A look at the development coming to 14th and C, now the subject of a lawsuit

[Photo from Saturday]

Last week, the Commercial Observer reported that Second Avenue Deli owner Jeremy Lebewohl filed a $10 million lawsuit alleging that his five-story residential building at 642 E. 14th St. sustained damages by the construction of the neighboring development.

Per the Observer:

Lebewohl claims in the Manhattan Supreme Court suit that Opal Holdings’ work on its 15-story mixed-use project still under development at 644 East 14th Street cracked the interior and exterior walls of Lebewohl’s 642 East 14th Street and caused metal doors inside to be inoperable.

The legal issues commenced when Opal began excavating and installing the foundation for its development, according to the suit filed on Jan. 22 [2019]. Opal tried to cut costs by driving the piles for the foundation too close to Lebewohl’s long-held residential building which damaged the wall and ceilings, the suit claims.

[Photo from Saturday]


[Photo from Saturday]

As previously reported (see the links at the bottom of this post), Opal Holdings picked up the parcel from the Rabsky Group in the summer of 2016 for $23 million. There are plans for a residential building with space for a health-care facility.


[The most recent rendering of the development]

There hasn't been much, if any, progress at this southwest corner of 14th Street and Avenue C. (There aren't any active Stop Order Orders on the project, per city records.) My last post on the site came in September 2017. At that time, crews were still working on the foundation. I walk by this corner several times a week, and I haven't seen any activity in more than a year.

Perhaps workers were combatting the elevated groundwater levels here that have impacted the other developments (here and here) along East 14th Street.

As for the new development, here's a rehash of the info I received on the project in September 2016:

Madison Realty Capital (MRC), an institutionally-backed real estate investment firm focused on real estate equity and debt investments in the middle markets, provided a $52.0 million first mortgage loan for the acquisition of a development site in the East Village and construction of an approved 76,259 square foot mixed use development on the site.

The plans for 644 East 14th Street include 50 residential units, 8,064 square feet of retail space with 200 feet of frontage on 14th Street and Avenue C, and 21,575 square feet of community facility space.

The property is located at the corner of 14th Street and Avenue C, along the Northern border of the East Village and directly across the street from Stuyvesant Town. Residential units will offer contemporary finishes and large balconies with East River views. The borrower is currently finalizing a lease with a major New York hospital to occupy the entire community facility portion of the new building.

This corner property next to Campos Plaza and across from the Con Ed plant previously housed the single-level R&S Strauss auto parts store, which closed in April 2009.

These two photos are from the fall of 2017...





Previously on EV Grieve:
Development back in play for East 14th Street and Avenue C

More details on the sale of 644 E. 14th St.

Here comes a 15-story retail-residential complex for East 14th Street and Avenue C

Prepping the former R&S Strauss auto parts store for demolition on East 14th Street and Avenue C

City OKs 15-story mixed-use retail-residential building on 14th and C

14th and C now waiting for the Karl Fischer-designed 15-story retail-residential complex

14th and C still waiting for its Karl Fischer-designed retail-residential complex

Report: New owners for the empty lot at 14th Street and Avenue C

Activity in the long-empty lot that will house 8 floors of condos on 1st Avenue

Workers yesterday removed the rotting plywood covering the long-empty lot at 75 First Ave. between Fourth Street and Fifth Street, as these photos by EVG reader Nat Esten show...



... and another photo via Yenta Laureate...



As we previously reported, this lot adjacent to Rite Aid, which has been empty for years, will be home to an 8-story building — featuring 22 residences in total. (No retail.)

Here's what the Colonnade Group has planned for the lot via their website:

Designed by HTO-Architect, the building will rise 8 stories and will stand out with its contemporary and timeless glassy structure. Comprised of 22 residential units, ranging from 1 to 3 bedroom condominiums, 75 I˚ AVE is the ultimate destination for New York sophisticated buyers looking for all the comforts of a high-end residence in a young and dynamic environment.

All of the units will benefit from a number of amenities, including Fitness Center, Lounge and Library, Private and Common Roof Deck, Storage, Bike Storage & Doorman.

We didn't spot any full renderings of the project... but the Colonnade website had this tease of an image...



Previously on EV Grieve:
Developer: A shorter building in the works now for 75 First Avenue

High-rise for 75 First Avenue back in play

Long-stalled First Avenue site now has a brand-new rendering

Report: Long-dormant 1st Avenue development site changes hands

Plywood report and the future of 75 1st Ave. (Spoiler: condos)

Plywood report and the future of 75 1st Ave. (Spoiler: condos)

An EVG reader shares the following about the plywood at the empty pit also known as 75 First Ave.:

I feel like this barrier on between Fourth Street and Fifth Street is going to collapse and flatten a child or small dog or old lady any moment now.

It even has crap leaning on it from the opposite side.

There is a complaint on file with the DOB from last October about the plywood, with the caller noting the fence "is in danger of collapsing." However, an inspector checked it out and said "site safe and secure." (The plywood did fall down during Sandy and Irene.)

