Photo in Tompkins Square Park this morning by Peter Brownscombe...
Tuesday, February 27, 2018
Reader report: manhole explosion on 2nd Avenue
Early this morning, there was a manhole explosion on Second Avenue between First Street and Houston ... Felton Davis, who shared these photos, reports that the block is closed and there is an array of helicopters overhead ... Con Ed and the FDNY are on the scene.
No reports of injuries or cause at the moment.
CBS New York reports that three manhole covers were blown off ... "but there are no reports of any smoke, fire or power outages."
Extra Place is all pretty much Momofuku Ko now
In January 2007, WWD ran a story titled "Extra Place: Paris on the Lower East Side." At that time, reps for Avalon Bowery Place unveiled plans to make Extra Place, the pedestrian walkway off First Street between the Bowery and Second Avenue, "a slice of the Left Bank, a pedestrian mall lined with interesting boutiques and cafes."
As noted here in these subsequent years, a handful of restaurants and businesses have come and gone. The most recent casualty was Red Hook Lobster Pound, which went dark last April.
[Photo from April 2017]
Only David Chang's Momofuku Ko has had any success in this former alley that ran behind CBGB. Momofuku Ko, which relocated to 8 Extra Place from First Avenue in November 2014, expanded into some adjacent storefronts late last summer.
Now it appears that Momofuku Ko has nearly three-quarters of the Place. The Japanese housewares boutique Nalata Nalata has the corner space at No. 2. No. 18 is a prep kitchen for Daniel Boulud. The space that housed the Lobster Pound is now storage.
There's still a sign up in Extra Place optimistically noting "open to the public & public seating." Maybe Momofuku Ko will one day offer to serve its $195 tasting menu outdoors.
Previously on EV Grieve:
With new restaurant opening, will Extra Place finally become a dining destination?
Extra Place now officially a Dead End
Extra Place and Heidi currently 'closed for renovation' in Extra Place
Red Hook Lobster Pound in the works for Extra Place
A few more details on Momofuku Ko (aka, TBD) coming to Extra Place
David Chang's Momofuku Ko is expanding in Extra Place
71 years ago today
[Click on image for more detail]
An EVG reader found the above aerial photo in the digital section of the New York State Archive. The photo is dated Feb. 27, 1947.
The photo, looking toward the (north-ish) east, shows the new Stuy Town and Peter Cooper Village. (Stuy Town would welcome its first residents on Aug. 1, 1947.)
Meanwhile, among the other familiar sites — the Con Ed building on 14th Street and St. Mark's Church-in-the-Bowery... just follow the helpful arrows...
Yet another opportunity to buy 114 E. 10th St.
We've written about 114 E. 10th St. off and on through the years — at least when the classic townhouse between Second Avenue and Third Avenue is for sale.
As Curbed noted yesterday, the home is back on the market. Here's a recap of the recent activity here via Curbed:
The stunning four-story home ... has spent a great deal of time on and off the market over the past decade. It first sold back 2005 for a mere $3.32 million before returning in 2009 with an asking price of nearly $7 million and a brand new renovation. Since 2010, it’s disappeared and remerged from the market several times with price tags fluctuating between $5.95 million to as much as $8.5 million. This time around, the home is looking to sell for $7.875 million.
And some photos via Douglas Eliman ...
According to the listing, the home comes furnished, so ... "BUYER need only to bring tooth brush and personal belongings."
Previously on EV Grieve:
This East 10th Street townhouse includes rooftop shower and garden apartment for staff
Monday, February 26, 2018
[Updated] Dora the red-tailed hawk returns to Tompkins Square Park
A rep from the Wildlife in Need of Rescue and Rehabilitation (WINORR) returned Dora to Tompkins Square Park today.
The red-tailed hawk injured a wing back in late November. She has been in WINORR's care since then.
She has apparently made enough rehab progress to attempt a release on her home turf...
