Long-vacant 8th Street building where worker died is being offered as a development site

EVG file photo

356 E. Eighth St., a vacant, four-story townhouse between Avenue C and Avenue D, is now available as a residential development site. 

The space is being offered for $3 million. Per the listing: "Property is a teardown. Existing structure is unsafe." 

On Dec. 24, 2015, a worker — 33-year-old Luis Alberto Pomboza — fell three floors to his death inside the building.

According to published reports, he was an undocumented Ecuadorian immigrant and father of five who lived in Brooklyn.

His death prompted then-Mayor de Blasio and Department of Buildings Commissioner Rick Chandler to announce in February 2016 that they were going to quadruple the penalties for serious construction-safety lapses, conduct a wave of more than 1,500 enforcement sweeps, and require new supervision at construction sites citywide to protect workers and the public amid the building boom.

No. 356 had been on and off the market in recent years (here and here). The listings pitched the space for "high-end apartments or a luxury home."

In the fall of 2015, there were approved work permits showing that the building would receive two new floors and a mezzanine.

After Pomboza's death, the DOB issued a stop work order and a full vacate order on the site. Ten different violations were reportedly uncovered at the worksite, including "failure to safeguard all persons and property affected by construction operations." A construction superintendent was to be present at 356 E. Eighth St. at the time of Pomboza's fall, but there wasn't one on site.

The owner is listed as Ingrid House LLC, per public records. 

Development deal for former Church of the Nativity includes the La Salle space next door

As we reported on Tuesday, Gemini Rosemont, an L.A.-based real-estate investor, bought the former Church of the Nativity property on Second Avenue for $40 million.

According to public records, the deal includes two parcels — 42-44 Second Ave. and 46-48 Second Ave.



As several readers have pointed out, including Upper West Sider, the transaction is for the former church and part of the former La Salle property next door at 44 Second Ave. ...



For now, the corner building at Second Street, 38 Second Ave., is not part of the unspecified new development expected here.

La Salle, which dates to 1856 in this neighborhood, relocated to St. George Academy on Sixth Street in 2008.

The original La Salle Academy on Second Street was leased to a for-profit private school. The Second Avenue properties were apparently used as the school annex, providing additional classrooms and office space.

The Church of the Nativity closed after a service on July 31, 2015, merging with Most Holy Redeemer on Third Street.

As previously reported, the Cooper Square Community Land Trust had explored buying the former Church of the Nativity to use as low-income housing.

As for the future of 42-48 Second Ave., the Gemini Rosemont website notes that they look to rent to "tenants in high growth and tech centric industries."

This 3-story building on 6th Street is for sale (air rights included)

There's a new listing for 743 E. Sixth St., a three-story building between Avenue C and Avenue D.

According to the listing, the property is vacant ... and features a garage-studio on the ground level (the former Manny's Auto Repair) ... and a single-family residence on the second and third floors. (This PDF of the property includes some interior shots.)

Per Cushman & Wakefield: "This is a perfect opportunity for a user or developer. There are also 4,430 square feet of air rights available allowing for a buyer to build up and/or extend back."

Asking price: $4.5 million.

A reminder of the development to come at 24 1st Ave. and 99-191 E. 2nd St.

These "sold" development site banners went up yesterday at 24 First Ave. ... and on its sister property at 99-101 E. Second St. ...



As reported late last month, Sergey Rybak of the South Brooklyn-based Rybak Development was the winning bidder during an auction in February. According to EPIC Commercial Realty, who represented the buyer and the seller, the winning bid was $12.25 million.

So far there's nothing new on file with the DOB for the addresses. The property can be developed with or without the inclusionary housing air rights, providing between an additional 19,000 and 22,000 square feet. No word yet about what Rybeck plans to do with the L-shaped assemblage.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Onetime home of Lucky Cheng's and adjacent property on the development market for $26 million

Building that housed Lucky Cheng's on 1st Avenue now on the auction block

Onetime home of Lucky Cheng's and adjacent property sell for $12 million

Former TGI Friday's space on Union Square now a $31 million development site

[Photo by Daniel from January]

The TGI Friday's at 34 Union Square East and 16th Street shut down at the end of 2017, as we noted here.

For sale signs via Eastern Consolidated were up right away though we never saw the listing... which is now live here:

... a development site that offers a ±26,000-square-foot zoning floor area for a mixed-use building on the last remaining corner development site on Union Square Park. The property is currently improved with a vacant, ±6,500 square foot, two-story commercial building. With ±19,500 square feet of unused development rights, the property offers 26-feet of frontage on Union Square East and 125-feet of frontage on 16th Street.

