Looking at 120 St. Mark's Place

The news this week that Benjamin Shaoul must remove "four seventh-story cabinlike structures" (as the Times described it) atop 514-516 East Sixth St. prompted us to take a look at another one of his high-profile properties — 120 St. Mark's Place.

There's a long, ugly history here... which has been thoroughly documented by Bob Arihood at Neither More Nor Less through the years. (This link will take you to all the history here... the address, of course, was once home to the Mosiac Man.... and known as The Cave.)

In any event, we looked at the public records on this address via the Department of Buildings... according to the site, there is a "closure/padlock" order for the address...



In addition, according to the DOB, the address doesn't have a Certificate of Occupancy ... not even a temporary certificate of occupancy...



The most recent Certificate of Occupancy, a temporary order, expired in November 2008.



Also, there are complaints about "illegal hotel rooms in residential buildings."



In total, the DOB has 84 complaints listed here since June 2006.

Meanwhile, we took at look at recent rental listings for 120 St. Mark's Place.

In July, a one-bedroom unit on the sixth floor rented for $2,600. Per the description:

VILLAGE DUPLEX WITH EMPIRE STATE VIEWS and Terrace!
UNIQUE EAST VILLAGE GEM! DUPLEX one bedroom PENTHOUSE apartment features NEWLY RENOVATED KITCHEN and Bathroom, OUTDOOR SPACE with EMPIRE STATE BUILDING VIEWS, and washer and dryer in the unit! Act Fast...

According to StreetEasy, agents rented a three-bedroom unit here for $4,500 in July 2009. This apartment was described as:

LIVE IN A BRAND NEW THREE BEDROOM DIRECTLY ON SAINT MARKS. Apartment Features: Washer/Dryer Stainless Steel Appliances Marble BathroomNew Fixtures Balcony and Terrace Spacious Bedrooms CALL NOW TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT! THIS IS A GREAT DEAL AND DEFINITELY WILL NOT LAST LONG!

Finally, if you're new to this story, here's a little more background. As Bob Arihood noted, in exchange for renting two-and-a-half floors in the building to a community facility (a nonprofit, or doctor's office or religious organization), the DOB reportedly would give the OK to the landlord to create an addition that would be larger than normally allowed at this location.

In the last few years, the groundfloor business has been leased to a tattoo/piercing salon.



For more background:
St. Marks Squatters Getting the Boot (Curbed)

Rent Wars: Boy Emperor Gets In On East Village Harassment (Curbed)

Boy Developer Ben Shaoul Wants to Live Forever (The Observer)

Cave collective collects buyouts as Buildings tries to stop cave-in (The Villager)

Stop-work still in effect at former artists’ squat (The Villager)

Two old-school newsstands that are still holding on

Yesterday, Jeremiah noted the demise of another old-style newsstand near Union Square...

Which reminds me of the recent photos that I took...

Broadway near Astor Place...



... and 23rd Street and Park Avenue South...




Appreciate them while you can ... soon they, too, will be described as "dull, blank box, another ticky-tacky nothing."

Jeremiah has more on vanishing newsstands here.

First casualty in the FiDi bikini bar wars

Back in February, we inexplicably wrote a post about the revamped Hook & Ladder II in the Financial District...



...featuring the "Hook and Ladder II bikini bartenders," one of whom in the ad looked a lot like Mariah Carey in a firefighter's uniform ...



Anyway! I'm not sure when this happened, but the Hook and Ladder II is now closed. And their phone has been "temporarily disconnected." Let's just say that the place hasn't been open the last three weeks.

They were maybe foolish to take on the nearby Nassau Bar, where the bartenders look like extras from a Russ Meyer's movie....


[Not actual Nassau Street bartenders!]

Anyway, for some reason, I will now share this story.

So.

Shortly after HALII's grand reopening, I walked in. To see just how cheesy it would be. Never been in the place before. I walked up the stairs, and spotted an empty bar with some dude in front of the taps. A terrible mistake had been made. I quickly turned around to leave.

Wait! he said.

I must have looked like some sadass middle management type in need of an after-work jolly. Maybe I am! He called out a woman's name.

Mary? Stephanie? Linda? Something fairly common, and not like a bikini bar stage name. Cinnamon. Diamond. Isis. Illusion.

Let's call her Mary. Mary peeks around the corner of the back room. The fellow makes a motion for her to come behind the bar. In a very bashful manner, she gingerly walked her way to the bar, zipping up a baggy hoodie to cover her bikini. The scene struck me like a sister whose older brother was making her do something she really didn't want to do, like tend bar in a bikini.

