The 24-floor building rising on 14th and C appears to be one-third of the way home

The new 24-floor residential building on the SW corner of 14th Street and Avenue C is rising quickly, and workers appear to be already on the eighth floor.

The 234-foot-tall building, going as 14+C, will include 197 residential units, "a state-of-the-art fitness room," a yoga studio, and a rooftop deck. Information about the number of "affordable" units included in 14+C, one of the stipulations for being allowed to build a more extensive (by nine floors) building, has not been made public. 

Madison Square Realty is the third owner of the long-empty lot (since 2009) in the past eight years. Madison Realty Capital paid Opal Holdings $31.3 million for the property in May 2020. Opal Holdings bought the parcel in June 2016 from Brooklyn's Rabsky Group for $23 million. 

Plans for a 15-floor mixed-use building had already been approved, though no affordable units were attached to that version. As revealed in the spring of 2021, several developers spent hundreds of thousands of dollars lobbying the city for NYCHA air rights to make this a larger structure with more housing. Plans for the larger development were first unveiled in June 2022. 

The plywood rendering lists a February 2026 completion date. 

The status of 642 E. 14th St. next door seems to be in limbo. In July, the owner of No. 642 filed plans to demolish the currently vacant pre-war building. According to Crain's New York, Jeremy Lebewohl, owner of the Second Avenue Deli, filed the paperwork with the Department of Buildings (DOB) on July 10. 

Last November, as we first reported, No. 642's residents — many in rent-stabilized units — were abruptly vacated after excavation next door destabilized the building. 

According to the Department of Buildings, "Structural stability of building compromised due to construction operations at 644 E. 14th Street. Heavy cracks in the exterior and interior in addition to separation noted at door frames and floor from wall..." 

Lebewohl's attorney, Adam Leitman Bailey, told Crain's that "multiple engineers have now said the building is dangerous and needs to be torn down entirely." 

According to a spokesperson in July, the DOB was reviewing the application but had yet to issue an emergency demolition order for the property, per Crain's. 

As of Friday, the request for a demolition permit remained "on hold," per DOB records. 

From parked cars to luxury condos on 9th Street

Plans are now on file to convert the former Little Man Parking garage (aka LaSalle Parking) into a six-story residential building on Ninth Street between Second Avenue and Third Avenue. 

According to the permits filed last week, the proposed development will feature 31,231 square feet of residential space for 18 units. (Per NY Yimby, that puts the average residence at 1,735 square feet — likely condos.) The newly created complex will also feature a rear yard and 10 enclosed parking spaces.)

Arcus Development purchased the space earlier this spring for $14 million. (Check out their luxury conversions here.)

There is also a new partial demoliton permit —"down to the first floor" — on file with the DOB.

The garage has been closed since late April 2023 after the Department of Buildings issued a vacate order on the property following the deadly collapse on April 18, 2023, at the Little Man garage on Ann Street in the Financial District.

Per the DOB vacate order: "The occupied parking structure with concrete framing observed to be in a state of disrepair at several locations in cellar level... crushed column base observed at several locations in cellar level ... vertical cracks observed inside elevator shaft and on masonry walls."

The address was offered as a "redevelopment project" last August. 

Budget Car Rental and Tori-Bien, a restaurant that specialized in Japanese fried chicken, were also forced to leave their retail spaces at this address due to the vacate order.

Demolition watch: The NW corner of 1st Avenue and 2nd Street

Top photo from Friday by Steven; others from Saturday

Demo crews have made pretty quick work of the two two-level structures at 33 and 35 First Ave. at Second Street (33 housed First Avenue Laundry Center on the main level and Serenity Spa upstairs) ...

As previously reported, a 7-floor residential building with ground-floor retail is now slated for 33-37 First Ave., the vacant three-building assemblage between Second Street and Third Street. 

According to DOB paperwork, the proposed building — using the address 88 E. Second St. — will be 19,278 square feet, with 2,994 square feet designated for commercial space. Plans call for 22 residential units, likely rentals, given the square footage.

Spa treatment

The demoliton has recently picked up on the NW corner of First Avenue at Second Street... where workers are gutting the former Serenity Spa on the second level...

As we reported earlier last week, a 7-floor residential building with ground-floor retail is now slated for 33-37 First Ave., the vacant three-building assemblage between Second Street and Third Street. 

Developers filed the permits with the city this past Friday. According to the paperwork, the proposed building — using the address 88 E. Second St. — will be 19,278 square feet, with 2,994 square feet designated for commercial space. Plans call for 22 residential units (likely rentals, given the square footage). 

