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.

Former La Vie space on East First Street will be demolished

[EVG file photo from last summer]

La Vie at 64 E. First St. finally closed last June following an ongoing battle with neighbors over a variety of quality-of-life issues... Neighbors had long complained that La Vie was operating as a club under the guise of a restaurant.

At the time of the closure, a tipster on the block told us: "They are moving all of the red velvet seating out to a Budget truck out front right now! The block is rejoicing."

Not sure if people will be rejoicing over what's coming next: Plans were filed with the city Monday to demolish the (rather ugly) one-story structure. Neighbors spotted a worker in a Hazmat suit on the building's roof yesterday here between First Avenue and Second Avenue.



There's nothing on file yet to hint at what is next for this space... though you can likely expect some kind of new residential building.

DOB permits point to Ekstein Development — "a diversified and rapidly growing real estate investment firm with properties and businesses located throughout New York and New Jersey" — as the owner.

On March 4, the city served a full Stop Work Order for operating here without proper permits.



Also, given that one-level buildings are becoming extinct around the neighborhood… it's worth noting that the demolition permit is only for No. 64, and that there's nothing on file for No. 66, home to Abetta Boiler and Welding Service next door … so they appear safe for now…


[Photo by Lucia Moore via Google]

Previously on EV Grieve:
[Updated] La Vie closed for now on East First Street

New York Supreme Court upholds revocation of La Vie's liquor license

CB3 denies La Vie; owner responds by calling Susan Stetzer a 'racist'

La Vie has closed; neighbors rejoice

Teaser site up for new East 7th Street residential building that people don't hate

[Photo from February by Dave on 7th]

Early last month, the construction netting came down at the all-new 227 E. Seventh St. just west of Avenue C.

And the reader reaction in the comments was generally positive. Example!

Giovanni said...
Now that is a great looking building, love the color and design. Note to all future developers who are planning to build in the EV or any other historic area: this is how you do it.

This is a classic brick design that reminds me of many industrial and pre-war buildings which have all stood the test of time, with a bit more glass which is fine in the smaller panes, and nice looking balconies and brickwork that blends well with the location.

Of course, a home here is very likely out of our/your price range. (Hey, but we can enjoy it while walking by!)

Anyway, there's a little more information now about the building via a sign that workers posted the other day...



The building has a website… where we learned that the "classic full floor condominium residences" have either two or three bedrooms. You can sign up to be on a mailing list. Floor plans and pricing shouldn't be too far behind.

Previously on EV Grieve:
New building at 227 E. Seventh St. — revealed (28 comments)

Go see Richard Hell at The Strand tomorrow night

Here are details via The Strand's website:

Join us for an exclusive evening in Strand’s rare book room to honor the paperback release of Richard Hell’s acclaimed I Dreamed I Was a Very Clean Tramp. The autobiography has been called “A candid, sometimes brutal tour of punk’s gritty early days" by The New York Times Magazine, and "radically self-aware…wielding prose keen as a diamond knife" by cultural critic Luc Sante.

Richard will read briefly from I Dreamed I Was a Very Clean Tramp before being interviewed by NYU professor Bryan Waterman (author of the 33 1/3 volume Marquee Moon), and will then take audience questions. At the evening’s conclusion, Richard will inscribe copies of I Dreamed I Was a Very Clean Tramp. No other memorabilia, please.

Buy a copy of I Dreamed I Was A Very Clean Tramp or a $15 Strand gift card in order to attend this event, which will be located in the Strand's 3rd floor Rare Book Room at our store at 828 Broadway at 12th Street.

The event is from 7-8 p.m.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Richard Hell on his East Village apartment

EV Grieve Etc.: Mourning Edition

[Photo by Michael Sean Edwards]

A farewell to tattoo legend Mike Bakaty (BoweryBoogie)

East Village artist Theresa Byrnes discusses her challenging path to motherhood (The Villager)

Reprising The Real Estate Show on the LES (The Lo-Down)

East Side Community High School's chess team is going to the nationals (DNAinfo)

"Are you okay? Is New York getting to you? Are things not going according to plan? Stop whining. For fuck’s sake." (Don JeVore)

The Socially Relevant Film Festival continues at the Quad (Rated SR Films)

The hawks are getting frisky in Tompkins Square Park (The Gog Log)

Jeremiah visits Whole Foods Gowanus (Jeremiah's Vanishing New York)

Christopher Walken as a child actor (Dangerous Minds)

... and crews are filming the CBS show "Person of Interest" today on East Ninth Street and First Avenue ... where lead actor Jim Caviezel was spotted on the payphone...


[Photo by @RaminShirvani]

... there are also helpful reminders about not parking in front of this fire hydrant on East Ninth Street...

47-year-old Stromboli Pizza closes ahead of new development on University Place

Stromboli Pizza has quietly closed on University Place between East 12th Street and East 13th Street.

