EV Grieve

Thursday, April 18, 2013

Full-stop work order served at construction site adjacent to evacuated Avenue B building

[From early last evening]

There's now a full Stop Work Order on 26 Avenue B, the construction site adjacent to the building that had to be evacuated on Monday evening. Construction recently commenced in the empty lot next door on a new 6-story apartment building.

DNAinfo reported that a resident at 28 Avenue B started to notice cracks in her ceiling after construction started in the lot. Debris also reportedly fell from the fifth floor yesterday afternoon.

An EVG Facebook friend said that the building shifted. "There's a crack that runs up the back of the building. It's like the building experienced an earthquake."

The DOB notes the following about No. 28:

FDNY REQUESTS A STRUCTURAL STABILITY INSPECTION DUE TO VERTICAL CTACK AT REAR OF BUILDING FROM THE 1ST TO TOP FLOOR AND

Category Code: 30 BUILDING SHAKING/VIBRATING/STRUCT STABILITY AFFECTED

On Monday night, the city issued a Full Vacate Order for No. 28, which also houses Croxley Ales on the ground-floor. The bar remains closed. According to their Facebook page Monday night:

[W]e are sorry to inform you that we will be closed this evening until further notice due to neighboring construction. But have no fear! We will soon be back and better than ever...stay tuned...!!

Here's more from the Vacate Order via the DOB:

Meanwhile, yesterday, we spotted crews busy inside the 26 Avenue B site next to the damaged building. The following report is on the DOB website now for 26 Avenue B:

EXCAVATION OCCURRING AT ACTIVE SITE HAS HIT AND DAMAGED BUILDING WITH LARGE GAPING SPACE ON OUTER FASCADE, BRICK IS FALLING W/ FDNY RESPONSE IN PROGRESS. DOB REQUESTED.

Category Code: 14 EXCAVATION - UNDERMINING ADJACENT BUILDING EXCAVATION : ADJACENT BUILDING UNDERMINED

Joe Ferrante, an FDNY battalion chief, told DNAinfo that excavation "possibly contributed" to the damage at No. 28. No official word when residents might be able to return.

The following photos, via EVG Facebook friend Edward Arrocha, are from last Thursday, and show the extent of the work that was taking place inside the 26 Avenue B lot before Monday's discovery ...

And I was reminded that there were two major fires at 28 Avenue B ... one in 1994 that knocked out Collective: Unconscious and later when the storefront housed an electronic repair shop ...

Updated 8:36 a.m.

Per a reader:

"Imagine my surprise this morning when I walked past the lot at 26 Av B and saw excavation continuing. I called 311 and they said that the DOB would address the issue "within 1 1/2 business days". Here's to bureaucracy."

Perhaps they are there to help shore up the side of No. 28?
Previously on EV Grieve:
[Updated] 6-story apartment building ready to rise from the former Croxley Ales beer garden

[Updated] Report: 28 Avenue B has been evacuated

East Fourth Street cracking down on dog poop

EVG reader Steven Matthews notes that East Fourth Street, specifically the block between Avenue C and Avenue D, is now getting tough on dog poop... as seen with this nice new sign that arrived...

(What kind of leash is that anyway?)

And a mostly serious question... what kind of sign do you find more effective? The professional one above. Or! The more homemade variety, like this one spotted in January on East 12th Street near Avenue B...

About Bleecker Bob's moving to East 9th Street

The hot rumor making the rounds this past Saturday was that Bleecker Bob's had a deal in place to move to a storefront on East Ninth Street between First Avenue and Second Avenue. Per a Facebook update last week, Bleecker Bob's had a bid on space here.

However, it's not a done deal. Ski, an assistant manager at Bleecker Bob's, provided an update. This is from Sunday night.

"Unfortunately, it's been a long ongoing process," he said of the East Ninth Street space. "At first, we were told everything should be fine and that Bleecker Bob's was the only client to be pushed for the space based on our years of business and our willingness to sign a 10-year lease."

Regardless, the wait continues for now. We exchanged emails again yesterday with Ski. Still waiting for the lease. In the meantime, Ski was busy scouting other possible locations in the East Village and on the Lower East Side.

Bleecker Bob's has also launched a crowdsourcing campaign to raise $6,500. Per Indiegogo:

Many people have offered assistance with moving expenses, relocation/storage expenses and renovation costs for our new location. So many of our friends have offered to help in so many different ways that we figured we'd bring everyone together in one spot with one goal in mind, TO REOPEN THE STORE!!!

The 46-year-old Bleecker Bob's closed last Saturday to make way for a Forever Yogurt chain.

Previously on EV Grieve:
[UPDATED] Let's help Bleecker Bob's find space in the East Village

Bleecker Bob's is for rent

Bleecker Bob's won't be moving to the East Village — or anywhere else, for that matter

Bleecker Bob's have a bid on space in the East Village

Someone stole the Burger Shop sign on St. Mark's Place

The Burger Shop opened on St. Mark's Place back in the fall of 2011 ... it is owned by Gregory Nardello and his father, who hail from Queens... While the place recently changed the name to The Village Joker, the Burger Shop sign was left hanging to help during the transition period.

But! Gregory Nardello shared this with us.

"Some time between Sunday night and Monday morning that sign was stolen off the building. Although I was planning to take the sign down soon anyway, I was really hoping to keep it for a couple of reasons. One being that this is the first restaurant I have ever opened and that was the only signage that I have remaining. The second reason is that I made the sign, and I really would of liked to hold on to it for sentimental value."

So, he would love to have the sign back... "if the person who took it would anonymously be willing to give it back. I am willing to offer a small reward for it."

Another look at Vella Market, now taking requests

Vella Market opened this past weekend on Avenue B and East Fourth Street (inside the former Kate's Joint)... EVG contributor Stacie Joy stopped by for a quick look...

Stacie said that they are accepting requests from residents for needed/desired foodstuffs or supplies. "They seem nice, and have a large selection of vegetarian food."

Wednesday, April 17, 2013

What the hell, Zoltar?

What's this outside Gem Spa? Wait why is.... AHhhhhhhh!

Just when we thought Zoltar was back in business after the unfortunate skateboard bashing... As Bobby Williams discovered, Zoltar is back on the DL alongside Jeter, Granderson, Teixeira ... everyone on the Knicks older than 38 and taller than 6-8 ...

On a sunny day...

Late this afternoon outside St. Mark's Church-in-the-Bowery...

Tonight at CB3: An introduction to the Kushner Companies

Via the CB3 website... and sorry for the late notice — I was unaware of the meeting...

Land Use, Zoning, Public & Private Housing Committee
Wednesday, April 17 at 6:30 pm. Seward Park Extension - 56 Essex Street (btwn Grand & Broome Sts)

3. Kushner East Village properties: introduction