Construction watch: 280 E. Houston St.

The all-new 280 E. Houston St. has come into view in recent weeks... it looks as if workers are up to the fifth (??) floor of the 12-floor building here between Avenue A and Avenue B...

The development takes the place of a one-level strip of storefronts (Dunkin'/Baskin-Robbins, Subway, China Town restaurant, etc.), which workers demolished in late 2021 adjacent to the 13-floor residential building formerly known as Red Square. 

In October 2022, as The Real Deal first reported, landlord Samy Mahfar and investors picked up the property from members of the Hirsch family for $36.8 million. Per TRD's report, "the Hirsch family obtained demolition permits and did enough foundation work to qualify the site for the 421a property tax abatement before it expired in June [2022]."

The site was originally going to yield a 6-story building. 

The new building encompasses 224,809 square feet of space — for residential, commercial and community use. The residential portion will total 211,028 square feet for 157 apartments, per DOB records. The retail section will feature 12,000 square feet, while the community facility is 1,300 square feet.

P.S.

For the construction team, in case of an emergency, posted signs instruct that there will be "3 long blows of the air horn"... and the crew should move to the Dunkin' a few storefronts away (photo by Stacie Joy)... 

2024 development watch: 280 E. Houston St.

The corridor along the westbound lane of Houston Street between Avenue A and Avenue B is a full-on construction zone as work continues to pick up at the 12-story residential in the foundation stages. 

Here's some of the background about the all-new 280 E. Houston St.:

In the fall of 2021, workers demolished the one-level strip of storefronts here (Dunkin'/Baskin-Robbins, Subway, China Town restaurant, etc.) adjacent to the 13-floor residential building formerly known as Red Square. 

In October 2022, as The Real Deal first reported, landlord Samy Mahfar and investors picked up the property from members of the Hirsch family for $36.8 million. Per TRD's report, "the Hirsch family obtained demolition permits and did enough foundation work to qualify the site for the 421a property tax abatement before it expired in June [2022]."

The site was originally going to yield a 6-story building. 

The new development will contain 224,809 square feet of space — for residential, commercial and community use. The residential portion will total 211,028 square feet for 157 apartments, per DOB records. The commercial section will feature 12,000 square feet while the community facility is 1,300 square feet.

We've heard from a few unhappy residents whose apartments on Second Street face the pit with the echo-y surround-sound noise.

The photo below is from July...

Stacie Joy took the below photo last October from 6 Avenue B...

The rendering lists a December 2024 completion date.

Construction watch: 699 E. 6th St.

Workers are in the foundation stage for the new building set to rise in the long-vacant lot on the northeast corner of Sixth Street and Avenue C. 

EVG contributor Stacie Joy got a look at work behind the plywood here the other day...

As previously reported, there are approved permits for a 6-floor building with 11 residential units, a storefront and space for an unspecified community facility. 

The rendering on the plywood shows a fall 2022 completion date (along with an added message) ...

There has been development talk for this lot dating to 2003. A former gas station, this corner has been vacant since the early 1980s.

Construction watch: 302 E. 2nd St.

The 14-story affordable housing complex recently topped off at 302 E. Second St. between Avenue C and Avenue D.

As previously reported, the project — called East Village Homes — will feature 45 affordable apartments and a ground-floor community facility on this long-vacant, city-owned parcel.

Some particulars via a Patch report from the fall of 2019:

Eight apartments will be for formerly homeless people under Section 8 for incomes up to 20 percent of area median income, seven apartments at 47 percent of AMI, 14 apartments at 77 percent of AMI and 15 apartments at 120 percent of AMI — which ranges from annual incomes less than $15,000 to about $90,000 for a single person.

A second phase of the East Village Homes project is expected to create 10 additional affordable rental apartments on a separate site at 276 E. Third St. Construction has yet to commence there between Avenue C and Avenue D.

Previously on EV Grieve:

• Here are more details on East Village Homes, the affordable housing set for 2nd Street 

Construction watch: 799 Broadway

Here's the latest look at the southwest corner of Broadway and 11th Street where the 12-story zig-zagging office complex is getting its glassy façade...

