The St. Mark’s Church Greenmarket will not be returning this year

[Photo from June 2016 by Steven]

An EVG reader looking for when the annual St. Mark’s Church Greenmarket might return this season found the following message on the GrowNYC website...



Not a good sign.

An administrator at St. Mark's Church-in-the-Bowery confirmed the news. Church officials were informed by GrowNYC last week that the St. Mark's Greenmarket will not be returning this year. It would have been the 36th year for the Greenmarket here. We reached out to GrowNYC, which runs the city’s Greenmarkets, for comment. Will update when we hear back.

The Greenmarket on 10th Street at Second Avenue first started in 1981 in the triangular space in front of the St. Mark's Church-in-the-Bowery.

Updated:

Someone from the Greenmarket staff this this in the comments...

Thank you everyone for expressing your concern regarding the St. Mark's Greenmarket. We are a 501(C)3 non-profit organization whose mission is to simultaneously serve our farmer/producer community and the NYC residents who depend on our markets for fresh food. Closing markets is always a last resort for us and we are actively looking for a new location in the near vicinity that will allow for a more thriving marketplace, to make sure that our farmers stay viable and we can continue serving the community.

In the meantime, we found homes to support the farmers that sold at St. Marks and please visit us on Sundays in Tompkins Sq Park, Sundays (starting 5/21) in Stuy Town, and M/W/F/Sat in Union Square- all a close walk from 10th street and 2nd Ave.

The 7th Street Village Farm is for rent

A tipster points us to a listing for 113 First Ave. — current home of the 7th Street Village Farm.

Per the listing at Douglas Elliman:

Calling all business owners and restauranteurs. Enjoy a dynamic space with maximum exposure, located at one of Manhattan's most bustling intersections. Foot traffic, a sizeable basement, and potential for outdoor space are all key factors to this listing. Just minutes away from all mass transit, this space is conveniently located near some of the East Village's hottest spots.

The listing has the price at $350,000. (Annually? Key money?) Public records show that the building changed hands in March 2015 for $5.5 million. The new owner is behind an LLC with a Jackson Heights address. (Back at the time of the sale, we heard that the deal was between family members.)

And as we understand it, the deli owners are the ones who have OK'd the art on the Seventh Street walls, which include the MCA tribute by @cramcept...



In any event, the corner has housed a market for as long as anyone we talked to can remember...


[Photo from 1979 by Michael Sean Edwards]

Below 7th closes again on 7th Street

Below 7th, a small gift shop a few steps down at 63 E. Seventh St., has closed.

The shop, which sold gift cards, candles, soaps and jewelry, first opened in the fall of 2014, before quietly going on an extended hiatus with the signage and some of the merchandise remaining behind. The shop returned early last summer.

As we understand it, the owners had a similar shop somewhere in the West Village. From the look of it, Below 7th here between First Avenue and Second Avenue has closed for good this time...

Wednesday's parting shot

Spotted outside the former Church of the Nativity on Second Avenue between Second Street and Third Street...

The mysterious abandoned minivan of 12th Street has been — CONDEMNED

[Not today]

On Monday, an EVG reader noted the above minivan that has been parked on 12th Street just west of Avenue A for long enough. No license plates. A handful of parking tickets on the windshield. Yet it still sat there.

This afternoon, the same reader saw some sanitation workers inspecting the vehicle earlier today ... and now the vehicle has been scheduled for removal...

Report: The city would need 43 years to crack down on Airbnb violators

As noted yesterday, an East Village resident was one of the first two Airbnb hosts to pay a fine ($1,000) under the new state law banning advertising for home rentals of less than 30 days.

Crain's has some perspective on the challenge ahead for the city to enforce this.

The number of potentially illegal Airbnb listings was 23,639 as of April, according to data from the company, though a portion of those ads could be for a stay in a single-family home or another type of dwelling exempt from the legislation. But based on current rates, it would take the Mayor's Office of Special Enforcement 43 years to run down those potential violations.

At least for now, hosts with only one listing have a slimmer chance of being caught, and according to Airbnb's site, 96% of hosts fall into this category. Since they stand to earn $750 a week on average, paying off the fine might not prove to be much of a deterrent.

The Daily News reported that the East Village resident was getting $446 a night for her city-subsidized affordable co-op on Sixth Street.