And an aerial photo looking at Union Square via Eastern Consolidated ... to see how the site stacks up against its neighbors... just imagine another ±19,500 square feet on top...



Dennis Riese, the chairman of the board and CEO of The Riese Organization, reportedly bought this building for $15.3 million at the end of 2009. The TGI Friday's opened in June 2010.

Condos planned for 3rd Street development site at the Bowery

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

Back in April 2015 we first reported that 3 E. Third St. was on the market as a new development. Per the listing at the time: "This is a rare opportunity to acquire a boutique development site in one of the trendiest neighborhoods of Manhattan."

Now comes word that Brooklyn-based Barrett Design has filed plans (as of yesterday) for c-c-condos.

Per Real Estate Weekly:

Barrett will build a seven-story mixed-use building totaling approximately 18,000 gross square feet with a retail condo on the ground floor and five apartments above, consisting of four full-floor units and a duplex penthouse.

And here's the rendering via Barrett...



This luxury building will be the easterly neighbors to the 13-story, zinc-coated 347 Bowery ...


[Image via Selldorf Architects]

For the past 20-plus years, 3 E. Third St. has been home to 3 East 3rd Dorm — short-term rentals for students and interns. The developer filed for demolition permits on Aug. 29.

Development site available on East 3rd Street at the Bowery

Cushman & Wakefield has the listing:

A 40’ wide development site located on the north side of East 3rd Street between Bowery and 2nd Avenue. The site is currently improved by a 4-story, multifamily building that will be delivered vacant. It is suitable for a hotel or mixed-use development. Alternatively, it could serve as a private club location.

The property is split zoned, with 42 percent of the lot lying in the R8B zoning districts and 58 percent of the lot lying in the C6-1 zoning district. According to a study by Design AIDD Architecture study, this zoning allows for a maximum residential FAR of 3.44 or 10,509 square feet, maximum commercial FAR of 6.00 or 18,330 square feet, and a maximum community facility FAR of 6.50 or 19,857 square feet. The property borders the Bowery Hotel to the north, and to the west Urban Muse has planned a 13-story residential condo building with retail.



This is a rare opportunity to acquire a boutique development site in one of the trendiest neighborhoods of Manhattan. Ownership prefers offers for the C-Corporation shares.

No price mentioned. You have to submit offers.

For the past 20-plus years, 3 E. Third St. has been home to 3 East 3rd Dorm — short-term rentals for students and interns (currently closed with the construction next door).



Previously on EV Grieve:
The Salvation Army's former East Village Residence will be demolished on the Bowery

Looks like 347 Bowery will be home to a 13-floor mixed-use residential development

The future of 347 Bowery (sorta!) revealed

298 E. 2nd St. latest development site up for grabs

Looks like people will need to find a new place to find inexpensive cases of Yuengling.

Houston Street Beer Distributors on East Second Street between Avenue C and Avenue D is now on the market.

Here are details via Corcoran:

This one story warehouse at 298 East 2nd Street sits atop a 25' x 105.92' parcel at the cross roads of the bustling East Village and Lower East Side neighborhoods. It is located in an R8A zoning district with an FAR of 6.02 (approx. 15,941 SF) or up to 7.2 FAR with Inclusionary Housing designated area bonus (approx. 19,066 sq. ft.) This prime development site is across the street from Hamilton Fish Park and a branch of the New York City public library, offering unobstructed southern exposures.

A new development would enjoy sweeping views of downtown and midtown Manhattan, Williamsburg, LIC and more. With City plans in the works to completely rehabilitate the piers on the East River from Midtown to the Financial District as well as the new construction that is sweeping the neighborhood including The Essex Crossing makes this a promising opportunity. A short distance to the promenade, fields, courts and tracks of East River Park, lively restaurants and shops of both the East Village and the LES. Lot area square feet: 2,648. Potential to combine with neighboring building which is situated next to an empty city owned lot...

This is a booming area now adjacent to the luxury rentals of The Adele on East Houston and Avenue D … The Robyn on East Third Street near Avenue D … and the new retail-residential complex coming to the former Mobil station on East Houston and Avenue C.

The listing also notes the proximity to the incoming Essex Crossing on Delancey… which seems like a stretch...