According to a news release about the address: "799 Broadway will feature floor-to-ceiling glass, private terraces, and 15 foot high ceilings. This combination of highly desirable location and state-of-the-art design will appeal to New York’s most progressive and creative companies."

No. 799 was the former home of the historic St. Denis building, which opened as a hotel in 1853. Normandy Real Estate Partners bought the property for somewhere in the $100 million ballpark back in 2016... and tore it all down.

James Nazz shared this time-lapse video showing the demolition of the building...

Previously on EV Grieve:
• Report: Former St. Denis Hotel selling for $100 million

Construction watch: 238 E. 3rd St.

Work appears to be moving along at a quick pace here at 238 E. Third St. between Avenue B and Avenue C.

As previously reported, a 7-floor, 20-unit residential building is slated for this property.

We still haven't seen any renderings of the new No. 238. Landlord Vinbaytel Property Development has put up several East Village condos in recent years, including at 227 E. Seventh St., 67 Avenue C and 26 Avenue B.

Workers demolished the previous building on the lot, a two-level structure once owned by the Blue Man Group, early last summer.

Previously on EV Grieve:
7-story residential building planned for former Blue Man Group facilities on 3rd Street

Construction watch: 3 E. 3rd St.

Checking on on the progress at 3 E. Third St., the six-floor, five-unit condoplex in progress steps off of the Bowery and in the shadows of 347 Bowery...



Inspiron, the project's construction manager, has more details on their website:

The Building is a concrete design that will be roughly 13,400 square feet. The space will be split between residential spaces on the upper floors with luxurious rooftop access and commercial space on the lower floors.

The project originally started out as a 7-floor building. There hasn't been any information released yet on pricing for these units.



Alex Barrett’s Barrett Design and Development paid $11.5 million in 2016 for the property, a building that served as short-term rentals for students and interns.


[3 E. 3rd St. in April 2015]

Previously on EV Grieve:
Development site available on East 3rd Street at the Bowery

Demolition watch: 3 E. 3rd St.

Construction watch: 688 Broadway, aka 1 Great Jones Alley

Nearly two years have passed since our last look at the 12-floor condoplex that arrived at the site of the former open-air shops on Broadway near Fourth Street ...



The 16-unit project is known as 1 Great Jones Alley, whose website promises "a private paradise." Here's some more about the the residences via the 1 Great Jones website....

On the very street where Andy Warhol once lived and other artists like Basquiat and Haring exchanged ideas with musicians and writers, a new legacy is born.

According to Streeteasy, all the residences have either been sold or are in contract, including the $20-million duplex penthouse.

Meanwhile, we're not sure what became of the the $10-million lawsuit over the 137-foot alley behind the buildings. In March 2017, the co-op board of 684 Broadway, the building at the corner of Great Jones with multi-million-dollar condos, sued the developers of 1 Great Jones Alley.

As the Post reported on March 4, 2017:

The developer is “not authorized to remove and/or alter the gate that sits at the entrance to the alley … [and] do not have the right to advertise the alley as ‘private’ to potential buyers,” according to court papers.

The developer of 1 Great Jones Alley cannot even allow cars to sit and idle in the space — without the consent of 684 Broadway, the suit contends.

The co-op wants the condo’s misleading ads to end, and are asking a judge to order 1 Great Jones Alley to tell their residents no cars, or changes, will be permitted.

“The board believes that part of the alley and gate belongs to 684 Broadway, and felt that they had to file this lawsuit to protect their property rights,” said 684 Broadway in a statement via its lawyer, Robert Brown.

The 1 Great Jones website notes: "A secret alley. A private paradise. An exclusive residence." A car is still visible in the rendering...



And here's how paradise the alley looked the other day...



