Monday, July 30, 2012

Reader report: Flood causes damage to under-renovation 315 E. 10th St.


Neighbors were buzzing about the under-renovation 315 E. 10th St. last week... Jose Garcia tells us about the following that neighbors said happened last Wednesday...

"Just as they were putting the finishing touches on 315, there was a flood that apparently did a good amount of water damage on multiple floors to several of their brand new apartments. There were all kinds of cleaning-service vans around ..."

No word from the workers on the extent of the flood damage.

As you'll recall, the city OK'd a one-floor rooftop addition here in January hours before the Landmarks Preservation Committee approved the East 10th Street Historic District.

Developer Ben Shaoul has been converting the building from nonprofit use to residential.


Previously.

[Photos by Bobby Williams]

Today in Urban Bike Etiquette Signs: 'Stop being a dick'


EVG reader Ryan spotted this sign on Seventh Street in front of Big Bar this past weekend...

"Douche bag

Your bike is in the basement of 'big bar' because they are very kind. Stop being a dick + locking your bike to our bikes."

What the rent is for the former Luca Lounge space on Avenue B

I can't tell you exactly when the Luca Lounge closed on Avenue B between 13th Street and 14th Street... I'm guessing it was in April?

In any event, the space is for rent...


Happened to spot the listing at the Croman 9300 site... and it refers to the Luca Lounge as "legendary" ... which must explain why the asking rent is $19,995 dollars per month...


Meanwhile, the Luca Bar remains open on St. Mark's Place...

521-523 E. 12th St. sells for $10.9 million

On Friday, Eastern Consolidated reported that it "represented the seller and procured the purchaser in the sale of this 5-story, 40 unit walk-up apartment building" at 521-523 E. 12th St. The building between Avenue A and Avenue B was sold for $10.9 million.

According to public records, an entity called JMS Village LLC purchased the property from EL-LOU Holding Company. The JMS contact on the documents is Jack Avid, whose name came up in two Village Voice articles about SROs being converted to tourist-class buildings back in the late 1990s. You can find those articles here ... and here.

More noticeble progress at the incoming Ludlow Hotel

Back in the spring, work resumed at 180 Ludlow, a four-plus-years-in-the-making eyesore that will one day be the 20-story, 170-room Hotel Ludlow...

And there's noticeable progress at the site...

[Via @mCase513]

In October, Curbed reported that BD Hotels — the team involved with the Maritime, Chambers, Greenwich, Jane and Bowery hotels — bought the stalled site for $25 million.

We'll find out soon enough if the Lower East Side can absorb yet another hotel... another hotel that figures to be a nightlife destination ... and what impact the double-whammy of luxury with the Ludlow next door will have on surrounding businesses...

Anyway, for more on the drama background here, you can check out BoweryBoogie and The Lo-Down.

Sunday, July 29, 2012

Week in Grieview

[East Fourth Street. Photo by Bobby Williams]

'Heavy construction' promised for any remaining tenants of 50-58 E. Third St. (Thursday)

Dining at the IHOP at 4:15 a.m. (Monday)

Construction starts at the Mystery Lot! (Monday)

St. Mark's Bookshop crowdsourcing funds to move (Wednesday)

DOT removing bike racks on Astor Place (Tuesday)

Looking at short-term rentals on St. Mark's Place (Thursday)

170-174 E. Second St. hits the market for $16.5 million (Tuesday)

Demolition starts at the former Charles Theater on Avenue B (Thursday)

Looking at the East Village Brownstone on East 12th Street (Wednesday)

Two new restaurants open on Extra Place (Tuesday)

And photos galore from the derecho of the century.... here and here and here...

[Bobby Williams]

The poor, potential geyser got overlooked by the derecho! (Thursday)

[Updated] Perhaps the greatest missing bike flyer ever

[Click to enlarge image]

East 10th Street and Third Avenue last night via the Bagel Guy.

Per the sign, possibly a fake but still entertaining — "no reward."

"I don't even want this bike back. I just made these flyers to tell you that I hate you, bike thief. I hope you ride my bike without a helmet and get hit by a monster truck. I hope my bike takes you straight to Hell."

Updated:

Ah, so the sign is old... but apparently people are still putting them up... perhaps to help sell these T-shirts. Per the comments, the flyer is the work of David Shrigley.

When the shoe repair shop is closed


Drop-off service? Avenue C near Seventh Street.

(Just another) Saturday night on Avenue A...


At East Ninth Street... photo by Shawn Chittle.

Saturday, July 28, 2012

Hieroglyphs on Avenue B


A photo via Dave on 7th showing Sixth Street and Avenue B... now that Avenue B has been repaved, it's time to tear it up again...

Last weekend for Magic Fingers, Old Good Things on East 10th Street

This is the last weekend for Magic Fingers, Old Good Things, at 220 E. 10th St. (Between First Avenue and Second Avenue.) Earlier this summer, we reported that longtime East Village resident Susan Leelike was closing her 20-plus year-old shop ... she has sales on her vintage jewelry and collectibles.

She'll be open from 3-7 p.m.today and tomorrow.

Noted


Crazy Eddie notes that the testing truck is back on Avenue A this morning...

Brunch for preservation tomorrow

From the EV Grieve inbox...from the Lower East Side Preservation Initiative...

[Click image to enlarge]

Organizers say the benefit event is mostly for the meal and conversation ... though they will touch on some strategizing on preservation and landmarking in the East Village and Lower East Side moving forward... More details here.

Free today in Tompkins Square Park: 6th Annual New Village Music Festival


Check out the event website for more information...