[Updated] Reader report: Fire in the Union Square subway stop

There are reports of a fire in the Union Square subway stop... no word how extensive this might be... possibly contained to one small area on the south side of East 14th Street outside the Duane Reade ... am posting tweets/photos as people post them to Twitter...

@evgrieve what's with the fire at union sq subway station? I saw flames come up through the grates on the sidewalk!
— Meredith Franks (@mfranks715) July 20, 2012

Fuck, something on fire in Union Square & it's rumbling & who knows what all. Anyone know scoop? Either way, I'm outta here!
— Patty Garcia (@opattyg) July 20, 2012

Union Square subway entrance on 14th and Union Sq E is basically on fire & making exploding noises.
— Remington Tonar (@remtonar) July 20, 2012

Fire in the subway station at Union Square. Walked out through tons of nasty smoke! Hooray!
— Megan (@meganlibrarian) July 20, 2012

[@geri]

[@daviddellamura]

Updated 1:17 p.m.:

Per a witness: "Word on the street is electrical converter on fire underground at Union Square."

[@1pinkdaisy]

[@natashafrakes]

[@SanaAndTheCity]

[@sefgray]

Major subway wire transformer explosion at Union Square just happened abt 15 min ago. ConEd and emergency at the scene #BreakingNews #NYC

— Sarah Sobel (@SarahSobel) July 20, 2012

Updated 2:49 p.m.

Per Gothamist: "Con Ed says the fire at Union Square is out, and was caused by 'failure of electrical cables.'"

Week in Grieview

[Photo on 6th Street near 1st Avenue]

Stories posted on EVG this past week included...

The FDNY remembers fire marshal Christopher T. Zanetis on 2nd Street (Thursday)

Residential rentals at the former Amato Opera on the Bowery start at $10,995 (Tuesday)

Baci e Vendetta has closed on Avenue A: 'it simply wasn't sustainable' (Monday)

Onetime home of Lucky Cheng's and adjacent property sell for $12 million (Thursday)

'Freak water problem' KOs Veselka till Monday (Friday)

8-story residential building underway in this empty 9th Street lot (Thursday)

Permits filed for Sunshine Cinema-replacing boutique office building (Friday)

Atino Eyewear Optical now open on 7th Street (Wednesday)

Benny's Burritos & Empanadas will not be reopening on 7th Street (Thursday)

A look at the former Streit’s Matzo Factory (Friday)

Mandolino Pizzeria has closed on 13th Street (Wednesday)

Double Wide signs off after 7 years on 12th Street (Thursday)

Jillery is closing on 7th and B (Friday)

Last weekend for Three of Cups (Friday)

... and Shawn Chittle shared this photo from last night at the Three of Cups Lounge...



On 14th Street, Evergreen Cleaners closing, merging with Wash N Clean (Tuesday)

Club Cumming temporarily suspends live music (Monday)

The OTB parlor-bank branch post that you've been waiting for (Wednesday)

'Night mayor' Ariel Palitz holds her 1st public meeting (Tuesday)

Hot Box bringing soup noodles to 2nd Avenue (Tuesday)

Restaurant in the works for former Golden Food Market on 1st Avenue and 7th Street (Monday)

Report: Cherche Midi looks to be closing on the Bowery (Monday)

The Subway (sandwich shop) isn't returning next to the McDonald's on 1st Avenue (Thursday)

... and it was a good week to track this witch's hat on Seventh Street...







And it has not been seen here since Friday...

---

Follow EVG on Instragram or Twitter

Stuyvesant Grocery returning to East 14th Street

EV Grieve reader LvV brings good news for fans of Stuyvesant Grocery, the deli on East 14th Street and Avenue A that a fire destroyed in May 2010. Per LvV: "Stuyvesant Grovery is back, albeit in smaller form, but it is back. The guys are working on the old locksmith place on the southside of 14th between 1st and A, right next to Petopia."

Now if we can just get a new location nearby for Pete's-a-Pizza... And anyone know what happened to the locksmith-hardware place?

