The Korean Teachers’ Credit Union now owns 49% of 51 Astor Place, which people still think is in Midtown South

The Real Deal has the story about 51 Astor Place/the IBM Watson Building/Death Star:

The Korean Teachers’ Credit Union recently bought a minority stake in Edward Minskoff’s 51 Astor Place, a deal that values the futuristic-looking Midtown South office property at $600 million. The Seoul-based credit union, which has more than $23 billion in assets under management, paid roughly $113 million to buy a 49-percent stake in the fully leased, 400,000-square-foot building.

Why?

James Yoohoon Jeon of FG Asset Management, which oversees the credit union’s investments in 51 Astor Place, said: "We believe there’s a huge potential for rent increase in Midtown South."

Previously on EV Grieve:
Facebook is moving into the neighborhood; Midtown South expands its boundaries, apparently

Report: Maps show that Midtown South does NOT include the East Village/Astor Place

Reader report: 'This man stole the keys to my apt. and your building'

An EVG reader sent this along… spotted in the lobby at 233 E. Ninth St. between Second Avenue and Third Avenue … We do not know the backstory…

Today in flying leaps

Photo outside the Pyramid on Avenue A today by Derek Berg

The Red & Gold Boil has closed on St. Mark's Place

After 13 months in business at 30 St. Mark's Place between Second Avenue and Third Avenue, The Red & Gold Boil has hung up the nets... A sign on the door notes that they closed after service on Sunday...



The place never seemed all that crowded... perhaps the idea of eating fresh crab for $35 on this stretch of St. Mark's Place wasn't so appealing ... ditto for the name — The Red & Gold Boil, which sounded as if it needed to seek medical attention. (Earlier, the place went by Red & Gold Crab Shack.)

Thanks to EVG correspondent Steven for the photos

Previously on EV Grieve:
Breaking: Japadog is closing for good after tonight on St. Mark's Place

Reader report: Crab Shack in the works for former Japadog space on St. Mark's Place

Here is your Red & Gold Crab Shack! signage on St. Mark's Place

When it's time to remove the Mickey Mouse statue with an erection from the Standard East Village

A little earlier today on East Fifth Street at the Bowery... from the rear, it appears that the movers are pushing just another Mickey Mouse statue... but from the front...



Word is Mickey was decor for a party at the East Village Standard... (And is this Andre Saraiva's work?)

Photos by Marjorie Ingall...

Report: The Union Square Food Emporium will become a Key Food

[Photo via]

Back in July, A&P filed for chapter 11, its second bankruptcy of the decade. According to published reports, the grocery chain, whose brands include The Food Emporium, Pathmark and Waldbaum’s, plans to sell or close most stores.

As for the Food Emporium on East 14th Street in the base of the Zeckendorf Towers, one industry publication reports that this location will be sold to Key Food…



No word just yet on the timing of the transition … one EVG reader noted that some shelves are no longer being restocked….

Report: Long-dormant 1st Avenue development site changes hands

There's news about the long-dormant site on First Avenue adjacent to your favorite Rite Aid on East Fifth Street. After years of stops and starts and various renderings, the lot has been sold.

The legal wrangling is a little complicated. Here's some of it via The Real Deal, who first reported on the transaction:

Following a bitter internal battle for control of a long-stalled East Village development site, the owners have sold it to the Colonnade Group.

A group of partners including Ozymandius Realty and Orange Management closed last month on the $12.9 million sale of 75 First Avenue.

A rendering from 2007 showed a 14-floor development looking something like... (pre the the 2008 rezoning) ...

In April 2014, plans surfaced for an 8-story development that would look something like…



Per New York Yimby in April 2014:

Permits indicate the development will span 34,055 square feet, with the bulk of the project dedicated to residential use. 8,456 square feet will be given to ground-floor retail, while the remaining 25,599 square feet will be divided between 27 units. 75 First Avenue will stand 80 feet in total.

There aren't any details at the moment about what the Colonnade Group plans to do with the lot. The DOB previously approved the plans for the 8-story building.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Developer: A shorter building in the works now for 75 First Avenue

High-rise for 75 First Avenue back in play

Long-stalled First Avenue site now has a brand-new rendering

As the traffic islands disappear and appear on 3rd Avenue

[Back in July]

Back in July, workers installed pedestrian crosswalk islands along Third Avenue as part of the ongoing Astor Place Reconstruction Project… then! At the end of September, workers jackhammered away the island on the north part of the St. Mark's Place-Third Avenue intersection ... leaving behind a springy tar pit...


[EVG photo from Sept. 25]

Then yesterday! Workers began putting in a pedestrian island on the southern side of the St. Mark's Place-Third Avenue intersection…





There isn't a timetable just yet for the removal of this pedestrian crosswalk island.

Photos yesterday via EVG correspondent Steven

Bench in Tompkins Square Park dedicated to food writer Josh Ozersky

[Photo by Nick Solares via Eater]

Food writer Josh Ozersky died this past May 4 at age 47. According to published reports, he died after suffering a seizure in his Chicago hotel room.

His friends have come together to have a bench in Tompkins Square Park dedicated in his honor. Here's Eater's Nick Solares with the story:

Ozersky, who hailed from Atlantic City, NJ, always loved the East Village, where he once made his home. It is thus appropriate that the memorial bench that has been erected in his honor is located in Tompkins Square Park, near the dog run where he once romped with his puppy Judah and close to some of his favorite restaurants.

For those who are curious, the Parks Department has a program that allows people to dedicate spaces in city parks for a fee that goes to the park. Here are details about the Adopt-a-Bench program via the NYC Parks website:

When you adopt a bench in a City park, you can add a personalized message or inscription on a small plaque. Our bench adoptions, which are $2500 for an existing bench, support the upkeep and maintenance of that particular bench for 10 years.

On Friday night, Ozersky's friends gathered at the Boxcar Lounge on Avenue B to have a drink in his honor.

Sunset valley

The view downtown during the sunset this evening... via Bobby Williams...