Love locks and weeds at the long-empty 89 1st Ave.

[Photo from March by Michael Hirsch]

We heard a rumor last fall that there were preliminary plans in place to build a 7-floor residential building in the long-emtpy lot at 89 First Ave. between East Fifth Street and East Sixth Street.

The rumor gained strength in March when workers cut down 10 trees and cleared the brush from the lot.

There still aren't any permits on file with the DOB noting impending construction ... and the lot is pretty much overgrown again...





Meanwhile, EVG reader Michael Hirsch yesterday noted the arrival of what appear to be two love locks on the fence...



Perhaps this might become a new tourist destination for couples to show their affection... they can throw the keys into the lot before a romantic stroll through the great Dual Specialty Store next door.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Will this long-empty lot on 1st Avenue yield to affordable housing?

Workers remove 10 trees from long-empty 1st Avenue lot

[Last September]

A tipster told us last September that there were preliminary plans in place to clear out this long-emtpy lot at 89 First Ave. between East Fifth Street and East Sixth Street ahead of some kind of development. (The rumor was a 7-floor residential building that included affordable housing.)

Workers fulfilled those clearing-out plans yesterday, as this photo by EVG reader Michael Hirsch shows…



By Michael's count, workers took down 10 trees.

To date, there's nothing on file with the city for anything on this property.

The lot's owner, Florence Toledano, also owns the 2Bn2C sculpture garden on East Second Street.

Perhaps coincidentally (or not), someone recently cleaned up that space too…



Previously on EV Grieve:
Will this long-empty lot on 1st Avenue yield to affordable housing?

Previously outside 89 First Ave….


[Photo by Michael Hirsch]

Will this long-empty lot on 1st Avenue yield to affordable housing?

So, according to a tipster, there are preliminary plans in place to clear out this long-emtpy lot at 89 First Ave. between East Fifth Street and East Sixth Street.

The other day, there were several workers on site to offer an estimate about removing the trees.

And why? The woman who has owned the lot is apparently handing it over to her nephew, who has plans/aspirations to build a 7-floor residence that will provide affordable housing.

There is nothing on file yet with the city about such plans. So keep this in the rumor stage for now.

And for now enjoy the sculpture fence ...





The lot's owner, Florence Toledano, also owns the 2Bn2C sculpture garden on East Second Street.

Stupid plywood ruins view of future dorm lot on Cooper Square

[Neerad Jet via Facebook]

We knew that this day was coming... over on Cooper Square at East Sixth Street ... where plans are pending for a now-13-story dorm... we saw the permits on file for a plywood fence to surround the lot where developer Arun Bhatia quickly demolished the historic, circa-1825 building at 35 Cooper Square more than two years ago.

The lot continued to attract an array of graffiti and random piles of junk... now, sadly, as the photo above shows, all this is obscured from our street-level view... the fence is now in place.

Thankfully, we recently took a few photos of the lot...

















Now how will we ever know if the weeds are knee high by the Fourth of July?

Previously on EV Grieve:
Something 28,998 square feet or so coming to Cooper Square (and goodbye Cooper 35 Asian Pub?)

Here's what's coming to 35 Cooper Square: 9-story dormitory

Proposed dorm for former 35 Cooper Square looks to be 4 floors taller

The last interesting empty lot in the East Village

Now that The Mystery Lot on East 13th Street is officially A Luxury Lot... we're nearly out of abandoned lots that are rather mysterious around here... save for this lot... the one off Houston/East Second Street between Avenue B and Avenue C...







This lot still holds some surprises, such as hosting the occasional crucified bear ... We don't know much about the lot (making it all the more mysterious!) ... just that the owner isn't interested in selling off the parcel... Still, enjoy it while you can.

Photos by Bobby Williams

Previously on EV Grieve:
A look at the dwindling number of East Village lots