'Just-renovated' A Building penthouse on resale market with a little off the top

Over at the A Building, the Party Palace on 13th Street ... a penthouse just went on the market. According to Streeteasy, the owner bought it in March 2008 for $1,909,218. It's now listed for $1,895,000.

Well, here are a few views....

And the listing:

This just-renovated south-facing penthouse with terrace at The A Building features wonderful sun and sky, 11 foot ceilings, and exceptional contemporary finishes, including LV Bespoke 6 inch wide oak plank floors, Somfi motorized shades, and a B&W surround sound system in the living room with a second zone for the terrace. The ideal layout offers space for a large dining area plus several seating areas, great for entertaining. Both the living room and master bedroom open directly out onto the sunny, 250 SF south-facing terrace, perfect for accommodating dinner guests or just for stumbling straight out of bed to enjoy the flowers and soak up the sun. *Please note, there is a special assessment of $145.98 per month through December of 2011.

Hmm.

Odd that a three-year-old building would feature a "just-renovated" penthouse. Or not, as The Real Deal pointed out last year in an article titled "Massive headaches at the A Building." As TRD reported: "Faulty construction has afflicted roughly a quarter of the A Building's 96 units with serious leakage and mold issues."

In any event, see the penthouse for yourself this Sunday during the open house from 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Hey, and bring your swimsuit!

P.S.
If you don't care for this unit, there are six other homes for sale in the A Building, per Streeteasy.

Cool off today with a souvenir piece of the Icicle Audi ice

As you likely remember, the biggest story this — or any other, really — year was the Icicle Audi on East Second Street. (No? All you need to know is right here.)

As we exclusively reported on Jan. 24, the owner of the Icicle Audi was able to chip away enough of the ice-covered Audi to move it... and he left behind Icicle Audi ice for various souvenir collectors. Like us!

Instead of selling a souvenir chunk of ice then – when the eyes of the world were on the Icicle Audi... we waited until it got hot out ... when people may be more desperate for a chunk of ice — a liquid of unknown burst NYC water pipe origins frozen into this solid toxic state. And taking up room in the freezer.

So, behold — with a newspaper for authenticity ...

Bid early and often — and quickly. I've already heard from those guys at Death & Co.

Bonus January flashback!

No opening day set for the Big Gay Ice Cream Shop on Seventh Street

Last month, Serious Eats reported that the Big Gay Ice Cream Truck is opening a brick-and-mortar shop at the former Xoom space on Seventh Street.

In a video interview posted yesterday at The Amateur Gourmet, Doug Quint and Bryan Petroff discussed the Big Gay Ice Cream Empire, which includes a book next summer.

At about the 1:25 mark, Quint tells Adam Roberts that the space is coming along. But! How about an opening date? "It opens when it's ready to be opened," he said. "We want to learn how to run the store properly before we open. So we aren't going to set a date."

And, well, here's the whole interview ...

Someone's In The Kitchen With...Doug Quint & Bryan Petroff (from The Big Gay Ice Cream Truck) from Adam Roberts on Vimeo.

Why you'll risk life and limb walking under this tree in Tompkins Square Park

On Tuesday night, we wondered why this patch of the sidewalk on Avenue B along Tompkins Square Park was cordoned off with "Danger Do Not Enter" red tape...

As Dave on 7th and Chris noted, there are two large limbs just sort of hanging around up there... a crew has them secured but ... let's hope that a gust of wind doesn't come along until these things have been removed....

Delilah has escaped

And they likely mean Sixth Street and Avenue B....

NYPD tries to ticket cyclist for riding without a bell

Jeez. Is it the heat? Blowing a red light is one thing...

Occurred on First Avenue at Fifth Street.

Previously on EV Grieve:
NYPD slaps $270 ticket on East Village cyclist for running red light

EV Grieve Etc: Mourning Edition

Photos from 1980s NYC (Jeremiah's Vanishing NY)

Something new and different for Ludlow Street — a large bar (BoweryBoogie)

The latest on the completion of East River Park (The Lo-Down)

A woman takes a stroll on the Bowery topless (Nonetheless)

The Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art wants to build at Delancey and Norfolk (Curbed)

Panchito's owner doesn't regret painting over the Fat Black Pussycat Theatre sign (HuffPo)

An invasion of Chicago-style hot dogs (Gothamist)

Bottle service is back (Eater)

Hot town

Photo by jdx. From Avenue A and East Third Street ... shooting diagonally toward the East River...

