The remaining structure of the fire-damaged Middle Collegiate Church will be demolished

The Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) voted this week to allow the demolition of the remains of the fire-damaged Middle Collegiate Church at 112 Second Ave. between Sixth Street and Seventh Street. 

Church leaders made the announcement via Twitter...

INCREDIBLE NEWS! The NYC Landmarks Commission has voted to allow @middlechurch to remove the burnt remains of our facade, so we can rebuild on our historic site.

Truly, God is good. Out of this fire, fierce love is rising.

Make a gift to help us rise: https://t.co/Vkt9D5e9V0

— Rev. Dr. Jacqui Lewis (@RevJacquiLewis) January 11, 2023

LPC members voted 8-2 in favor of the demolition. 

As previously reported, church leaders said they must remove what remains on the property within the East Village/Lower East Side Historic District. According to a report commissioned by church leaders, the culmination of an 18-month review, there is too much damage to the existing structure to integrate it into Middle Collegiate's new home, that it wouldn't withstand a full-scale rebuild on the property.

In a November interview with EVG, Rev. Dr. Jacqui Lewis, senior minister at the Middle Collegiate Church, said they spent $4 million to reinforce, stabilize and weatherproof the façade in the months after the devastating December 2020 fire.

She said that despite these efforts, the façade has deteriorated over time. And then, their engineering report showed that it would be best to remove what was left before building a new church. 

"It felt like something died," Lewis said of hearing this news. "The building burning felt like a death — a big death. This makes me feel heartbroken. It feels like a second loss. But if we let it go, we could get back on site, get back in the space and build something."

Preservation groups, including Village Preservation, had urged the LPC not to grant permission for demolition until further studies could occur. According to Village Preservation: "We don’t believe there is sufficient documentation that alternatives to preserve the historic façade have been fully explored, nor that there is sufficient evidence at this time to justify the permanent and irreversible removal."

Lewis previously stated that she understood the opposition. 

"We relive the fire daily and try to think about what to do with it. It's that kind of grief that just keeps coming in waves," Lewis said. "At some point, two years in, I want to be able to say to my community: We did the very best we could with this. This is not a willy-nilly, hurry-up decision. The engineer says we can't keep it, and we're heartbroken."

No word just yet on the timing of the demolition. 

Meanwhile, Middle Collegiate leaders continue fundraising efforts to rebuild a new church here in the East Village. They are holding services from their temporary home — East End Temple, 245 E. 17th St. between Second Avenue and Third Avenue. 

EVG photo from May 2022.

Another reader report of a fireworks-related roof fire on Avenue C

The FDNY responded to a report of a fire last night around 9:45 on the southwest corner of Fifth Street and Avenue C... a nearby resident shared these photos...



The cause of the fire is unknown, though the resident suspects it was related to the ongoing illegal firework displays nearby... the reader points out the remains of fireworks in the lights of the fire truck in the photo below...



There wasn't any word of damage to the building, which houses 69 Avenue C Laundromat...



Last Saturday night, people setting off fireworks along Avenue C and neighboring buildings caused a fire on a building rooftop on Fourth Street.

Fireworks-related complaints to 311 and 911 topped 20,000 in 2020, "an unprecedented increase over previous years," Gothamist reported.

The NYPD has started making arrests...

These fireworks won't be set off in your neighborhood thanks to the Intelligence Bureau. Their precise work has led to several arrests and the confiscation of these fireworks.

Not only is this a quality of life issue, fireworks are illegal. pic.twitter.com/iaJpDEA6DC

— NYPD NEWS (@NYPDnews) June 26, 2020

Aerial views of the Essex-Houston Street fire

EV Grieve reader Chris sends along more photos from the street/sewer/manhole/whatever fire currently burning on Essex at Houston...

Even the workers are impressed with the fire... this fellow is either taking photos or texting — or both!

Per Chris: "Fire department seems to be mostly just watching" for the time being...

Update: As of 2:11 or so, Chris notes that the fire is out.

Marking the 113th anniversary of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire

Today marks the 113th anniversary of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire.

As in past years, volunteers have participated in the chalking project (organized by Street Pictures), writing the names and ages of the victims — mostly young women —  in front of the buildings where they lived on the Lower East Side.

The reader photos are from St. Mark's Place (above) and 11th Street...

The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire in New York City on March 25, 1911, was the largest industrial disaster in U.S. history ... causing the death of 146 garment workers who either died from the fire or by jumping from the factory windows.

The Triangle Waist Company was located on the northwest corner of Greene Street and Washington Place, just east of Washington Square Park. The Remember the Triangle Fire Coalition website has more details on the tragedy and its legacy.

[Updated] Early-morning car fire on East 9th Street

A reader reports that there was a three-car fire last night next to the former P.S. 64 on East Ninth Street between Avenue B and Avenue C. The reader puts the time of the fire at 1:24 a.m. The FDNY had the fire extinguished by 1:45 a.m., according to the reader.