No one really knows how this is going to work. Injured wing aside, Dora's longtime partner Christo has basically set up
EVG correspondent Steven, who shared these photos, said that after taking off, Dora has been perched in a tree near the dog run and hasn’t left.
Will update later. Be sure to visit Goggla's site here as well for more observations on Dora's return.
Updated 2 p.m.
More photos from Steven...
Updated 7 p.m.
Well, quite a day, per the red-tailed hawk watchers in the Park.
First, the good news. Dora appeared to be getting around OK on her rehabbed wing.
Then Dora visited last year's nest...
Then she swung by the nest that Christo has been making with Not-Dora/Nora...
She also went atop St. Brigid's on Avenue B at Eighth Street...
Steven last saw her leave to roost on Seventh Street...
There was some kind of skirmish between Dora and Christo and Not-Dora/Nora. (Hopefully Goggla will fill in the narrative here on her post.)
And there wasn't any romantic, fairy-tale reunion between Christo and Dora, who have had like 10 hawklets together.
Christo and Not-Dora/Nora were spotted mating on the Christodora House... not too far from where Dora was perched...
Updated:
Here's a link to Goggla's post with a lot more photos — and video.
Reminders: CB3 votes on the mayor's proposed tech hub tomorrow night
Community Board 3 is expected to make its final vote tomorrow (Tuesday!) night regarding the Mayor's plans for a tech hub.
Earlier this month, CB3's Economic Development Committee and Land Use, Zoning, Public & Private Housing Committee voted in favor of creating a "workforce development and digital skills training center" at the former P.C. Richard site on 14th Street at Irving Place.
The mayor's 20-floor project requires several zoning changes, and faces many hurdles before getting the final OK. After the full CB3 board, the Manhattan borough president and the City Planning Commission will weigh in before the issue comes before City Council for a vote later this year.
Back on Friday, amNew York explored the ramifications of the proposal in an article headlined Village residents worry proposed Tech Hub could speed neighborhood’s transformation into ‘midtown south’
The CB3 meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. at PS 20, 166 Essex St. just south of Houston. Tomorrow's CB3 meeting will be streamed live on YouTube, as the Lo-Down noted.
Previously on EV Grieve:
Behold Civic Hall, the high-tech future of Union Square — and NYC
Speaking out against a 'Silicon Alley' in this neighborhood
P.C. Richard puts up the moving signs on 14th Street; more Tech Hub debate to come
650 E. 6th St.prepped for demolition; new condoplex on the way
An EVG reader shared the news this past Friday that workers started prepping the four-story 650 E. Sixth St. for demolition.
The building here just west of Avenue C is coming down to make way for a 7-story building that will apparently house condos.
This comes nearly two years after the building's new owners filed plans for the project. (The DOB OK'd the new-building permit in December.)
As New York Yimby noted in January 2016: "The 8,491-square-foot project will include 7,761 square feet of residential space, which means units will average 1,552 square feet apiece, indicative of condominiums."
Public records show that this building changed hands for $2.8 million in August 2013. The new owner is named East Village LLC in the filing.
No sign of a rendering just yet via RSVP Architecture Studio, whose other EV work includes the incoming condoplex on Second Avenue and First Street.
Meanwhile, in a positive development on this block, the city finally removed one of the two portable boilers late last year that had been parked here since Superstorm Sandy in 2012.
Previously on EV Grieve:
Report: Plans in the works to convert 650 E. 6th St. to condos
Residents voice concerns about quality-of-life issues on 14th Street and 1st Avenue
There has reportedly been an increase in the number of residential complaints about a variety of activities on 14th Street and First Avenue.
The intersection was a focal point of discussion during a recent 13th Precinct Community Council meeting. (The 13th Precinct has jurisdiction starting on the north side of 14th Street.)
Town & Village covered the meeting. From their report:
The intersection at East 14th Street and First Avenue has recently become a hub for the homeless as well as unsavory characters who’ve been loitering, making neighborhood residents feel unsafe, a number of neighbors have been saying.
