EV Grieve

Monday, May 9, 2016

[Updating] Steve Croman hit with 20 felony charges; faces 25 years in prison

Controversial landlord Steve Croman, whose 9300 Realty owns multiple residential buildings in the East Village, "was busted" this morning, according to the Post.

The precise charges against Steven Croman weren’t yet clear, but the state attorney general’s office is expected to file a Manhattan civil suit today accusing him of unlawfully deploying a former NYPD cop to harass and coerce rent-stabilized tenants into vacating their apartments, said a source close to the investigation.

State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman is expected to announce the charges against Croman this afternoon.

Updated 10:45 a.m.

The Daily News reports that Croman has been arrested.

And the Daily News was first with the report.

EXCLUSIVE: Landlord arrested after threatening, trying to force out rent-stabilized tenants https://t.co/HvT4xg0fUi pic.twitter.com/EWFCYRHK4y
— New York Daily News (@NYDailyNews) May 9, 2016

Updated 12:45

Here is The New York Times with the details:

Mr. Croman’s business came to embody in many ways how rent regulations have eroded in the city, putting housing out of reach for more and more New Yorkers. He was able to deregulate most of his rent-stabilized apartments within just a few years of buying the buildings, enabling him to reap much higher rents.

On Monday morning, though, his fortunes took a different turn. Mr. Croman, 49, turned himself in around 7 a.m. at the First Precinct in Lower Manhattan. He was charged with 20 felonies, including grand larceny, criminal tax fraud, falsifying business records and a scheme to defraud, relating to accusations he inflated his rental income to secure more than $45 million in bank loans. He faces up to 25 years in prison. His mortgage broker, Barry Swartz, 53, was charged with 15 felonies.

The New York State attorney general’s office, which investigated Mr. Croman for almost two years, also sued Mr. Croman on Monday, seeking to force him to give up his real-estate business and pay millions of dollars in restitution to tenants and penalties.

Updated 3:45

The folks at Bruno Pizza on East 13th Street between Second Avenue and Third Avenue have a Croman-related special tonight...

Toast karma! Free glass of rose tonight if u mention @nytimes Steve Croman article ow.ly/8dCh3003had
A photo posted by Bruno (@brunopizzanyc) on May 9, 2016 at 11:39am PDT

Previously on EV Grieve:
Report: Steve Croman facing another lawsuit from East 8th Street residents

Report: East 8th Street residents sue landlord Steve Croman, allege intimidation, harassment

Watch a lot of people speak out against Steve Croman and 9300 Realty

Report: State Attorney General launches Steve Croman investigation

Tenant advocacy group names Icon Realty and Steven Croman among NYC's worst landlords

Health Department to inspect Raphael Toledano's East Village properties for toxic levels of lead dust

[EVG file photo of 233-235 E. 5th St.]

Last month, we shared a letter that the Toledano Tenants Coalition wrote to elected officials about their ongoing concerns with the demolition taking place in properties run by Brookhill Properties and its founder and principal, Raphael Toledano.

To date, three of the buildings, 235 E. Fifth St., 233 E. Fifth St. and 514 E. 12th St., were said to have elevated lead levels in common areas, according to the City’s Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH).

On Friday, the elected officials — led by State Sen. Brad Hoylman and Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer — blasted Toledano for unsafe living conditions, including prolonged exposure to lead dust.

"I’ve heard from scores of constituents about the harassment they’ve endured in Toledano buildings. And now we’ve learned their health is at risk, too, because of dangerously high levels of lead dust," Hoylman said in a statement. "The situation is outrageous and unacceptable. Mr. Toledano needs to remedy this immediately."

In response, the DOHMH has promised to inspect all of Toledano-owned buildings for possible lead dust contamination. (He closed on a 16-building portfolio in the neighborhood last fall.)

Construction-related issues aside, tenants continue to report feeling harassed by Brookhill.

"Many long-term residents of rent-regulated apartments have been served with frivolous legal actions that require them to hire lawyers even though it has been clear that the actions would not make it to court," said Nina d'Alessandro, a resident of 231 E. Fifth St. "Then they have been approached with low buyout offers. We have tried to meet with Mr. Toledano to express our concerns and request that our rights to health and homes be safeguarded, only to be evaded and met with more intimidation."

The letters from the elected officials to Toledano and the Health Department are below. The letters were signed by Hoylman and Brewer; Assembly Members Deborah Glick, Richard N. Gottfried and Brian Kavanagh; and Council Members Corey Johnson and Rosie Mendez. Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney signed the letter to DOHMH.

