10th Street tree freed from death by concrete

311 worked!

On July 6, we noted that a tree outside 85 E. 10th St. between Third Avenue and Fourth Avenue was entombed in concrete. 

EVG reader Ron, who shared the initial tip and the photo above, saw workers remove the concrete from the tree well on Wednesday. One of the workers said the building had received a fine.

As a reminder... from the NYC Department of Parks & Recreation website... in the tree pit section: 

A city tree must battle many urban hazards daily — from air pollution and bicycles to dogs and people. In addition to above-ground threats, tree roots also must contend with tough below-ground conditions. A tree pit or lawn strip provides limited space for these forest giants, and this soil is a tree's only source of nutrients. Because of this, it is essential to create as nurturing a tree pit as possible. 

Previously on EV Grieve: 

• What's the 311? How East Village residents can effectively file complaints

Reader report: 2 more entombed trees

EVG readers shared intel on two other entombed neighborhood trees after this post from Monday.

The top photo is from outside 85 E. 10th St. between Third Avenue and Fourth Avenue (thanks, Ron!). 

The tree is surrounded by a halo that reveals about an inch of soil.

 

The shot below is from outside 202 E. 13th St., just east of Third Avenue. It shows a tree pit complete with plastic greenery to give the concrete base a 99-cent store look.

From the NYC Department of Parks & Recreation website... in the tree pit section: 

A city tree must battle many urban hazards daily — from air pollution and bicycles to dogs and people. In addition to above-ground threats, tree roots also must contend with tough below-ground conditions. A tree pit or lawn strip provides limited space for these forest giants, and this soil is a tree's only source of nutrients. Because of this, it is essential to create as nurturing a tree pit as possible.

These 2 East Village trees are still entombed in concrete

We've heard from several EVG readers about these two tree pits... the top one is outside 521 E. Fifth St. between Avenue A and Avenue B. We mentioned it on May 7, and multiple readers said they called 311 about the entombed tree. 

Meanwhile, building management maintains that this has reduced the rat population. 

Elsewhere, there's another soon-to-be-dead tree outside 47 E. First St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue, a spot that residents said they have reported to the city.

Any others to report?

Reader report: Why were our new trees canceled?

From the EVG inbox...

I live on Third Street between First Avenue and Second Avenue and we were so excited when the city posted we'd be getting two new trees on our block. But [last Thursday], our dreams were crushed when someone came and filled in the two freshly dug tree holes with cement again! I tried calling 311 but to no avail. Does anyone have an idea what happened to get our trees canceled? 

The reader is curious if any block associations or community gardens have had something similar happen.

Elsewhere, a reader points out that this tree well outside 521 E. Fifth St. between Avenue A and Avenue B has been inexplicably filled in with cement...

Reader report: A single-car crash on Clinton takes down a light pole

There were reports of a single-car crash this morning (around 7) on Clinton Street between Stanton and Houston. 

EVG reader Miriam Abrahams came across the scene shortly after the driver of the Volvo — for unknown reasons — veered into the bike lane and crashed into a light pole, which sent it to the sidewalk...

There was an initial report on the Citizen app that a person was "trapped underneath a pole after an auto-collision." There weren't any follow-up alerts. 

It also appeared that the car slammed into a pile of trash bags before striking the pole.

A search of the car's license plate revealed a variety of recent traffic offenses...

As of 09:46:57 AM EDT on October 19, 2022:

Violations by year for #NY_KPT3966:

2 | 2021
9 | 2022

— How's My Driving NY (@HowsMyDrivingNY) October 19, 2022

As of 09:46:57 AM EDT on October 19, 2022:

Known fines for #NY_KPT3966:

$1,410.33 | Fined
$1.37 | Reduced
$1,408.96 | Paid
$0.00 | Outstanding

— How's My Driving NY (@HowsMyDrivingNY) October 19, 2022

Reader report: It's 'rats galore' at this long-empty 1st Avenue lot

An EVG reader shared an email with the subject line: "New tenants for 89 1st Ave?"

A bit of a misleading title, but it's rats, rats and rats galore. This "fence" (especially in quotes compared to the former grand one) is an invitation for garbage dumping, and the rat situation in the courtyards behind the building is dire. 

This is just the sidewalk; the lot is a mess. Do readers have suggestions or tips for how to get the lot better secured from dumping and trespassing? Or who to call to come to issue a fine? Or how to get this turned into a community garden for the time being? It's only been what, 40-plus years?!

There are development plans here ... last May,  another set of new building permits were filed with the city for the lot between Fifth Street and Sixth Street. 

According to the DOB, the proposed building is six floors with eight residential units and ground-floor retail. In total, the structure is 8,183 square feet. The project is still awaiting approval.

This is the second time in recent years that plans have been filed for a new building for the address. In 2017, the city never approved plans for a similar-sized structure — eight units, six floors.

As previously reported, Florence Toledano was the owner of this lot. In 2013, public records show that the deed for the property was transferred from the Florence Toledano Living Trust to 89 First Avenue LLC. The DOB permit lists Daniel Toledano as the manager of the property. (We do not know the relationship between Daniel Toledano and Florence Toledano. One reader said Daniel is a nephew of Florence.)

Daniel Toledano is still listed as the property owner and developer of the project. (Toledano is also listed as the owner of the lot that housed the 2Bn2C sculpture garden at 231 E. Second St. between Avenue B and Avenue C. More on that space in another post.)

In December 2017, workers dismantled the sculpture fence that had lined the First Avenue lot for years (since the late 1980s, per one estimate). The fence was created at the former Gas Station (aka Art Gallery Space 2B) on Avenue B and Second Street by Claire Kalemkeris and Johnny Swing in collaboration with Linus Coraggio.


[EVG photo from 2017]

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

• Drilling and soil testing commence at the long-empty lot at 89 1st Ave.

• Workers remove the sculpture fence and prep lot at 89 1st Ave.