And via Twitter...

pic of the initial car on fire, doesn't do the scene justice. 12 firefighters on the scene at 9th and b. twitter.com/drelly/status/…

— lauren drell (@drelly) April 6, 2013

And another video...

Follow-up about the fire this morning on St. Mark's Place

Around 7 this morning, we took some blurry photos of the FDNY responding to a report of a fire on St. Mark's Place... (we sent them out via Twitter here ... and here...)

Anyway, DNAinfo reported that "The fire sparked about 6:45 a.m. on the first floor of 17 St. Marks Place, FDNY officials said. Fire officials said an unidentified woman suffered a minor injury. She was taken to New York Hospital."

An NYU student who lives in the building got a look inside the fire-damaged apartment and noted, "everything was gone."

Report of a late-night fire at 145 Second Ave.

[Photo via Bonnie DeWitt]

A fire apparently broke out in the basement of 145 Second Ave. at East Ninth Street some time around 1 a.m., according to various social media reports. Starbucks occupies the corner storefront space.

MAN ALL HANDS 145 2 AVE, MULTIPLE DWELLING FIRE IN BASEMENT,

— FDNY (@FDNY) March 19, 2014

The FDNY gave the all clear within 30 minutes.

MAN ALL HANDS 145 2 AVE, MULTIPLE DWELLING FIRE IN BASEMENT, UNDER CONTROL

— FDNY (@FDNY) March 19, 2014

[Photo via EVG reader Josh]


[Photo via EVG reader Josh]


[Photo via @Phillyupperdecker]

… and the scene from a little east on Ninth Street…


[Photo via @copyrapper]

There's also video, via Josh…



There's no word on injuries, cause or extent of the damage yet. In any event, it made for a nice photo opp!

People are actually taking selfies with a fire while people could have lost their homes or lives. Unreal. @evgrieve pic.twitter.com/5Ux75RqOeU

— Eric Nolan (@ericnolan_) March 19, 2014

Updated 7:45 a.m.
Starbucks is open for business this morning.

Tenant-owner dispute on Seventh Street results in fire, dead dog, possible civil lawsuit

The Post has this story today. A couple who live on Seventh Street between Avenue A and First Avenue were out in January celebrating a legal victory against their landlord, Steven Croman, of Croman Realty. When they returned home, someone had broken into their ground-floor apartment and started a fire in their closet. (We wrote about the fire here.)

Their Labradoodle named Foster died eight days later as a result from the fire, the Post reports. (The couple had been asking Croman to to padlock two doors that led to their backyard.)

Police later arrested a 22-year-old "career criminal" for the burglary and arson. Police didn't find any connection between the man arrested and Croman. Meanwhile, the couple are considering filing a civil lawsuit against Croman Realty. They have since moved and have a new dog.

Read the whole story here.

Previously on EV Grieve:
[Updated] Fire on Seventh Street

Report of a fire at 313 E. 6th St.

The FDNY battled a two-alarm fire overnight on the top floor of 313 E. Sixth St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue. Two people, a resident and a firefighter, reportedly (via Citizen), sustained minor injuries 

The FDNY first reported the fire at 2:03 a.m. ... with the "under control" coming nearly 90 minutes later...

Manhattan 2-Alarm Box 0437, 313 E 6 ST, MULTIPLE DWELLING A

— FDNYalerts (@FDNYAlerts) August 17, 2022

Manhattan 2-Alarm Box 0437, 313 E 6 ST, MULTIPLE DWELLING A, COCKLOFT , Under Control

— FDNYalerts (@FDNYAlerts) August 17, 2022

Neighbors reported seeing flames coming from the roof of No. 313 (reader photo below). The FDNY said the fire started in the cockloft.

No word on the cause of the fire. 

This morning, boards covered windows on the third and fourth floor of the circa-1900 building, which has three residential units.

Updated: Report of a fire at 86 E. 10th St.

Fairly big fire on corner of 10th and 4th - a lot of firefighters and EMTs at the scene. pic.twitter.com/QfaGIzZW7a

— Will Tooke (@willtooketv) February 7, 2017

The FDNY responded to a report of a fire this afternoon at 86 E. 10th St. between Third Avenue and Fourth Avenue.

A department spokesperson told Patch there were "two reported injuries being evaluated on the scene."

The fire reportedly started on the third or fourth floor of the building, which houses the bar Black & White on the ground level. (2/10 — Black & White remains closed.)

There isn't any info at the moment about the cause of the fire or extent of the damage.

pic.twitter.com/lCuZkaObNz

— im lilakatz (@iguesslila) February 7, 2017

Updated 3:30 p.m.

These shots are via eventphotosnyc ...

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."