A spokesperson for Brookhill told the Daily News that any health and safety issues brought to its attention will be immediately remedied.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Claim: Landlord of 444 E. 13th St. threatened 'to drop dynamite on the building'

Report: State investigating East Village landlord Raphael Toledano

Report: Uncle suing nephew broker Raphael Toledano over $100 million East Village deal

Report: Raphael Toledano completes purchase of 16-building East Village portfolio

More about alleged harassment and landlord visits via Brook Hill Properties

In op-ed, Raphael Toledano says that he wants 'to make the East Village a better place'

Report: East Village landlord Raphael Toledano allegedly misrepresented himself as a lawyer

The Villager looks at landlord Raphael Toledano's criminal past

An open letter to landlord Raphael Toledano from the Toledano Tenants Coalition

Report: Management company sues Raphael Toledano for backing out of $130 million loan

Ongoing concerns about demolition work and elevated lead levels in Toledano-owned buildings

Updated: The new Mamoun's opens tomorrow now on St. Mark's Place

[The new location]

As we first reported back in December, Mamoun's is moving from their longtime home at 22 St. Mark's Place between Second Avenue and Third Avenue to No. 30 a few storefronts to the east.

And ~~today~~ tomorrow is the grand opening.

The owners of the 45-year-old falafel joint, who signed a 10-year lease, double their size to 1,400 square feet with the move.

The previous tenant at No. 30, Red & Gold Boil, closed after 13 months in business in early October.

Updated 10:30 a.m.

H/T Steven!

Previously on EV Grieve:
Mamoun's Falafel is moving on St. Mark's Place

Without a liquor license, Dahlia's decides to close for now

Back in February, the SLA temporarily suspended Dahlia's liquor license after serving a reported 50 minors one night.

Since then, we haven't seen many, if any, diners inside the Mexican restaurant on Second Avenue at East Fifth Street ... even with meal deals that include a soft drink.

So, for now, Dahlia's has closed until the liquor license issue is resolved, as the sign out front shows...

Patrons are directed to their sister establishment, a tapas bar on East Ninth Street.

According to the Post, officers from the 9th Precinct a half block away found the exits at Dahlia's locked "and more than 40 well-heeled teens — one only 15 years old — quaffing 'monster margaritas' and mojitos" one night in January.

Said SLA Chair Vincent Bradley in a statement: "In addition to demonstrating a total disregard for the law by blatantly catering to minors, this licensee further jeopardized the health and safety of these young patrons by crowding them into a locked bar to avoid detection by law enforcement."

On Feb. 12, the SLA charged Dahlia's with 55 violations, including 50 separate sales to minors, failure to supervise, and code violations for exceeding maximum capacity and having locked doors. The licensee, named as Huascar Then, was also arrested.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Report: Dahlia's busted after cops find 43 minors drinking inside locked restaurant

More about the underage drinking bust at Dahlia's; plus, reaction from NYU students

Vacancy Project bringing hair, art and coffee to East 10th Street

There's something new in the works at 249 E. 10th St. between Avenue A and First Avenue...

As the sign shows, the small space will serve as a hair salon, coffee shop and art gallery...

Here's more about the Vacancy Project via their website:

Studio/Hair salon inspired by 60’s Andy Warhol’s “THE FACTORY”.

Also an Online journal featuring photography, music, and art by and for creators.

The creative director is Masami Hosono, a hair stylist who started her career in Tokyo in 2007.

The space opens on May 16... with the salon to follow in early June.

The previous tenant was Kai Yue Chinese Tui-Na Salon, a no-frills massage studio.

Confectionery now open on East 9th Street

Confectionery, a vegan chocolate shop and bakery, is now up and running at 440 E. Ninth St. near Avenue A.

As we noted last month, the retail shop is a collaboration between New Paltz-based vegan chocolate company Lagusta’s Luscious and bakery Sweet Maresa's.

EVG regular Scuba Diva stopped by on Friday and took a few photos of the small space...

Scuba Diva notes that the shop carries one of the signature treats from Lagusta's Luscious: Furious Vulvas.

Confectionery, which opened this past Thursday, also features macarons made by Maresa Volant. "The macarons are vegan, and since they're meringue-based cookies, they're pretty much a rarity, although a few bakers are featuring them now."

In any event, Scuba Diva is pleased to have a high-quality vegan confectioner in the neighborhood. "When you are vegan and everywhere you look the chocolate contains dairy ... you kind of do a little happy dance when you find someone who speaks your language."

