Building that houses Bowlmor Lanes will convert to condos, like everywhere else around here

(More) Changes are coming to University Place. A tipster sends word that the building at 110 University Place that houses the parking garage and Bowlmor Lanes between East 12th Street and East 13th Street will be cleared out in the months ahead "in favor of (what else?) luxury condos."

While some shopkeepers and residents have been buzzing about this lately, the development doesn't come as a complete surprise. News of this was tucked away in a Steve Cuozzo item at the Post on Jan. 6. In a piece about Billy Macklowe buying 156 Williams St., Cuozzo also mentioned one of the developer's other properties — 110 University Place. Macklowe, CEO of William Macklowe Company, an investment firm, declined to comment on the future of the building.

However, Cuozzo reported: "we’ve learned from brokers that leases for Bowlmor and a garage at the site expire imminently ... and that demolition for a new building will likely start this summer."

Macklowe purchased a long-term controlling position in the building here back in the fall of 2012, as the Post first reported. At the time there was speculation about Bowlmor's long-term future in this space.

Bowlmor has operated here since 1938. (They also have a location in the former New York Times building in Times Square.)

Meanwhile, in other rather dreary news, our tipster hears that the former Jack Bistro at East 11th Street that closed last fall …



… is being fitted for a — ding! ding! — TD Bank branch. Will be a fine next-door neighbor for the European Wax Center that opened in the space last held by the Cedar Tavern.

And, while we're over here, might as well look at the building behind 110 University Place — 17 E. 12th St.



The former parking garage is also being converted into luxury condos. The Real Deal first reported on this possibility back in August. The city OK'd the condo-conversion plan on Dec. 10, which includes the addition of three new floors.

A rendering at the GreenbergFarrow site shows a building that looks like…



Per the copy with the rendering:

The concept for the architecture was to be elegant and respectful to the neighborhood, creating human-sized apertures at the streetwall, and a transparent and airy aesthetic on the added setback floors. The building was imagined to be re-clad with a cementitious rainscreen system. The rooftop amenity space is a required common area which will allow for a shared exhilarating experience with fantastic city views.

Finally, if you can possibly take any more, the former parking garage right behind here at 12 E. 13th St. is also getting the super deluxe treatment… where a five-bedroom unit will seek $28 million. The condo building will also be the first in NYC to use the robot parking system. (So much for the need for parking garages!) Head to Curbed if you'd like more details.

A 'Dear Super' letter: One way to find a new apartment

An EVG reader who lives on East Eighth Street between Avenue B and Avenue C sent along this "Dear Super" note affixed to the front door of an apartment building.

As you can see, the apartment hunter is reaching right out to the super — skipping those busybody middlepeople like brokers! — for help securing a "quieter one bedroom or large loft studio" to move to.

The apartment hunter does a fine job of presenting him- or herself — "very clean, reliable, keep a beautiful apartment with pride."

Anyway, what an old-fashioned way to find an apartment. Perhaps it might just work? Hard to say! My super always ignores my notes. "We do not have any hot water again…"

[Updated] Part of the Pizza Bagel Cafe space available to lease on First Avenue and East 14th Street

There's a new listing for 224 First Ave., currently home to the Pizza Bagel Cafe at East 14th Street.

A few details from the RKF listing:

POSSESSION
Arranged

TERM
Long term

FRONTAGE
160 feet on First Avenue

SITE STATUS
Currently Pizza Bagel Cafe

NEIGHBORS
Artichoke Pizza, CVS/pharmacy, Chase, Duane Reade, GNC, McDonald’s, Starbucks, The Vitamin Shoppe

COMMENTS
Directly adjacent to the First Avenue L subway line, Stuyvesant Town and Peter Cooper Village
Prime East Village corner location
All logical divisions considered

No word on rent...

Updated 10:49

Pizza Bagel Cafe is not closing. They are just downsizing. The space for lease will be smaller, per a tipster.

Birdbath Bakery back in business with new door

Birdbath Bakery reopened yesterday after being dark for the past week or so.

The bakery on Third Avenue and NYU East Ninth Street had been closed because of a broken front door. A reader, who took this photo, said they were back in business as of yesterday.

Previously.

[Updated] For the Mudtrucks, chrome is the new black

[Via Mudspot's Facebook page]

Well, it looks like Mudspot Coffee has retired their familiar orange ... the Mudtrucks, which have been around since 2000, have a new look as of yesterday ... @sammers133 spotted the new chrome model on Astor Place today...
‏


Nice! But will the truck absorb too many rays reflecting off of 51 Astor Place? May need some better AC come summertime.

