Today in 'Pardon our Appearance' signs

Outside the Standard East Village on Cooper Square ... "Pardon our appearance improvements underway" at the fire hydrant someone is painting...



Photos by EVG Fire Hydrant Correspondent Derek Berg...

Please do not cut down bendy tree just yet

That's the message on signs that appeared this morning around the doomed leaning elm (aka bendy tree) in Tompkins Square Park...



As previously reported, an arborist hired by the Parks Department found the favorite tree structurally unsound and recommended that it be cut down. However, there is a movement afoot to, at the very least, get a second opinion on the tree's health and involve the Community Board in the decision before the Park loses another tree.

Photos via Church of Stop Shopping

Previously on EV Grieve:
UGH: Bendy tree in Tompkins Square Park has been condemned

Bendy-lujah

Out and About in the East Village

In this weekly feature, East Village-based photographer James Maher provides us with a quick snapshot of someone who lives and/or works in the East Village.



By James Maher

Name: Mike Schweinsburg
Occupation: Community Activist
Location: Tompkins Square Park, East Eighth Street and Avenue B
Time: 3:20 on Thursday, Sept. 11

I was born in San Francisco and raised in Buffalo, from where I escaped when I was 16. Came here to New York City. Since then, I’ve lived and worked all over this country, Europe and Africa. And every location I went to, I always came back to New York.

It was a New York interruption. When I finished with one career or endeavor then I’d come back to New York. You would think it was pursuing a career, but no. I’ve been involved in real estate, broadcasting, international shipping and trading, food supply, transportation, temporary employment services, and then I said, "Mike, what is the matter with you? Why can’t you just grab ahold of one of these things?" This was around 1995.

So I had to examine where I was at. I realized that sadly all my family was dead, so there was no one whose expectations I had to live up to. Not going to have any children, so I don’t have to amass a fortune, leave an inheritance, fund a college education or a wedding. I was really free, so I decided one day to do whatever it was I wanted to do. I realized that the only common thread to all those sort of endeavors was that one way or the other, each of them exposed me to some form of social injustice, and so I wanted to help do something about that. I wanted to help create change. I wanted to make a difference.

So then I became a full-time activist — first with the Anti-Violence Project. Now at the time I believed that all politics was bullshit and all politicians were bullshit. But I was very close with the executive director of AVP and her partner. One day she came to me and said, "Mike I’m leaving." I was crushed. Besides the work that the agency performed, she was my inspiration. So I felt kind of rudderless. "Where are you going? Why are you doing this?" She said, "Well I’m going to run for political office." I said, "I believe in you. Sure, get somebody like you in elected office and then we’ll do some shit."

That person was Chris Quinn, who became Christine Quinn and became less recognizable as the hero that she was to me. But, it did get me involved in politics.

So I was actually thrust into a district leader campaign over on the West Side for Arthur Schwartz, who was running for district leader against all the established clubs. It was a big win. Now I’m really interested in politics. So I began, and a candidate came to me named Larry Sauer, who wanted to run for City Council on the Upper West Side. I tried that. I’m not going to say I saw that one through because it was just too full of holes, but during that time Margarita Lopez approached me ... So I went to work for her. Now that got me involved in the Lower East Side, and that captured me entirely. The great thing to come out of that experience was meeting Rosie Mendez, who was chief of staff [for Margarita López]. That tied me forever more to the Lower East Side.

So I’ve been [in this neighborhood] now for about 10 years and stayed involved, well not as involved as I should be. I started to get complaints from my friends here saying, "Mike, you know, when you lived out in Queens we saw 10 times as much of you as we do now that you live here." I was working for a Brooklyn Councilwoman for eight years as her communications director and she is the only incumbent in the last cycle to have lost her election, so I was unemployed from the first of the year, but I didn’t rush into getting another job. I said, "I need to reconnect with my old community."

So that’s what I did for several months, got involved in housing justice issues with GOLES, several community things, but the thing I’m happiest with is I formed a block association for East Eighth Street from Avenues B to D and that’s going very well. We have 45 members already and we’ve only had one real general meeting. We’ve been helping with the plantings on the street and all that working with the Parks Department and the Lower East Side Ecology Center. We’re planning a big block party next year with a pet fair, bringing in the ASPCA with half a dozen of their big vehicles to give free vaccinations, spay-neutering, microchipping, behavioral and grooming advice, and bringing in all the animal care agencies.