Alex at Flaming Pablum first noted this closure on Sunday. As he wrote:

While never particularly gourmet, Stromboli's made and sold pefectly solid, dependable pizza, and the place exuded a great sense of place and neighborhood.

Meanwhile, other nearby businesses have closed or are moving…

The newsstand is headed across the street…



… and Bamboo Tori recently went DOA…




Japonica is still hanging on.

All this activity is to make way for a new residential complex at 110 University Place, which currently still houses the parking garage and Bowlmor Lanes. (In January, the Post reported that demolition for a new building will likely start this summer.) There hasn't been anything official from developer Billy Macklowe, CEO of William Macklowe Company, about the future of the building.


[EVG file photo]

However, this was in a news release (PDF!) from last week about the sale of 37 E. 12th St. from Massey Knakal:

Recent conversion sales in addition to 37 East 12th Street include, 110 University Place (currently home to Bowlmor Lanes), and 809 Broadway (the former Blatt Billiards Building). These sales will continue to transform the Central Village over the next few years.

Indeed.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Building that houses Bowlmor Lanes will convert to condos, like everywhere else around here

Ben Shaoul linked to another possible LES development; bye bye Bereket?

Ben Shaoul is reportedly close to buying that L-shaped parcel of single-level businesses on East Houston at Orchard Street.

BoweryBoogie had the scoop yesterday that Shaoul, the East Village-LES Developer-Landlord of the Year seven years running, was in (or close) to contract for 196-198 Orchard and 187 East Houston.

While the deal EXCLUDES Katz's, the rest of the businesses, including Bereket, Empanada Mama and Ray's Pizza, will need to vacate in the coming months. None of the restaurants that Gothamist's Christopher Robbins contacted were aware of the upcoming deal. "The man who answered the phone at Bereket said he believed the restaurant had another year on its lease."

News of Bereket possibly closing was particularly upsetting to EVG reader Danny:

"Their lentil soup is essentially a panacea for all the ailments that might plague a body, mind or spirit. (Of course, it must be eaten with hot sauce and with lemon.) And at $5, it's quite possibly the most bang for a buck to be had in all of Manhattan. Plus, all the guys that work there are incredibly warm and friendly. I'll be really sad to see it go. I only hope it'll move (not far away) and not close up shop for good."

+1

As for what might be coming next, BoweryBoogie points out that developers are permitted to build up to 12 stories (or 120 feet) with inclusionary housing.

Per a BB tipster:

"It's hard to imagine a single block is being subjected to such a massive unwanted upheaval (with absolutely no benefit to the residents)."

Resident wants stuff back that workers took from not abandoned apartment

Workers have been making structural repairs to 28 Avenue B, which was damaged last April during excavation work in the empty lot next door.

Perhaps there has been some confusion on the part of the workers over who, exactly, is living in No. 28.

We spotted this sign on the plywood in front of the entrance to the construction site last week.



Apparently the crew didn't pay enough attention to the sign.

It's now taped to the sidewalk outside the entrance.



Not quite as bad as this worker gaffe … but it really sucks.

Previously on EV Grieve:
[Updated] Report: 28 Avenue B has been evacuated

Full-stop work order served at construction site adjacent to evacuated Avenue B building

[Updated] 6-story apartment building ready to rise from the former Croxley Ales beer garden

Dahlia's-Mary Ann's transformation complete

[EVG file photo via Goggla]

A quick follow-up to our post from Friday about Dahlia's (slowly) taking over the Mary Ann's space on Second Avenue and East Fifth Street.

The new sign was painted on Friday night, as this photo by EVG reader Christina shows…



… and here's a view of the final product in the daylight…



Previously on EV Grieve:
Slowly but surely the exterior of the former Mary Ann's is becoming Dahlia's

The 'Beware: Thieves are lurking the L.E.S.' sign of the day

An EVG reader spotted (and noted!) this sign at the Open House club at 240 E. Houston St. near Avenue A.

Burkina is now Got it 4 cheap™ on First Avenue

[Photo by Yenta Laureate]

Last month, when EVG correspondent Stacie Joy talked with Burkina owner Ahmed Sankara about his new lease, he mentioned that he may change the name of the store.

He made good on that promise… Burkina is now known as Got it 4 cheap™ (or Gifu™), per this photo by Matt Rosen …



The store at 69 First Ave. is now selling its hip-hop and NYC-branded clothing for $5.99. We didn't go into the store, so we can't vouch for everything being $5.99 as the sign promises.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Burkina renews lease for First Avenue

Report of a fire at 279 E. Fourth St.

[Photo via @cvparso]

Nearly a dozen FDNY and NYPD vehicles are tending to reports of a fire on East Fourth Street between Avenue B and Avenue C... the official FDNY Twitter feed puts the blaze at 279 E. Fourth St.

MAN ALL HANDS 279 E 4 ST, MULTIPLE DWELLING FIRE ON FIRST FLR,

— FDNY (@FDNY) March 18, 2014

The FDNY quickly had things under control...

