction Management has put a few of the condoplex units on the market. (H/T Curbed and BuzzBuzzHome!)



There are three two-bedroom, two-bathroom units available, ranging from $2.45 million to $2.55 million. (There are seven units total in this 10-floor building.)

Here's the pitch, via Streeteasy:

Ideally located in Lower East Side Manhattan, this spectacular collection of apartments are finished to the highest standard with exquisite Italian Carrara marble and white oak flooring throughout. Private keyed elevators lead directly into each residence, where refined design, spacious floor plans, and a modern neutral color palette perfectly meld minimalist style with contemporary luxury.

With oversized windows, sleek living areas, private outdoor spaces, and expansive common roof top terraces boasting dramatic views of the city, these stylish homes effortlessly embody the sophistication of Lower East Side living.

A tranquil escape from the city, the elegant master bathrooms offer a peaceful space to luxuriate. Smooth Carrara marble walls and floors are complemented by pure white Robern cabinetry, bespoke recessed medicine cabinets, and jet black rainshowers with attached shower heads. The ergonomic double-sinks and marble-enclosed Kohler tubs are fitted with black faucets crafted by local manufacturers Watermark Designs. Secondary baths are finished with glossy white Nemo tile and Restoration Hardware cabinetry.

The corner was home to the Iglesia Pentecostal Arca de Salvacion (below). In 2008, developer 265 East Houston LLC purchased the plot for $500,000, public records show.


[Via]

Work at 265 E. Houston St. (aka 179 Suffolk St.) dates to early 2010. As you may recall, construction in the pit conveniently destabilized the building next door at No. 255, which caused Action for Progress to vacate.

Speaking of next door... Not much construction action here just yet...



Developer Samy Mahfar, the property's owner, has approved plans for a 10-story residential complex that will look like...



But for now...

Live above the (soon-to-depart) Citibank at 50 Avenue A

[Photo from 2014]

As noted last month, the Citibank at 50 Avenue A is closing for good in January. Several readers commented that the building housing the bank branch is rather unattractive.

I never thought much about it. There is a residence in the building for sale. Perhaps it's much better from the inside. Here's a look at the listing via Streeteasy:

This beautifully renovated apartment, one of the loveliest two bedroom, two full bathrooms currently on the market in the east village, is spacious, serene, and light-filled. Three blocks from Tompkins Square Park, four from the F train, and a five minute walk to SoHo, it's location puts you in one of the most convenient and authentic spots from which to experience our magical city.

The new renovation includes sanded oak floors, a raised ceiling with painted beams, exposed brick in every room, open kitchen, mosaic tiles in the bathroom, and custom made, rustic fixtures and furniture, which can come with the apartment. Rustic wood wraps the roaring fireplace, there is washer/ drier setup in unit, stainless steel oven, microwave, dishwasher, air con units and a powerful heating system under the individual apartment's control. There is a ton of storage space in the apartment and additional small, medium and large storage units available in the basement.

Located in a super safe (a new camera intercom is going in this month), conveniently located building on Ave A and third, you are steps from a 24 hour grocery store with plenty of organic produce, one block from the newest and largest New York Sports Clubs, within two blocks of a 24 hour Duane Reade, Union Market, bookstores, art galleries, restaurants, community gardens bars, nightlife, theaters and so much more.

And two pics...





Asking price: $1.25 million. And there's an open house tomorrow afternoon from 2:30-4:30.

A few more details on the East Houston condoplosion

The New York Times yesterday checked in with a piece on the luxury boom along the East Houston Horridor Corridor...

East Houston was once dotted with gas stations, parking areas and weedy lots.

And now? Let's ask developer Ben Shaoul, who's putting in the Katz's-adajecent condos at 196 Orchard St.

“It’s evolving into more of a luxury neighborhood from a grungy neighborhood,” Mr. Shaoul said. “But it’s still a very cool, very hip spot.”

The article offers more details on the million-dollar condos coming to 287 E. Houston St. between Clinton and Suffolk.


[Rendering via Familiar Control]

For starters, the development is a joint project between "Hogg Holdings and Vinci Partners USA, a firm with a Brazilian parent company that is undertaking its first American project."

Likewise, the master baths will have marble slabs or tiles on every surface but the ceiling. Originally, [Vinci rep Jose Antonio] Grabowsky said, the stone was to be deployed much less extensively.

Other features of the apartments include floor-to-ceiling windows, in a building that will stand above most of the surrounding blocks, courtesy of a 2008 rezoning that allowed taller structures on major streets and avenues.

Previously on EV Grieve:
(More) Condos coming soon on East Houston

11 stories of condos to join the growing East Houston residential corridor

On East Houston, empty lot awaits million-dollar condos

An abandoned car in an empty lot that will soon yield a 13-floor residential building

(More) Condos coming soon on East Houston

The banner is up at the new 10-story building on East Houston at Suffolk... and sounding rather ominous: "Condos coming soon."