Previously on EV Grieve:
Conspiracies: What next for 14th Street and Avenue A?

Renovations in order for Stuyvesant Grocery and Pete's-A-Place?

Week in Grieview

Posts this past week included (with a photo of Ruckus Interruptus playing the excellent Ninth Street block party yesterday... photo by Derek Berg)...

• Report of a 2-alarm fire at 11-13 Avenue D (Tuesday) 

• Remembering East Village artist M. Henry Jones (Wednesday)

• Astor Wines & Spirits has new owners — its employees (Tuesday) 

• City unveils Adela Fargas Way in honor of Casa Adela's legendary founder (Friday ... Saturday)

• Green days: 6&B Garden program teaching East Village kids how to garden and cook (Thursday) 

• Good Beer is closing (Monday) 

• What is the city planning for the multipurpose courts in Tompkins Square Park? (Wednesday)

• Compilation Coffee debuts on St. Mark's Place (Thursday) 

• Jo's Tacos coming to 14th Street (Monday) 

• The state of this Stuyvesant Street retail space (Thursday) 

• A full reveal at Zero Irving on 14th Street (Monday) 

• These cats need a home (Thursday) 

• The pre-dawn Moon in Taurus (Thursday) 

• A new broker for 44 Avenue A (Tuesday) 

• J. Crew signage official a day before its grand opening on the Bowery (Monday) 

• Signs of fall: the Feast of San Gennaro is underway (Thursday) 

• Thursday's parting SERVE (Thursday) 

• Full reveal at 15 Avenue A (Wednesday) 

• City removes the outdoor dining structure from Pardon My French on Avenue B (Friday) 

...  and after nearly seven weeks of rent-free business while parked on Sixth Street at Avenue A, the Mo' Eats truck disappeared on Wednesday...

... though it was spotted again Saturday morning not too far away...

---

Follow EVG on Instagram or Twitter for more frequent updates and pics.

A look at last night's damage along 2nd Avenue

Yesterday's mostly peaceful protests turned ugly last night, as demonstrators broke windows along Second Avenue and Broadway, and set fire to multiple police vehicles around Union Square.

Citywide, NBC 4 reported that 345 people were arrested and 33 police officers injured as the protestors and cops clashed late night around several different hotspots, including Union Square.

Along Second Avenue between Houston and 14th Street, windows of each bank branch were smashed ... as well as at the Verizon store and Urban Outfitters. Bus stops and LinkNYC kiosks were also vandalized. In addition, trash cans were upturned and tossed into Second Avenue. There were also reports of several mattress fires ...
















[Photo by Steven]


[TD Bank at 1st Street via Stacie Joy]

Smaller businesses were also hit: The front windows were broken at Kona Coffee and Company between Third Street and Fourth Street, The Gray Mare between Third Street and Fourth Street, Plant Food & Wine at Fourth Street, Cooper's Craft & Kitchen at Fifth Street, Le Fournil Bakery at Seventh Street and B&H between Seventh Street and St. Mark's Place.

The protests, which took place in all five boroughs, were in response to the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis while in police custody.




[St. Mark's Place]

Reader report: A mini return of the former Stuyvesant Market on 14th Street and Avenue A?

Last month, we told you that a "deli & grocery" is in the works for the southwest corner of 14th Street and Avenue A. 

Turns out that you may spot some familiar faces here one day: A tipster tells us that employees from the former Stuyvesant Market that was on the southeast corner of 14th Street and Avenue A are behind this new venture. (They've been working at another deli these recent years, per the tipster.)

As you may recall, Stuyvesant Market, as well as several other businesses, burned down in May 2010. According to published reports, the fire started at Pete's-a-Pizza, where a welder was working on a fire-access door.

The shell of the storefronts remained empty... and eventually Extell's EVGB development arrived, where the Target sits in the corner space where the market once stood.

As for the under-renovation storefront (currently paused due to a Stop Work Order), Dion Cleaners held down this corner for 35 years ... until this past November.

H/T Michael Paul!