Looking at the BP-replacing condos coming to 32 E. 1st St.

As we noted two weeks ago, the mural by Brazilian twins Os Gêmeos was starting to disappear behind the new 10-story retail-residential building at 24 Second Ave. and First Street.

CityRealty had more details this week about the "spiffy collection of condos" expected to be finished later next year. For starters, the official address of the building housing 33 condos is 32 E. First St.

Here's more via CityRealty:

The lively and geometric exterior is designed by the design firm Combined who is a joint-partnership between RSVP Architecture Studio and N-Plus Design Studio. The façade is composed of stone-colored frames that project from a face of windows and dark-colored spandrels and mullions.



New interior renderings show the forthcoming homes will have open layouts, arrays of windows that are not quite floor-to-ceiling, and beveled ceilings. The amenity offerings will include a fitness center, spa, mail room, communal terrace and a recreation room.

Here are some renderings via Combined. Updated: A rep for Combined said that they did not grant permission for the use of the renderings. So you can check out all the renderings at the Combined website. (Or CityRealty here.)

The property was home to BP, which closed in July 2014. The BP was the second-to-last gas station in the East Village.

Previously on EV Grieve:
The 2nd Avenue BP station has closed

Permits filed to demolish former 2nd Avenue BP station

More about the 10-story building taking the place of the former BP station at 24 2nd Ave.

Check out the new 10-story building for the former 2nd Avenue BP station

A ballerina for 2nd Avenue

2nd Avenue residential complex now complete with renderings on the plywood

Demolition watch: 3 E. 3rd St.

3 E. Third St. is wrapped and looking ready for demolition here just off of the Bowery.

Workers have baited the building for rats and removed asbestos...



As reported last fall, Brooklyn-based Barrett Design has plans for a seven-story mixed-use condoplex on the lot. The building will feature a retail condo on the ground floor and five apartments above, consisting of four full-floor units and a duplex penthouse.


[Rendering via Barrett Design]

No. 3 will join this luxurious corner of Third Street and the Bowery...



For the past 20-plus years, 3 E. Third St. served as short-term rentals for students and interns..


[3 E. 3rd St. in April 2015]

Previously on EV Grieve:
Development site available on East 3rd Street at the Bowery

Taxi Parts Inc. departs the East Village

After nearly two years at 45 First Ave. (Suite 1C, per the awning), Taxi Parts Inc. has moved on...



The sign on the gates notes a new address up on Second Avenue between 111th Street and 112th Street. Before this, the business had been around for 25-plus years on 10th Avenue and 35th Street ... but their building was being razed to make way for the Hudson Yards mega-project.

No. 45 here between Second Street and Third Street was previously home to the barber shop that also bought gold.

Report: Crews working to clean up the Con Ed oil spill in the East River

As if the East River wasn’t toxic enough https://t.co/uw15dvcSnU

— New York Post Metro (@nypmetro) May 9, 2017

There have been news reports throughout the day about the Con Ed substation in DUMBO that "spewed dielectric fluid into the East River on Sunday, causing an oil slick that witnesses said could be seen in Queens," as Gothamist put it.

A Coast Guard spokesperson described this as a "catastrophic failure" of a transformer at the substation.

The spill also caused a voltage dip that caused delays on several subway lines and suspended NYC Ferry service.

Here's the official statement from ConEd:

Con Edison is working to contain and clean up transformer insulating oil that was released from one of our substations in Brooklyn near the East River. A transformer containing approximately 37,000 gallons of insulating oil used with electrical equipment, failed on Sunday May 7 at 12:23 p.m., causing much of the oil to be released within the station property in addition to the East River. The equipment failure also caused a system voltage dip that impacted the MTA’s signaling systems on Sunday, resulting in a disruption to some train service.

Con Edison responded immediately, placing boom, absorbents and skimmers in the river. Our own employees and environmental contractors are working on the cleanup, and we are working cooperatively with the U.S. Coast Guard, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and other agencies. We continue to assess the volume of oil that migrated to the East River, and how much oil remains in the ground on our property.

The Coast Guard has issued reduced speed restrictions for commercial vessels operating in the area, and banning recreational vessels, to assist the cleanup process. We are taking all actions to contain and clean up the oil as safely and as quickly as possible.

Noted

EVG reader Michael spotted this today on Avenue B at Sixth Street... one could probably find multiple uses for this...

