Saturday, October 10, 2009
Economakis mansion renovation shuts down Third Street today
No traffic today on Third Street between First Avenue and Second Avenue. At 47 E. Third St., the Economakis family is creating their 11,600-square-foot dream home from the former 15-unit tenement.
One neighbor watching the crane at work wondered how many more Saturdays would be affected by the construction.
Previously.
Friday, October 29, 2021
Details on the LES Book Crawl happening tomorrow
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Reader report: Three apartment buildings sold on East Third Street
There's talk on East Third Street that Abart Holdings LLC has sold (or is selling) the buildings at 50, 54 and 58 on this block between First Avenue and Second Avenue.
Per a tipster: "Word on the street is people who have leases ending this summer have received letters informing them of the sale and that the new owner will NOT be renewing leases. I don't doubt the validity of the letters, although I would love to..."
The tipster says that the letters are from Abart Holdings. The letters do not name the new owner.
Have any tips about the situation here? Please send them our way via the EV Grieve email ...
Per the tipster, who lives in one of the buildings: "Better not be another set of fucking personal mansions..."
Might make for a mansion row to go with 47 E. Third St. across the way.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
And Economakis gets the whole building for his dream mansion
The New York Post reports:
Eight holdout tenants who fought for five years to keep their millionaire landlord from turning their Lower East Side tenement into a mansion for himself agreed to be bought out yesterday.
The last rent-stabilized tenants of 47 E. Third St. said they gave in because they weren't confident they would beat real-estate baron Alistair Economakis in the Manhattan Supreme Court trial scheduled to begin yesterday.
Economakis, the son of a Greek shipping magnate, bought the six-story building for $900,000 in 2003 and said he needed it as a home for himself, his wife and two children.
He reached deals with seven of the 15 tenants but the others fought until yesterday.
The tenants will each receive $75,000 under the settlement, except for one elderly resident, who will get $175,000.
Here is the Web site for Alistair Economakis -- The Other Side of the Story: 47 East 3rd Street
Previously on EV Grieve.
Friday, June 6, 2008
Bring it on (aka GOP Hard)
Anyone know what time the demonstration will take place next Friday...?
Friday, June 28, 2024
Details about the the 3rd annual Lower East Side Pride Bookstore Crawl
Celebrate the diversity and resilience of the neighborhood's indie bookshops by spending a day shopping discounts, special giveaways and curated selections of queer books.This year's crawl features seven unique indie bookstores:• Book Club Bar (197 E. 3rd Street & Avenue B)• Pillow-Cat Books (328 E. 9th S.)• Village Works (12 St Mark's Place)• Bonnie Slotnick Cookbooks (28 E. 2nd St.)• Bluestockings Cooperative (116 Suffolk St.)• Yu & Me Books (44 Mulberry St.)• Sweet Pickle Books (47 Orchard St.)Each bookstore will offer discounts and perks (such as free merchandise or snacks) throughout the day. No reservations are required...
Monday, June 27, 2011
Behold the Economakis Dream Mansion
Workers have removed the construction netting from 47 E. Third St., soon to be the single-family Economakis Dream Mansion.
Here's a shot of the building, once a 15-unit tenement, from September 2009... So long pesky fire escapes!
Around that time, Scoopy at The Villager got a tour of the building. You can read that here.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Trick-or-treat at the Economakis mansion
Monday, March 11, 2013
Last remaining plywood removed from the Economakis him, revealing NO GARAGE
A tipster sent along the above photo, noting that the last piece of plywood outside 47 E. Third St. — the former tenement that Alistair Economakis renovated for his family — was recently removed. The address was the site of a bitter landlord-tenant fight dating back to 2003.
Several neighbors were convinced that the former 15-unit tenement would include a garage. There was an application for a curb cut, but the city never approved the request.
Last May, City Councilmember Rosie Mendez told The Villager that the Economakises are leasing part of the ground-floor space to a medical facility ... and the garage would serve that facility.
Anyway, the tipster said that he or she couldn't quite tell what was behind the plywood all that time. "It just looks like a black wall." No hidden doors?
[November 2011]
Previously on EV Grieve:
And Economakis gets the whole building for his dream mansion
More coverage here.