Time to rent at EVGB, where studios ('lofts') start at $3,695

Extell Development's EVGB — the "East Village's Greatest Building" — is now renting at 510 E. 14th St. and Avenue A.

The listings went live on Monday, as Curbed first noted.

In total, there are 110 market-rate rentals here. And "market rate" is apparently $3,695 for a large studio (called "lofts" at the EVGB website). The largest units, with three bedrooms, are asking $12,425.

Here's the description of a two-bedroom unit ($7,455) via Streeteasy:

Make yourself at home in this north facing split two bedroom, two bathroom residence. 412 features generous living space, multiple walk-in closets, and an in-unit Bosch washer/dryer. for entertaining and relaxing. The huge open kitchen is outfitted with Miele and Bosch appliances, Cosentino Silestone Quartz countertops and backsplash, and unique wood and glass cabinets with gunmetal pulls. The four-fixture master bathroom includes a walk-in shower with blackened steel and fluted glass door and double vanity. Both bathrooms feature Porcelanosa tile and Kohler and Wetstyle fixtures. This apartment is finished with hardwood white oak flooring.

Each unit also includes an Alexa home interface for easy Alexa-ing. ("Alexa, how much is $12,425 divided by eight?")

Here's a view of the back of the building, showing the various balconies and the garden units...



Building amenities include an indoor saltwater pool, a bi-level fitness center, a children’s playroom, and a 19,000-square-foot roof deck with bocce, a putting green, a yoga lawn, a wet bar, fire pits and more things to perhaps inspire 13th Street residents who live behind here to call 311.



As you can see, the EVGB site is working hard to appeal to would-be renters... (The "Mmm ... carbs" cartoon cupcake, like)...



EVGB has an Instragram account too... the first one is a puzzler: "East Village will have you Going Back for more again, and again, and again...donuts are just the beginning of what the vibrant neighborhood has to offer."

Anyway!

East Village will have you Going Back for more again, and again, and again...donuts are just the beginning of what the vibrant neighborhood has to offer. #evgb #rentevgb #eastvillage #luxuryrentals #nycrealestate #nyre #realestate #donuts #dessert #eeeeeats #treatyoself #dessert #newyorkcity #newyorker #newyork #vsco

A post shared by EVGB (@rentevgb) on Mar 6, 2018 at 3:16pm PST

All this talk about "East Village's Greatest Building” makes us want to break it down.... #evgb #rentevgb #eastvillage #luxuryrentals #nycrealestate #nyre #realestate #popart #dancing #hipster #vsco #art #artistsoninstagram #colors #milliondollarlisting #eastvillagenyc #newyorknewyork #newyork_ig #newyork #newyorkcity

A post shared by EVGB (@rentevgb) on Mar 1, 2018 at 5:03pm PST

Forecast says - sunny days ahead on the 17,000-square-foot sky deck. Rent EVGB now; your summer-self will thank you later. 🌞🌞🌞 #evgb #rentevgb #eastvillage #luxuryrentals #nycrealestate #nyre #realestate #skydeck #rooftop #grilling #sun #views #nycviews #vsco #popart #newyork_ig #luxurylisting #milliondollarlisting #newyork #newyorker #newyorkstyle #colors #classy #sunnydays

A post shared by EVGB (@rentevgb) on Feb 28, 2018 at 2:36pm PST

Move ins at EVGB start in April.

And as previously reported, part of the retail space in this building will house the small-format Target store. Which someone already tagged.


[Photo from Tuesday]

Extell's other new building on the block toward Avenue B is currently accepting applications for middle-income units.

Previously on EV Grieve:
New 7-floor buildings for East 14th Street include 150 residential units

Target offers details about its flexible-format store opening summer 2018 on 14th and A

The disappearing storefronts of East 14th Street

Extell's new development at 524 E. 14th St. launches lottery for 50 affordable units

[Updated] Transformer fire at the ConEd Plant

Several readers have said they see black smoke from somewhere in the East Village ... another reader says there is a huge FDNY presence at the ConEd plant on East 14th Street.

Anyone?