There is a teaser site where potential condo owners can sign up to receive more info. There aren't any further details, other than a tagline of sorts: "Floor-through condominiums in the heart of the Lower East Side."

In 2008, developer 265 East Houston LLC purchased the plot on Houston and Suffolk from Iglesia Pentecostal Arca de Salvacion (below) for $500,000, public records show.


[Via]

Work here on at 265 E. Houston St. (aka 179 Suffolk St.) dates to early 2010. As you may recall, construction in the pit destabilized the building next door at No. 255, which caused Action for Progress to vacate.

And as you can see, No. 255 is no more. Workers recently wrapped up that demolition...





Developer Samy Mahfar, the property's owner, has approved plans for a 10-story residential complex here.

And so the development gold rush continues along the East Houston corridor...

New residential building on 8th and D called THREE99OnEIGHTH; condos start at $685k

[EVG photo from May 1]

You can close the book on the long-empty plot of land at 397-401 E. Eighth St. There have been plans for the space near Avenue D going back 10-plus years.

Now the 9-story residential building that has been rising here is ready to launch sales...(turns out this is a condo building, not rental as we had originally heard).

The building's address is 399, which is why it now has the rather awkward name of THREE99OnEIGHTH.

Now here are details about the units via Citi Habitats:

Developed by 399 E8 Development LLC, residences at THREE99 are designed to a high standard. All apartments include oak hardwood floors, floor-to-ceiling windows and in-unit washer/dryers. Most apartments also come complete with private balconies or gardens.

The homes’ open kitchens feature solid-surface countertops, porcelain tile and Carrara marble backsplashes and a full suite of stainless steel appliances — including dishwasher. Baths at THREE99 come in a wide variety of contemporary finishes. All are complete with custom ceramic tile, soaking tubs and European-style vanities and fixtures.

THREE99 provides residents the latest in-demand amenities — including a state-of-the-art fitness center, billiards lounge, pet spa and virtual doorman system. The building also offers a refrigerated package receiving area, bike storage and individual storage rooms. Residents and their guests will enter the building via a grand lobby area with eye-catching chandelier and soothing ‘green wall.’ Great for entertaining, THREE99’s common roof deck is complete with lounge-style seating, lush green lawn areas and skyline views.

A one-bedroom, one-bathroom unit starts at $685,000 ... a two-bedroom, one-bathroom unit asks $960,000... the top home here is the three-bedroom, three-bathroom penthouse at $4.9 million.

And here are a few renderings of the model home...




[Balcony view]


[Roof deck view]

Previously on EV Grieve:
Meanwhile, before we christen Avenue D the next Greenpoint...

Stalled development site on Eighth Street and Avenue D asking $5.2 million

Long-stalled East 8th Street lot coming back as 9-story residential building — with penthouse

[The lot in February 2010]

The Times reveals the Streit's-replacing condos; Ben Shaoul wordsmiths gentrification

[Streit's factory photo via BoweryBoogie]

We've been talking about "Streit’s: Matzo and the American Dream" this past week.

The documentary by East Village-based filmmaker Michael Levine started its week-long run Wednesday at the Film Forum. (There's also a Streit's-related exhibit happening at Art on A Gallery, 24 Avenue A between East Second Street and East Third Street.)

The last family-owned matzo bakery in America closed its four-building factory on Rivington Street last year after 90 years in that location. As you likely know, the developers who bought the property have condos planned for the site.

Today, The New York Times published the first rendering of the new residential complex (the article was online on Thursday, which is why you may have seen this already elsewhere) ...


[Volley Studios via the Times]

Per the Times, 150 Rivington will be a 7-story glass condo "that will house 45 one- and two-bedroom apartments. Sales begin in May, with one-bedrooms starting at around $975,000."

Developers said that they plan to decorate the lobby with memorabilia from the original building.

BoweryBoogie also has part of an interview with Streit's co-owner Aron Yagoda, who tells of Mayor de Blasio snubbing his offer of a tour of the factory.

Streit's now operates out of more modern facilities in Rockland County.

-----

The piece in the Times focused on small businesses on the Lower East Side that are disappearing... and how Katz's was able to continue moving into the future by selling their air rights for $17 million... so that developer Ben Shaoul could then tear down the rest of the block
for an 11-(or 12!) story condoplex with an Equinox Fitness in the retail space on East Houston between Ludlow and Orchard.

Ray's Pizza, Bereket and Lobster Joint, among others — closed or moved in the process.

"I’m sorry they went out of business, but it’s part of evolution," Shaoul told the Times. "You call it gentrification, I call it 'cleaning it up.'"

