Opossum where art thou?

The (an?) opossum was spotted traipsing around Tompkins Square Park again today... (this time without a plastic bag) ... Steven shared these photos...









... while EVG regular Cheyenne passed along these shots...







To date, the opossum doesn't have a name/branding/Instagram presence. Found a website that generates opossum names...



Other favorites so far from the generator have been Rasta Jenny Ju, Nicodemus Punch Sugarpop and Parachute ChingChing Yanoonoo.

EV Grieve Etc.: Robber hits 2nd Avenue TD Bank; Veselka featured in 'Ocean's 8' trailer

[Lion running wild on the L train platform today via Grant Shaffer]

Remembering sword swallower Johnny Fox, proprietor of the Freakatorium on Clinton Street (The Lo-Down)

Nick Zedd, who spearheaded the Cinema of Transgression film movement in the 1980s while living in the East Village, is currently fighting eviction in Mexico City. (Page Six ... previously)

NYC added 25 miles of new protected bike lanes in 2017 (Curbed)

Man makes off with $1,900 from the TD Bank on Second Avenue at First Street (Patch ... B+B)

Fire destroys apartment at 287 Avenue C in Stuy Town (Town & Village)

Developers of 88-unit apartment building at 255 E. Houston St. score $40 million loan (Commercial Observer ... previously)

Veselka featured in "Ocean's 8" trailer debut (The New York Times ... previously) And an ode to the restaurant (Guest of a Guest)

New York medical marijuana activist Dana Beal pleads not guilty to two pot charges in California (Daily News)

Thoughts on the "Gentrify This" mural outside Rag & Bone (Flaming Pablum)

Last show of the year for Hedda Lettuce at the Village East Cinema tomorrow night: "Auntie Mame" (Official site)

If you're a fan of the Lincoln Plaza Cinema (Jeremiah's Vanishing New York)

... and the washer-dryer combo is no longer with us at 10th and B...

@evgrieve it’s gone. Who knows where who knows when... pic.twitter.com/tQ0qv5fg8X

— EdenBrower (@edenbrower) December 20, 2017

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

[Photo yesterday by Goggla]

Workers yesterday dismantled the sculpture fence that had lined the empty lot for years (since the late 1980s, per one estimate) here on First Avenue between Fifth Street and Sixth Street.

As I understand it, 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. (In an email, Coraggio said that he wanted to salvage the fence and place it in the Kenkeleba Sculpture Garden on Third Street between Avenue B and Avenue C where more of his work is on display.)

For now, it appears that at least one section of the fence is lying inside the lot...


[Photo by EVG reader Mona]

Aside from removing the fence, workers — once again — cleared out some of the weeds in the space.



Plans were filed in the spring with the city for a 6-floor building. According to the pre-filing info at the DOB, the building will house eight dwelling units in nearly 7,400 square feet of space. The nearly 1,000 square feet per unit suggests condos. There's another 900 square feet listed for the ground-floor storefront. (The city has yet to approve these permits.)

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.) Andrew Fredman is listed as the architect of record for the new building.

In recent weeks the fence had started to sag... there was an opening in the front...


[Photo from Sunday]

It looked as if someone or something rammed the fence...


[Photo from Sunday]

And someone had written a lyric from "Chinese Rocks" back in the summer...



Updated 5:30 p.m.

EVG reader Rik Rocket shared this photo of the new fence going in...



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

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

Permits filed for 6-story building in long-empty lot at 89 1st Ave.


[Photo from 2014]

Hotel Tortuga, now with morning espresso service on 14th Street

[Photo from Monday morning]

Back in October, Hotel Tortuga temporarily closed as new ownership took over the Mexican restaurant on 14th Street between Second Avenue and Third Avenue.

Hotel Tortuga reopened in early November with Lance Marlo, who previously operated Luna Espresso on the Upper East Side, as the new owner. He bought Hotel Tortuga from David and Jean LaPointe. (The LaPointes opened Tortuga here in 2010. They also ran Curly's Vegetarian Lunch one block to the east on 14th Street until the end of 2011.)

"We still have the same menu, serve breakfast all day, carry vegan, vegetarian and traditional meat options. There may be possible menu changes in the near future as per the new owners," Idalja, the manager, told me. (The previous staff remains as well.)

They also still offer the $7.95 lunch special from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. ...



One change: Hotel Tortuga has a new La Marzocco espresso machine and are open in the mornings for some espresso drinks ...

A post shared by Hotel Tortuga (@hoteltortuganyc) on Dec 15, 2017 at 11:38am PST

Hotel Tortuga is also awaiting a new liquor license. You can get a Mexican Coca-Cola in the meantime though.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Hotel Tortuga, under new management, will reopen soon still as Hotel Tortuga

How many East Village properties do the Kushner Cos. actually own?

[Compilation of Kushner-owned EV buildings from 2013]

Bloomberg delves into the Manhattan properties owned by Kushner Cos., including a large number in the East Village. In an article published yesterday, Bloomberg finds that, in 60 percent of the properties, the Kushners own less than half of each; in nearly half, they own less than 20 percent.

One estimate puts the number of Kushner-owned East Village buildings at 31. (Only Steve Croman reportedly owns more East Village buildings.)