EV Grieve reader Crazy Eddie just sent us some photos...

[Updated]

DNAinfo is on the scene. Per their report:

A transformer fire broke out at a Con Edison substation in the East Village Wednesday afternoon, FDNY and utility officials said.

The fire broke out at the power station on East 14th Street and Avenue D at roughly 2:19 p.m., the FDNY said.

No injuries were immediately reported, fire officials said.

Con Ed workers were also responding to the blaze, a spokesman said.

While no power outages had been reported, some customers may have noticed their lights flicker, reflecting a dip in voltage, according to a Con Ed spokesman.

Anyone's power out?

Post-fire updates on 1st Avenue

[Photo yesterday by Steven]

District 2 City Council member Carlina Rivera's office posted this information this morning on the state of affairs after yesterday's six-alarm fire at 188 First Ave.

Via Facebook:

Our thoughts remain with the residents affected by yesterday's fire in the East Village. Though the incident centered on 188 First Ave, adjacent buildings were evacuated as well. The blaze was persistent, smoldering into Wednesday evening. We thank our brave first responders for their work yesterday and in the days to come: New York City Fire Department (FDNY), NYPD 9th Precinct, the American Red Cross in Greater New York, Con Edison, and NYC Environmental Protection.

INJURIES
Thankfully, no fatalities or life-threatening injuries.

TENANTS
188 First Avenue remains vacated until further notice.
186 First Avenue is cleared for re-occupancy today.
190 First Avenue is cleared for re-occupancy today.

Landlords or the Red Cross have relocated most residents to hotels. Agencies are doing their best to get tenants back in their homes. If you still require emergency housing assistance, call the Red Cross at (212) 875-2301.

SCHOOLS AFFECTED
PS 19, East Side Community High School, and Girls Prep are all re-opened. Thanks to principals and staff for jumping into action, and to parents and students for their patience.

BUSINESSES
All businesses can re-enter their premises except for those located at 188 First Avenue. If you have a business on the block affected by the incident, please reach out to NYC SBS at (212) 618-8810.

TRAFFIC
Aside from emergency vehicles placed on the east side of the block, vehicular traffic has resumed on First Ave. All side streets will re-open today.

OTHER NOTES
Madina Masjid has reopened on a normal schedule; FDNY will keep one mobile unit at the scene until further notice; Thanks to NYC Emergency Management, New York City Council Staff, NYC SBS, DOE, DOB, NYC Mayor's Office, Assembly Member Harvey Epstein, state Senator Brad Hoylman and LES Ready - Long Term Recovery Group for their support; and special thanks to 14th Street Y for offering assistance from the get-go.

You can always call our office at 212-677-1077 with questions. We will continue to provide updates to residents and the community as needed.

Several readers/residents asked about any crowdfunding campaigns for the displaced residents. I haven't heard of any just yet.

And these photos from today via Steven show some business on the block between 11th Street and 12th Street back open, including Atomic Wings...





Previously on EV Grieve:
Watch this drone footage of the fire at 188 1st Ave.

[Updated] Police barricades continue sad existence on Avenue B Open Streets

Readers continue to note the sad state of the Open Street concept on Avenue B between Sixth Street and 14th Street. Since the last post on Friday, the police barricades meant to block off the Avenue to through traffic from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. aren't faring so well.

The barricade was smashed and discarded on Ninth and B. The one at Eighth Street is hanging on...



The one at Seventh Street was clipped by a fire truck this weekend...





And someone dragged one of the pieces about 50 yards to the east on Seventh Street...



And at Sixth Street...



The city announced the Open Street plan in late May to help residents safely get some fresh air while social distancing.

Updated 1 p.m.

Via the 9th Precinct...

Thanks for the calls and messages regarding the barriers on Avenue B needing to be replaced to ensure safety while the open space is being utilized. The replacement should be up today. Thanks for your patience!#EastVillage #NYC pic.twitter.com/08NKtxE3QK

— NYPD 9th Precinct (@NYPD9Pct) June 21, 2020

Week in Grieview

[Photo on Astor Place by Derek Berg]

Posts from this past week included...