In May 2017, three construction workers were reportedly injured, one seriously, after a steel beam fell 12 stories at No. 688.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Retail plans revealed for 12-floor condo building replacing open-air market on Broadway

NoHo flea market gutted ahead of new condo project on Broadway

Looking at One Great Jones Alley, 'a private paradise'

At the former home of the Broadway flea market, condos will cost upwards of $22 million

Report: There's a $10-million lawsuit over use of Great Jones Alley for new development

Construction watch: 255 E. Houston St.

Last Monday we noted the full reveal at 287 E. Houston St. ... now here's an in-progress look at another new residential building along the corridor one block to the west — 255 E. Houston between Suffolk and Norfolk...



Been a long time coming for this one, a project embroiled in controversy via developer Samy Mahfar.

A little of the history: In September 2016, Mahfar withdrew his application — after a five-year fight — for a commercial zoning change for this property and surrounding parcels.

He had approval for a 10-floor building. Then it was 13 floors. Then 14. The Commercial Observer reported last Dec. 20 that Mahfar scored a $39.5 million construction loan from Bank of the Ozarks for the 14-floor, 88-unit apartment building. (It's not clear if any of the units will be designated as affordable housing.)

In any event, workers are on the 14th floor now...



No. 255 previously housed the day-care center Action For Progress.


[EVG photo of No. 255 from 2012]

Previously on EV Grieve:
Next for 255 E. Houston St.: Community facility/school/medical building?

10-story building now in the works for 255 E. Houston St.

Debate over commercial overlay for 255 E. Houston St. and surrounding blocks continues

Report: Samy Mahfar drops bid for commercial overlay on East Houston and parts of the LES

Construtction watch: 363 Lafayette St.

Here's an in-progress look at 363 Lafayette St., the 10-floor, mixed-used building that's nearing a full reveal at Great Jones...



Ironstate Development is behind this project. Their work in the neighborhood includes The Jefferson, the condoplex at the site of the former Mystery Lot. Another familiar name in these parts, Morris Adjmi, is the architect of record. (He designed the building proposed for the Second Avenue explosion site.)

...and here are renderings via SK Development...





The 363 website lists that seven of the 10 floors have been leased.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Former Jones Diner lot on Lafayette primed for new development

[Image: Spencer Platt/Getty Images]

Construction watch: 3 E. 3rd St.

The condoplex coming to 3 E. Third St. just off the Bowery recently made its first appearance above the plywood.

Inspiron, the project's construction manager, has the details on what to expect:

The Building is a concrete design that will be roughly 13,400 square-feet. The space will be split between residential spaces on the upper floors with luxurious roof top access and commercial space on the lower floors. The project is anticipated to be complete in the spring of 2019.

Since the last look at the site, the building has been modified.

This is the PREVIOUS rendering...


[Rendering via Barrett Design]

And now the updated rendering ...


[Barrett Design]

Here's CityRealty on what's different:

[T]he building has been reduced by one floor, the setback removed, and will use metal instead of stone. The design will complement the austere zinc façade of Selldorf’s tower next door, and be clad in a glass and metal curtain wall of full-height windows, metal fins, and I-beam like spandrel sections.

The former building at this site most recently served as short-term rentals for students and interns.


[3 E. 3rd St. in April 2015]

Previously on EV Grieve:
Development site available on East 3rd Street at the Bowery

Demolition watch: 3 E. 3rd St.

Construction watch: 298 E. 2nd St. (aka Houston House)

Checking in on 298 E. Second St., where East Village-based Starleeng Equities is putting up an eight-story, seven-unit residential building here between Avenue C and Avenue D along East Houston ... workers recently reached the top...



As New York Yimby reported back in 2016, the residential units should average 1,967 square feet apiece — most likely condos. There will be a duplex apartment on the ground and second floors, with full-floor apartments on the third through eighth floors.

The condoplex, going by Houston House, is environmentally friendly, with the design via Passive House specialists Zakrzewski + Hyde Architects and featuring cross-laminated timber (CLT).

City Realty had more details on this last week:

While Houston House won’t go for Passive House certification, it will still have several green features. CLT requires little energy to produce and will provide extra insulation in the building. Oversized, triple-glazed windows will help cut down on electricity and control heat loss/gain. Houston House’s commitment to the environment even extends to its amenities: The building will have a bike room.

