Fire-ravaged Gut-renovated apartment at 240 E. Houston now on market

A new listing appeared Friday for a two-bedroom apartment at 240 E. Houston St. at Avenue A... Here are the details via Synergy New York:

Gorgeous GUT RENOVATED 1050 Square foot Penthouse One Bedroom + Home office 2 full bath apartment in Prime East Village Location.Open Living/Dining/Kitchen with brand new stainless steel appliances and W/D in suite, top floor with 2 dramatic skylights make this space bright and welcoming. Private 500 SF roof terrace with stunning views of the city. Master bedroom 12x21 with large walk in closet and built in storage cabin, Large Home office 11x14, 7 East Facing Windows. Beautiful prewar 5 Storey Elevator Building with original details and New York Charm.

The rent is $5,500 a month, and this is what it looks like... Very nice!

GUT RENOVATED? Indeed! Perhaps enough time has passed in which there isn't a need to mention the four-alarm fire that scorched the building in July 2010...

[Josh via Twitpic.]

The morning after the fire...

[EVG reader Chris]

According to multiple published reports, the fire was caused by the "unapproved use of electrical wiring," according to a FDNY official, who explained that residents had extended various cords to the roof, and stretched wires beneath roofing materials.

(You can watch video of the fire here.)

Memorializing the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire victims

[Photo by Derek Berg]

Sunday marks the 107th anniversary of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire ... ahead of that, volunteers are out today taking part in the chalking project (organized by Street Pictures), writing the name and age of the victims in front of the buildings where they lived on the Lower East Side.

The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire in New York City on March 25, 1911, was the largest industrial disaster in the city's history ... causing the death of 146 garment workers (mostly young women) who either died from the fire or jumped to their deaths.

The Triangle Waist Company was located on the northwest corner of Greene Street and Washington Place just east of Washington Square Park.

Find more information at The Remember the Triangle Fire Coalition.

Derek Berg also spotted this today... footsteps on St. Mark's Place that lead toward Greene Street and Washington Place...

More on NYU's Barney Building fire

The Post has an item today on the early-morning fire yesterday at NYU's Barney Building on East Ninth Street...

Fire marshals yesterday were trying to determine what caused a blaze inside an NYU building in the East Village. The fire broke out in a third-floor art studio in the six-story Barney Building on Stuyvesant Street near Third Avenue. The blaze was contained to a small sculpture- and jewelry-design studio. NYU officials said other studios on that floor are expected to be open for classes today. There were no injuries.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Late-night fire at NYU's Barney Building

Scenes from the fire today at 47 Avenue A

More than 100 members of the FDNY responded late this afternoon to a two-alarm fire at the Essex Card Shop at 47 Avenue A between Third Street and Fourth Street. 

The FDNY had the fire under control in less than an hour. Two firefighters sustained non-life-threatening injuries. Thankfully, there weren't any other injuries reported. 

The popular Card Shop, which relocated here in June 2020 from a block to the south, was destroyed. Next-door neighbor Exit9 received some smoke and water damage but remains structurally intact. (Read our previous post for more details.) 

The cause of the fire remains under investigation. 

EVG contirbutor Stacie Joy was quickly on the scene after the fire was reported around 4:45 and shared these photos...

As you can see, the Card Shop is in ruins...

 

Saba Aslam, the daughter of owner Muhammad Aslam at Essex Card Shop, has launched a GoFundMe campaign to help rebuild the business. Find the link here.

Possible delay in emergency response this afternoon and tomorrow from Engine 28 and Ladder 11

We'll periodically have information on local fire company activities, including when they are closed for periods of time... particularly the FDNY’s Engine 28 and Ladder 11 — the two fire companies quartered at 222 E. Second St.

Engine 28 will be conducting Building Inspection this afternoon from 1-4 ... as well as every Friday afternoon. Building Inspection may cause delays in response because parts of their Buidling Inspection District are not in their 1st, 2nd or 3rd due emergency response area.