What is happening at Gem Spa? (Tuesday)

The 14th Street busway debuts on July 1 (Wednesday)

Amelia and Christo's 2nd 2019 chick dies (Tuesday)

A visit to Zadie's Oyster Room on 12th Street (Wednesday)

Q&A with the director of the short film "Deborah Harry Does Not Like Interviews" (Friday)

Supper's 1970s-style subway-car look on 2nd Street (Tuesday)

Report: Former Hells Angels HQ will become 22-unit residential building with retail (Monday)

A look at 131 1st Ave., currently being divided into 3 retail spaces (Tuesday)

Tree Bistro returns, though without the garden space for now (Friday)

Last weekend for Miscelanea NY (Friday)

Tai Thai is back in action (Wednesday)

183 Avenue B will be demolished for a new 8-story residential building (Thursday)

Going 'Ape' over this gate at the East Village Vintage Collective (Monday)

Reader report: "marauding drunks" kill young tree on 7th Street (Thursday)

#NoKidsInCages spotted on 2nd Avenue (Wednesday)

Bike lane paint returning to 1st Avenue (Monday)

Taking a seat for social change in Tompkins Square Park (Thursday)

Ray's Candy Store the setting for one of these "East Side Stories" at the Metropolitan Playhouse (Friday)

"Sayonara, Bitches" — about the last show at Art on A Gallery (Thursday)

Joe’s Steam Rice Roll debuts on St. Mark's Place (Monday)

Ravi DeRossi bringing Indian cuisine to his former Fire & Water space on 7th Street (Wednesday)

Roll up for the Magical Mystery Tour at Tompkins Square Park (Sunday)

Signage is up for Auriga Cafe on Avenue A (Monday)

Gabriel Stulman seeking sidewalk cafe license for Great Jones Cafe replacement The Jones (Monday)

Squish Marshmallows only taking appointments for the summer (Wednesday)

Jin Kitchen and Bar closes on 3rd Avenue (Thursday)

Farewell to the leaning tree of 3rd Street (Tuesday)

Blue Bottle Coffee now open on Astor Place (Monday)

Whiteout at the former Sidewalk (Monday)

... and that is NOT a new logo for Trader Joe's at the retailer's space coming to 432 E. 14th St. ...



---

Follow EVG on Instragram or Twitter.

Week in Grieview

Posts this past week included (with a construction notice on 2nd Avenue) ...

• Reader report: Private security firm now keeping tabs on unhoused encampment on 9th Street (Sunday) 

• Luzzo's debuts on Avenue B, closes on 1st Avenue (Tuesday)

• You can find items from Dress Shoppe II this summer at A Repeat Performance on 3rd Street (Wednesday) 

• 44 Stuyvesant St. is on the sale market for the first time — ever (Tuesday) 

• A visit to P&T Knitwear on Orchard Street (Friday)

• Pride outside the 2nd Avenue F stop (Wednesday) 

• The Marshal seizes Bar None on 3rd Avenue (Friday) 

• The Tacos Cholula cart makes triumphant return to 2nd Street (Thursday) 

• Renovated 104 E. 10th St. comes into view (Wednesday) 

• City Councilmember Carlina Rivera makes bid for Congress official (Friday) 

• Report of a fire at 11 St. Mark's Place (Wednesday) 

• Aliens of Brooklyn colonizing 9th Street (Thursday) 

• MayRee to bring Thai food to 1st Street (Thursday)

• Coming soon to 14th Street: Fries Factory, Urban Juicery (Tuesday) 

• The stately 122 E. 10th St. is for sale (Monday) 

• Openings: Hard to Explain on 10th Street (Thursday) ... Birria LES on St. Mark's Place (Wednesday) ... Everytable on Avenue B (Tuesday)

• Retail space at 44 Avenue B hits the rental market (Wednesday)

• The Salads Days of our lives (Monday)

... and a new era...

---

Follow EVG on Instagram or Twitter for more frequent updates and pics.