Sidewalk bridge finally hauled away from the Verizon building on 2nd Avenue

Late last week, workers began removing the sidewalk bridge around the Verizon building on Second Avenue at 13th Street...


[Top 2 photos from Sunday]

And it was all gone by the end of the day Monday...



As we reported on Nov. 28, several residents pointed out that a growing number of travelers/crusties had been living under the sidewalk bridge for the past few months. A small fire on Nov. 26 temporarily brought an end to the encampment, as city workers tossed the mattresses and other found items.

One reader said of the pre-fire conditions:

They live and sleep there. They openly shoot up, get drunk, fight, party all night and block the sidewalk with mattresses, chairs — even tables.

The situation has become a total nightmare now.

According to nearby residents, it didn't appear that any construction work was even taking place in the building, that the sidewalk bridge was seemingly forgotten. (Verizon blamed the Department of Buildings for delayed inspections, per PIX 11.)

In any event, now that the sidewalk bridge is gone, will we see a return to the brown paint wars?



Previously on EV Grieve:
Fire under sidewalk bridge on 13th Street temporarily brings an end to homeless encampment

243 and 245 E. 2nd St. asking nearly $18 million

243 and 245 E. Second St. are now on the market ... each of the walkups between Avenue B and Avenue C have 10 units. The slightly larger No. 243 is asking $10.5 million while No. 245 is $7.25 million, per the listings (here and here).

Public records show that Triost Properties bought the buildings in 2011 — $800,000 for No. 245 and $1.4 million for No. 243. (The seller was the estate of Bertha Zawin.)

The buildings went under extensive gut renovations several years ago. Average rentals now at No. 243 are roughly $4,600, per Streeteasy. Rentals at No. 245 ranged from $3,200 to $4,800.

As I understand it, a number of rent-stabilized units remain in No. 245.

Artists Peter Cramer, Carl George, Kembra Pfahler and Jack Waters, longtime residents at No. 245, shared their story in this post from 2014.

Previously on EV Grieve:
On Second Street, the 'Milky Way Dragon' disappears

Renovations, penthouse in the works for 243 E. Second St.

Continued development concerns at 243-245 E. Second St.

A look at the transformation of 243-245 E. 2nd St.

Chat 'N Chew looks closer to reopening on Union Square

EVG reader Harry Weiner shared this photo from Monday... showing Chat 'N Chew looking as if it never closed three-plus years ago on 16th Street just west of Union Square.

Per Harry: "If you peer inside, it looks eerily the same as the old one."

The homespun restaurant has a new Instagram account (as of Sept. 30) with one post...

Coming Soon

A post shared by Chat 'N Chew (@chatnchewny) on Sep 30, 2017 at 4:10am PDT

On their landing page: "NEW ACCOUNT! A Union Square staple is coming back! Check back for updates on an opening date! Looking forward to see old friends & making new ones!"

Apparently they have been teasing a return in their front window dating back to the summer. Now it looks as if they're ready to open complete with holiday decorations.

Anyway, the comfort-food diner first opened in 1994 before quietly closing in July 2014, as Jeremiah Moss first reported. The owners were to revamp the space that fall as a pop-up concept Little Sal's Italiano.

The operating owner, Andrew Silverman, was also behind a variety of concept-y places, such as Steak Frites and News Bar.

Construction watch: 606 Broadway and 300 Lafayette

[606 Broadway from Monday]

In case you haven't been over on East Houston between Lafayette and Broadway lately...


[300 Lafayette from Monday]

Construction is booming at two nearly side-by-side sites.

• 606 Broadway

A 6-story mixed-use building is going up on that sliver of space between Broadway and Crosby. Once completed, the building will have about 11,500 square feet of retail space on the first and second floors with 22,751 square feet of office space on floors three to six.

Until late 2014, the space at Broadway housed the Honest Boy fruit stand for years.


[606 Broadway rendering via]

• 300 Lafayette

A 7-story boutique office building with luxury retail is going in on the former site of a BP station and the Irish pub Puck Fair. (If you're keeping track, the building will include 30,000 square feet of retail and 53,000 square feet of office space.)


[Rendering via]

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Previously ... 606 Broadway...


[Photo from April 2014 via Vanishing New York]

300 Lafayette...


[EVG photo from 2016]

Reminders: The East Village Arts Festival is tomorrow at the Tompkins Square Library

I first posted this back on Nov. 21 ... as a reminder...

The Tompkins Square Library branch on 10th Street between Avenue A and Avenue B is hosting an all-day Arts Festival on Dec. 13.

The day includes a variety of performances, workshops, films and displays by local artists from 11 a.m. to 7:45 p.m. You can find the full rundown here.

Opossum drama in Tompkins Square Park

Parkgoers spotted an opossum this morning ... near the entrance on Seventh Street at Avenue B... unfortunately, the critter had been entangled in a plastic shopping bag...





At least one bystander attempted to remove the bag... but the opossum raced back up the tree as the person approached...



After nearly 30 minutes, EVG correspondent Steven, who shared these photos, said that the opossum was eventually able to free itself from the bag.

P.S.

Bonus photo of an opossum yawning...

Permits filed to renovate Webster Hall

[Photo from Saturday]

Reps for the newish owner of Webster Hall filed the necessary permits with the city yesterday to renovate the landmarked building on 11th Street between Third Avenue and Fourth Avennue.