EV Grieve Etc.: Memories and hot dogs at McSorley's

[Photo on 2nd Avenue by Derek Berg]

An excerpt from the new memoir, Two and Two: McSorley's, My Dad, and Me (Grub Street)

Speaking of McSorley's, starting today, Feltman's of Coney Island hot dogs will be added onto the saloon's daily menu

Man found floating in the East River at around 14th Street on Sunday afternoon (Town & Village)

Kushners apologize for name-dropping Jared to Chinese investors (The Post)

The Pickle Guys are breaking with tradition, now open on Saturdays (BoweryBoogie)

"9 to 5" showing tomorrow night as part of the Fearless Femmes in Film series (Village East Cinema)

Coney Island Mermaid Parade seeking financial help (Gothamist)

Former Lenox Lounge demolished in Harlem (Jeremiah's Vanishing New York)

Diversions: Keith Haring's onstage collaboration with Material (Dangerous Minds)

New 7th Street rental named for artist Louise Nevelson; amenities include a backup generator

Rentals are underway at the all-new 222 E. Seventh St., a building originally thought to be condos here between Avenue B and Avenue C.

As we pointed out previously, the address was the onetime home and studio of famed sculpturist Louise Nevelson. Which explains this building's name — Nevelson House.

Workers first honored her memory by demolishing the previous four-floor building here.


[The former No. 222]

Streeteasy shows seven units ranging in price from $4,265 to $8,146, an entire floor at 1,455 square feet.

Here's a description of that unit:

This brand new floor through convertible 3 bedroom features an exclusive terrace, condo-level finishes such as Carrera marble Kitchen countertops and stainless steel appliances. Each apartment features an open layout with energy efficient, floor to ceiling windows. Apartments include radiant heated floors, customizable LED lighting, exclusive outdoor space, a dishwasher, an in-unit washer/dryer, and use of a high-end backup generator that can power the building during outages.

There are open houses for several of the units this week via broker Citi Habitats.

When the new development first revealed itself in 2011, it was named the rather jaunty Villa Capri, set to be ready in 2012.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Villa Capri condos coming to Seventh Street

[Updated] Work underway on the new residential conversion on East 7th Street

Bringing down 222 E. 7th St. brick by brick

About the cantilevering condos coming to 4th Avenue and 10th Street

Workers have now surrounded the new development site at 71 Fourth Ave. and 10th Street with a heavy-duty sidewalk bridge.

As previously noted, a 10-story, retail-residential complex will rise here. Given the square footage allotted for the 12 planned residences, condos were likely.

Last week, The Real Deal reported that NAVA Companies "is targeting a $72.4 million sellout" for the (officially now!) condoplex, according to a condo filing plan accepted by the New York State Attorney General’s office.

According to the filing, units would span an average of more than 2,000 square feet. The $72.4 million projected sellout means units would cost on average of over $6 million. The AG’s office approved the plan on April 7.

The NAVA website says that sales will begin in the fall. There's a teaser site up and running for the building, officially 80 E. 10th St. ... (at least this guy is wearing a shirt) ...



And as a reminder of the condo cantilevering to come...



Meanwhile, once the construction really gets going, 10th Street between Fourth Avenue and Third Avenue will be a tight, potentially dangerous, fit for pedestrians, motorists, cyclists...



Previously on EV Grieve:
Report: Demo permits filed to raze southeast corner of 4th Avenue and 10th Street

The 'tremendous retail potential' of East 10th Street and 4th Avenue

10 stories of condos in the works for the long-vacant corner of 4th Avenue and East 10th Street

With new building OK'd, corner of 4th Avenue and 10th Street finally ready for razing

Report: East Village resident pays fine for renting out city-subsidized home on Airbnb

An East Village resident was one of the first two New York residents to pay a fine under a law banning listings for short-term rentals, the Daily News reported.

The resident, listed as Jennifer Livingston, was reportedly renting "a city-subsidized affordable co-op on E. Sixth St. meant for low-income families." Her Airbnb listing said that the unit was going for $446 a night for the unit.

Per the News:

The city’s regulatory agreement with the building precludes it from being used for anything other than permanent housing, according to the city. But the two-bedroom, two-bath unit with a private deck was booked by guests often enough that it has more than 90 reviews on [the resident's] still-visible Airbnb host page.