The filings list Manny Ashourzadeh of Romah Management Corp. as the owner (they also have a 13-floor building in the works on Fifth Street and Avenue D). Queens-based Gerry Caliendo is named as the architect of record.

Demolition permits were filed last summer.

A 7-floor development in the works for the NW corner of 1st Avenue and 2nd Street

A 7-floor residential building with ground-floor retail is now slated for 33-37 First Ave., the vacant three-building assemblage between Second Street and Third Street. 

Developers filed the permits with the city this past Friday. According to the paperwork, the proposed building — using the address 88 E. Second St. — will be 19,278 square feet, with 2,994 square feet designated for commercial space. Plans call for 22 residential units (likely rentals, given the square footage). 

The filings list Manny Ashourzadeh of Romah Management Corp. as the owner (they also have a 13-floor building in the works on Fifth Street and Avenue D). Queens-based Gerry Caliendo is named as the architect of record.

Demolition permits were filed last summer, and some asbestos abatement taking place. 

New Double Dragon, the last business in these buildings, closed last July. The basement was home to the HaveAHeart recording studio.

The First Avenue Laundry Center and the Serenity Spa upstairs were previous business casualties in these three buildings. The other retail spot had been various quick-serve places, last occupied in 2015.

An EVG reader shared this view of the three doomed buildings that will yield the new development... 

If this helps... the three buildings to the left of the spaces that house Popeyes and d.b.a at 39 and 41 First Ave. ...

Here's the first look at the new building slated for 50-64 Third Ave.

With permits in place to demolish six East Village buildings on the west side of Third Avenue between 10th Street and 11th Street, we have our first look at a rendering for the new development...

A reader shared this from the State Building Group website, the Toronto-based real-estate company behind this project. 

The address — 50-64 Third Ave. — is listed under the company's "residential" portfolio. (At first glance, the building looks more commercial/office. We reached out to confirm the residential use and other details, such as number of units.) 

Here's the information included with the listing:

50-64 3rd Avenue is a 6-building assemblage located at the nexus of the East Village, Greenwich Village and Astor Place. The site allows for 160,000 sq. ft. of new construction and has a land area of 16,500 sq. ft. Construction is expected to commence in late 2023.

Late 2023 seems ambitious for a start date. So far, there aren't any new building permits on file with the Department of Buildings. In addition, the existing buildings are still awaiting demolition.

In late August, according to Straus News, which publishes several local weekly newspapers and associated websites, including Our Town — Eastsider, a spokesperson for the DOB said "that outstanding objections" have interrupted the developer's plans. 

However, there are new/updated demolition permits on the DOB website dated Sept. 6 and Sept. 12.

As PincusCo. first reported in May, Kinsmen Property Group — a joint venture between State Building Group and another Toronto company, Madison Group — has been buying the walk-up buildings over the past two years, paying more than $60 million for the parcel.

Most of the retail spaces in the properties were already closed, including, most recently, the Ainsworth on the SW corner of 11th Street in July 2022. (No. 62 was home to New York Central Art Supply for decades until its 2016 closure.)

Only one building will remain on the block after the demolition — 48 Third Ave., the 4-story property owned by Isfahany Realty Corp. on the northwest corner at 10th Street with Healthy Greens Gourmet in the retail space. 

These 6 East Village buildings will be demolished for a new development on 3rd Avenue

Permits were filed last Wednesday to demolish six East Village buildings on the west side of Third Avenue between 10th Street and 11th Street, according to permits with the Department of Buildings. 

The addresses are 50-64 Third Ave. NOT included: 48 Third Ave., the 4-story building owned by Isfahany Realty Corp. on the northwest corner at 10th Street with Healthy Greens Gourmet in the retail space...

As PincusCo. first reported in May, Kinsmen Property Group, through the entity 62-64 Third Ave., has been buying up the walk-up buildings over the past two years, paying more than $60 million for the parcel.

Most of the retail spaces in the properties were already closed, including, most recently, the Ainsworth on the SW corner of 11th Street in July 2022. (No. 62 was home to New York Central Art Supply for decades until its 2016 closure.)

It's not known what Kinsmen has planned for this parcel, which features 167 feet of prime Third Avenue frontage. According to Real Estate Weekly, Kinsmen Property Group is a joint venture between Toronto-based firms — Madison Group and State Building Group. There are not any new building permits on file with the city. Kinsmen founder and CEO Ari Zagdanski did not respond to a request for comment via Crain's, who reported on the demolition Friday.

Meanwhile, work got underway last week with asbestos abatement at 64 Third Ave. ...

... and soil sampling...

The residential portions of these buildings — said to be 31 units in total — have been vacant for several months...