That’s kind of the vision for next year for the block party, but we have a lot of other things to do. You know, we’ve got a couple of Croman-owned buildings on the block, so [we’re] always at war. We certainly have no objection to our more wealthy neighbors. That makes for the mix, you know. It’s been a very rewarding experience because I’ve gotten to know my neighbors through all of this, and the more I know them the more I love them. I used to have dreams of retiring in Africa, which held my heart for a long, long time after I left there. Now my sole dream is to get old and die here.

James Maher is a fine art and studio photographer based in the East Village. Find his website here.

BSA tells Ben Shaoul to remove the illegal penthouse on East 5th Street within 60 days

The Board of Standards and Appeals (BSA) has finally ordered the removal of the long-contested penthouse at 515 E. Fifth Street.

A quickie recap: The BSA had previously ruled in 2008 that landlord Ben Shaoul needed to remove the 6th and 7th floors. However, his attorneys had requested that the city grant a zoning variance to "permit the constructed enlargement, minus the penthouse, to remain" here between Avenue A and Avenue B.

According to the Tenants Association of 515 East Fifth Street, the BSA gave Shaoul 60 days to complete demolition. Upon documentation of the removal, the BSA will consider granting the various zoning variances to keep the 6th floor.

As we understand it, there are four units in total on these two floors.

Meanwhile, will Shaoul actually comply within the 60-day timeframe? (No snickering!) It only took Shaoul about three years to start the demolition process on the illegal penthouse at 514-516 E. Sixth St. The scaffolding and sidewalk shed have been at the site for 15 months. And part of the penthouse remains, according to neighbors.

Previously on EV Grieve:
[Updated] 5 years later, another BSA hearing on illegal rooftop addition at 515 E. Fifth St.

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

The disappearing illegal penthouse of 514-516 E. 6th St.

Never-ending battle wages on over additional floors at 515 E. Fifth St.

Never-ending battle over additional floors at 515 E. Fifth St. promises to keep being never-ending

CB3 not into Ben Shaoul's zoning variance for 515 E. 5th St.

Another BSA hearing on Ben Shaoul's illegal rooftop addition; plus, rent 1 of the contested units!

Angelica Kitchen is latest East Village restaurant in danger of closing

Angelica Kitchen has been serving vegetarian and health-conscious fare since 1976. Like many other restaurants, though, Angelica Kitchen is struggling in today's real-estate environment.

So the folks from Angelica have embarked on a public awareness campaign … from a site titled "Don't Let This Happen!" (the Angelica turning into a 7-Eleven, for instance):

After a couple of very difficult years including a hurricane and a debilitating winter 2013-2014, Leslie — Angelica's owner — had to make the tough decision of either closing the restaurant after almost 40 years in business or signing a new lease skyrocketing the cost of occupancy. She signed the lease in March.

Since then, Angelica Kitchen has introduced several new products (such as beer and wine!). However, it hasn't been enough. What can you do?

Dine often with friends and family at Angelica's. Get takeout. Give Gift Certificates. Recommend us. Share our posts on social media, like us on Facebook. The fact is, we need your financial help and we're not messing around here. Keeping Angelica's doors open is not something we can do without you!

And upcoming…

We will be holding "Kitchen Table Talks" in the coming weeks to discuss Angelica's situation and what is needed to prevent the non-stop proliferation of chain stores and banks in the East Village. Please come to our first "Talk" Sunday Sept. 21, 4:30 PM; appetizers and beverages will be served.

Angelica Kitchen is located at 300 E. 12th St. near Second Avenue.

Amato Opera looks to be getting an encore as city OKs residential use

[EVG file photo]

On the Bowery, the historic Amato Opera building has sat vacant since the company closed on May 31, 2009.

In January 2009, Anthony Amato, the company's 88-year-old founder, announced that he had sold the building that the Opera had called home since 1964. (Amato died in December 2011.)