Friday, February 20, 2009
EV Grieve Etc: Mourning Edition
M8 rally tomorrow (Colonnade Row)
Last chance weekend at Etherea (Stupefaction)
Tenants at 47 E. Third St. have until Aug. 31 to vacate (The Villager)
The cons are on (Jeremiah's Vanishing NY)
Butts, billboards and Beyond (BoweryBoogie)
50/50 for Ruby's reopening (Grub Street)
Happy (sort of belated) birthday Cheetah Chrome (Punk Turns 30)
Thursday, November 17, 2011
On second thought, there is a garage at the Economakis Dream Mansion
Just on Tuesday, we had given up on the gossip about a new garage at the former 15-unit tenement on East Third Street. However! A well-placed tipster says it's all true, possibly.
First, some paperwork from the DOB to install a new curb cut. (Notice it is in audit to revoke — which means??)
Per the tipster:
"The garage is already built. I haven't seen behind the plywood since the structural work was done so I don't know what it looks like exactly. There is a vandal and graffitti resistant (maybe tactical nuclear-strike proof) garage door which does not roll on a track like a typical door, but rises in one piece vertically through the floor above and stops behind the windows of the floor above."
Two other items of business:
1) Per a commenter: "If you look on the DOB website at job #110412232, Schedule A, it has a proposed 'community facility' where the storefronts are. Isn't this supposed to be a single family mansion?"
2) Predicting a move-in date...
Previously on EV Grieve:
And Economakis gets the whole building for his dream mansion
The 47 E. 3rd St. protest in video
At the 47 E. 3rd St. protest
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Work more prominent now at the Economakis Mansion
A look at the DOB permits issued a few weeks back don't reveal too much... However, there is the permit approved on Jan. 11 ... according to the DOB, workers will be installing a new curb cut. The DOB originally disapproved the curb cut, as Curbed noted on Jan. 5 ... Now it seems to be OK. As Curbed noted: "Maybe the old storefronts are being eyed for a private garage?"
Previously on EV Grieve:
And Economakis gets the whole building for his dream mansion
The 47 E. 3rd St. protest in video
At the 47 E. 3rd St. protest
Conspiracies: Where are all the fliers?
Tuesday, January 17, 2023
On the CB3-SLA docket tonight: fresh bread, vinyl records and the members-only FlyFish Club
Monday, April 18, 2016
[Updated] A look at the rest of tonight's CB3-SLA meeting docket
[45-47 Avenue B]
CB3's SLA committee meeting is tonight 6:30 in the CB3 office, 59 E. Fourth St. between Second Avenue and the Bowery.
To date, we've look at several applicants:
• 98 Favor Taste, 37 St. Mark's Place
• Unnamed pizzeria, Avenue C and Eighth Street
• Vietnamese restaurant, 119 St. Mark's Place
• Desi Galli, 172 Avenue B
And one applicant we looked at is no longer on the agenda. The owners of the Brazen Fox had plans to open another bar-restaurant directly across the street from their current two-level bar-restaurant on Third Avenue and East 13th Street.
We do not know why they are a scratch from the meeting. In any event, this would be a tough sell... a full liquor license with a sidewalk cafe for a space (Gothic Cabinet Craft shop) that was not previously licensed within a saturated area... from applicants who already operate a successful space right across the street. Not sure what the public benefit is here.
And there was neighbor opposition to the application as well... based on the flyers on the block...
Meanwhile, here's a quick look at some of the other East Village applicants on tonight's meeting agenda...
Applications within Saturated Areas
• Fish Market Inc, 45 Ave B (wb)
A venture called Lamia's Fish Market is in the works for the long vacant storefront at 45 Avenue B between East Second Street and East Third Street. The questionnaire (PDF) on file for public viewing at the CB3 website shows a restaurant with 40 tables seating 160 people. The proposed hours are 4 p.m. to midnight Monday though Friday; 11 a.m. to midnight Saturday and Sunday.
Lamia Funti is the name of the applicant. Media outlets have identified her as the co-owner of Le Souk on La Guardia Place along with her husband Marcus Jacobs. He was reportedly an owner of Le Souk at 47 Avenue B... Le Souk was a years-long thorn in the side of neighbors, as widely reported here ... and here ... and here ... and here. In October 2009, the State Liquor Authority cancelled Le Souk's liquor license. (Read the SLA release here.)
Updated 4/19
The committee voted to deny the application. The Lo-Down has the details about the operators here.
• Baker's Pizza (Baker's Pizza LLC), 201 Ave A (wb)
The pizzeria that opened back in February between East 12th Street and East 13th Street is seeking a beer-wine license.