And tomorrow:

Engine 28 and Ladder 11 will be conducting Multi-Unit Drill (aka. MUD), beginning at 11 a.m. (as well as every Saturday morning). During this time, both units may be delayed to emergency responses. The reason being that during Multi-Unit Drill, a Ladder Company (aka. Truck), runs and tests all of the SCOTT Air Masks, the many meters and tools, and extends all portable ladders as well as the aerial ladder (the large ladder on top of the truck). The Engine also runs and tests all SCOTT Air Masks, meters and tools, as well as connecting to a fire hydrant and running the Engine's pumps to make sure they work properly, thereby checking water pressure. Hoses and hose fittings are also tested.

Delays are caused when an alarm is received at the time these various tools, ladders, pumps, fittings are being tested. Since either company may not respond without their full complement of equipment (they would be ineffective without them), they must be put back on the rig. All efforts are made to test one piece of equipment at a time and place it back on the rig to lessen the degree of delayed response.

And who should you call about fire-related complaints? The number for Complaints at FDNY's 9 Metrotech Center in Brooklyn is 718-999-1012. They are usually only open during business hours. If they are closed and it is something they feel warrants immediate attention, then call 911.



Meanwhile, BoweryBoogie brings word of a fatal fire on Ludlow Street.

Workers remove last fire-damaged car from East Ninth Street

A fire on East Ninth Street late Friday night destroyed three cars parked next to the controversial former P.S. 64 between Avenue B and Avenue C... this afternoon, workers removed the remaining car from the street...



Photo and video via MoRUS.

Previously on EV Grieve:
[Updated] Early-morning car fire on East 9th Street

Looking at the remains of last night's East Ninth Street car fire

Father Pat lost his car in Friday night's fire

Fire-damaged Via Della Pace unsure about reopening on 7th Street; Cafe Mocha in bad shape

[Photos yesterday by Steven]

A day after the three-alarm fire tore through 48 E. Seventh St. at Second Avenue, residents and business owners faced the grim task of assessing the damage.

The owners of Via Della Pace on Seventh Street posted this message on Instagram about their very uncertain future:

We are deeply saddened that our restaurant, Via Della Pace, was involved in a fire yesterday. Everything was completely destroyed, and we were unable to salvage our precious items. We are holding onto the good memories of serving our wonderful clients and will always remember the fun times we shared over a good meal.

As of now, we are unsure whether we will continue with our restaurant business. We will keep you updated, and we are so thankful for your support and love.

The rustic Italian cafe opened in 2001.

Meanwhile, on the corner, Cafe Mocha, which opened in 2008, looks to be in bad shape with extensive water damage...









[Updated 5 p.m.] The restaurant, with a sidewalk cafe that draws a crowd in warm-weather months, posted this update to its website:

Due to a fire above Cafe Mocha we will be temporarily closed while we assess the severe damages. For our neighbors and customers, we appreciate your loyalty all these years. We remain hopeful that we will reopen to continue serving our friends and families.

The cause of the fire is under investigation. Five firefighters were treated for minor injuries. None of the residents were said to be injured. One tenant of the building said on an EVG Facebook post that "all tenants and animals are safe and sound."

After the fire: Double Down, Kelly's and Discovery Wines closed; grocery open

Things seem oddly normal tonight on Avenue A below Second Street...a few hours back, of course, some 180 firefighters were on the scene battling the blaze at 240 Houston and Avenue A...

On the east side of A between Second Street and Houston...the storefronts that were directly impacted by the fire... the Double Down looks open, but the sign on the door says otherwise... [Updated: Double Down was already closed for renovations before the fire.]



Kelly's and Discovery Wines are shuttered...



And, the one place that I thought would be closed, was open... Houston Deli & Grocery on the corner... According to the manager, "We were very lucky," he said. "But I don't know for how long. At any minute, water could come through the ceiling."




Meanwhile, at the entrance to 240 Houston, fire and Red Cross officials were on hand to help any displaced residents...



Previously on EV Grieve:
More on the fire at 240 Houston

Report of a fire at 85 First Ave.

[Photo by Bobby Williams]

The FDNY came out in force around 1:30 to respond to a fire at 85 First Ave. just north of East Fifth Street (at the location of the former wine shop Tinto Fino).

MAN ALL HANDS 85 1 AVE,

— FDNY (@FDNY) January 17, 2015

The FDNY had things under control in about 10 minutes…

MAN ALL HANDS 85 1 AVE, 1 FRL AWNING, UNDER CONTROL

— FDNY (@FDNY) January 17, 2015

[Photo by Bobby Williams]

No word on the cause or the extent of the damage. There weren't any reports of injuries. And the fire didn't seem to have any impact on Three of Cups next door… which remained open.