This was her first day on the job. No kidding? She was nice. She smiled. She had braces. She was probably 24. And she had never tended bar before. The fellow explained that they were out of ice, so any mixed drinks would have to be served warm. I ordered a bottle of beer. I watched as he explained the finer points of bartending, such as how to make a gin and tonic.

A few entertaining minutes later, we all got to talking. The fellow and Mary were old friends. We discussed the news of the day. Sports. Movies. Her favorite all-time movie was "The Dark Knight."

So it went. About 15 minutes later, I left. I wished them all the best. They said to be sure to come back and bring all my friends. I promised that I would, though I don't really have any friends who would ever come here.

Previously on EV Grieve:
In the Financial District, Mariah Carey helps usher in the start of the bikini bar war

Al Diwan ready to yield to "Gaelic gastro pub" on Avenue A

Looks like Al Diwan on Avenue A and 13th Street has closed up... In June, the Al Diwan folks received permission to transfer their license... as we reported, this space will become home to Percy's Tavern, a "Gaelic gastro pub." You can read all about that here. Percy's owner, Larry Watson, has lived in the East Village for 25 years, arriving here in 1986 to work as a building super on 11th Street and Second Avenue...

Bedbugs from the big chair

Yesterday, on the Bowery and East Fourth Street.

14th Street near Avenue A, 7:07 p.m., Aug. 5

Dallas gets a Beauty Bar

The Beauty Bar mini-chain continues to expand... coming soon to Dallas. Aside from the original 14th Street location, the new addition brings the total to 11... The commenters there in Dallas don't seem too thrilled by the prospects, either...

Scenes from Second Avenue a little earlier today

From EV Grieve reader Blue Glass...

The convergence of Verizon and ConEd trucks near 13th Street...



...a traffic cop lurking behind the pay phone on 10th Street... ready to start writing tickets...

Into thin air: Pretzel maker removing 'too thin' ads

As you may recall last Thursday, we posted this photo from EV Grieve reader K. Knipfing ... pointing out the new make-us-feel-badly-about-our-bodies ad on the northeast corner of First Street and First Avenue...



NYC the Blog has been all over this too... even corresponding with the company:

Perry Abbenante, Vice President of Marketing at Snack Factory LLC, maker of Pretzel Crisps, responded to an email request for comment shortly after, explaining that they have been monitoring the situation, and will be "making some adjustments to the campaign."

And now!

He just followed up, and informed NYC The Blog: "Based on the feedback received from you and other bloggers, we will be taking the ‘You can never be too thin’ ads down."

The company has also apologized.

[Update] Police investigating death on 14th Street

A reader notes that police are on the scene at 333 E. 14th St. According to the reader, there is a body on the sidewalk covered with a gray tarp. Witnesses say that the victim, a woman, may have jumped from the building. Police are on the scene and investigating.



The medical examiner and news crews arrived simualtanesouly, the reader said.

Update 8:27 p.m.: Two other readers were also on the scene... several people there are telling police that they saw the victim jump.

Update 9:15 a.m.: According to the Post, police said the death appears to be a suicide. The victim was 36.

(And some classy comments in the Post on this tragedy...)

Late night in front of Le Souk

A few weeks back, we noted some work and what not at the former Le Souk space on Avenue B... and, a tipster was curious why he or she saw people coming out of Le Souk at 4, 5, 6 a.m....

Now, the tipster has passed along a photo from the other night with the following note: "Le Souk 4.30 am. 18 people come out to smoke."



A little dark, of course (what, want the person to use a flash?)... but you can kind of see a group of people congregating in front of the Le Souk space...

Meanwhile, a walk by the Le Souk space revealed dozens of cigarette butts on the sidewalk out front... quite a few for in front of a shuttered business....





Anyway, as we've pointed out before, Le Souk still looks like a functioning restaurant at a quick glance...and the windows are covered with thick curtains... and what looks like a trash bag over the front-door window...



Anyway, there's probably a logical explanation for all this...

Previously.
Plus:
Is Le Souk still doing business on Avenue B?

What's next for Avenue B and Second Street?

We've been keeping an eye on the long-dormant corner of Avenue B and Second Street for some time now...



In February, the CB3/SLA denied a request for a 3,000-square-foot bar/restaurant "with an occasional D.J." In January, Rebecca Marx at Fork in the Road reported that Beltrami Foods, an Italian restaurant, will open here, owned and operated, in part, by Cristiano Morroy.

