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An EVG reader noted that workers arrived yesterday at 644 E. 14th St., the long-empty lot on the southwest corner of Avenue C. Nothing too major to point out, other than some freshly churned dirt (from some soil testing?) and newly painted plywood.
In any event, it marks the first there has been much here to note in the way of construction activity.
Last month, The Real Deal reported that Brooklyn's Rabsky Group sold the property to Opal Holdings for $23 million. (Per their website: "Opal Holdings targets value-added or opportunistic properties in the office, retail, residential and hotel sectors, to be repositioned or redeveloped.")
Not sure at this point what might be repositioned or redeveloped. Maybe the R&S Strauss auto parts store, which closed in April 2009? (It was demolished in early 2015.)
There are approved permits for a 14-story building totaling 63,932 square feet, with 8,064 square feet for retail ... and 21,991 square feet for a community facility. However, it's unclear if these are the plans that Opal would stick with moving forward.
Whenever construction actually commences, crews will likely have to contend with some serious de-watering activity... the developers two blocks to the west at 438 E. 14th St. have said that they found unusually elevated groundwater levels and exceedingly soft and unstable soil owing to the presence of an underground stream.
Previously on EV Grieve:
Development back in play for East 14th Street and Avenue C
More details on the sale of 644 E. 14th St.
Here comes a 15-story retail-residential complex for East 14th Street and Avenue C
Prepping the former R&S Strauss auto parts store for demolition on East 14th Street and Avenue C
City OKs 15-story mixed-use retail-residential building on 14th and C
14th and C now waiting for the Karl Fischer-designed 15-story retail-residential complex
14th and C still waiting for its Karl Fischer-designed retail-residential complex
Report: New owners for the empty lot at 14th Street and Avenue C