This is the second reported fire along this stretch of First Avenue this past week. There was a basement fire at 133 E. Fourth Street at First Avenue on Tuesday morning.

Report of a fire at 104 Avenue B

[Photo by Mike H. on 9th Street]

The FDNY is responding to a report of a fire at 104 Avenue B between Sixth Street and Seventh Street ... (the building one south of where Vazac's/7B/the Horseshoe Bar is...)


[Reader submitted]

Fire on Ave B, right near 7B (but doesn't look like 7B building) cc @evgrieve @chelsa 🔥🚒 pic.twitter.com/X4WRvFPhYJ

— Dennis Crowley (@dens) August 24, 2016

No word on the cause or the extent at this moment. The fire, which appears contained to the roof, did not make it to the @FDNYalert... One witness said that the smell of smoke is strong for several blocks.

Updated... via the comments: "according to neighbors who eye witnessed the event, an air conditioner caught on fire. firemen had to ascend through the adjacent building and douse the flames from the roof."

A report of a small fire at Dua Kafe on 14th Street

Updated the location of the fire. And an update via Dua: "We should be opening up again very soon (the plan is tomorrow!) since the damage was relatively minimal outside of the bathroom space."

On Wednesday night around 10:30, there was a report of a fire in the bathroom at Dua Kafe, 520 E. 14th St. between Avenue A and Avenue B. (Thanks to EVG reader Russell K. for the top photo.) 

The FDNY reported an "under control" from the scene in less than 15 minutes. (Dua has a posted closing time of 10 p.m.)

EVG contributor Stacie Joy stopped by yesterday... fortunately there was little evidence of any fire, including smoke or water damage. 

Workers at a neighboring business said that there was a small electrical fire in the back and "everything should be fine again soon." 

In the meantime, there are there is a "closed for renovation" sign up at the restaurant specializing in Albanian cuisine (read a Times review of the space here) ...

Marking the 100th Anniversary Of the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire

[Photo by EV Grieve reader T]

The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire in New York City on March 25, 1911, was the largest industrial disaster in the history of the city of New York, causing the death of 146 garment workers who either died from the fire or jumped to their deaths.

Here's a chalk memorial of a young victim from the 1911 fire on St Mark's Place near Avenue A.

CNN has more on the fire here. NY1 said they'd have updates on the anniversary throughout the day.

[Updated]: Fire on Avenue B

Several residents have reported a major FDNY presence on Avenue B ... one reader said that there's a fire in a building on the west side of the Avenue between East Third Street and East Fourth Street... More details as they become available.

[Photo via The Late Adopter]

Updated 10:40 —

Per @lauramanney

"8 trucks, 27 firefighters, 1 flaming laundry basket rescued on avenue B"

Updated 10:52 p.m. —

Per @JeanaCosta

"Big fire (now out) on Avenue B. I counted 13 fire trucks + ambulances down there."

Updated 11:01 p.m. —

Unconfirmed reports that the fire started at one of the two laundromats between Third and Fourth...

Fire, jump with me

Photos by Stacie Joy

Thursday evening saw the return of a fire-jumping event in an East Village community garden, the first since 2019. 

This year's edition, produced by More Gardens, took place at El Jardin del Paraiso on Fifth Street between Avenue C and Avenue D.

Here's some background:

More Gardens' Chaharshanbeh Suri NYC is a festival rooted in community, sharing, equity, and reverence for the earth through ritual fire jumping, art, music, food, and culture that began in the lands of West and Central Asia.

This fire celebration nourishes our spirits, strengthens our connection to each other, and affirms our belonging by embracing our diverse nationalities, languages, faiths, class, genders, races, and sexual identities. We make gathering joyful through art, music, food, culture, and intergenerational sharing. We hold each other to tend the flames of love, justice, solidarity, and goodness across the planet and right here in the community green spaces of NYC.

The fire team included Joules Magus ... with representatives from the FDNY present for safety. 

An estimated 200 people took part in the jumping ceremony. EVG contributor Stacie Joy was on hand for part of the festivities ...