51 Astor Place demolition begins July 1; 17 months to build new black-glass tower

By now, you likely know what's coming very soon to Astor Place — a Fumihiko Maki-designed 430,000-square-foot tower at the site of the former Cooper Union engineering building (You can refresh your memory here.)

Last night, representatives from the developer, Edward Minskoff, and the construction company, Sciame, shared demolition plans with 50-some community members at the soon-to-be demolished 51 Astor Place.

There were several presentations... the thing will be "black glass with black granite and silver fins." A construction rep talked about how safe the site will be... as well as signage, drainage, curb cuts, Zzzzzzz....

Now to what you want to know about:

Demolition begins on July 1. The reps said the entire duration of the project is 17 months.

Actually, you won't see any wrecking balls lined up starting on July 1. First. There will be roughly 40 days of abatement, to rid the place of fun things like vermin and asbestos. The construction rep assured the audience that all this will be done to the letter of the law with the utmost safety features in place. He described it as a "controlled process."

After that! A round of inspections. Then workers will commence with a 50-day-long "surgical demolition." So the actual demolition portion should commence sometime in mid-August. Workers will encase the site, and use small machines to methodically remove floor by floor... The demolition truck staging will take place on Third Avenue at Astor...

Early on, a discussion on the hours of the demolition site nearly turned the meeting into a melee. The construction hours are the city-established 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. There will be an occasional need to work on weekends, and the crew will have special DOB-issued permits for that.

"A lot of people live around here, and we're not going to be able to sleep for two years," said one resident in the back of the auditorium.

Reps tried to soldier on with the presentation, but a few persistent residents weren't having it.

"We don't care about the project."

"Answer our questions."

"This is propaganda."

"We don't care what it looks like."

Another resident mentioned a lawsuit to stop the project.

The presentation continued. Two of the more-vocal attendees eventually wandered out early.

A few other factoids:

• The plaza area roughly where the Film Academy Cafe is now calls for an Alexander Calder sculpture, most likely one titled "Giant Critter." (CB3 will review the plaza plans in July. More on that meeting when the date is available.)

• The building is 183 feet tall.

• The building will include space for retail and educational use on the lower levels; office space on the upper floors.

• There are no retail tenants yet. The retail space will reflect the needs of the office tenants.

• The developers have had talks with NYU and Cooper Union about leasing the educational space.

And here's what the building looks like from the Fourth Avenue side... (Note that the Cube remains on Astor Place...)

More on all this later...

Bonus! Photo of the first-floor men's room at 51 Astor Place...

Previously on EV Grieve:
East Village — the new Midtown?

The demolition of 51 Astor Place means the end of the New York Film Academy Café here

So with the news that the demolition of 51 Astor Place begins on July 1... I guess it's safe to assume that the New York Film Academy Café will be closing up (possibly moving to a new location?) at the end of the month...

The Café replaced the (east) Astor Place Starbucks early last year... During a meeting last night about 51 Astor Place, representatives for the developer said that the staging for the demolition would be taking place in the area where the Café currently sits...

4 years later, developer still talking Left Bank for Extra Place

[Photo by Bobby Williams from Monday afternoon]

More than four years ago, we first heard about the plans the developers of Avalon Bowery Place had for Extra Place — "a slice of the Left Bank, a pedestrian mall lined with interesting boutiques and cafes."



While we've been documenting the mostly pedestrian-free zone along Extra Place, developer AvalonBay is still hoping for a café society here.

Monday night, Stephen Hutto, AvalonBay's director of retail, told CB3's Economic Development Committee that he is close on a deal to bring a new Mediterranean-style restaurant into an 1,800-square-foot space on Extra Place, Patrick Hedlund at DNAinfo reported.

He also said that "a popular Brooklyn-based coffee shop" is eyeing a spot on East First Street near the corner of Extra Place.

In addition, Hutto wanted the CB's blessing for future tenants to seek new liquor licenses. (In response, CB members said that they'd deal with the licenses on a case-by-case basis.) He also asked for the Board's suggestions for populating the storefronts.