Condos hit the market at former East 13th Street dumping ground

The new residences at 536 E. 13th St. arrived on the market this week... the 6-floor building between Avenue A and Avenue B features 11 homes, which range in price from $1.3 to $1.6 million for around 830-860 feet and one bedroom, according to Streeteasy. (Three of the listed homes are already in contract.)

Here's more on the units via Town:

The condominium consists of 11 residences, with a full floor unit at the ground level and only two homes per floor on the upper five stories. The ground floor residence offers 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, plus home office, and a generous fully landscaped rear yard designed by Terrain Landscape Architects. Floors two through five consist of eight one bedroom residences with windowed home offices, and the sixth floor residences include two full bedrooms.

Each of the rear homes include balconies, while the fifth floor front and sixth floor units include spacious private roof terraces; all with quintessential New York City skyline views. Additionally, each residence includes a dedicated storage room in the basement.

As for the individual units, back to Town:

From the interiors, the beautiful windows allow natural light to wash the entirety of the clean and elegant living spaces within. Each light filled home is enhanced by the feeling of openness and clarity provided by wide plank oak floors, custom doorways and high ceilings of more than nine feet.

The kitchens and bathrooms offer subtle details, rich materials, and high quality fixtures and equipment. Bianco Dolomite marble and mirrored glass meld seamlessly into the walls of each bathroom; while top of the line fixtures, including Toto and Zuma provide refined comfort. Each kitchen is punctuated by function.

You can see for yourself during an open house Sunday afternoon at 2.

The lot had been home to a stalled development for years... until this project kicked into gear during 2013.

[December 2009]

Previously on EV Grieve:
Your chance to own a stalled project lot on East 13th Street

A dormant construction site on East 13th Street

536 E. 13th Street is a real dump now

Take a look at the inside of Ben Shaoul's condos at 100 Avenue A

Rendering Reveal Week continues... as a new website for Ben Shaoul's condoplex at 100 Avenue A between East Sixth Street and East Seventh Street has been unleashed (h/t Curbed!).

As previously reported, the residences at the 6-story 8-story building start at $1.3 million.



Let's enter the lobby...



... and head on up to one of the residences...









Per the 100 Avenue A website:

100 Avenue A has 32 units, ranging from one to three Bedroom residences with four Penthouse units. Whichever you choose, your home will have stunning floor plans, light-filled layouts, and expansive windows for taking in the view outside. When your friends and family come over, they might even ask to move in.

• Bianco Dolimiti Honed Marble Bathroom Tile

• Waterworks Polished Nickel Bathroom Fixtures

• Kitchen Design by Effeti

• Sabia White Oak Herringbone Kitchen Floors

• Statuary White Marble Kitchen Countertops

• Calacatta Honed Marble Herringbone Backsplash

• Miele Refrigerator, Oven and Cooktop, Dishwasher, Washer/Dryer in all units

And what else can new residents expect in the building? Back to the website!

100 Avenue A has a private landscaped roof deck.

Things that it’s good for:

• Sunbathing and picnic-ing
• Looking up at the night sky
• Thinking happy thoughts about your apartment below
• Lounging and laughing with friends

Things that it’s not good for:

• Being inside

The building also has another roof garden on the second floor, so you can experience all these benefits twice over

And if you are still breathing, the newly launched site also offers insights into its naked-person marketing motif ...

When we began building 100 Avenue A, we wanted to create a place for people who strive to make their mark on the city. Working with the gifted architect Ramy Issac of Issac and Stern, we believe that we’ve realized that vision. The building stands proudly in the center of the East Village, a neighborhood with a storied past of iconoclasts.

Today, a new generation of residents are reanimating and updating the area’s transgressive traditions with their creativity and vitality. 100 Avenue A is the embodiment of the East Village’s ever-evolving identity. It’s for the brave and the bold: people who want the finest that New York has to offer, and who aren’t afraid to break conventions.

Developer Ben Shaoul bought the former theater-turned market at 100 Avenue A in the spring of 2013 for $15.5 million.

Previously on EV Grieve:
A little bit of Hollywood on Avenue A

Inside the abandoned theater at East Village Farms on Avenue A

New Facebook group is advocating for a Trader Joe's on Avenue A

Workers back demolishing what's left of 98-100 Avenue A

Rest assured, there isn't a fire in the hole at 98-100 Avenue A

Continued dewatering at Ben Shaoul's 98-100 Avenue A prompts visit by the FDNY

Ben Shaoul's 98-100 Avenue A emerging from the dewatering hole

Life next to 98-100 Avenue A

Condos at Ben Shaoul's 98-100 Avenue A will start at $1.3 million; high-end gym eyed for retail space

The retail space at Ben Shaoul's 100 Avenue A is available for $24.5 million; plus, naked model marketing clarification!

Trying to figure out what is going on at 98-100 Avenue A

Someone threw black paint bombs at the naked women condo ad along 100 Avenue A