The previous tenant in this space, Makki Deli & Grocery, closed in December after nine months in business. The Makki sign remains up for now.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Confectionery, a vegan chocolate shop and bakery, coming soon to 440 E. 9th St.

Sunday, May 8, 2016

Where you can watch the transit of Mercury tomorrow

Local astronomy buff Felton Davis passed along the following...

The forecast for tomorrow is partly cloudy, so we will just have to watch the skies for an opportunity to witness the transit of Mercury across the face of the Sun. Mercury will begin crossing at 7:13 in the morning, reach the mid-point at 10:57 am, and conclude at 2:42 in the afternoon.

I hope to show it for a couple of hours in the morning, take a lunch break, and then resume showing at 1 pm. My usual location at Second Avenue and East Third Street, or down at First Street by the F Train stop if the buildings are getting in the way of the sun. And yes, a very thick filter will be in place to reduce the bright light of the sun — that is the only safe way to view this unique event.

Here's more via an article in The Miami Herald.

[Updated] Found cat on East 8th Street

An EVG reader found this apparently lost (and hungry) cat in the Firemen's Memorial Garden on Eighth Street between Avenue C and Avenue D.

You can contact us via the EV Grieve email if this is your cat...

Updated 4:30 p.m.

And AJ is missing... details on the flyer...

At the 2016 NYC Cannabis Parade

EVG contributor Stacie Joy was in Union Square yesterday for the annual parade.

Here's more from a report today in Crain's:

Known until a few years ago as “Cures Not Wars,” and now as the NYC Cannabis Parade, New York’s annual rally in support of legalization has been held in various forms since the early 1970s. This year, the event culminated in a gathering at Union Square. As blunts and pipes were passed around, speakers attempted to educate the crowd about the Marijuana Taxation and Regulation Act (S. 1747/A. 3089A) that is currently stalled in the state legislature.

“We’ve been doing this for four decades. If we don’t get involved and do the hard work, it’s not going to go anywhere,” said Doug Greene, legislative director of Empire State NORML, the New York chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws. “Just coming here and listening to me speak and getting high is not going to change anything.”

Some would say the fact that the NYPD did not seem interested in arresting anyone who was getting high at the event was a major shift in and of itself. Although the NYPD cut its marijuana arrests in half last year, 16,590 people were still cuffed for low-level marijuana possession, about 88% of whom were black or Latino.

New York has launched a medical-marijuana program, with one of the dispensaries located nearby on East 14th Street. Dennis Levy, a lifelong marijuana legalization advocate, called the New York program "frustrating and flawed."

Saturday, May 7, 2016

Design apparently awakens the next few days on Astor Place

Yesterday morning workers started erecting that big tent/pavilion-y thing on Astor Place. (Despite a report on social media, this isn't the cube in a new shape.)

And as we will conveniently cut-n-paste from The New York Times:

A group of structures known collectively as Design Pavilion will take over the newly renovated Astor Place Plaza. Highlights include an installation by Snarkitecture for the condominium development 125 Greenwich Street; a structure designed by Harry Allen with the biomaterials company Ecovative; the DuPont Corian Blur Bar by Joe Doucet; and Growth, a show of new objects curated by the American Design Club.

Find the official site for A Design Awakening here. All this is is here through Wednesday.

A video posted by DESIGN PAVILION NYC (@design_pavilion) on May 6, 2016 at 4:35pm PDT

As for the cube, the return date is late May/early June.

Thanks to Vinny & O for the photos and Marc for the links!

Clip-n-save art arrives on St. Mark's Place

You may have noticed the new murals (via The Bushwick Collective) on St. Mark's Place between Avenue A and First Avenue... the first completed work is by the São Paulo-based artist Sipros ...

Curious about what that "Bishop Iggy" will be next to the clip-and-save Van Gogh...

Previously here

Street fair! Street fair! Street fair!

The 2016 Street Fair/Festival season kicks off in high style today with the Second Avenue Festival along Second Avenue between East 14th Street and East Fourth Street...

Security is tight this year...

As always, we were on the scene too early, and there were several awkward moments where we thought the vendors setting up for the day might ask us for help...(Sorry, can't lift anything: tight hip flexors!)

As for the food options, so far we can exclusively reveal empanadas ...

... and Germany well be well-represented...(And Christmas in May! You threw away your trees too early!)

ATTENTION BRATWURST PAVILLION....