Protest at 515 E. Fifth St. this morning, site of Ben Shaoul's illegal addition

In November 2008, the Board of Standards and Appeals (BSA) ruled that one-story additions to 515 E. Fifth St. and 514-516 E. Sixth St. are illegal and should be removed. As the Post reported at the time, "the BSA's ruling returns the entire matter to the Buildings Department, which could require removal of the added occupied floor on East 5th Street and the one now under construction on East 6th Street." (The Villager reported on the story here.)

Ben "Sledgehammer" Shaoul's Magnum Management is behind the enlargements, as Curbed pointed out.

In any event, we've sort of forgotten about all this... Of course, the tenants of 515, who have led this campaign, haven't. They have organized a protest this morning at 10. Via their news release:

Tenants of 515 East 5th Street in Manhattan, the Community Development Project at the Urban Justice Center, Councilmember Rosie Mendez, Good Old Lower East Side and Community Board Three will call on the Department of Buildings (DOB) to finally force developer Ben Shaoul to come into compliance with the law and evacuate and dismantle a roof top addition tomorrow — an addition that was deemed illegal by the Board of Standards and Appeals (BSA). In addition, there are 13 major code violations that put tenants in danger, including fire safety issues (there was an electrical fire at the building in March), that continue to be unresolved. The DOB has thus far not responded to the BSA’s decision and tenants feel that they are being forced out by the developer for higher paying renters.

Meanwhile, we looked at recent rentals in the new floor at Streeteasy. Someone rented the one-bedroom apartment at 6C in July for $2,700, according to Streeteasy.

Here are some photos of the apartment that comes with a private (and per the BSA, illegal) roofdeck.

Wonder if anyone told the new residents about all this before they moved in...

P.S.
Here's what is going on at 514-516 E. Sixth St.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Important notice about "partying" in Shaoul buildings on East Fifth Street and East Sixth Street

Lincoln memorial remains in Tompkins Square Park

This past weekend, Dave on 7th passed along a photo of a white T-shirt — with an Abraham Lincoln quote — displayed on the Hare Krishna tree in Tompkins Square Park... As of yesterday, the shirt remains. Part of a permanent collection then?

[Dave on 7th]

Here's what's left of Roberta's at the BMW Guggenheim Lab

Workers continue to pack up the former BMW Guggenheim Lab ... Yesterday, workers dismantled the shed that once housed the Lab's local eatery of choice, the Brooklyn-based Roberta's ...

Before!

Now! (Or yesterday afternoon!)

Holy Basil closed, space for rent

Two weeks ago, we reported that the DOH closed Holy Basil, the second-floor Thai eatery on Second Avenue near Ninth Street... According to their outgoing message, they were closed for "technical difficulties."

Now the restaurant has closed for good — there are for rent signs in the window...

Interesting that the realty sign says "retail" and not "restaurant."

In any event, the DOH handed Holy Basil an ugly 110 violations points, including for evidence of live mice and roaches in the "facility's food and/or non-food areas."

Walking by Joe's Bar

We've reported that the DOH closed the venerable Joe's Bar on East Sixth Street ... we've also heard from a well-placed source that the bar may be finished as we know it.

The bar remains closed... we walked by last night and saw some bar paraphernalia in the trash...

... it's probably from a resident in the building... Still, we wonder what will happen here...

As anyone heard any updates?

Tomorrow night: Art and Architecture Slam

From the EV Grieve inbox...

You’re invited! Join local artists, architects, preservationists, and our neighbors for Lower East Side Preservation Initiative’s and Art Loisaida Foundation’s Art and Architecture Slam fall fund raising bash at the Bathhouse Studios!

A community’s art often flowers from its architecture, and its architecture from its art. When the unique buildings that make up a historic neighborhood are lost to cookie-cutter new development, art and architecture suffer. LESPI and ALF are working to preserve the East Village/Lower East Side’s historic architecture and free accessible art venues to nurture our irreplaceable artistic /urban environment, an environment that enriches all of us — our neighbors, our visitors and ourselves.

Date: Thursday October 20, 2011
Time: 6:30-9:00PM
Place: Bathhouse Studios, 540 East 11th Street between Avenues A and B
Donation: $15 Friend ($20 at door); $25 Supporter; $50 Sponsor;
$100 Benefactor; $500 Patron

Proceeds will be split evenly between Art Loisaida Foundation and Lower East Side Preservation Initiative to fund their work in the East Village/LES. Art Loisaida is a 501(c)(3) and your donation is fully tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.

For more information on our organizations, go here.

Mario Batali says the Blue and Gold is his favorite late-night dive bar in NYC

Uh, per his tweet last night...