In any event, the asking price for No. 298 is $8.5 million.

Speaking of low-rise stretches of businesses that will soon be extinct

On Sunday, I was walking along Delancey. I stopped to look at the incoming Holiday fucking Inn coming to the corner at Suffolk. I took a photo, and tried to imagine how noisy a room would be here given its location overlooking an insanely busy bridge and thoroughfare.

Taking in the block, I figured the one-level row of businesses to the east of the hotel had a short life span. Not exactly a visionary statement given the ongoing rush to develop parcels of land with so much potential.

In any event, BoweryBoogie had the news yesterday that the one-story strip of 156-164 Delancey Street next to the Holiday Inn is on the market. Per the listing, there are 11,990 square-feet of developable air rights. The parcel has a $3.95 million price tag.

Wonder if that Holiday Inn has triple-paned windows ...

154 Second Avenue starting to show off its girders

Two months have passed since we checked in on the progress at 154 Second Ave., where workers will be adding several new floors for "luxury rental apartments."

Kind of hard to say what's happening behind the scaffolding. EVG reader Terry Howell notes that most of July brought intermittent banging and knocking without much evidence of actual "construction."

Then! In early August, he noticed that workers delivered a pile of girders. Let's take a look at the latest photos that he shared...

Terry also hears that the remaining structure facade will not be kept — eventually it will all be demolished.

Here's what the address looked like in the 1940s, via Vanishing New York...

And one day...

Previously on EV Grieve:
Former funeral home looks to double in size with help from 'the controversial penthouse king of the East Village'

Redeveloped funeral home looking for a few live retail tenants

The walls come tumbling down at 154 Second Avenue

Temporary sunroof for 154 Second Ave.

[Terry Howell]

We walked by 154 Second Ave., the former Sigmund Schwartz Gramercy Park Chapel between East Ninth Street and East 10th Street, the other day and looked inside the opened plywood. Not much left on the inside! The sun was pouring into the space from where there was a roof.

For a better angle... EVG reader Terry Howell provided an aerial view showing the progress here where workers are adding three new floors for luxury apartments...

And for some contrast... how the building looked in February...

Previously on EV Grieve:
Former funeral home looks to double in size with help from 'the controversial penthouse king of the East Village'

Redeveloped funeral home looking for a few live retail tenants

The walls come tumbling down at 154 Second Avenue

The walls come tumbling down at 154 Second Avenue

We continue to keep tabs on 154 Second Ave., the former Sigmund Schwartz Gramercy Park Chapel between East Ninth Street and East 10th Street ... where workers will be adding several new floors for "luxury rental apartments" ...

[Image from last summer via Off the Grid]

... we recently looked in the door and spotted some interior demolition... but what's going on out back?

EVG reader Terry Howell notes that workers started serious demolition this week. First, it took four guys and a scaffold to get rid of the chimney in the corner...



Per Terry: "Then a jackhammer arrived and the walls came tumblin' down..."









Previously on EV Grieve:
Former funeral home looks to double in size with help from 'the controversial penthouse king of the East Village'

Redeveloped funeral home looking for a few live retail tenants

Taking another look at the 154 Second Ave. rendering

Just continuing to watch the interior demolition at 154 Second Ave., the former Sigmund Schwartz Gramercy Park Chapel between East Ninth Street and East 10th Street.

[Friday]

Plans call for several new floors here for "luxury rental apartments" ... as well as nearly 4,600 square feet of ground-floor space "perfect for: retail store, restaurant," per the Icon Realty listing.

And there's an updated rendering for the building too.

Previously.

[Image via Off the Grid]

Previously on EV Grieve:
Former funeral home looks to double in size with help from 'the controversial penthouse king of the East Village'

Redeveloped funeral home looking for a few live retail tenants

Demolition under way inside the former Sigmund Schwartz Gramercy Park Chapel

Work is under way inside 154 Second Ave., the former Sigmund Schwartz Gramercy Park Chapel between East Ninth Street and East 10th Street. Plans call for several new floors here for "luxury rental apartments" ... as well as nearly 4,600 square feet of ground-floor space "perfect for: retail store, restaurant," per the listing.

Here's a look at the interior demolition late last week via EV Grieve reader Terry Howell...

