Tuesday, December 27, 2022
Excel curb alert
Long-vacant 8th Street building where worker died is being offered as a development site
EVG file photo
The space is being offered for $3 million. Per the listing: "Property is a teardown. Existing structure is unsafe."
On Dec. 24, 2015, a worker — 33-year-old Luis Alberto Pomboza — fell three floors to his death inside the building.
According to published reports, he was an undocumented Ecuadorian immigrant and father of five who lived in Brooklyn.
His death prompted then-Mayor de Blasio and Department of Buildings Commissioner Rick Chandler to announce in February 2016 that they were going to quadruple the penalties for serious construction-safety lapses, conduct a wave of more than 1,500 enforcement sweeps, and require new supervision at construction sites citywide to protect workers and the public amid the building boom.
No. 356 had been on and off the market in recent years (here and here). The listings pitched the space for "high-end apartments or a luxury home."
In the fall of 2015, there were approved work permits showing that the building would receive two new floors and a mezzanine.
After Pomboza's death, the DOB issued a stop work order and a full vacate order on the site. Ten different violations were reportedly uncovered at the worksite, including "failure to safeguard all persons and property affected by construction operations." A construction superintendent was to be present at 356 E. Eighth St. at the time of Pomboza's fall, but there wasn't one on site.
The owner is listed as Ingrid House LLC, per public records.
His death prompted then-Mayor de Blasio and Department of Buildings Commissioner Rick Chandler to announce in February 2016 that they were going to quadruple the penalties for serious construction-safety lapses, conduct a wave of more than 1,500 enforcement sweeps, and require new supervision at construction sites citywide to protect workers and the public amid the building boom.
No. 356 had been on and off the market in recent years (here and here). The listings pitched the space for "high-end apartments or a luxury home."
In the fall of 2015, there were approved work permits showing that the building would receive two new floors and a mezzanine.
After Pomboza's death, the DOB issued a stop work order and a full vacate order on the site. Ten different violations were reportedly uncovered at the worksite, including "failure to safeguard all persons and property affected by construction operations." A construction superintendent was to be present at 356 E. Eighth St. at the time of Pomboza's fall, but there wasn't one on site.
The owner is listed as Ingrid House LLC, per public records.
Icicle works: Frozen pipes cause damage to several East Village businesses
Photos by Stacie Joy
Several East Village business owners returned to work yesterday to discover an unwelcome gift after the frigid holiday weekend.
We heard that frozen pipes burst in a handful of storefronts, causing damage at Moge Tee on Cooper Square between Seventh Street and St. Mark's Place (above) and Gama Lounge, the comedy club in the basement of 50 Avenue B between Third Street and Fourth Street (below) among other establishments...
Other businesses that suffered water damage include Flower Power at 406 E. Ninth St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue ... and Via Della Scrofa, the Italian specialty shop at 60 E. Fourth St. between Second Avenue and the Bowery.
In an Instagram post, the folks at Via Della Scrofa said they'd be closed for the remainder of the year.
One EV super told EVG contributor Stacie Joy that there were reports of broken pipes "all over the place."
Monday, December 26, 2022
Deal of the day
Photos by Steven
In case you are celebrating Christmas later this year... or want to celebrate it all over again... there are good deals on trees at Saifee Hardware on First Avenue and Seventh Street... where these are free...
Police arrest suspect connected to the Dec. 19 murder on Avenue A
During a press conference this morning, police said Roland Codrington, 35, went on a violent rampage in which he allegedly stabbed two men to death and assaulted several other people before his arrest on Christmas Eve.
Police said that 51-year-old local resident James Cunningham bumped into Codrington and his girlfriend around 1 a.m. on Dec. 19 outside Spike's on Avenue A between 13th Street and 14th Street. Video footage at the scene, police officials said, shows the two men arguing for about 20 seconds before the suspect is seen slashing Cunningham's throat.
NYPD Chief of Detectives James Essig said the two men had no prior connection before Dec. 19.
On Dec. 22, Codrington allegedly choked a bartender and stabbed two Good Samaritans at Teddy's Bar and Grill on Second Avenue in East Harlem. Media reports stated that Codrington showed up at the bar with a pit bull and a baseball bat.
Early Friday morning, a 60-year-old pediatrician was found dead in Marcus Garvey Park. Police said that Codrington and the victim, Bruce Henry, got into a verbal spat that ended with the doctor being stabbed multiple times.
The NYPD's investigation led detectives to Codrington and his girlfriend driving Henry's Mercedes-Benz in the Bronx on Christmas Eve.
Essing said Codrington faces two counts each of murder and attempted murder and additional charges of second-degree assault and criminal mischief.
Codrington had 12 prior arrests, Essing said. No word yet on charges against Codrington's girlfriend.
Here's a video of today's press conference...
Watch as Police Commissioner Sewell and NYPD executives provide an update on an ongoing police investigation. https://t.co/izdFygSP6O
— NYPD NEWS (@NYPDnews) December 26, 2022
MulchFest begins TODAY
Chipping Weekend then takes place on Saturday, Jan. 7, and Sunday, Jan. 8, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Per the Parks Department:
We'll chip your tree and give you your very own bag of mulch to use in your backyard or to make a winter bed for a street tree.
Given how much more expensive trees were this season, some people may feel obligated to keep them longer than Jan. 8.
Thanks to Steven for the photo!