Anyway, this reader query prompted us to take a look at this lot adjacent to Rite Aid. The space has been empty for years. There have been several variations of residential buildings in the works, but nothing ever materialized after nearly 11 years of efforts.

Last fall, Ozymandius Realty and Orange Management sold the property to the Colonnade Group for $12.9 million, as The Real Deal reported.

Now, here is info on what the Colonnade Group has planned for the lot via their website:

This striking cantilivered ground-up structure is located in the heart of the East Village, one of most exciting and vibrant neighborhoods.

Designed by HTO-Architect, the building will rise 8 stories and will stand out with its contemporary and timeless glassy structure. Comprised of 22 residential units, ranging from 1 to 3 bedroom condominiums, 75 I˚ AVE is the ultimate destination for New York sophisticated buyers looking for all the comforts of a high-end residence in a young and dynamic environment.

All of the units will benefit from a number of amenities, including Fitness Center, Lounge and Library, Private and Common Roof Deck, Storage, Bike Storage & Doorman.

Construction is anticipated to start at the beginning of 2016 and estimated completion is Fall 2017.

We didn't spot any full renderings of the project... but the Colonnade website had this tease of an image...



Also, a familiar name will be involved...

To clarify @trdny 's article, our 75 1st Avenue development will host 22 units and no retail. @RyanSerhant will handle sales and marketing

— Colonnade Group (@ColonnadeGrpNYC) October 7, 2015

Previously on EV Grieve:
Developer: A shorter building in the works now for 75 First Avenue

High-rise for 75 First Avenue back in play

Long-stalled First Avenue site now has a brand-new rendering

Report: Long-dormant 1st Avenue development site changes hands

Report: Long-dormant 1st Avenue development site changes hands

There's news about the long-dormant site on First Avenue adjacent to your favorite Rite Aid on East Fifth Street. After years of stops and starts and various renderings, the lot has been sold.

The legal wrangling is a little complicated. Here's some of it via The Real Deal, who first reported on the transaction:

Following a bitter internal battle for control of a long-stalled East Village development site, the owners have sold it to the Colonnade Group.

A group of partners including Ozymandius Realty and Orange Management closed last month on the $12.9 million sale of 75 First Avenue.

A rendering from 2007 showed a 14-floor development looking something like... (pre the the 2008 rezoning) ...

In April 2014, plans surfaced for an 8-story development that would look something like…



Per New York Yimby in April 2014:

Permits indicate the development will span 34,055 square feet, with the bulk of the project dedicated to residential use. 8,456 square feet will be given to ground-floor retail, while the remaining 25,599 square feet will be divided between 27 units. 75 First Avenue will stand 80 feet in total.

There aren't any details at the moment about what the Colonnade Group plans to do with the lot. The DOB previously approved the plans for the 8-story building.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Developer: A shorter building in the works now for 75 First Avenue

High-rise for 75 First Avenue back in play

Long-stalled First Avenue site now has a brand-new rendering

Lower East Side second in the city with 19 stalled developments; plus, Scott Stringer's plan for them

[Stalled site on Eighth Street and Avenue D]

From the EV Grieve inbox ...

Challenging New York to "turn sore spots into bright spots," Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer released a new report [yesterday morning], "Arrested Development: Breathing New Life into Stalled Construction Sites," which calls for a campaign to revitalize these sites — and their surrounding neighborhoods — with imaginative temporary uses.

The Borough President’s surveyed all 129 stalled construction sites in Manhattan and found that 37% had problems with litter; 60% had fencing that was in disrepair or vandalized, and half of the sites had sidewalk obstructions. New York may be living with these eyesores for several years, the study found, because even if the economy turned around today there would be a considerable lag time before construction resumed and was finally completed on all 646 of these stalled sites citywide.

His report calls for the city to to pass legislation that permits property owners and government to create temporary public spaces on private property. "New York should also streamline the approval process for private uses — such as farmers markets, cafes, and performing arts spaces — and pass legislation guaranteeing that such temporary uses will not remove previous approvals for the site."

Interesting ... though could this open the door for more douchebaggery? Stringer cited the Timeshare Backyard on Ludlow Street as a good example of this temporary usage. We only ever heard complaints (noise ... water) about this place, where, among other things, you could pay to spray a woman wearing a white T-shirt with a hose for entertainment.

But. Given the right idea... How about putting up a screen (or paint a wall) and have a weekly movie night...? Nothing mainstream. Find someone to curate the series. Show some John Cassavetes or something. You get the idea.

In any event, according to the report, Community District 3 — which includes the Lower East Side, Chinatown and the East Village — had the second-most number of stalled sites in the city with 19. (District 1, which includes Tribeca and Lower Manhattan, had the most with 20.)

Several of the stalled projects in this neighborhood are being, uh, unstalled, such as 75 First Avenue and 427 E. 12th St.

It's a comprehensive report, which you can find here...

Arrested Development: Breathing New Life Into Stalled Construction Sites