Sidewalk Cafe Application
• Lionsbeerstore (Beer Factory LLC), 104 2nd Ave
• Biang (Wen Zi Inc), 157 2nd Ave
The previous tenant at this address, Alder, had an eight-table, 16-seat sidewalk cafe.
New Liquor License Applications
• AGN Restaurant LLC, 166 1st Ave (op)
This is the former North River/Nite Owl space near East 10th Street. The owners of the Belfry on East 14th Street are looking to open a bar-restaurant here serving American comfort food, according to the questionnaire (PDF) on file at the CB3 website.
The proposed hours are 11:30 a.m. to 2 a.m. Sunday through Wednesday; until 4 a.m. Thursday through Saturday.
• Proto's Pizza (Fifty East LLC), 50 2nd Ave (wb)
Items not heard at Committee
• Virgola (Virgola 3 LLC), 221 Ave B (wb)
They were denied at the February meeting ... this will be the second Virgola location in the East Village.
• Dumpling Go (Dumpling 2 Avenue Inc), 188 2nd Ave (wb)
The restaurant has been closed for the past week. Looks like a renovation, though there aren't any signs for customers.
Wednesday, May 16, 2018
LPC OKs 3-story addition to 827-831 Broadway
[Courtesy of DXA studio]
In their third appearance before the Landmarks Preservation Committee (LPC), the owners of 827-831 Broadway received the OK yesterday for a glass addition atop the twin cast-iron buildings here between 12th Street and 13th Street.
Last November, the LPC voted to landmark the circa-1866 buildings where artists Willem and Elaine de Kooning and Paul Jenkins, among others, lived and worked. The Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation campaigned for more than 18 months to help spare these buildings from demolition.
The LPC then rejected plans for a rooftop addition designed by DXA studio in January (too overwhelming) and April.
Here's some of Curbed's coverage from yesterday:
The third try finally seemed to pay off for the architecture firm with the Commission unanimously praising the efforts of the architects. The glass addition has now been reduced to three stories and has a 36-foot setback from the street level, making it a lot less visible from the street level than in previous iterations.
“It’s a marvel to take all that information and create something that is sensitive and elegant,” said Meenakshi Srinivasan, the chair of the Landmarks Commission, shortly before the Commission voted to approve the structure.
The LPC didn't have much to say about a seven-floor addition on an adjacent property at 47 E. 12th St. that's also part of the overall development. That addition will proceed for use as office space.
Reps for DXA studio issued a news release with more details on the project...
The 3 story addition will be composed of slumped, reflective glazing that’s curved form references the organic and spontaneous qualities of the art work of de Kooning and his contemporaries. “We felt the reflective nature of the glass could serve to capture the kinetic quality of the surroundings, broadcasting back color, textures, and movement, helping us see the world around us in a different way,” said Partner Jordan Rogove. “The reflection also turns the lens back on New York City, a place forever changed by the immense contributions of the New York School painters making it the capital of the art world for the first time.”
The original 4 story Italianate warehouse building that the addition sits atop will be fully restored. A new historical wood storefront will be installed at 831, and 827’s existing wood storefront will be restored. The addition’s slumped glazing is arranged in the same rhythm as the original building, balancing two sympathetic facades built of the material and technologies of their respective times.
As previously reported, Quality Capital and Caerus Group bought the parcel in 2015 for $60 million.
Previously on EV Grieve:
Report: 14-story building planned for 827 Broadway
An appeal to landmark these buildings on Broadway
There's a proposed addition for the recently landmarked 827-831 Broadway
Report: LPC rejects glassy addition for landmarked 827-831 Broadway
Monday, February 26, 2024
Signage alert: Sugar Mouse on 3rd Avenue
Thursday, July 31, 2008
The New York Post on John Penley: "quite possibly New York City's cuddliest anarchist"
The New York Post profiles John Penley today.
And we begin:
AS the unofficial leader of what is known as the East Village "slacktivist" movement, John Penley routinely protests: real estate developers, wine bars, wine bars owned by Bruce Willis, landlords, Republicans and the evergreen that is yuppie scum. "Frat boys throwin' up or takin' a p - - s on your building," he says. "Drunk, blockin' sidewalks, not lettin' baby carriages pass . . ." The 56-year-old Penley also enjoys shouting down obnoxious NYU students, inserting himself into neighbors' landlord disputes and making daily calls to newspapers and networks about area goings-on.
