Drill team arrives at the former Mary Help of Christians property

[December 2013]

Not much has been going on (not that anyone is complaining) in recent months at the site of the former Mary Help of Christians church, rectory and school … all demolished to make way for an apartment complex with some retail and 158 residential units (and maybe a rooftop pool).

Developer Douglas Steiner is still awaiting city approval for the new building. (The city last disapproved the plans on Feb. 12.)

Meanwhile, the city did OK a permit last week for the always sexy "drilled test pile work" (is that the name of a Guided by Voices song?) This meant the arrival of some new trucks and stuff to take photos of these past few days through the convenient blogger portals along the fence …







Enjoy the lot now. It will soon look like this.

Previously on EV Grieve:
New residential complex at former Mary Help of Christians lot may include rooftop swimming pool

Meet your new neighbor on Avenue A

A record deal at 51 Astor Place (AND STOP CALLING THIS AREA MIDTOWN SOUTH!)

Let's head over to The Real Deal for this story:

Claren Road Asset Management, a credit-focused money manager that is a subsidiary of private equity giant the Carlyle Group, will take the top floor of Edward Minskoff’s 51 Astor Place, The Real Deal has learned. The 25,401-square-foot space was asking a rent of $118 per square foot, a record for Midtown South. Sources familiar with the transaction said that it was likely the priciest per-square-foot deal struck in the neighborhood.

With this lease, 51 Astor Place/DeathStar/the IBM Watson building is now 85 percent, uh, leased.

Now can we look at a map please. Oh, here is an official one from the city of New York.



OK, you see where Midtown South is on the map? And you see this neighborhood?



Anyway, everyone knows that this area is known as WeAs (West of Astor) or LeLa (left of Lafayette Street, depending on which way you are facing).

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

Laying the Jefferson's new sidewalk, which made it through St. Patrick's Day weekend

Over in the Northwest East Village on Saturday, workers were putting in the new sidewalk in front of the Jefferson at 211 E. 13th St. near Third Avenue …



Given that it was DrunkPeopleinGreenShirtsCon all-day Saturday night, we wondered if that freshly laid sidewalk would become the target of mischief.

But! On Sunday morning, it was still in pristine new sidewalk condition without anyone's initials or concrete penises …



Under the careful watch of security guard …



The Jefferson, the new 82-unit condo at the site of the former (sob) Mystery Lot in the North West East Village, is 100 percent in contract, The Real Deal reported last December.

Previously on EV Grieve:
The Jefferson reveals what '21st Century living in the heart of Olde New York' costs

Only 1 night of celebrating left!

Spotted at Nicoletta on Second Avenue …

Previously on EV Grieve:
Just 2 more nights of celebrating left!

This Little Piggy Had An 'Ooops'

[Last week]

A quick follow-up to the DOH notice that appeared last week at This Little Piggy Had Roast Beef for "for operating without a permit."

The folks at the roast beef sandwich shop added a handwritten note here at 149 First Ave. with a pretty honest explanation...



"Ooops … We forgot to renew our permit." And they will be back open early this week.

Another pizza concept, awning for 35 First Ave.

[Photo by Mary Jones via Google]

We have our third pizza place and awning combo in the past year or so at 35 First Ave. near East Second Street… where we went from Empire Pizza II to IL Gusto Italiano to, now, Farid's Middle Eastern Grill Food & Pizza…



Sadly, we could not locate our photo of IL Gusto Italiano for comparison. (And we do not know a thing about any of these places. Anyone?)

Also, we do not know if Farid's will be employing the awesome* flashing sign… let's go back to the summer of 2012 for some Empire Pizza II razzle signage dazzle…



[* not really awesome]

Black Hound New York space for lease

After 26 years in the East Village, Black Hound New York closed its retail location at 170 Second Ave. last Sunday … the space was quickly cleaned out … and the for rent signs are up. No word on asking rent, though you can email Seth and inquire…



As previously noted, local customers can "still enjoy Black Hound treats" via a delivery service from their Greenpoint bakery. You can also pick up orders by appointment there.

Who in the duck would do this?

Wow. The fact that someone would do this to a stuffed animal is even worse than that headline.

This is via @edenbrower, who has requested an exorcism here at the lovely Saint Stanislaus Bishop And Martyr Roman Catholic Church on East Seventh Street.

And this is not the first time mischief makers have made mischief here.

Previously on EV Grieve:
A brief history of humiliating Teddy bears in the East Village

Another day, another stuffed bear heartlessly discarded on an East Village Street

Spring dreamin' on such a winter's day

Photos today in Tompkins Square Park by Bobby Williams.

[Headline H/T John Phillips and Michelle Phillips]

Week in Grieview

[EV sunrise yesterday via @brianspitzer]

The fate of the Blarney Cove sign (Friday)

Bye bye to the Birdman of First Avenue (Thursday)

This guy apparently swindled a bunch of apartment hunters (Tuesday)

Children's Magical Garden members sue developer (Tuesday)

Opening report for the Halal Guys on East 14th Street (Wednesday)

Black Hound New York closes (Sunday)

More support for a protected bike lane on Fourth Avenue/Lafayette (Monday)

Bloodsucking landlord boots custom fang makers (Tuesday)

The first all-natural halal meat store in Manhattan is opening on East 9th Street (Monday)

Out and About with Eric Danville Part 2 (Wednesday)

Your very own duplex with a garage door overlooking East 14th Street! (Wednesday)

Condo conversion for 61 4th Ave.? (Friday)

Schnitz happened (Friday)

Rent life in 1988 (Tuesday)

Con Ed talks stray voltage (Wednesday)

Tompkins Square Park this morning

Just 2 more nights of celebrating left!

drunk girl with shamrock sticker on her face vomiting between parked cars. it has begun. #eastvillage #nyc

— jdx (@xjdx) March 15, 2014