Hole watch 2016: Still no sign of a new building on Avenue C and East 6th Street

Well you know the lot on the northeast corner of Avenue C and Sixth Street has been empty for as long as anyone can remember. (Early 1980s by one estimate. The property apparently once housed a gas station.)

People have been trying to develop the lot, which includes a 10-by-12-foot hole, going back to 2003.



Most recently, a building permit was filed on Dec. 6, 2012, by 13 Willow Avenue Realty Co. LLC. Plans call for a six-story, 14-unit building.

We bring all this up now because, on Tuesday, the city once again disapproved the plans for the building. Just the latest rejection going back to February 2013...



Last July, property owner Israel Rosenbaum told The Villager that — despite appearances and reports of rat sightings through the years — the corner lot doesn't pose any health hazards. "There are no issues at this property other than the long process of getting DOB approval to construct a new building,” he told The Villager.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Addition by subtraction at East Sixth Street church

RIP Cowboy Jim

[Photo courtesy of John Caldwell]

Jim Hayes (aka Cowboy Jim) passed away on Jan. 2. He had been suffering from emphysema.

Unfortunately, we don't have a lot of biographical information at the moment.

Hayes had been a fixture off and on in the East Village since 1968. He could usually be found drinking coffee outside Porto Rico Importing Co. on St. Mark's Place and on a bench near the Hare Krishna tree in Tompkins Square Park.

There is now a makeshift memorial for him on the side of the shuttered Chase branch on Second Avenue and St. Mark's Place ... next to Porto Rico.



Thanks to EVG contributor Steven for the photos and information...

[Updated] Suffolk Arms finally reveals its exterior on East Houston

After more than a year, workers removed the plywood surrounding the long-vacant 269 E. Houston St. storefront at Suffolk ... where a new cocktail bar called Suffolk Arms has been in the works.

As The New York Times first reported in September 2014, Giuseppe Gonzalez, whose bartending credits include Golden Cadillac, PKNY and Dutch Kills, is behind the new venture. According to the Times, "Expect an English pub exterior but a New York feel inside."

In an update a few weeks back, BoweryBoogie heard that the opening is expected sometime next month. The bar has a website, though most of it appears to be TK at the moment.

Been years since there was a tenant here. The Local 269 never reopened after a flood KO'd much of the live music venue's equipment in the fall of 2012. The Local 269 space was previously home to Meow Mix and Vasmay Lounge. The Local opened in February 2009.

Updated 1/30

Here's a better plywood-free view...



Previously on EV Grieve:
Plywood wraps itself around the incoming Suffolk Arms

Noted

From the EVG inbox...

I felt it was worth mentioning that the vacant Chase branch on Avenue A and 2nd Street is now home to a half of a roll, a half of a bagel and a dead pigeon. It's anybody's guess whether the three are related but I suspect fowl play. (It's probably inappropriate to pun in the face of death but that one kind of fell into my lap).

[Updated] Honoring a kale blazer on St. Mark's Place

[Photo from November by Steven]

The Love Wall is no more on the side of Foot Gear Plus on St. Mark's Place at First Avenue... and going up today!



Woo, kale! Probably an ad for Naked's Kale Blazer flavor...



Photos by EVG Kale Correspondent Steven...

Updated 1/30

Progress report via Lola Sáenz ...



Updated 2/1

And because you wanted to see the final product...


[Photo by EVG Kale Correspondent Steven]

6-story condoplex, complete with Danish handmade brick, coming to East 6th Street

[Via Google]

Way back in November 2013 we posted about the one-story structure at 619 E. Sixth St. between Avenue B and Avenue C hitting the market for $5.4 million.

The listing mentioned that air rights for the property were available.

Indeed, the new owner is taking advantage of that wasted air. There are now (as of December) approved permits on file with the city for a 6-story residential building here.

The work order shows a 9,235-square-foot building with five residences, likely condos. Amenities include bike storage and a two-car garage ... and the 2-floor duplex at the top includes a private rooftop terrace.

The LLC listed as the owner shares the address with Mermelstein Development. DXA Studio Architecture is listed as the architect of record.

And here are renderings via the DXA website... with more details on the building...



To the architect-ese:

This ground-up building faces an inner-block garden on 6th Street in the East Village. A desire for full expanses of glass to view the garden and the skyline beyond presented a challenge with the heat gain associated with direct southern exposure. The design includes flexible, folding wood slat screens within steel frames that provide solar shading when needed, but that allow unencumbered views when repositioned to the sides of the facade.