Penley is also, quite possibly, New York City's cuddliest anarchist: a burly 56-year-old Vietnam-era military man and ex-felon with two gold front teeth, lots of tattoos and a deep affinity for children, animals and the writings of Thomas Wolfe. He was married once, briefly, but doesn't like to talk about it.
One of his roommates was rock star Cat Power, who moved out and on long ago, but still pays her third of the share on Penley's $600-a-month apartment on Avenue B, where he has lived the bulk of his 25 years in the city. (His other roommate is a graphic artist.) Penley is something of a local on-call baby sitter, and is quick to dispense loose change or cigarettes to anyone who asks.
Read the whole article here.
Here's a quick video clip of Penley from the protest at 47 E. 3rd St. from July 11.
For further protest reading on EV Grieve, here's where to go.
Friday, June 13, 2008
At the Bowery Wine Co. protest Friday night
As I note in the post above this, I was only able to stay for the first leg of the protest, which, as Jeremiah reports, continued on to CBGB/Varvatos, the Bowery Hotel, 47 E. 3rd St., then down to Avenue A, through Tompkins Square Park, and finished at the Christodora House. His Flickr pool is here. Bob Arihood was also with the group the entire time. He took many compelling photos, as usual.
Thursday, March 26, 2015
[Updating] Explosion on 2nd Avenue and East 7th Street
Crazy explosion on 7 and 2nd east village #fire #explosion pic.twitter.com/U3Z4mx3Wut
— J K (@Jamie_S_Kennedy) March 26, 2015
Just heard an explosion and my entire building shook!! #explosion #manhattan #eastvillage
— Tosha Ryan (@Tosha_Ryan) March 26, 2015
There was just an explosion on 2nd avenue and 7th street east village pic.twitter.com/jvSbfdCSSe
— Jonathan (@jmeyers44) March 26, 2015
[Photo by Jonathan Jones]
3:29 p.m. FDNY says a building collapse at 125 Second Ave. (Officially it's 121 and 123 Second Ave.)
MAN 3-ALARM 125 2 AVE, MIXED OCCUPANCY MAJOR BUILDING COLLAPSE,
— FDNY (@FDNY) March 26, 2015
3:31 p.m. The scene from East Sixth Street between Second Avenue and Cooper Square
@evgrieve Building exploded. pic.twitter.com/ChTrXe2bRJ
— Liberation Iannillo (@liberationnyc) March 26, 2015
123 Second Ave explosion. FDNY here. pic.twitter.com/fvpeeu6fhp
— Scott Westerfeld (@ScottWesterfeld) March 26, 2015
Second Ave is closed to traffic from 9th Street all the way to Houston. Crowd control underway. No pedestrians allowed from 9th to 7th.
— Scott Westerfeld (@ScottWesterfeld) March 26, 2015
3:47 p.m.
U/D Manhattan: 125 2 Ave FDNY reporting 3 FireFighters missing. Search on the way 10-66 Transmitted. #FDNY #BREAKING pic.twitter.com/AftWTCRNCg
— NYC Scanner (@NYScanner) March 26, 2015
125 2 Ave FDNY reporting 3 FireFighters missing. Search on the way 10-66 Transmitted. #FDNY #BREAKING pic.twitter.com/OjmROq5CXk @evgrieve
— urban myths, legends (@urbanmyths) March 26, 2015
Building partially collapsed on 7th St and 2nd av #eastvillage @evgrieve pic.twitter.com/ogvrXa20hl
— Hansley Yunez (@hyunez) March 26, 2015
3:54 p.m.
Unreal! Those poor people. @tinman_131: 123 2nd ave Fire @evgrieve #eastvillage #fire #FDNY #NYC pic.twitter.com/tzn5jezwMr
— Liberation Iannillo (@liberationnyc) March 26, 2015
3:56 p.m. The Post reports that up to 30 people are injured. The FDNY is trying to contain the fires from spreading to more buildings on the west side of Second Avenue between East Seventh Street and St. Mark's Place...
4:04 p.m.
[Image via @brittanyTvisser]
4:13 p.m. Coverage from WABC-7...
The FDNY arrived on the scene to find a sushi restaurant on the lower level collapsed and smoke pluming throughout the building. Then flames began shooting through the roof and quickly spread to a neighboring building.