MAN ALL HANDS 279 E 4 ST, MULTIPLE DWELLING FIRE ON FIRST FLR, UNDER CONTROL

— FDNY (@FDNY) March 18, 2014

No word just yet on injuries or the extent of the damage. No. 279 is owned by the NYCHA, and includes a rehab center.

Updated 10:49 p.m.

Zac from East 4th shared these photos...







Zac heard breaking glass as the firefighters climbed into the building... he did not spot any flames, however.

Noted

Why are all the Santas wearing green? #EastVillage

— David Menschel (@davidminbklyn) March 17, 2014

East 7th Street, 7:30 a.m., March 17

[Photo by Sheila Rothenberg via Facebook]

At the front of the line for McSorley's.

Anyway, the bar is open. Last we heard there wasn't a line to get in ... and even room to stand inside.

Updated 8:30 a.m.

No lines...


[Photo by Christian from 6th Street]

Updated 10:15 a.m.

if you are interested in an ongoing account from inside, then you can check out Eater, who is liveblogging from the bar.

FroYo casualty: Twister is done on Second Avenue

Twister has closed on Second Avenue near East Seventh Street. Which may not be too much of a surprise given that we never ever ever saw one person inside the place other than employees. (Somewhere we have a photo of an employee sitting by the front window playing a game on his smartphone ... next to a Help Wanted banner.)

The family owned and operated self-serve frozen yogurt shop opened back in August.

On this subject matter, several readers have noted that Twist on Avenue A appears to be dead. (What is the difference between Twist and Twister? Please don't answer.)

Still! Despite closures like this, the froyo craze doesn't show signs of ever slowing down... Red Mango opened earlier this year on Second Avenue... and then there's Funkiberry coming to Third Avenue. Per their website: "Funkiberry is the land of endless yogurt possibilities, where you rule the portions, the choices and the scene."

Apparently a rough winter for the Tree Chair of East Sixth Street

[Photo from July by Robert Miner]

Got a look at the Tree Chair of East Sixth Street the other day… hmm, well, looks as if it needs some repairs here between Avenue A and Avenue B ahead of the spring season…





Previously on EV Grieve:
What happened to the tree chair on East Sixth Street?

The tree chair of East Sixth Street is... back!

Drill team arrives at the former Mary Help of Christians property

[December 2013]

Not much has been going on (not that anyone is complaining) in recent months at the site of the former Mary Help of Christians church, rectory and school … all demolished to make way for an apartment complex with some retail and 158 residential units (and maybe a rooftop pool).

Developer Douglas Steiner is still awaiting city approval for the new building. (The city last disapproved the plans on Feb. 12.)

Meanwhile, the city did OK a permit last week for the always sexy "drilled test pile work" (is that the name of a Guided by Voices song?) This meant the arrival of some new trucks and stuff to take photos of these past few days through the convenient blogger portals along the fence …







Enjoy the lot now. It will soon look like this.

Previously on EV Grieve:
New residential complex at former Mary Help of Christians lot may include rooftop swimming pool

Meet your new neighbor on Avenue A

A record deal at 51 Astor Place (AND STOP CALLING THIS AREA MIDTOWN SOUTH!)

Let's head over to The Real Deal for this story:

Claren Road Asset Management, a credit-focused money manager that is a subsidiary of private equity giant the Carlyle Group, will take the top floor of Edward Minskoff’s 51 Astor Place, The Real Deal has learned. The 25,401-square-foot space was asking a rent of $118 per square foot, a record for Midtown South. Sources familiar with the transaction said that it was likely the priciest per-square-foot deal struck in the neighborhood.

With this lease, 51 Astor Place/DeathStar/the IBM Watson building is now 85 percent, uh, leased.

Now can we look at a map please. Oh, here is an official one from the city of New York.



OK, you see where Midtown South is on the map? And you see this neighborhood?



Anyway, everyone knows that this area is known as WeAs (West of Astor) or LeLa (left of Lafayette Street, depending on which way you are facing).

Previously on EV Grieve:
Report: Maps show that Midtown South does NOT include the East Village/Astor Place

Laying the Jefferson's new sidewalk, which made it through St. Patrick's Day weekend

Over in the Northwest East Village on Saturday, workers were putting in the new sidewalk in front of the Jefferson at 211 E. 13th St. near Third Avenue …



Given that it was DrunkPeopleinGreenShirtsCon all-day Saturday night, we wondered if that freshly laid sidewalk would become the target of mischief.

But! On Sunday morning, it was still in pristine new sidewalk condition without anyone's initials or concrete penises …



Under the careful watch of security guard …



The Jefferson, the new 82-unit condo at the site of the former (sob) Mystery Lot in the North West East Village, is 100 percent in contract, The Real Deal reported last December.

Previously on EV Grieve:
The Jefferson reveals what '21st Century living in the heart of Olde New York' costs

Only 1 night of celebrating left!

Spotted at Nicoletta on Second Avenue …

Previously on EV Grieve:
Just 2 more nights of celebrating left!