Plans include interior demolition and structural work to help upgrade the facility and make it ADA compliant.

The Washington, D.C.-based Martinez+Johnson Architecture is listed as the architects of record. Per their website, the firm brings "their design sensitivities to cultural arts and institutional projects." Their work includes the restoration of the Kings Theatre in Brooklyn and the Boston Opera House.

Webster Hall closed on Aug. 10. Brooklyn Sports and Entertainment, along with AEG-backed The Bowery Presents, bought the building from the Ballinger family for $35 million in the spring.

The new owners will renovate the space, dropping the club nights to focus on live music. Some reports suggest that the new venue won't be ready until 2020. Billboard reported that there may be a name change here too.

Meanwhile, on Twitter...

While we freshen up, we’re going to bring you moments from your favorite Webster Hall artists. Sit back, relax, and enjoy the feed. pic.twitter.com/4pR1LqR8xp

— Webster Hall (@WebsterHall) October 26, 2017

This was the last tweet from Oct. 26. Not sure where those moments are.

Previously

Pit watch: 112 E. 11th St.

While we're over on 11th Street... No. 112 will be home one day to the Moxy, the Marriott subsidiary billed as a hotel for millennials.

Crews are currently doing foundation work... as seen through the handy blogger portals on the plywood...





The 13-story hotel will feature 311 rooms and a variety of eating-drinking options with an optimistic opening date of late 2018.

P.S.

The photos here are from Saturday... shortly before the snowfall... workers were thoughtful enough to put down ice melt along the plywood...



Previously on EV Grieve:
At the rally outside 112-120 E. 11th St.

6-building complex on East 10th Street and East 11th Street sells for $127 million

Report: 300-room hotel planned for East 11th Street

Preservationists say city ignored pitch to designate part of 11th Street as a historic district

Permits filed to demolish 5 buildings on 11th Street to make way for new hotel (58 comments)

New building permits filed for 13-story Moxy Hotel on East 11th Street across from Webster Hall

There will be several eating-drinking choices at the incoming Moxy hotel on 11th Street

House of Fluff pops up on the Bowery

House of Fluff, a recently launched "ethically made faux-fur lifestyle brand," is hosting a pop-up shop today through Dec. 24 at 342 Bowery between Great Jones and Bond.

The shop's sign and interior are apparently made from upcycled materials.

The pop-up House of Fluff (their HQ is around the corner on Great Jones) is open from noon to 8 p.m. daily.

No. 342 was last home, in 2015, to a Subway (sandwich shop). The Subway opened here in late 2009, taking over the space after Downtown Music Gallery moved to Monroe Street. Plans for a restaurant here called Poke Run never materialized.

More about Poke N' Roll, coming soon to 9th Street

[Photo yesterday by Steven]

There's a new sign up for Poke N' Roll at 441 E. Ninth St. and Avenue A. (We first noted this on Oct. 5.)

The new signage and the shop's social media platforms provide a few more details about what to expect here, namely poké bowls, bubble tea and fruit tea. No word though on an opening date... or who is behind this latest poké venture.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Poke N' Roll for 9th Street

Gramercy Kitchen debuts on 3rd Avenue

[Photo yesterday by Harry Weiner]

Gramercy Kitchen made its official grand opening yesterday on Third Avenue at 17th Street. (Thanks to EVG reader Harry Weiner for sharing this news!)

The Kitchen takes the place of Gramercy Cafe, which closed in January after 24 years in service. (A few readers felt as if the Cafe's food had declined in recent years.)

Looks as if the owners are going for an upscale diner vibe. From Just Opened New York:

They’ve revamped the menu with elevated classics like creative Coca-Cola drinks and chicken and waffles with balsamic syrup or disco short ribs topped with cheese curds and gravy.

[Image via the GK Facebook page]

And the Times had a blurb on the opening last week:

Diner-style food prevails here, with an open kitchen, glass tile, a stretch of counter and tables to seat 70. Breakfast, lunch and a dinner menu — featuring chicken and waffles and veal short ribs in a dish very much like poutine — are served

Gramercy Kitchen has a website, though no menu posted just yet. The hours are 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Gramercy Cafe closes; Gramercy Kitchen coming soon

Oh Gr-r-reat! Kellogg's cafe opening slightly delayed on Union Square

The Kellogg's NYC Café on the north side of Union Square was scheduled to open on Dec. 7.

We can’t wait to welcome you to our new home right in the heart of Union Square! We’ll be opening on December 7th and look forward to seeing you then! . . . And we’re hiring a pastry cook! If you’re interested in joining our team, shoot us a message here!

A post shared by Kellogg's NYC (@kelloggsnyc) on Nov 9, 2017 at 5:45am PST

However, per this reader-submitted photo, the grand opening is now a week later — this Thursday, Dec. 14...



On the menu: bowls of cereal (there's a a DIY cereal-creation station) with a choice of milk, milkshakes, Pop Tarts and ice cream sundaes. (The cafe will collaborate with a variety of chefs and source ingredients from the Union Square farmer's market.) The cafe will be open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. during the week; 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday. Per the cafe website, this is a credit-card-only establishment.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Kellogg's Union Square cafe closer to snapping, crackling and popping