The city found out about the listing after a neighbor complained in December, alleging loud music, parties and drug use.

Livingston paid a $1,000 fine.

The New York law went into effect last October but wasn't enforceable until February.

In New York, it is illegal to rent out an apartment for fewer than 30 days unless the host is present. The new law allows lawmakers to fine hosts for violations.

"The state law prohibiting illegal rental ads is helping us stop those who turn homes into hotels," Melissa Grace, a spokesperson for Mayor de Blasio, told the News.

According to a study released last fall, the zip codes 10009 and 10003 have a combined 418 full apartments listed on Airbnb — among the top-five most in the city.

Previously on EV Grieve:
East Village etiquette for AirBnBers: 'Don't piss off the locals'

Details on the 17th annual Joey Ramone Birthday Bash

Via the EVG inbox today...

Before succumbing to lymphatic cancer on April 15, 2001, Joey Ramone had been planning another of his infamous bashes for his 50th birthday. He'd asked his mother, Charlotte Lesher, and brother Mickey Leigh to promise they'd throw a huge party to celebrate the occasion, regardless.

The Joey Ramone Birthday Bash has since become an annual tradition. This year's Bash will take place on Friday, May 19, Joey's actual Birthday, beginning at 7 p.m. at the Studio at Webster Hall.

Headlining this year's event: Joey's former bandmates, drummer Richie Ramone and bassist CJ Ramone, will be playing in a trio formed just for this occasion called The Love Triangle, with Mickey Leigh on guitar. They'll perform several select songs from the seminal Ramones albums Leave Home and Rocket to Russia, both of which turn 40 this year.

Also being honored is David Peel, who passed away earlier this year and whose band David Peel & The Lower East Side had performed at previous Bash events. The Accelerators, Joff Wilson, Bill Connor and Koshek Swaminathan will take part in his Bash tribute. Performances from The Cuts and LES Stitches will also round out the night.

You can find ticket info here.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Mickey Leigh on his brother Joey Ramone's 'New York City' video

Reader report: What's the story with the minivan collecting tickets on 12th Street?

An EVG reader writes in about about this minivan that has been parked on 12th Street just west of Avenue A.

It has been accumulating parking tickets. I don't see any plates on it, and there is a bunch of junk in the back, and a box for a space heater on the front seat. You would think it would get towed after so many tickets. Maybe someone knows the deal? Could it belong to someone working on Steiner East Village?

Updated 5/10

The vehicle has been scheduled for removal!

David Chang's Momofuku Ko is expanding in Extra Place

[The current front entrance of Momofuku Ko at 8 Extra Place]

Not too many businesses have had any success in Extra Place, the pedestrian walkway off of First Street between the Bowery and Second Avenue.

Red Hook Lobster Pound was the most recent casualty in this former alley that ran behind CBGB. (Read about the history of Extra Place dating to 1800 here.)

That is with the exception of David Chang's Momofuku Ko, which relocated to 8 Extra Place from First Avenue in November 2014.

Things have been going so well here, apparently, at the critically acclaimed Ko, where the tasting menu is $195 per person, that they are expanding.

Chang and company are on this month's CB3-SLA docket for an alteration of an existing liquor license. According to the paperwork on file at the CB3 website, they are creating a new waiting/dining area with 6-7 tables and 14 seats for a kitchen counter/bar. (You can read their questionnaire/PDF here.)

Here's a diagram at the CB3 website with what the expanded Ko will look like...


[Click for a better look]

The paperwork appears on the doorway of 12 Extra Place, which will be the new entrance...





The sign for the now-closed boutique Inventory remains above the doorway.

The space looks to be in use as an office right now...





So a quick Extra Place business recap: The Japanese housewares boutique Nalata Nalata has the corner space at No. 2. Momofuku Ko will take up No. 4 through 12 (or 14). No. 16 was the Red Hook Lobster Pound. No. 18 is a prep kitchen for Daniel Boulud.

Moving forward Momofuku Place might be a better name for Extra Place.

The May SLA committee meeting is next Monday (the 15th!) at 6:30 p.m. Location: Perseverance House Community Room, 535 E. Fifth St. between Avenue A and Avenue B.

Previously on EV Grieve:
With new restaurant opening, will Extra Place finally become a dining destination?