So who actually owns these properties?

[T]he vast majority of the money behind the purchases didn’t belong to [Jared] Kushner or his family. Rather, it came from an obscure Israel-based company called Gaia Investments Corp. and related entities. Gaia has almost no public profile in New York real estate. Its principals have held roles in enterprises owned by the diamond-trading Steinmetz family, with close ties to Raz Steinmetz, the nephew of billionaire Beny Steinmetz.

A 2015 deal for 16 apartment buildings had a similar structure. Again, the Kushners were publicly credited with the acquisition, and again, most of the money belonged to someone else. The investors in this case, not previously reported, were C-III Capital Partners, a Texas-based asset manager run by Andrew Farkas...

From 2012 to 2015, Kushner Cos. purchased more than 40 Manhattan apartment buildings that they still own. In at least 80 percent of them, they’re minority partners to well-heeled investors.

Bloomberg notes that it's not unusual for landlords/developers to be minority owners of their properties or projects, serving instead as the public face for behind-the-scenes investors.

However, there's some concern in this case for the company, previously run by current White House adviser Jared Kushner.

Per Bloomberg:

The finding that the company is most often a junior owner heightens concern over conflicts-of-interest a year after Kushner entered the White House. As his family has hunted for investors overseas in countries as far-flung as China and Saudi Arabia, many inside and outside of government worry about the potential for quid-pro-quos — public policy driven by private business. In the partnerships where the Kushner Cos. have minor stakes, there’s pressure to make returns for the investors who put up most of the money.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Inside a classic East Village tenement before the whole building is renovated

Jared Kushner not done buying every walk-up in the East Village

Tenants claim: Kushner and Westminster want to destroy this building's beautiful garden

Reports outline how Kushner Companies is aggressively trying to empty 170-174 E. 2nd St.

Local politicos join residents of 2 Jared Kushner-owned buildings to speak out about poor living conditions, alleged harassment

Jared Kushner's residents at 118 E. 4th St. would like gas for cooking and some heat

Jared Kushner's East Village tenants wish he'd resolve issues closer to home

A visitor

An unknown juvenile red-tailed hawk paid a visit to Tompkins Square Park this afternoon... the juvenile hung around for a few hours taking in the sights ... Steven shared these photos...






[Photo by Bobby Williams]


[Photo by Cheyenne]

Later, a blue jay started dive bombing the juvenile, who didn't seem to mind...

Santa tracker

14th Street and Avenue A this morning via Edmund John Dunn...

Paquito's Restaurant closing after 25 years on 1st Avenue; take out and delivery will remain

[Image via Google Maps]

Paquito’s will shut down its restaurant and bar at 143 First Ave. near Ninth Street after service on Dec. 30. This news was first announced on the Paquito’s Facebook page.

However, fans of the usually-reliable Mexican restaurant can take some solace in that Paquito's will maintain a to-go counter and delivery service in the space next door to the restaurant.

The owners didn't provide a reason for the closure, offering: "It has truly been a pleasure to serve the East Village for all these years. Please feel free to visit our Take-Out & delivery next door which will continue to serve our same great tasting food."

Paquito's opened in 1992. Their location on Third Avenue between 16th Street and 17th Street closed several years ago.

Thanks to EVG reader Susan for the tip!

Westside Market opening in the former Met Foods space on 3rd Avenue and 17th Street

[Photo by Harry Weiner]

Westside Market is opening a new location on Third Avenue near 17th Street. (H/T EVG reader Harry Weiner!)

The signage points to a spring opening...



The retail space has been for lease since the longtime Met Foods closed in the spring of 2015.

This is an interesting spot for Westside, the family owned mini chain of markets. The Westside opened in the East Village on Third Avenue and 12th Street in October 2014. Two locations within five blocks?

The Westside location on Broadway near 77th Street closed last month, per the West Side Rag. (As they reported, "the issue was not a rent hike, but [the landlord's] rejection of a plan by Westside Market to rent the available adjacent space.")

This location will be the fifth for Westside.



Previously on EV Grieve:
The Met Foods on 3rd Avenue in Gramercy Park is closing

Icon's 9th Street townhouse now available for $17 million

At last look, the two units at Icon Realty's 327 E. Ninth St. were on the market for $30,000 per month.

Now though, the entire 7-level townhouse is for sale with an asking price of $17 million.

Per the listing:

This newly constructed 20’ wide townhouse is being offered for sale in its entirety. It is comprised of 2 stunning residences totaling 8,323 square feet with an additional 1,600 square feet of private outdoor space and an adjoined heated private garage (capable of fitting any sized SUV).

The townhouse, as constructed, can easily be used as a single residence or a 2-family home.

Designed by Isaac & Stern Architects with interiors by Paris Forino, this brand-new building was designed with a traditional limestone facade that stands as a new classic. Utilizing modern finishes that establish a new contemporary elegance, this home raises the benchmark for luxury living in the East Village.

The townhouse — nearly five years in the making — is at the site of a former parking lot here between First Avenue and Second Avenue.

Previously on EV Grieve:
The big dig begins for 6-story, 2-unit condo on East 9th Street

East Ninth Street parking lot will yield to 6-floor residential building

A look at Icon Realty's 9th Street building where the rentals are $30k a month