Work continues on this space... and whatever it is... is gonna be huge...



...and the disco ball is still up at the old Butterfuly space at 14 Avenue B!



I asked Morroy if he was still aiming for an eatery/bar here... Via a Facebook message, he wrote, "no, unfortunately... we decided not to open the space on ave B. Someone else is opening."

No word just yet on what the new owners have in mind... but we'll find out...

Previously on EV Grieve:
3,000-square-foot bar/restaurant "with an occasional D.J." apparently moving forward on Avenue B

Avenue B gets crucial new ATM

Speaking of Avenue B... a new ATM recently went in here near Houston...



...a sorely needed necessity since workers removed the ATM (or was it stolen?) from in front of Croxley's...



Meanwhile, at least 6-7 ATMs remain in the next two blocks...

We wrote a post on the Avenue B ATMs in March 2009... and, in the comments, Slum Goddess floated the bestest-ever theory on the proliferation of ATMs hereabouts:

These so called "ATM's" are obviously beings from a far away planet who have been studying earthlings habits for many many years now. They are multiplying and joining forces in preparation for the big takeover of earth.

You've been warned!

Previously on EV Grieve:
Avenue ATM (aka, how many stupid ATMs does one block need?)

Stepping it up tomorrow -- in 3D, no less

By the time you read this, we'll likely be first in line to see the first screening tomorrow of "Step Up 3D." Or, as we like to say,"Step Up Fuckin' 3D!"




But seriously, we are slightly curious about the movie only because of the extensive filming in the East Village last May and June. (Surely, you remember one of our 34,987 posts on it, right? If not... well... here... here... here... and maybe here.)




This two minutes is likely enough for us anyway...



Note to self: Do some sit-ups.

3D more our speed

Ah! Now this is how 3D was meant to be seen! "Jaws 3D," Spielberg's summer classic from 1983!



Hold on a minute. What's this? Oh! I'm told it was directed by Joe Alves!

Anyway! Just try not to be terrified by the 3D technology!

Ahhhh!



Shark! Run!



No, really, run!



Ah! Floating teeth!



And, in case you still have your 3D glasses from Time Out's 3D issue...

EV Grieve Etc.: Mourning Edition

Revisiting Johnny Suede (Jeremiah's Vanishing NY)

Sound Library closes on Orchard (BoweryBoogie)

A cop on stilts dancing to Michael Jackson (Slum Goddess)

Life and Yaffa ads from the 1980s (Ephemeral NY)

Looking at 'Who Killed Nancy' (Stupefaction)

NYC now has even more millionaires (Runnin' Scared)


Longtime East Village resident/activist/educator Rob Hollander offered up some advice to the travelblog GranTourismo. Among his tips:

Most important phrase to learn?
"NYU." N-Y-U – that's New York University, the expanding school that's taking over the neighbourhood. You'll see their purple flag everywhere. Not loved among the residents. Don't smile when you say it.

Penthouse forum: City tells landlord to remove an addition on Sixth Street

Something a little different here... a penthouse is actually going to be torn down, not built... The Post has the report:

The owner of an East Village tenement is going to have to take a little off the top of his building to comply with a ruling issued yesterday by the city, his lawyer said.
The Board of Standards and Appeals voted to approve a sixth story that had been added to 514-516 E. 6th St. last year, but not the penthouse above it, said lawyer Marvin Mitzner.

He described the decision as a "three-quarters victory" for his client, developer Ben Shaoul.

Mitzner said the main issue was the developer's right to expand a tenement without having to strip it to the foundation, and not the penthouse addition that could be easily removed.

"We're going to have to do some demolition work," Mitzner said. "I don't think it will be a big deal to deconstruct it."

Sure thing, Marvin! And will the demolition put a dent on the partying?

As The Villager reported in December 2008:

The Board of Standards and Appeals ruled at the end of last month that the Department of Buildings was wrong to issue permits to add two extra floors to two East Village tenements.

The B.S.A. ruled that the additions to the five-story buildings at 515 E. Fifth St. and 514-516 E. Sixth St. violated the state’s 1929 Multiple Dwelling Law in regard to fire safety and elevator requirements.

Meanwhile, Marvin will seek a variance for 515 E. Fifth St., where another story and penthouse were added, the Post reported.

[Image via Curbed]

Previously on EV Grieve:
Important notice about "partying" in Shaoul buildings on East Fifth Street and East Sixth Street

Would the 'Meathead Ordinance' work in New York City?