Not sure what this really means, except, perhaps, a brief increase in foodies at 3 a.m.

[via]

Packing up the BMW Guggenheim Lab

The BMW Guggenheim Lab wrapped up its 10-week East Village run on Sunday... and now, workers are taking down the structure for its next stop: Berlin, in the spring of 2012. (After that — Mumbai!)

Bobby Williams stopped by yesterday to monitor the deconstruction process...

We're very curious what kind of reception the Lab receives by "Confronting Comfort" in Berlin. (Paging people who can read German!)

I was never a fan of this whole endeavor. Regardless, I'm wondering how BMW/Guggenheim will measure the success of this first stop. I haven't talked with many people who really bought into what they were trying to do. Not that anyone actually understood what they were trying to do. Any thoughts about the Lab — pro or con?

New Cooper Union president to be met by song, pleas to save St. Mark's Bookshop

From the EV Grieve inbox...from the Cooper Square Community Development Committee and Businessman’s Association

“A Call to Action! Join us at the Inauguration of Jamshed Bharucha, the incoming President of Cooper Union and Let’s Make our Voices Heard – St. Mark’s Bookshop Must be Saved!”

New York, NY: St. Mark’s Bookshop, one of a few remaining independent bookstores in New York City, is in a state of crisis. It has appealed to their landlord, Cooper Union, to reduce their monthly rent of $20,000 by $5,000 until it is able to recover from the effects of the downturn in the economy. A combination of the difficult economy, the dramatic changes in the publishing industry and the escalating costs of doing business have pushed St. Mark’s Bookshop to the brink. Cooper Union has indicated that it is looking into this matter, but no commitment has yet been made.

On Tuesday, October 18th, at 12 noon, Jamshed Bharucha, will be inaugurated as the new President of Cooper Union. We will be singing and handing out an open letter to invitees as they enter the Great Hall. Let’s raise our voices together in song and ask those in power at Cooper Union to do the right thing and agree to the rent reduction before it’s too late – so that this vital landmark, which serves the diverse community of the Lower East Side, is not forced out of business!

(Sung to the tune of Home on the Range, lyrics by Frances Goldin)

“Oh give me the word
That we long to be heard
That the St. Mark’s Bookshop will be saved.

That you know it’s a gem
With a stroke of your pen
That its’ future’s forever engraved.

LONG LIFE TO ST. MARK’S
IT WILL NOT BE FED TO THE SHARKS
It just needs less rent
And if that’s your intent
You will most likely earn
Real High Marks.

If you need help with the music...

Mars Bar finally gets a sidewalk shed

To be honest, we've been expecting the arrival of a sidewalk shed outside the Mars Bar — and the whole stretch of 11-17 Second Avenue destined for demolition — since August... And yesterday, the sidewalk shed finally arrived, as these photos by Bobby Williams show...

As you know, all this will be torn down to make way for a 12-story apartment building. We're curious how soon demolition will actually happen. The arrival of a sidewalk shed doesn't mean the building will fall anytime soon — just look at 51 Astor Place.

Previously.

Meatball Factory opening next Tuesday; featuring the 'turducken' and more

Here's more information about the new Meatball Factory coming to IHOP Way East 14th Street and Second Avenue. Per Thrillist yesterday:

Surprisingly not a super-popular gym located just off the LIE, the Meatball Factory's a 1600sqft ball-eteria coming at you from OG Top Chef alum Dave Martin. The set up's like a rustic, industrial (rustdustrial?) bistro thanks to red brick walls, wine barrels aplenty, dark wood tables flanking the central bar, and a to-go counter, because you're going to need a snack on your way to working off all those meatballs at a gym just off the LIE.

If you still have an appetite, then here's a look at their menu via the Meatball website:

To be honest, we didn't make it past the Turducken: House Blend of Shady Farms Turkey, Bell & Evans Chicken, Hudson Valley Farms Duck Confit, Sage & Allspice (Dairy Free) $9

According to Thrillist, Meatball Factory opens next Tuesday. Eater has more information here.

Previously.

JoeDoe opening JoeDough on First Avenue

In November 2009, Habib's Place on Avenue A near Sixth Street closed rather suddenly... Then came the news that Habib relocated to the former Question Mark Cafe space at 135 First Avenue between St. Mark's and Ninth Street. And that venture seemed to close just as suddenly and quietly.



Anyway, Grub Street reports that the husband-and-wife team behind JoeDoe on East First Street are opening a gourmet sandwich shop at 135 First Avenue called — seriously — JoeDough. It will open sometime this fall, per Grub Street.

Personally, I wouldn't mind having another normal, nongourmet sandwich place like Sunny & Annie's on Avenue B at Sixth Street.

And does anyone know what happened to Habib?