Monday's opening shot
Sunday, December 25, 2022
Week in Grieview
• Man found dead with a slash wound to his neck on Avenue A (Monday) ... NYPD release wanted poster in connection with Avenue A homicide (Thursday)
• Moroccan specialty shop Timbuktu being forced out after 20 years on 2nd Avenue (Tuesday)
• Hamilton Fish Park Library reopens for limited service starting (Monday)
• A Punk Magazine-Iggy Pop holiday 'Loser' extravaganza at Metropolis (Thursday)
• Storefront renovations and reveals on 2nd Avenue and St. Mark's Place (Monday)
• When Santa Claus came to the Lower East Side — with an assist from the FDNY (Thursday)
• Season's Supermarket Greetings (Friday)
• No new trees for these 2 East Village spots (Thursday)
• Dunkin' debuts on East Houston (Thursday)
• An EVG 15-year anniversary (Wednesday)
• The East Village Sauce outpost shutters for now on 12th Street (Monday)
• Jell & Chill peacing out on 7th Street (Friday)
• Signage alert: Caleta on Avenue A, with a Jan. 7 debut (Tuesday)
• FULL reveal at 14 2nd Ave. (Monday)
... and a scene from the New York School of Burlesque student showcase last weekend at Drom on Avenue A (photo by Stacie Joy) ...
A Merry Mystery Lot Christmas
Saturday, December 24, 2022
Saturday's parting shot
EVG Etc.: East Village shroom bust; rent history insights
Photo by Derek Berg
• The DA's office has charged 33-year-old Kenwood Allen with two counts of second-degree murder, three counts of first-degree robbery, two counts of third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, one count of second-degree robbery, and two counts of second-degree assault for causing fatal overdoses of two people Allen robbed in venues on Seventh Street and Ludlow Street (The Post ... Gay City News ... press release from DA's office)
• Police arrest four people during an investigation into the sale of magic mushrooms at East Village stores Come Back Daily on 11th Street and City Clouds on Seventh Street (PIX11 ...
• More about Kōbo by Nai, now open on Avenue A (The New York Times... previously on EVG)
• How to get your rent history in NYC (The City)
• Revisiting the great Veniero's on 11th Street (Eater)
• Adam Zhu on the enduring creative stamina of New York (Document Journal ... previously on EVG)
• Latke time at Yonah Schimmel Knish Bakery (NY1)
• Remembering filmmaker Robert Downey Sr.'s influence on the LES (The Daily Heller)
• Winter memories in the East Village (Laura Goggin Photography)
• Riding with the Citi Bike Boyz in Tompkins Square Park (Curbed)
• An oral history of the Pyramid Club on Avenue A (Document Journal) What's next for the space? (EVG)
• The most borrowed books from NYC’s public libraries this year (Gothamist)
• Yo La Tengo pays tribute to the Ramones with Marky Ramone at the Bowery Ballroom (Brooklyn Vegan)
• Recent EV arrival Anna Delvey, still under house arrest, has made $300,000 this year selling her art online (Artnet)
• How the Lower East Side has changed since 1988's "Crossing Delancey" (New York Jewish Week)
Saturday's opening shot
The temperature was in the single digits (9) as of about 8:30 a.m., with wind chills below zero. There's a wind-chill advisory today, as highs will only reach 18, per the National Weather Service.
Friday, December 23, 2022
Friday's parting shot
Photo by Derek Berg
A professional line waiter at work today outside New York Theatre Workshop on Fourth Street...
It's Xmas time
East Village-based singer-songwriter Jesse Malin has released a new video for "Xmas, etc.," a re-recording of the song that appeared on his debut LP, The Fine Art of Self Destruction ... that record will be expanded and reissued in celebration of its 20th anniversary early next year. (Read more about that here.)
You can catch Malin and his band at Webster Hall on March 25, 2023.
Noted
Season's Supermarket Greetings
Photos by Stacie Joy
While out and about this holiday season, EVG contributor Stacie Joy starting keeping tabs on the neighborhood's grocery stores (such as Associated on Avenue C above) to see how the markets were decorating for the season.
Many places were on the bah-humbug-y side, perhaps with just a few cashier-area holiday tinsel-y ornaments.
These were the groceries putting in the holiday décor effort, starting with Pioneer/Met Fresh on Avenue D between Eighth Street and Ninth Street ...
... Union Market on Houston and Avenue A...
... H-Mart on Third Avenue between Ninth Street and 10th Street ...
...New Yorkers Food Market on Second Avenue between Seventh Street and Sixth Street...
... Whole Foods Market® Bowery ...
... and the clear winner in the grocery holiday games — Key Food on Avenue A and Fourth Street,
Key was also the only shop with any Hanukkah signage and opting for the traditional Chanukah spelling...
Please note that Key closes at 10 p.m. on Christmas Eve (tomorrow) and will be closed all day on Christmas. So plan ahead. (Sidenote: We finally found where they stock the mustard now — aisle 1, which doesn't make sense, after the Great Key Reorganization. Stayed tuned for the next investigative series on mustard presentation.)
Jell & Chill peacing out on 7th Street
You just have three days left for the shop's traditional handcrafted Bīng Fěn Ice Jelly, a Sichuanese cold dessert jelly. Jell & Chill closes after service on Sunday.
Per the shop's Instagram account: "Given the current circumstances we chose not to renew our lease."
The owners are looking to open in another NYC location.
Hours: Today from 3-8 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday from 2-8 p.m.
Thursday, December 22, 2022
When Santa Claus came to the Lower East Side — with an assist from the FDNY
Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy
The 7th Precinct and FDNY Engine 15/Ladder 18/Battalion 4 came together this past Saturday on Pitt Street to help brighten the holidays for some Lower East Side families.
Christopher Lee, co-owner of the Parkside Lounge on Houston and Attorney, filling in for the real Santa Claus who was busy prepping for Dec. 24, distributed toys to happy children and their grateful parents.
EVG contributor Stacie Joy was on hand for some of the quality Santa time...
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