Firefighters were pouring water onto the flames, but they had to pull back due to the intensity, and fire officials expected one or both of the buildings would eventually fall.
[Photo via @mesh_mellow]
4:20 p.m. The scene now looking north on Second Avenue by peter radley...
The scene from East Fifth Street and Second Avenue...
4:22 p.m. The scene from East Seventh Street and First Avenue via John Iz...
4:33 p.m. The scene from East Seventh Street between First Avenue and Second Avenue via John Iz...
4:43 p.m.
In East Village, firefighters draw water from a block away. pic.twitter.com/InD683Exhh
— Stephen Nessen (@s_nessen) March 26, 2015
LOOK: Aerial view of East Village explosion via @NYPDSpecialops; more coverage on @CBSNLive http://t.co/FRGD8IS3m1 pic.twitter.com/YtHXmSAEdx
— CBS News (@CBSNews) March 26, 2015
#BREAKING: Aerial view of building collapse @NYPD9Pct. Numerous rescue units on scene #SOD #ESU #K9 #Aviation #FD pic.twitter.com/d9iX4GOBUd
— NYPD Special Ops (@NYPDSpecialops) March 26, 2015
More from the NYPD Special Ops...
4:53 p.m.
@evgrieve from my roof now. pic.twitter.com/VN9hYYYh61
— EdenBrower (@edenbrower) March 26, 2015
4:55 p.m.
#RedCross is at the scene of the #EastVillage fire/collapse to support affected residents. #RCDAR
— NY Red Cross (@redcrossny) March 26, 2015
#NYC get ready to help with clothes, etc and help the @RedCross as there were 20 apts.. People displaced, all is gone. Pray.
— Katie (@TalkerNewYorker) March 26, 2015
5:05 p.m. A reader just shared this video ... not sure of the exact time...
5:06 p.m. From The Wall Street Journal:
A preliminary investigation indicated the fire and building collapse was due to a gas explosion, the official said.
The scene created chaos in the East Village, a neighborhood filled with apartment buildings, restaurants and bars. Perry Kroll, who lives a block away, said he felt his whole building shake, and all of his neighbors spilled out into the street.
“There’s an epic smoke column rising from the block,” he said. “I can see really big flames everywhere and chunks of ash falling from the sky. It looks like a building just blew out into the street. It’s just absolute chaos.”
5:10 p.m.
5:13 p.m. From The Neighborhood School on East Third Street between Avenue A and First Avenue
Dear Families,
By now I am sure you've heard about the building collapse/fire in the Lower East Side. Our school will be used as a Red Cross Shelter for displaced families starting tonight. If you, or anyone you know needs any kind of assistance, please let me know.
5:20 p.m. The view now from 190 E. Seventh St. via John Iz...
5:23 p.m.
Video shows East Village building collapsing after explosion and intense fire. (courtesy of Daniel Berkowitz.) Watch updates LIVE on NY1: http://bit.ly/1ACyxrg
Posted by NY1 on Thursday, March 26, 2015
6:09 p.m.
The Red Cross is setting up at The Neighborhood School on East Third Street… we haven't heard anything about donations for those residents who lost their homes this afternoon…
[Photo by Yenta Laureate]
6:15 p.m.
Clarification from FDNY. blast inside 121 2nd ave. that five story building and 123 next door collapsed, damage to 119 and 125. #1010wins
— Al Jones (@aljoneswins) March 26, 2015
6:27 p.m. The Times has updated its story.
A powerful explosion in the East Village on Thursday caused two buildings to collapse and ignited a large fire that quickly spread to neighboring buildings, leaving at least a dozen people injured, at least three of them critically.
Mayor Bill de Blasio of New York, speaking at a news conference at the scene, said that “preliminary evidence suggests a gas-related explosion” was caused by plumbing and gas work being done at 121 Second Avenue, near Seventh Street.
The explosion and ensuing fire destroyed that building and led to the collapse of an adjacent building, 123 Second Avenue.
Two other buildings were damaged, and one of those buildings was still in danger of collapse, officials said.
The buildings that house Pommes Frites (No. 123) and Sushi Park (No. 121) have been destroyed.
[Photo via @nypost]
7:37 p.m.
This is my street right now #EastVillage pic.twitter.com/FGjDWOTLUP
— Julia (@juliabackon) March 26, 2015
7:47 p.m. Here is the full text of Mayor De Blasio's press conference earlier… as well as comments from other city officials...