Per Hedlund's article: "Some community board members cited the lack of retail diversity in the neighborhood, as bars and restaurants continue to swallow up area storefronts, recommending that AvalonBay incentivize tenancy for a wide range of businesses by setting their rents below market rates."

Previously on EV Grieve:
Extra Place now officially a Dead End

Meanwhile, Extra Place continues to maintain its proud heritage

Perhaps he just saw Extra Place for the first time in 15 years or so?

Looking at Extra Place

Tonight: Slima's art show

Tonight, you can check out the work of the one-and-only Joseph "Count Slima" Williams. All the details are in the photo of the flyer above... And here's a photo of Slima with one of his works.

Sa Aming Nayon now open in the former Wai? Cafe space

The Filipino restaurant here on First Avenue between 12th Street and 13th Street is now open. They're also serving breakfast daily from 9-11 a.m.

I don't know anything about Filipino food. So can someone tell me about their breakfast specials, such as Cornsilog — homemade corned beef, garlic fried rice and two eggs any style ($7.95). And if you've eaten here already, then please pass along a report.

Meanwhile, work continues on Avenue B where Wai? Cafe will move one of these days.

Previously.

Earlier this evening around Tompkins Square Park

Anyone have any idea why this patch of the sidewalk near the Ninth Street entrance at Avenue B is cordoned off with "Danger Do Not Enter" red tape?

Updated: Answer is in the comments...

The line for Prune's brunch is getting ridiculous

Oh, c'mon... just a shot of the usual long cab-gas line here on Second Avenue at First Street via Bobby Williams.

Avenue A, 3 a.m., June 7

At Fifth Street. Photo by Shawn Chittle

New sinkhole proves that the Bowery isn't all glam yet

EV Grieve reader Michele Campo sends along the above photo, noting that a (roughly) 6-by-6 sinkhole opened up on the Bowery just north of Broome Street just after noon today.

Meanwhile, look for the sinkhole to apply for a liquor license soon.

Former funeral home looks to double in size with help from 'the controversial penthouse king of the East Village'

Expect to see something much larger and glassy in place at the former Sigmund Schwartz Gramercy Park Chapel on Second Avenue between 10th Street and Ninth Street. Off the Grid, the blog of the Greenwich Village Preservation Society, reports that the owners have applied to make substantial changes to the 1937 building.

Per Off the Grid:

According to the Department of Buildings, an Alteration type 1 application has been filed, which is the most substantial type of alteration. Plans are to “Remodel the existing three story building and add 3 stories on top.” The ground floor will be commercial and the five upper stories will be residential (six apartments each on floors two through four, and duplex apartments on the floors five & six). This can mean anything from the existing building more or less staying in place on the exterior and three stories being built on top, to the existing building being more or less stripped down to its foundations and a new six-story building pretty much being erected in its place. The permit has yet to be officially issued.

DOB paperwork shows that Ramy Issac is the architect here. New York once called him "The controversial penthouse king of the East Village." Issac is well-know to many people in the neighborhood for his work with developer-landlord Benjamin "Sledgehammer" Shaoul.

Meanwhile, check out this history of the Sigmund Schwartz Gramercy Park Chapel at Jeremiah's Vanishing New York.

12th Street brownstone becoming mini university for Jewish education

We've been watching the work continue at this brownstone on East 12th Street between Second Avenue and Third Avenue...

However, this isn't your ordinary townhouse renovation.

Here's the mission statement from the Brownstone website:

The Brownstone’s mission is to use NYC as an experiential classroom to strengthen Jewish identity and peoplehood, foster community development and cultivate the next generation of leaders to ensure Jewish continuity for American Jews.

The Brownstone building, located in the heart of New York’s East Village, will be a hub of dynamic and engaging immersion learning programs for the local community and for collegiates and young adults from across the United States and abroad.

The six-story Brownstone will feature: tastefully appointed meeting rooms, classrooms, a spacious auditorium, library, sleeping accommodations, offices, lounge, dining hall and kitchen, as well as a garden and a rooftop terrace.

And, if you want to know more, then you may watch the movie...