Two restaurants remain operating along this stretch — TLK — by Tigerlily Kitchen and Kotobuki...

There has been talk (especially in the EVG comments) of another development along this corridor following the construction of the 13-story Moxy hotel around the corner on 11th Street.

Five walk-up buildings between Third Avenue and Fourth Avenue —112-120 E. 11th St. — were demolished in 2016 to make way for the project. Preservations tried to get the strip of residences landmarked, but the LPC refused to hold a hearing. 

It was later reported that the buildings had been purchased by David Lichenstein, a significant donor to then-Mayor de Blasio, "one of his political allies, and one of his appointees to the Economic Development Corporation."  Lichtenstein and his Lightstone Group later developed the hotel, per Village Preservation. 

Previous development along this corridor included the demolition of the two buildings at 74-76 Third Ave. (plus a parking lot) between 11th Street and 12th Street in 2011... which yielded the 9-story luxury residential building the Nathaniel in 2014 with Westside Market in the retail space. 

So what's next for this block of 2nd Avenue?

ICYMI. On June 26, we noted activity — workers picking up trash and random bricks — inside the empty lot on the east side of Second Avenue between Second Street and Third Street. 

As previously reported (first here), there are/were approved work permits (as of last summer) for an 11-floor mixed-use building on the site of a former three-building parcel.

Gemini Rosemont Development was behind this 100,568-square-foot new building ... the development, using 42 E. Second St. for its address, included 88 residential units and 9,600 square feet for retail.

An anonymous commenter previously had claimed: "Their plans were deemed dangerous for the neighboring property by DOB. Gemini is actively trying to sell the lot."

After our post, a rep for Gemini Rosemont Development told us the following: "The project is frozen, and we are currently evaluating options for the site."

DOB records show a variety of infractions, many involving non-maintenance of the construction fence.

In the spring, the DOB posted a "Notice to Revoke" on the approved application...

The address is still on the Gemini Rosemont Development website, though clicking on the address takes you to a random landing page.

In 2020, Gemini Rosemont bought the former La Salle annex at 38 Second Ave. and Second Street. The $14.5 million purchase of the four-story building was the third of three contiguous plots they acquired. The Los Angeles-based commercial real estate investment company closed on 42-44 Second Ave. and 46-48 Second Ave. (the former Church of the Nativity) in March 2020 for $40 million. 

To date, we have not seen any new notices about the sale of this lot. (Maybe you have and want to share?)

So the space will likely remain vacant for a few more years ... by the time someone makes a purchase and gets any new plans approved. 

[Updated] At 2nd and 2nd, activity in the lot that will yield an 11-story building

Updated 6/27

A Gemini Rosemont Development spokesperson confirmed what a commenter said. This project is on hold. Specifically: "The project is frozen and we are currently evaluating options for the site."

---

There has been some activity in the empty lot on the east side of Second Avenue between Second Street and Third Street. 

In recent weeks, workers removed the wheatpaste-ad-filled plywood fencing and put in a chainlink fence. On separate occasions, we spotted two workers... once they picked up random bricks and stones and placed them in a dumpster... and then, days later, collected trash...

As previously reported (first here), there are approved work permits (as of last summer) for an 11-floor mixed-use building on the site of a former three-building parcel.

Gemini Rosemont Development is behind this 100,568-square-foot new building ... the development, using 42 E. Second St. for its address, will feature 88 residential units and 9,600 square feet for retail.

In 2020, Gemini Rosemont bought the former La Salle annex at 38 Second Ave. and Second Street. The $14.5 million purchase of the four-story building was the third of three contiguous plots they acquired. The Los Angeles-based commercial real-estate investment company closed on 42-44 Second Ave. and 46-48 Second Ave. (the former Church of the Nativity) in March 2020 for $40 million. 

As a reminder, here's the rendering for the development...

A corner lot awaits new development on 5th Street and Avenue D

Workers recently finished demolishing the former one-level grocery, Uncle Johnny's, and clearing the lot on the SW corner of Avenue D and Fifth Street. 

As previously reported, a 13-story mixed-use building is slated for this now-empty property...

As NY Yimby first reported: 

The proposed 125-foot-tall development will yield 62,200 square feet designated for residential space. The building will have 85 residences, with an average unit scope of 731 square feet. The concrete-based structure will also have 15 inclusionary housing units and a cellar but no accessory parking. 

Public records show that Manny Ashourzadeh, via Golbar LLC, is behind this new project. 

Uncle Johnny, the longtime grocery store, closed here in February 2022.

In recent years, several new developments, including the Adele ... Arabella 101 and NIKO East Village, have risen along this Avenue D corridor. 