Extra Place now officially a Dead End

Extra Place and Heidi currently 'closed for renovation' in Extra Place

Red Hook Lobster Pound in the works for Extra Place

A few more details on Momofuku Ko (aka, TBD) coming to Extra Place

Zabb City appears to have closed on 13th Street

The gate has been down in recent weeks at Zabb City, the reliable and reasonably priced Thai restaurant on 13th Street between Second Avenue and Third Avenue.

There's a note on the door about management being on holiday, with normal business hours resuming on April 28. Unfortunately, that hasn't been the case. The restaurant appears to be closed. The Zabb City phone number has been disconnected, and the website displays a 404 Not Found Error.

Behold the chicken fillet at Ray's

There is a new menu item to note at Ray's Candy Store: Chicken fillet (lightly breaded) on a roll with tomatoes. A $5 item.

Photo by Peter Brownscombe.

More about Yuan Noodle, coming soon to 2nd Avenue

In late April, we noted that there was a new restaurant in the works for 157 Second Ave.

Yuan Noodle is on this month's CB3-SLA committee agenda for a new liquor license. (You can read their CB3 questionnaire here.)

Eater has more on what's to come:

Former financier Jacob Ding is using family recipes to open a Guilin boiled rice noodle and dim sum parlor, after his wife told him she wished that type of restaurant existed.

Ding grew up in Guilin, China, where rice noodles reign. They’re thick and come with various topping such as roasted peanuts, scallions, chiles, and assorted pickles. Ding will serve his dry, as opposed to with soup, alongside a condensed gravy-like sauce and with options like roast pork and braised beef.

Yuan Noodle will also offer classic dim sum dishes, such as shumai, har gow, and vegetable dumplings.

The restaurant is now hiring ...



The address here between Ninth Street and 10th Street previously housed Biang!, the sit-down Chinese restaurant via Xi'an Famous Foods owner Jason Wang, and Alder, Wylie Dufresne's bistro.

Long-empty storefront starting with a clean slate on 6th Street

And in news about new dry cleaners... there is a dry cleaners (Magnolia!) coming to 514 E. Sixth St. between Avenue A and Avenue B.

As far as I can recall, this space has been empty since Betola Espresso Bar closed in June 2013.

Week in Grieview

[Photo Friday in Tompkins Square Park by Bobby Williams]

Stories posted on EVG this past week included...

A proposal to co-name part of 2nd Avenue and 7th Street after the victims of the 2015 gas explosion (Monday)

The housing limbo of Raphael Toledano's (former) East Village tenants (Monday) ... while East Village tenants pay Toledano a visit at his Upper West Side home (Thursday)

Anna has left the East Village after 22 years (Tuesday)

New MoRUS exhibit features LES posters and flyers from the 1980s and 1990s (Wednesday)

Veteran restaurateur Sushil Malhotra opening Old Monk in former Babu Ji space on Avenue B (Thursday)

Reader report: Man with knife takes backpack from guest in building on 13th Street and 1st Avenue (Tuesday)

May is Lower East Side History Month (Monday)

90s Forever on 9th Street this month (Wednesday)

L'Apicio serving its last meal on May 20 (Monday)

Construction watch: 287 E. Houston St. (Tuesday)

Parantha Alley opens in the Bowery Market (Monday)

Out and About in the East Village (Wednesday)

A map to track the city's 280 miles of sidewalk bridges (Wednesday)

A look at the MTA's new @LinkNYC on wheels (Friday)

A quick look at Fiaschetteria Pistoia on 11th Street (Thursday)

2 Bros. Pizza unveils new sign, branding on St. Mark's Place (Thursday)

'Enjoy the Royal Tenenbaum lifestyle' at the price-reduced Kate Spade house of 12th Street (Friday)

Vogue Magazine held a pre-Met Gala party on 6th Street (Monday, 35 comments)

Bowery Road and the Library of Distilled Spirits check into the Hyatt Union Square (Monday)

Juice Press annex for rent on 1st Street (Monday)

...and how did we not mention the budding sinkhole on First Avenue and Fifth Street from Friday...

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May 7

On this first Sunday in May, someone decided that it might be a good day to toss the Christmas/holiday tree ... and did so on Avenue A and Sixth Street so that we can all enjoy it for a little longer.

Thank you to EVG reader Eli for the photo.