In recent years, new landlord Steve Croman had applied to convert the theater at 319 Bowery between East First Street and East Second Street into a commercial and residential building. Now according to DOB records, the city approved the plans on Monday. Plans show three residential units above the ground-floor retail space, which is still on the market.


[Rendering for 319 Bowery via RKF]

Plans originally called for a penthouse here... though we didn't see any mention of that in the approved permits.



BoweryBoogie got a look inside the decaying Amato Opera back in June 2013. (Check out those photos here.) The building was later hit with a Stop Work Order.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Life after the Amato Opera

Costume drama on the Bowery as the Amato Opera empties out

Ruin of the Bowery nearly complete: Last season for the Amato Opera

Earlier today in the rain on 1st Avenue

At East Third Street.

Helpful message from the NYPD?

Photos via Derek Berg

1st sign of future development at 79-89 Avenue D

[Photo by Bride of 7th]

Workers were on the scene yesterday at 79-89 Avenue D taking soil samples.

As previously reported, plans call for a 12-story, mixed-use building here on the west side of Avenue D between East Seventh Street and East Sixth Street. The space is currently home to Rite Aid and two long-empty storefronts.

The Real Deal reported in May that "the existing single-story structure contains 72,300 square feet of floor area, which can be expanded to 96,400 square feet with an inclusionary housing bonus."

L&M Development Partners, one of the groups involved in the Essex Crossing development at the former Seward Park urban renewal site, acquired 79-89 Avenue D for $12.5 million.

There aren't any construction plans on file yet with the DOB.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Report: Space that houses Rite Aid on Avenue D hits market for $22.5 million

Report: New 12-story, mixed-use building in the works for Avenue D

Mobil lot partially boarded up on Avenue C

The Mobil station on Avenue C and East Houston abruptly closed at the beginning of the month.

And now workers have put up plywood ... around just part of the property...





... that will one day yield to a 9-story mixed-use building. Plans call for 45 residential units and 4,550 square feet of commercial space.

Until then, this former station will likely make for another fine canvas.

Previously on EV Grieve:
How much longer will the East Village have gas stations?

The Mobil on Avenue C is still going strong — for now

You have a little longer to get gas on Avenue C

Plans filed for new 9-story building at site of Mobil station on East Houston and Avenue C

State seizes Mobil station on Avenue C and Houston for nonpayment of taxes

The last gas station in the East Village has closed

You won't have to sit on a cracked Citi Bike seat too much longer

An EVG reader shared this post from the Citi Bike blog yesterday...

We’re excited to announce that over the next few months, we will be installing new seats on the entire Citi Bike fleet.

1,500 new seats have already arrived and are being installed on bikes as they come through our shop for other repairs. Soon an entire shipping container full of seats will arrive with an additional 6,000 seats. This means we’ll have plenty of seats to cover all of our bikes plus extras to spare.

So where do all the old seats go? We’ve partnered with Bikes for the World, a nonprofit dedicated to providing affordable bikes in developing countries. Rather than let used bike parts sit in a landfill, Bikes for the World rescues and recycles them to help individuals travel to work, school, and health services.

Salon V leaving East 7th Street after 10 years

The 10-year-old hair salon is on the move from 96 E. Seventh St. to 10 E. Eighth St. between Fifth Avenue and University Place...



The move Saturday then opens up a chunk of prime storefronts between Avenue A and First Avenue. Salon V's neighbor, Angelo Lambrou's custom bridal gown boutique, recently decamped to Midtown.

Thanks to Bill the Libertarian Anarchist for the info...

CB3 wants your input on 2016 budget priorities

Folks from CB3 asked me to share this… From the EVG inbox...

CB3 Public Hearing — Fiscal Year 2016 Budget Priorities
Wednesday Sept. 17 at 6:30 pm — Community Board 3 Office, 59 E. 4th St. (between Second Avenue and the Bowery)

This is an opportunity for organizations and residents to tell the Community Board their budget priorities.
• What parks need reconstruction?
• What programs need funding?

Help us assess the needs of our community.
Every year the Community Board submits a list of capital and expense budget priorities to city agencies. This hearing is your opportunity to have input into these district budget priorities. Tell us how money should be spent in Community Board 3.

Organizations, groups, and individuals representing all segments of the community are encouraged to participate.