Here's a look at the plywood rendering...



Nest Seekers International’s Ryan Serhant will be doing the condo selling here. Sales have not yet been announced.

According to public records, the building that housed the Houston Street Beer Distributors sold for a little more than $7 million in the fall of 2015.


[Photo from August 2016]

Previously on EV Grieve:
298 E. 2nd St. latest development site up for grabs

East Village now minus 2 beverage distributors

Something brewing (demolition) for former beer distributor on East 2nd Street

Construction watch: 150 Rivington St.

Here's a Passover look at the former Streit’s Matzo Factory ... where an under-construction, 7-story condoplex housing 45 units now stands at Rivington and Suffolk...



And the final condo product, as you've likely seen previously...


[Volley Studios]

Streeteasy shows a handful of units still on the market, from a little more than $1 million to $2.7 million.

This corner space was home to Streit’s Matzo Factory from 1925 to 2015. The family-owned business sold its original factory to Cogswell Realty in January 2015 for a reported $30.5 million.

Streit's, who left the LES in 2015, now operates out of more modern facilities in Rockland County. Here's a story about how they're doing today.

...and here's the slot for the future new ABC No Rio next door...



Previously on EV Grieve:
The Times reveals the Streit's-replacing condos; Ben Shaoul wordsmiths gentrification

A celebration of Streit's Matzo Factory starts tonight on Avenue A

Matzo madness as Streit's documentary by East Village resident debuts at the Film Forum

At ABC No Rio's last HardCore/Punk Matinee on Rivington Street (for now)

Construction watch: 809 Broadway

The extension at 809 Broadway is shaping up here between 11th Street and 12th Street.

As previously reported, the developers — a partnership of three private investors led by its principal Ariel Rom — are jacking up the height of the 55-foot building to 199 feet, adding 10 stories to the existing five-story structure. In total, the building will house 10 luxury condos, including one duplex and one triplex penthouse on the top floors.

No. 809 was the longtime home until 2013 to Blatt Billiards, a pool table manufacturer that had owned and occupied the building since 1972. Blatt principals Ronald Blatt and Bruce Roeder reportedly sold the building to a buyer who was identified only as 809 Broadway Holding LLC.

Here are renderings via ODA-Architecture ...



Per ODA: "Situated on a diagonal segment off Broadway, Lot 809 stands like a totem indicating the visual entrance to Union Square. The neighborhood’s characteristic street scape is extended to the building’s façade by stacking and shifting the floor plates, thereby creating enlarged spaces, and protected outdoor terraces."



This is one of the many luxury developments sprouting up south of Union Square that some local elected officials and preservation groups spoke out against on Wednesday night at a rally on Third Avenue at St. Mark's Place.

At the rally, the group — led by the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation — is seeking a rezoning of the area in to enforce some height restrictions and affordable housing requirements.

Construction watch: 619 E. 6th St.

There's finally some noticeable progress at 619 E. Sixth St., where a 6-story residential building is rising...



To recap, here's what's TK, via DXA Studio Architecture, the architects of record:

The facade is clad in a Danish handmade brick and includes a full width mural along a sidewall that links the building in character with its East Village neighbors where street art abounds. The five residential units, from a small studio up to a dramatic three bedroom with office and double height duplex on the top floors, incorporate a simple and timeless palette of materials throughout.

[DXA]

I first heard about this project in January 2016. It has seemingly taken a long time to knock down the previous one-level structure and get to this point.

Here are photos of the site from early September...





At that time, an EVG reader who lived nearby wrote in to say:

Any inside info into the hole in the ground at 619 E. 6th St., whose progress seems to be quite stalled? Needless to say we could all do without the permanent obstruction there, including the daily dumps taken inside the walkaround created by the plastic dividers. What a (literal) shitshow.

Previously on EV Grieve:
6-story condoplex, complete with Danish handmade brick, coming to East 6th Street