The dog-pampering Nolitan taking reservations starting July 1

We haven't paid too much attention to the long-delayed Nolitan, the high-endy boutique hotel on Kenmare and Elizabeth. Been following the drama at BoweryBoogie, Curbed and the Lo-Down.

Anyway, happened to walk by it yesterday, and wanted to learn more... Per the hotel website, it looks as if they're accepting reservations starting for July 1 — at a special intro rate of $305 per night.

And according to a press release an article posted Friday at Delood:

When you are staying at The Nolitan Hotel you will have the best service, luxury and hospitality available to you. The staff is there around the clock to provide you with with whatever you need – And we mean WHATEVER – a shoe shine, a presentation printed, dinner reservations, or even a dog walker. All dogs from Neapolitan Mastiffs to teacup Chihuahuas are welcome at The Nolitan. In fact, the hotel has a Director of Pet Relations; a six-year old Shepweiler (German Shepherd-Rottweiler mix) named Penny. Penny will make sure all the pet provisions and amenities are in order when you let the hotel know you are coming with your four-legged friend. She’ll arrange everything from spa treatments to peanut butter ice cream and give you the scoop on neighborhood dog runs and pet friendly establishments.

Who is destroying the East Village monsters?

The other day, EV Grieve correspondent Bobby Williams spotted this dinosaur-monster thing outside La Plaza Cultural Armando Perez on Avenue C at Ninth Street...

Then, a few days later...

Flashback to the Mystery Lot...

[Via James and Karla Murray]

And, after "a storm," which is what the authorities what you to believe.

Then it disappeared.

Another view from 1991

We've had a few items lately about 1991. (Such as this one.) Billy Leroy passed along the above photo from 1991 ... The future Billy's Antiques was called Manhattan Castle and Props .. as Billy noted in the photo, it was a time when cope were making frequent arrests in the middle of East Houston just west of the Bowery... and the MTA apparently didn't care if you sold MTA signs...

[Photo by Clayton Patterson, courtesy of Billy Leroy]

Tomorrow night: 'Greenwich Village: Past, Present, and Future'

From the EV Grieve inbox...

Wednesday at 6:30 pm
Greenwich Village: Past, Present, and Future

The Village has been transformed over the centuries from farmland to row houses to tenements to luxury condominiums. How does a district that has long celebrated newcomers and defiant outsiders balance the old and the new? Join historians, planners, and community leaders for an evening of discussion about this important section of New York City and what its future might hold, moderated by Andrew Berman, Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation, featuring Kurt Cavanaugh, Director, East Village Community Coalition and David Mulkins, Chair, Bowery Alliance of Neighbors.

Co-sponsored by the Historic Districts Council. This program is presented as part of the ongoing Urban Forum series New York Neighborhoods: Preservation and Development.

Reservations required: 917-492-3395 or e-mail programs@mcny.org

$6 museum members; $8 seniors and students; $12 non-members

$6 when you mention EV Grieve

Museum of the City of New York
1220 Fifth Avenue at 103rd Street

More info here.

Marilyn Monroe caught peeking out Seventh Street window

Photos by Bobby Williams.

Today in blimps flying over the East Village

Oh, and thanks to our sponsor, Farmers Insurance Group.

Photos by Bobby Williams.

Reminders tonight: A discussion on proposed rent hikes

Reposting this from yesterday...

This is at the corner of the Bowery where the CB3/SLA meetings usually take place.

Noted

Dave on 7th notes a crucial new business opening along Broadway at Eighth Street...

Formerly home to stores such as Benetton ...

The Economakis Mansion's latest feature: Branded Plywood!

Last Thursday and Friday, I did a little guest-posting at Curbed. Here is an item from late Friday afternoon...

Renovations continue at the Economakis Mansion at 47 E. Third St., the former site of a bitter tenant battle. Although it has been nearly two years since the 15-unit tenement emptied out to make way for a jumbo single-family home, the eviction wounds are still fresh.

Which is one reason why EconoWatchers are keeping an eye out for the slightest development, fueling rumors of a private garage along the way. Meanwhile, there is one new item to note: The Economakis-branded plywood. Rather stately, don’t you think?

Previously on EV Grieve:
And Economakis gets the whole building for his dream mansion

The 47 E. 3rd St. protest in video

At the 47 E. 3rd St. protest

Conspiracies: Where are all the fliers?