The facade is clad in a Danish handmade brick and includes a full width mural along a sidewall that links the building in character with its East Village neighbors where street art abounds. The five residential units, from a small studio up to a dramatic three bedroom with office and double height duplex on the top floors, incorporate a simple and timeless palette of materials throughout.

The space apparently had been home to a Japanese furniture designer. Public records show that the property went for $135,000 in 1993. The selling price last year was $4.7 million.

More about the anonymous, animal-loving snow shoveler of the East Village

[Yesterday!]

Yesterday, we posted about an individual who voluntarily shoveled out a snowbound car on East Seventh Street between Avenue A and Avenue B... and left behind a typewritten note suggesting that if the car owner wanted to show his or her gratitude, he or she could make a small donation to Ollie's Place/Mighty Mutts Animal Rescue on East Ninth Street...

And here is the car that the person shoveled out...





Last evening, the resident shoveled out another car in the neighborhood and left a similar, typewritten note...



We tracked down the resident and asked a few quick questions about his or her actions...

On what made them decide to do this:

I like shoveling snow. I know that sounds a bit weird, but I’ve always liked shoveling snow. During [Saturday's blizzard], I shoveled out my car, some friends' cars ... and some other places. I actually put an ad up on Craigslist offering free snow shoveling services to those who were unable to do it themselves but didn't get any responses. So [on Tuesday], I just grabbed my shovel and found a car that was deeply buried and figured I would just shovel it out, which I did.

When I got home, I realized that maybe the person might want to know who shoveled out their car so I quickly typed up the first note, and put it on the car. I added the part about Mighty Mutts because I have been volunteering there for a long time and I’m always trying to find new ways to help them out.

On the use of a typewriter:

I used a typewriter because my printer doesn’t work, I have bad penmanship, and I like my typewriter.

On continuing the service:

So far I think I have done four cars with this type of note, and will try to do a couple more before alternate-side parking starts again.

I didn’t put much thought into this before doing it. But while doing it I started thinking it would be a good fundraising project for Mighty Mutts or any charity. People could sign up to have their cars shoveled and volunteers could go shovel to help raise money. The beginning of the year is always difficult because it is harder to raise money and people have already donated to charities during the holidays, but the operating expenses don’t change.

Shoveling snow is one of the only things I get to do that has a clear start and a clear finish, it is exercise, and I like to think it’s a good way to make someone’s day. Whether or not they want to donate is irrelevant — it’s a simple way to do something nice.

We also mentioned that the post attracted a lot of comments here and on Facebook. Overall, people were impressed and thought it was a nice act of random kindness. However, there was a contingent who found this note and gesture guilt-inducing and passive-aggressive.

We asked the resident about this.

"I guess I could understand how it could be seen as passive-aggressive. Maybe I worded the notes improperly, but that was never an intention. I really don’t want anyone to feel obligated to pay for something they didn’t ask for. I would rather they just enjoy having their car shoveled out without having to even think about it."

Previously on EV Grieve:
There is an anonymous, animal-loving snow shoveler in the East Village

Ben Shaoul's 100 Avenue A ready for tours

And over at 100 Avenue A between East Sixth Street and East Seventh Street, Ben Shaoul's incoming condoplex is starting to finally look like a residential building.

Which may by why the property is now open for tours (let's see who responded to the building's naked lady marketing motif!) with broker Ryan Serhant...

Site tours of 100 Avenue A have begun!!!!!!! I'm so excited I can't even feel the cold!!!!!! www.100AveA.com

A photo posted by Ryan Serhant (@ryanserhant) on Jan 25, 2016 at 12:54pm PST

Questions! If we go on a tour, then do we get to wear a branded 100 Avenue A hard hat like Ryan Serhant? And is there an economy tour?

The residences at the 6-story 8-story building start at $1.3 million.

Previously on EV Grieve:
The retail space at Ben Shaoul's 100 Avenue A is available for $24.5 million; plus, naked model marketing clarification!

Trying to figure out what is going on at 98-100 Avenue A

Someone threw black paint bombs at the naked women condo ad along 100 Avenue A

[Updated] DF Mavens has closed (for now) on 2nd Avenue and St. Mark's Place

Well, it's apparently lights out now for DF Mavens, the vegan ice cream shop and cafe on the northwest corner of Second Avenue and St. Mark's Place.

