Apparently missing New School Housing cart found

On Eighth Street between Avenue C and Avenue D. Hope there's a reward! It's now taking up a lot of space in my hallway.

Someone finally buys the famed Cedar Tavern space

Well, here's some news that may (or may not!) cause our blogging friend Alex at Flaming Pablum to punch a few walls.

The Real Deal's Amy Tennery reports that the 2,295-square-foot retail condo unit and former home of the Cedar Tavern (RIP, 2006) has sold for $1.5 million.

Per the article:

The unit, located on the bottom floor of 82 University Place, a seven-unit condominium on the corner of 11th Street, was sold by Michael Diliberto, the building's developer and former owner of Cedar Tavern, which counted Jackson Pollock and Jack Kerouac among its patrons during its roughly 40-year tenure.

The sale came under major duress from lender Flushing Savings Bank, according to Kevin Salmon, a partner at the firm who helped broker the deal. After almost five months on the market, the unit sold to property owner Ascot Properties for $1 million less than its original asking price.

And a sale doesn't mean a Cedar Tavern revival. According to the article, there are restrictions specifically blocking a bar or restaurant from opening here.

As Alex wrote last month: "The fact that it's still an ugly, empty shell of a yanwsomely utilitarian workspace in the wake of it replacing a beloved neighborhood institution is still an untrammeled insult."

Oh, and here's another Austin, Texas/SXSW connection for you. As Grub Street reported, the owner sold the Cedar Tavern's bar to some nightlife types in Austin.

A close call on Second Avenue

Yikes. We don't know all of the particulars... EV Grieve correspondent Bobby Williams was on the scene in the aftermath this afternoon of a cab-pickup truck mishap on Second Avenue at Seventh Street. Witnesses said there weren't any injuries.

No one seemingly knows when Tompkins Square Park closes

When does Tompkins Square Park close? That's a question a reader asked after this experience Tuesday evening.

So tonight around 11:40 we're walking through Tompkins Square Park ... when we find the Ninth Street/Avenue A gate locked and the police telling us to go back.

We ask what's up and they tell us it's *always* been this way and the Park is closed before midnight. Continuing to practically ram us out the north-facing gate.

So, the reader decides to call 311 for more information.

They don't know the hours for the Park and send us to the Parks Department, who first claim it's "7 am till dusk" and then "7 am till 1 am," inviting us to get into some deep shit with the 9th Precinct to find out why they locked the Park up. Nobody is saying it's supposed to be closed before midnight, because nobody's an idiot.

Well, all you need to do is look at the official signs around the Park... like these two that EV Grieve correspondent Bobby Williams randomly photographed a little earlier this winter ...




Oh.

I've been run out of the Park myself at random hours. 11:10 p.m.! 11:45 p.m.! I've also found myself in the crazy TSP Game where the NYPD is closing one side... and you get to the other side only to discover the gates have been locked. And the officers there tell you to go back where you came. "But the other gates are also locked." Uh-oh! Now you've done it! Talking back to an officer!

Anyway, we all should have access to our public places ... Perhaps all involved officials may want to create consistent set hours before someone is arrested for walking through the Park at 11:40 trying to get home.

First apartments for 189 Avenue C hit the market

[Photo from February 2009]

Work on the new apartment building at 189 Avenue C at 12th Street has been creeping along... we noted that workers removed a lot of the plywood on the ground level about 13 months ago.

Now, though, five of the rentals have appeared on Streeteasy. They're available starting Tuesday, apparently. A two-bedroom apartment is priced at $3,400; a studio is listed at $2,400.

Here are the building details:

1 FREE MONTH
Brand New 35 Unit Luxury Building
2 Elevators
Pet Friendly
Fitness Center
Spectacular Roof Deck with River and Bridge Views
Virtual Doorman Services
Washer/Dryer in the Apartment
Dishwasher
Stainless Steel Kitchen
Huge Eat in Kitchen Counter
Tremendous Closets
Toto Bath FIxtures with Rain Showers
Independently Controlled Heating and AC
High Speed Time Warner and Verizon Fios Ready

Here's a view of the 12th Street entrance, just next door to the Social Security Administration Building....



We don't know much else about the building. The 189 Avenue C site that I linked to last year doesn't exist anymore. There slogan was "Come see what's new on Avenue C."

Previously on EV Grieve:
"Come see what's new on Avenue C"

As the Bao turns

To be honest, I've lost track of the comings and goings here at Barbao on St. Mark's Place... It seems as if Michael "Bao" Huynh will have three eateries on St. Mark's Place soon enough, as Eater reported last Friday. (Including one with a former Playmate! Woo!)

Anyway, the one that is open, Barbao, which used to be Bao 111, certainly looked closed for some renovations last night...

So I gave them a call...

Barbao: Hello? [Suspiciously]

EVG: [A little surprised, expecting to hear a greeting like "Good evening. Barbao."] Hi. Are you open tonight?

Barbao: No. Tomorrow night!

EVG: So you'll be open tomorrow night?

Barbao: Yes! [Click]

Art of scales

From the EV Grieve inbox ...

Starting tonight, the Michael Mut Gallery will be hauling out the industrial scales, hoisting them up and blowing open the doors to his paintings, artifacts and signature oil textured works. His art market will price works by pound – first weigh it then pay for it.

Michael Mut Gallery
97 Avenue C between Sixth Street and Seventh Street.
Through April 23.

Merry Ash Wednesday!

Speaking of the holidays, people around here don't seem to care much about this tree-tossing in March stuff. Our friends from One More Folded Sunset note this today in Park Slope:



And it includes the ICTTS-sanctioned front page as proof of its authenticity.

Bring out yer dead

The owners of the Bowery Hotel bought the land underneath the hotel for $13.5 million. (Curbed)

290 Mulberry is 90 percent complete — and for sale

Every so often we check in on 290 Mulberry at the corner of Houston, where the 12-story development seems to get wavier with each drink at Milano's.




Anyway, an EV Grieve reader passes along word that you can now own the whole shebang for $25 million. Here's the new listing at Massey Knakal:

NoLIta Development: 90% complete, 290 Mulberry Street is a newly developed 12 story building with ground floor retail and 9 lavish full floor apartments above. The building contains a dramatic 2,613SF Penthouse Triplex with 1,650SF of private terraces. This breathtaking building was designed by award winning SHOP Architects.

There is approx. 2,000 SF of GRFL retail. The 9 apartments total approx. 18,000 SF, with approx. 2,600SF of terraces. Recent retail comparables have achieved over $150 SF. Condo sales in the area have commanded a range of $1300-$2300 PSF for 2010.

The exterior is unique patterned brick panels. Amenities include radiant heat walnut flooring, Italian Schiffini kitchens, oversized sound insulated tilt and turn windows, and stone countertops. Floors 4 thru 12 have Empire State Building views. The plans call for private key locked elevators, concierge, doorman, and private storage units.

This project is perfect for a developer or end user. Estimated cost to complete is $2,000,000. 421 A in place. 290 Mulberry is directly across the street from the world famous Puck Building in the heart of NoLIta, one of Manhattan’s hottest neighborhoods

.

There's a complicated history... Curbed provides a nice summation here. And perhaps the new owner can slap on a coat of paint.