Thanks to our friend Goggla for sending along this link from The Seattle Times yesterday:

In an effort to help Seattle police tame unruly bar patrons as they spill out of the city's bars and clubs at closing time, the Seattle City Council unanimously passed an ordinance Monday that would allow cops to write tickets for fighting, making threats and creating noisy disturbances.

Dubbed the "meathead ordinance" — a catchall phrase for the stereotypical bad behavior officers regularly encounter when bar patrons spill onto sidewalks just before 2 a.m. — the measure would be enforced between midnight and 5 a.m.

Given the number of meatheads who invade the neighborhood weekends, the city could make a fortune in no time... And I'm not advocating such an ordinance -- just pointing out its existence somewhere else... according to the Times, the ordinance still needs to be vetted by the state Department of Ecology (!), which reviews all laws related to noise.

NYPD hosting meeting between Sin Sin and neighbors tonight

Lt. Patrick Ferguson of the Ninth Precinct has organized a meeting tonight at 7 between neighbors and Sin Sin's management. The meeting will take place at Sin Sin, 248 E. Fifth St.

In a post from last month, Stuart Zamsky, president of the East Fifth Street Block Association, called the bar combo on the corner of Fifth Street and Second Avenue, a "notoriously bad neighbor." Among the alleged disruptions: "Night after night of screaming, shouting into cell phones and loud music" and "fist fights are a common occurrence." (Their website advertises hosting birthday parties fro groups of 15 to 300.)

Last month, the CB3/SLA committee rejected Sin Sin's liquor license transfer. As Eater reported: "Neighbors came out in full swing ... with 20 showing up to oppose the transfer, claiming that Sin Sin was the source of countless brawls and noise issues in the neighborhood... Things got personal, as CB3 chair Dominic Pisciotta questioned whether the transfer applicants’ background in managing a Dunkin’ Donuts made them unqualified to take on a bar with such a troubled history."

So tonight: Will there be meaningful dialogue that gets to the root of the problem, or will management offer some olive branches such as, say, the cellphone number of the bouncer to call at 4 a.m. when patrons are yelling outside? Perhaps team Sin Sin can speak with the Lit Lounge owners, who have made strides in reducing the quality-of-life issues surrounding their club.

Residents who are directly impacted by Sin Sin are encouraged to attend tonight's meeting.

Previously on EV Grieve:
East Village noise wars new battlefront: Sin Sin/Leopard Lounge

How Lit Lounge is trying to be a better neighbor

Seventh Street hostel now ready to become condos or single-family home

Back in April, we wrote about the city shutting down The Village Inn, the hostel that has been operating at 27 E. Seventh St. near Cooper Square. The city said that there were illegal hotel rooms in this residential building. Reps from the Village Inn -- one of four in the city operated by the NYC Hostel Connection -- claimed in a Facebook post that they were getting harrassed by the city.



Anyway, apparently all this has been resolved: The building hit the market yesterday for $6.85 million. Per the listing:

26' WIDE & VACANT - This incredibly large East Village townhouse was previously used as a hostel and now it is delivered vacant. There are many possibilities for this structurally sound and restored building. With its low taxes and zoning of R7-2, the building would be perfect to house a non-profit organization, but could also be converted to floor-through condos, a rental building or a spacious single-family home. This rare building presents an exciting opportunity for both users and investors.

Probably more exciting for investors, wouldn't you say...

Previously on EV Grieve:
The Village Inn hostel on Seventh Street closed by city

Fabulous Townhouse Triplex awaits you right now on East Third Street

Over here at 36 E. Third St., an apartment is waiting for your immediate move in...



According to the Brown Harris Stevens listing:

Fabulous Townhouse Triplex in Prime East Village. This home offers three bedrooms and two baths, double height ceilings, huge terrace and balcony and three fireplaces. Renovated baths, wonderful light and detail with glass greenhouse atrium, exposed brick and wood beams. Wonderful space for entertaining! Available for rent immediate occupancy. Must see!

Awesome! I'll be there in 10 minutes with my duffel bag!





Oh! Details! The rent: $15,000 per month.

If this is in your price range, then feel free to stop by for the open house next Monday at 5-6:30 p.m.

Curtain call at Village Green Wellness Center

Faithful readers of this space know that we have been excitedly awaiting for the arrival of the new gym Wellness Center at Village Green on 11th Street... Based on the artistic renderings of the space, the groundlevel location seemingly would make this awfully public ....



Not so fast, pervs! You've been thwarted by a curtain!



Safe, then, perhaps, for the "bona fide supermodels" who are reportedly living here to work out without the paparazzi getting a clear view...?