280 E. Houston St. prepped for new building construction

Workers have extended the plywood and set up a construction zone along 280 E. Houston St., where a new 12-story building will rise here between Avenue A and Avenue B. 

For the foreseeable future, pedestrians and cyclists will both be using the roadway to pass this property...

There are a few pieces of equipment on-site, though it doesn't appear to be a full-blown operation just yet...

As a reminder, here's what in store... still no word on the number of units... 

In October, 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."

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. 

Here's the new, larger residential building planned for 280 E. Houston St.

New renderings have arrived for the much-larger residential building slated for 280 E. Houston St. between Avenue A and Avenue B. (Thanks to the reader for the tip and top photo!) 

The new building appears to be 12 stories with a bulkhead. The DOB permit posted with the rendering still lists a "6-story mixed-used building" ...

This past January, we had the scoop on this new building when the permit for a 6-floor, 68,000-square-foot residential building on this property first arrived. At the time, however, a reliable source involved with the project said the building was likely to be taller than 6 stories.

That source was correct. 

In October, as The Real Deal first reported, landlord Samy Mahfar, whose descriptions in the press often include the words "notorious" or  "oft-embattled," 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."

The apartment building and retail space [the former Red Square at 250 E. Houston St.] were partially sold in 2016 to a group led by Dermot Company in a condominium structure, with the family entities retaining a percentage. When the site was later upzoned to R8-A, which permitted bonus floor area for voluntary inclusionary housing, it added roughly 65,000 square feet as-of-right to any project, which would nearly double to 127,000 square feet if it qualified for 421a. 

We don't know at the moment how large the new building will be, and how many "affordable" units will be available.

The rendering lists a December 2024 completion date.

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. 

The former Uncle Johnny grocery slated for demolition on Avenue D and 5th Street

Demolition permits are now on file with the city to take down the former Uncle Johnny, the longtime grocery that closed on Avenue D and Fifth Street in February.

As previously reported, a 13-story mixed-use building is in the works for this SW corner including the parcel adjacent to the former market on Fifth Street...

This past March, NY Yimby first reported on the details of the new development in the works:

The proposed 125-foot-tall development will yield 62,200 square feet designated for residential space. The building will have 85 residences, with an average unit scope of 731 square feet. The concrete-based structure will also have 15 inclusionary housing units and a cellar but no accessory parking. 

No word yet on a start date for the demo.

In recent years, several new developments, including the Adele ... Arabella 101 and NIKO East Village, have risen along this Avenue D corridor. 

Here's the first look at the new residential building coming to 2nd Avenue and 2nd Street

The rendering has arrived on the plywood along Second Avenue between Second Street and Third Street... offering the first look at the 11-floor mixed-use building that will rise on the east side of the avenue... brace!

As previously reported, Gemini Rosemont Development is behind this 100,568-square-foot new building ... the development, using 42 E. Second St. for its address, will feature 88 residential units (likely condos given the square footage) and 9,600 square feet for retail.

In 2020, Gemini Rosemont bought the former La Salle annex at 38 Second Ave. and Second Street. The $14.5 million purchase of the four-story building was the third of three contiguous plots that they acquired. The Los Angeles-based commercial real-estate investment company closed on 42-44 Second Ave. and 46-48 Second Ave. (the former Church of the Nativity) in March 2020 for $40 million. 

The rendering lists a 2025 completion date.

Demolition complete on the NE corner of 2nd Avenue and 2nd Street

Workers have wrapped up the demolition of the three buildings that stood along 38-48 Second Ave. between Second Street and Third Street.

Unfortunately, the dumpster on the lot obscures the full view from the blogger portal on the Second Street plywood...

Gone are the former Church of the Nativity, the church rectory and LaSalle Annex.

As previously reported, Gemini Rosemont Development has plans for an 11-story mixed-use building (100,568 square feet in total) on this soon-to-be-empty parcel. According to the approved new building work permit, the development will feature 88 residential units (likely condos given the square footage) and 9,600 square feet for retail. 

We haven't spotted any renderings out in the wild just yet.

In 2020, Gemini Rosemont bought the former La Salle annex at 38 Second Ave. and Second Street. The $14.5 million purchase of the four-story building was the third of three contiguous plots that they acquired. The Los Angeles-based commercial real estate investment company closed on 42-44 Second Ave. and 46-48 Second Ave. (the former Church of the Nativity) in March 2020 for $40 million. 

Updated: Here's a better view of the empty lot via Felton Davis...

Previously on EV Grieve:

• There are 8 million stories in the naked city... and this is one of them on 2nd Avenue 

• A look inside the soon-to-be-demolished Church of the Nativity on 2nd Avenue