Updated 4:30

We checked in with Mudspot General Manager Yasmina Palumbo about the change.

"Well, it kinda just happened. We were part of an event that asked us to go chrome for the day. We did it and we liked it so much we decided to keep it — but just for a minute. Mudtruck Orange will be back — way before the melting sun of summer!"

Walk through Tompkins Square Park? Grab your skates and dog sleds!

Walked through Tompkins Square Park early this morning... it was icy ... but plowed. Mostly!





(One Park watcher said the place was only plowed for crews to shoot scenes for the Jim Gaffigan TV pilot ... have no idea if the plow part is true... crews are there today to film, though ...)

Anyway, apparently things haven't gotten much better as the day progresses...

@evgrieve Tompkins looks & feels like the Yukon right now, ice EVERYWHERE. Only dog sleds & ice skates should be allowed

— introspectivenarwhal (@bonatron9000) February 6, 2014

Not that this is the first time the Park has been an ice rink...

Careful out there...

For rent signs come down at former Sushi Lounge

An EVG reader happened to walk by this morning at the moment a broker (or somebody) removed the for rent signs at the former Sushi Lounge on Avenue A and St. Mark's Place.



Alex Stupak, the chef at Empellón Cocina and Empellón Taqueria, plans to open his third restaurant here. CB3 OK'd his liquor license last month.

The Sushi Lounge closed at the end of October ... and eventually relocated a block and a half to the west on St. Mark's Place.

We haven't spotted any new work permits just yet for the address.

Previously on EV Grieve:
[Updated] Chef Alex Stupak vying for former Sushi Lounge space on Avenue A and St. Mark's Place

Here are a few scant details about chef Alex Stupak's new venture on St. Mark's Place

Reader mailbag: What has happened to the Cooper Station Post Office?

We usually hear gripes about the Peter Stuyvesant Post Office on East 14th Street. That branch, as you likely know, is closing in the coming weeks. ( The USPS will lease the former Duane Reade on East 14th Street near First Avenue for retail services, such as stamp sales and P.O. boxes.)

Meanwhile, the Cooper Station branch on Fourth Avenue at East 11th Street was the PO Oasis, a magical place where you didn't have to wait in line for 90 minutes … and where you could find employees who smiled — and not just when they were going on break while you were standing in line.

Now, ahead of the Peter Stuyvesant closure, an EVG reader wonders if that branch's "inept and lazy management" has been transferred to Cooper Station.

The reader explains.

This post office used to be quite good (considering), but since November the lines have gotten longer and longer and slower, the self-service machines mostly don't work, the place looks dirtier and more run-down than it used to (although all the lights are left on on both floors 24 hours a day when it is closed).

The latest trick (which is what I heard was standard operating procedure for Peter Stuyvesant) is failing to deliver packages and lying about it. I ordered from Amazon and the USPS claims they tried to deliver at 6:04 p.m. on Sunday — never mind they don't work on Sundays and the lobby of my building is open and attended 24/7. They didn't leave a slip so now I can't go to pick up the package. I rescheduled the delivery online for yesterday and nothing happened either. [Updated: The USPS is delivering for Amazon on Sundays now.]

It's a shame because the Cooper Square location used to be the place people went to avoid the East 14th Street debacle — not any more.

PO paradise lost? Anyone else notice a change (for the worse) in service at Cooper Station?

Previously on EV Grieve:
Peter Stuyvesant Post Office now also open to ruin your Sundays this month

Today in rants: the Peter Stuyvesant Post Office

Meanwhile, at everyone's favorite local post office branch...

Has anyone taken advantage of this 'great news' at the Peter Stuyvesant Post Office?

Memorial planned for longtime East Village resident Don Holley on Saturday

Don Holley, a beloved champion of the East Village, was struck and killed by a car upstate on Jan. 6. He was 62.

This Saturday from 4 p.m.-6 p.m., his friends and loved ones will hold a memorial in his honor at Nublu, 62 Avenue C between East Fourth Street and East Fifth Street.

Report: 7-Eleven's AC units have forced residents from their bedrooms on Avenue A & East 11th St.

[Photo via the No 7-Eleven Blog]

As previously reported, workers installed several AC and refrigeration units adjacent to the incoming 7-Eleven at 500 E. 11th St. last September ... placed inches away from the bedroom windows of tenants. The No 7-Eleven Blog noted last week that landlord Westminster Management has racked up $17,000-plus in fines for the illegally placed units at 500 E. 11th St.

