Plywood down on 2nd Avenue

Top photo by Steven; 2nd pic by Gabriel Sommer 

Emergency responders were spotted this morning on the NW corner of Second Avenue at Ninth Street... where the plywood along the under-renovation storefront apparently fell over onto the sidewalk ... likely due to the wind and rain...

There weren't any reports of injuries.

As previously mentioned, a fast-casual restaurant, Balkan StrEAT, was in the works for the space (the former Starbucks). We're not sure what the status of this project is. The site has been dormant recently, and the Balkan StrEAT on Sixth Avenue closed in October.

Double-decker plywood report

A quick trip to the SW corner of 14th Street and Third Avenue... where Pinch points out there's now double-decker plywood surrounding the single-level storefront... it looks as if workers are trying to replicate the Green Monster at Fenway Park...

As previously reported, workers are renovating the space for an outpost of the Gen Korean BBQ House chain.

[Updated] This afternoon in breaking breaking-down plywood news

Workers this afternoon are breaking down the remains of the plywood outside 118 E. First St. here at Houston... days after they removed the sidewalk bridge ... 

Look at all that sidewalk space that was behind the plywood!

The extended plywood has been here for three-plus years during the construction of the luxury 9-story condoplex at No. 118.

As noted, demolition of the former building at No. 118 started in May 2015. So that's seven years of work for this one project...

Updated 6:30 p.m.

More!

Packing up the plywood

After boarding up their storefronts last week at this time ahead of any possible election-relation unrest... businesses are now packing up the plywood. 

A reader shared this top photo from Target on 14th Street and Avenue A (where there was debate whether looting was hot or not).

And there's this from Second Avenue at Fourth Street... via @ColemansBandG...

Businesses along Broadway and the Bowery board up their windows ahead of Election Day

You've probably seen the news reports that some retailers across the country are boarding up their storefronts in anticipation of any potential unrest tied to the fallout from Election Day. (Per the Times: "For weeks, fears have grown that no matter who wins, the aftermath of the election could include unrest.") 

Businesses along Broadway near Astor Place and on the Bowery were among those putting up the plywood in the days before the election. Both corriders were vandalalized and looted in late May and early June at the beginning of the protests. (Here and here.) 

Here's a plywood report from early last evening ... in many cases, the businesses were open...

... and on the Bowery...

... and along East Houston between Avenue A and Avenue B... where the vacant storefronts at 250 E. Houston St. got the plywood treatment...

... Steven shared these photos from Second Avenue at Ninth Street ... as landlords have boarded up two empty spaces... the former Starbucks and Otto's Tacos... this corridor was also hard hit in late May...

Updated 10 a.m. 

Dave on 7th shared this from 14th Street and Avenue A...

H/T Lola Sáenz and Eden!

We'll always have the Mars Bar

The Brant Foundation, which has a state-of-the-art security system over on Sixth Street, put up some low-tech plywood this past week... as other properties did around the neighborhood ...



And the first message to arrive on the plywood (on the Seventh Street side between Avenue A and First Avenue): "I miss Mars Bar" with a frowny face...



Mars Bar closed on July 18, 2011, according to the tally marks on our wall.

Thursday's parting shot

On the Bowery this afternoon... a view of Avalon Bowery Place between Houston and First Street...

Plywood report: How neighborhood businesses are protecting their storefronts

[Photo by Steven]

After two nights marked by vandalism and break ins, business owners have been taking extra steps to protect their storefronts ... here's a small sampling ...



Target had their space on 14th Street and Avenue A boarded up on Sunday, which didn't prevent people from getting inside last night... appears that they added an extra layer of plywood...




[Photo by Steven]




[Photo by Steven]


[Photo by Steven]




[The former Gem Spa via Steven]

Some business owners are also using their gates to share supportive messages...


[Photo by Steven]


[Three Kings Tattoo on 10th Street]




[Photo by Lola Saénz]

The former Manitoba's space receives the plywood treatment on Avenue B

Workers yesterday put up a plywood front outside the former Manitoba's bar at 99 Avenue B ... something they did the previous day at the currently vacant space next door (East Side Ink moved from here to the adjacent storefront in early 2017) ...



One of the workers told EVG correspondent Steven, who took these photos, that they are renovating the exterior of the two empty storefronts. He didn't know about any possible new tenants.

A mystery applicant was on the CB3-SLA docket last October for the Manitoba's space, but they withdrew before the meeting.

Manitoba's closed here between Sixth Street and Seventh Street last June after 20 years in service.

P.S.

To recap, East Side Ink is open at 95 Avenue B, next door to their former home.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Manitoba's has closed

98 Favor Taste, now without the plywood on St. Mark's Place

Workers have removed the plywood here on St. Mark's Place at Second Avenue... offering the full reveal of the incoming 98 Favor Taste...



As noted back on Friday, the restaurant is from the operators behind the 99 Favor Taste restaurant in Sunset Park since 2011 ... and the Grand Street location since 2012.

The restaurants specialize in traditional Korean-style barbecue and Chinese hot pot meals.

Thanks to EVG Senior Plywood Correspondent Steven

Developers likely not thrilled by this pop-up rendering on the Bowery

[EVG photo from January]

Well, you know, a 13-story, 30,000 square-foot mixed-use residential development is in the works for 347 Bowery.

And someone, likely just a cheap Penistrator knockoff, saw fit to degrade the renderings on the plywood here at East Third Street by drawing a large [redacted].

Thankfully workers had painted over the offending doodle before any more harm could be done...



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

The week in the life of some plywood on Avenue B and East 7th Street

[Via Robert Miner]

Last Tuesday, the above plywood arrived on the corner of Avenue B and East Seventh Street ... outside Amaran, the home-goods store that is closing soon ...

Work permits pointed to something about: "ENCLOSE A SMALL PORTION OF THE EXTERIOR WALL."

By Thursday, there was a partial stop work order. "THE SIDEWALK SHED ALLOWS 19 INCHES OF PASSAGE. IT WRAPS AROUND THE BUILDING AND WAS TO ONLY BE ON 7 ST. ONE INCH SCREW ARE STICKING OUT OF THE PLYWOOD."

OK. On Friday, workers arrived to move the plywood off the sidewalk...

Now, perhaps, all is well.

As for Amaran, they have the misfortune of looking as if they're already closed. The store's last day isn't until Jan. 27, per the homemade signs on the plywood...