Previously on EV Grieve:
Former funeral home looks to double in size with help from 'the controversial penthouse king of the East Village'

Redeveloped funeral home looking for a few live retail tenants

Redeveloped funeral home looking for a few live retail tenants

On Monday, we pointed out that workers have the scaffolding and sidewalk shed in place outside 154 Second Ave., the former Sigmund Schwartz Gramercy Park Chapel. Plans call for several new floors here with the help of architect Ramy Issac.

And we spotted a listing (PDF) for the retail space over at developer Terrence Lowenberg's Icon Realty....

There is nearly 4,600 square feet of ground-floor space "perfect for: retail store, restaurant," per the listing. Rent is upon request.

The rendering looks similar to Lowenberg's other current projects at 147 First Ave. and 326-328 E. Fourth St.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Former funeral home looks to double in size with help from 'the controversial penthouse king of the East Village'

Going to the former Chapel, and we're gonna get three new floors

The scaffolding and construction netting is now in place at the former Sigmund Schwartz Gramercy Park Chapel on Second Avenue between 10th Street and Ninth Street.

As Off the Grid first reported last summer, there are plans on file to "Remodel the existing three story building and add 3 stories on top."

According to the DOB, city officials have approved those plans on Jan. 10. Here's the DOB language:

REMODEL EXISTING THREE STORY BUILDING AND ADD 3 STORIES ON TOP OF EXISTING BUILDING. SECOND AND THIRD FLOORS TO BE CONVERTED TO RESIDENTIAL ONLY. FIRST FLOOR TO BE USED AS A COMMERCIAL USE.

And yes — we've run out of headlines.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Former funeral home looks to double in size with help from 'the controversial penthouse king of the East Village'

The end (of the view and daylight) is near

On Monday, we had an update on the former Sigmund Schwartz Gramercy Park Chapel on Second Avenue between 10th Street and Ninth Street. Plans call for an additional three floors here.

A reader sends along an aerial view looking north at the property. As you can see, construction hasn't started yet.

However, when it does, the folks living next door with the south-facing windows will likely lose any view and daylight. Which really sucks.

3 new floors ready to rise from the dead funeral home on Second Avenue

Renovations have started at the former Sigmund Schwartz Gramercy Park Chapel on Second Avenue between 10th Street and Ninth Street. Workers boarded up the front doors last week.

As Off the Grid first reported last summer, there are plans on file to "Remodel the existing three story building and add 3 stories on top."

According to the DOB, city officials have approved those plans on Jan. 10. Here's the DOB language:

REMODEL EXISTING THREE STORY BUILDING AND ADD 3 STORIES ON TOP OF EXISTING BUILDING. SECOND AND THIRD FLOORS TO BE CONVERTED TO RESIDENTIAL ONLY. FIRST FLOOR TO BE USED AS A COMMERCIAL USE.

The architect on this project is Ramy Issac, once dubbed by New York magazine as "The controversial penthouse king of the East Village." Developer Terrence Lowenberg of Icon Realty is behind the project. Icon is currently renovating 147 First Ave.

Check out this history of the Sigmund Schwartz Gramercy Park Chapel at Jeremiah's Vanishing New York.

Here's what the address looked like in the 1940s, via Vanishing New York...

Will a gut renovation and three-floor addition be enough to wipe out the spirits of the funeral home?

Previously on EV Grieve:
Former funeral home looks to double in size with help from 'the controversial penthouse king of the East Village'

An L-Shaped footprint ready to make its impression on East Houston Street

In late November, the Mystery Lot of East Houston Street (the empty parcel on the south side of the street between Attorney and Ridge) hit the market, per The Lo-Down. The lot is going for $9.5 million.

Now, it appears more development is in the works for this stretch of Houston... The long-empty adjacent space is now for sale — at $4.6 million.

Here's the listing via Massey Knakal:

The subject property consists of 331 E Houston Street and 161 Ridge Street. 331 E Houston Street is a single story commercial building and 161 Ridge Street is a vacant parking lot. Together, the properties create an L-Shaped footprint with 25’ of frontage on E Houston Street and 20’ of frontage on Ridge Street. The lots have a combined footprint of 3,000 square feet and are located in the newly designated East Village/Lower East Side zoning district which is zoned R8A*. This zone provides an FAR of 5.4 for Residential use, 7.2 with inclusionary housing and 6.5 for Community Facility use which translate to a maximum buildable square footage of 16,200 BSF, 21,600 BSF, 19,500 BSF, respectively. Furthermore, the two lots are adjacent to two 25’ vacant lots on E Houston Street.

So. Combine all this and what do you get?