While no one appears to be much in a hurry to do anything about these AC units… life continues to be miserable for some surrounding tenants. The No 7-Eleven Blog heard firsthand from tenants for a post yesterday:

The illegal refrigeration unit is placed on the one story roof between 500 and 502 East 11th St. immediately outside of the bedrooms of four separate, second floor apartments (two in each building). This unit significantly violates the noise pollution laws (twice cited by the DEP). The noise and vibrations that this unit emits have resulted in tenants in 502 East 11th St. to abandon their bedrooms and re-position their entire family in the living room. The noise is constantly grinding, clicking, and vibrating making it unbearable for ALL the tenants on all the floors between the two buildings — one of whom is a freelance film editor who is now unable to work at home.

According to the blog, the tenants will request another noise reading next month … with a court date possible in the future.

Previously on EV Grieve:
3 new AC units at incoming 7-Eleven prompts Partial Stop Work Order

A WHOOSHING AC unit update: 'We are roundly being ignored by 7-Eleven and Westminster NYC'

Looking at some East Village slush puddles

In another important journalistic endeavorWhile walking around yesterday afternoon, we started keeping tabs on the various slush puddles that had formed after the 87th day of snow this week.

The northwest corner of Third Avenue and East 10th Street sported some a fine moat of muck…



…the northeast corner of Avenue A and East Second Street could have been a contender… However, the fellows at Ave. A Deli & Food fashioned this footbridge for pedestrians…





One EVG Facebook friend said that the guys from the deli "were standing outside grinning at all of us who found it so helpful and nice."

A few details about Bar Primi, coming to the former Peels space on the Bowery

Peels closed for good on the Bowery on Jan. 22.

A "casual pasta shop" called Bar Primi is on the way in the space at East Second Street from restaurateurs Andrew Carmellini, Josh Pickard and Luke Ostrom, as Eater first reported.

The group goes before CB3's SLA licensing committee on Monday night for a new liquor license for the address. The paperwork (PDF!) that the applicants filed at the CB3 website ahead of that meeting provide a few scant details on what to expect… The proposed hours are 11 a.m. - 2 a.m. seven days a week. The paperwork shows 22 total tables, seating 94 people as well as two bars good for 41 seats. (They also plan to have an outdoor cafe, just like Peels.)

Hmm, what else… Bar Primi will employ between 50-60 people… and "management will be charged with the responsibility of operating a restaurant that does not disturb its neighbors."

Eater noted that if all goes well for the trio, then Bar Primi will open this summer.

William S. Burroughs was born 100 years ago today

[Burroughs in 1965 via the Evening Standard/Getty Images]

In honor of this… let's revisit an EVG post from January 2010 … where we looked at 222 Bowery (aka The Bunker), where the writer lived off and on starting in 1974 … the post was about Brooklyn-based photographer Peter Ross and his collection "of weird, touching, and often unexpected" photos of the possessions found inside the bunker … including items such as blow darts and nunchucks that once belonged to Burroughs.

At this time in 2010, the building's owner, John Giorno, had left Burroughs' apartment intact. In 1998, Giorno succeeded in getting landmark designation for the 1885 brick loft building, according to the Times.

Meanwhile, if you're in the mood, then here's a video short with Burroughs titled "The Bunker" …



Per YouTube:

Set in William S. Burrough's New York City apartment, the Bunker, this experimental film mixes images and audio of the nuclear holocaust from Hiroshima, Burroughs, and real confessions.

In February 1984, Burroughs celebrated his 70th birthday at the Limelight… where some up and comer sat next to him…


[Photo via Dangerous Minds]

Find the Official Burroughs 100 website here.

EV Grieve Etc.: Mourning Edition

[Tompkins Square Park via Grant Shaffer]

East Village artist Martin Wong's collection of graffiti art now at the Museum of the City of New York (The Associated Press via Newsday)

Remembering Rene Ricard (Hotel Chelsea Blog)

Roy Colmer, who photographed more than 3,000 New York doors in the mid-1970s, has died (Jeremiah's Vanishing New York)

Q-and-A with Cari Luna, author of "The Revolution of Every Day" (Brooklyn Based)

Barramundi will close to reinvent itself on Ludlow Street (BoweryBoogie)

'inoteca closes on Rivington Street this weekend (Eater)

Water main break on the LES this morning (The Lo-Down)

Thanks to the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation for this post on EVG (Off the Grid)

...and, given our well-known affinity for intricate, handcrafted balloon dresses... EVG reader Gregory Patrick shares this photo from Professor Thom's on Second Avenue... where there was a Valentine's Day-related photo shoot for Dragon Fly Productions the other day ...