StuyTown Property Services general manager Rick Hayduk told the precinct commanding officer, Steven Hellman, that management has gotten an uptick in calls about the area.
“We wanted to heighten awareness about First and 14th because there’s been an increase in vagrants,” Hayduk said.
Residents have also voiced complaints to [City Council Member Keith] Powers’ office about aggressive panhandlers on the north side of East 14th Street across First Avenue from Stuyvesant Town and in front of the Papaya Dog and near the vendors at the corner.
There was a report of a stabbing outside Community Grocery & Candy on Jan. 11. Two men had reportedly gotten into an argument inside the store, and it turned violent out on the sidewalk.
More about the new venture from Pilotworks on the Bowery
Two weeks ago I mentioned that Pilotworks was the new commercial tenant at 347 Bowery. (Just the ground-floor space.) That was after spotting signage touting Pilotworks — which offers co-working space for food professionals — arrived on the corner here.
A rep for Pilotworks shared more about what they will be doing with the space. (Basically businesses who are part of Pilotworks will be selling their stuff here.)
Via the EVG inbox:
Pilotworks - Culinary Incubator is Opening FIRST Retail Space on Bowery
I’m excited to announce Pilotworks ... is opening their FIRST RETAIL concept on the Bowery in Spring/Summer 2018. Located at 347 Bowery ... food businesses (AKA members or makers) that operate in Pilotworks kitchens across the country will have access to increased visibility and exposure for the very first time.
The location is already catching eyes because the exterior is outfitted with REAL RESIGNATION LETTERS from members at Pilotworks, including Hometown Poke from the Pilotworks Providence (RI) kitchen, and Stagg Jam and Watermelon Road, both based out of the Pilotworks Brooklyn kitchen. These resignation letters represent the moment a dream becomes a reality and a true testament to the importance of pursuing what you LOVE.
Here's more about Pilotworks from their website:
Pilotworks is a new kind of business on a mission to change the landscape of the food industry. We operate high fidelity culinary incubators across the United States that provide specialized products and services to entrepreneurs in the food community to help them bring new companies and ideas to market.
Through our holistic approach, selected companies benefit from our flexible and affordable infrastructure, outsourced services, personalized mentorship, distribution reach, educational events and workshops as well as our vibrant community of culinary professionals looking to innovate the industry. Pilotworks (headquarters in Brooklyn) recently closed a $13MM round of Series A financing led by Techstars Ventures and Acre Venture Partners, alongside a group of world class venture capitalists and food industry veterans.
Pilotworks also has outposts in Chicago, Dallas, Portland, Maine, and Newark, N.J.
As for the residential portion of No. 347, the Annabelle Selldorf-designed 13-story luxury building features five stacked and expensive town homes. The site was previously the Salvation Army's East Village Residence, which closed in 2008.
Previously on EV Grieve:
The Salvation Army's former East Village Residence will be demolished on the Bowery
Whatever happened to that really ugly hotel planned for the Bowery?
Looks like 347 Bowery will be home to a 13-floor mixed-use residential development
The future of 347 Bowery (sorta!) revealed
Let's take a look at 347 Bowery, now and in the future
347 Bowery getting its zinc supplements
Openings on Avenue A: Mama Fina's House of Filipino Sisig
Mama Fina's House of Filipino Sisig, an Elmwood Park, N.J.-based restaurant, recently opened its first NYC outpost at 167 Avenue A between 10th Street and 11th Street.
The family-owned restaurant serves dishes such pork sisig, lumpia shanghai and crispy pata. (You can find their menu here.)
Mama Fina's hours are Monday, Wednesday and Thursday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday-Saturday until 10 p.m.; Sunday from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. They are closed Tuesdays.
This space had been empty since Moonstruck Eatery closed in July 2016.
Previously on EV Grieve:
Mama Fina's signage arrives on Avenue A
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