The shop is dark... and there is a sign...



However, according to a DFM Facebook post this afternoon: "Our St. Marks location is closed until further notice. We are still available at retail locations."

Not sure what "until further notice" means here.

Anyway, the shop was open for business yesterday.

DF Mavens opened their first retail space here on Dec. 26, 2014. The storefront was previously home to Eastside Bakery (.net?)

And this corner continues to be a tough spot for any retail establishment. Maybe it's time to bring back the Gap!

Updated 8:56 p.m.

In a tweet, DFM said "don't fret," that they were working on the situation...

Updated 1/28

Officially closed...

Dear Valued Customers,Many thanks for the support and sadness you expressed in social media postings about our recent...

Posted by DF Mavens on Thursday, January 28, 2016

Previously on EV Grieve:
Prepping for the arrival of DF Mavens on 2nd Avenue and St. Mark's Place (29 comments)

Hawk invader in Tompkins Square Park!

Kevin the Kiteman was in Tompkins Square Park earlier today... with a hawk kite...



We were curious what, if any, reaction resident red-tailed hawks Christo and Dora might have to this hawk interloper...



Unfortunately, we don't know... Christo and Dora didn't seem to be around at the moment...

Photos via Derek Berg

There is an anonymous, animal-loving snow shoveler in the East Village

A tipster sends along this note ... from a car on East Seventh Street between Avenue A and Avenue B...

Per the note, written on a typewriter:

Your car was shoveled out of the snow for FREE on the evening of Tuesday, January 2016.

If you would like to show your gratitude you could make a small donation to Mighty Mutts Animal Rescue...

If not, that is fine and enjoy the free shoveling.

Thanks.

Updated 1/28
Find an interview with the snow shoveler here

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: Leslie McEachern
Occupation: Owner, Angelica Kitchen
Location: East 12th Street between 1st and 2nd Ave
Time: 2 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 25

I was born and raised in Greenville, S.C. … nothing could be finer. I came to New York numerous times in the 1970s for visits, for fun. I was in college from 1967-71 and I was at a large school — the University of Tennessee — that had a lot of fringe people from Miami and New York City.

So I met all of these great, outrageous folks and got very much into an alternative lifestyle — meaning sex, drugs, and rock-n-roll. I had a great time and was introduced to the alternative lifestyle, the vegetarian way of doing things. The back-to-the-earth movement was becoming strong at that point and it interested me a lot. I started working in a warehouse in Raleigh, N.C., for a company called Laurel Brook Foods and they were a wholesaler of natural foods. I also helped start a co-op there called Noah’s, which at that time had three families and now I’ve heard it has over 5,000 — still up and strong running.

I had started a small business representing certain natural foods, but I was going to different health-food stores around the country and trade shows and demonstrating their products. One day in 1981, I was at Greenberg’s. It was a very old school natural food store on First Avenue, between Seventh and St. Mark's Place. I was in there doing a miso demonstration and handing out samples and Frank Simons, the guy who had just bought Angelica Kitchen, walked in. I didn’t know him at the time but I had been a fan of Angelica. He and I caught each other’s eyes, to say it mildly. We got engaged and I moved from the mountains of North Carolina to New York to be with him. That was what got me here – falling in love and doing the right turn so many of us know about.

Angelica was at 42 St. Marks Place at that time. It was a small place and we had very few seats, so we had an open policy about seating. People came in and sat in any empty chair in the restaurant, whether it was a two top or a four top, so lots of connections were made that way. That was very fun. It was very community spirited. Organic wasn’t as much of an issue at that time but there were a lot of products available. That became my mission once I was in charge of the restaurant after Frank died. I really believed in the small, independent organic farmer as stewards of the land, so I was able to get on my soapbox through having Angelica Kitchen and really support the farmers.

There was this great couple called George and Tilly who were on Fifth Street between Second and Third and they would come in on Friday and Saturday from their farm in New Jersey. They would bring truckloads of fabulous produce and apple cider. You’d see everybody there from John McEnroe to the people who lived down the street. Everybody in town who ate clean knew about George and Tilly. I would be running back and forth with a hand truck with cases and cases of kale and collards and turnips and apples.

After Frank died, I moved over to Seventh Street between B and C. The great thing about the East Village is always the people, and I really felt deeper into the heart of the neighborhood. In those days it was so convivial and neighborly. It was very community driven. I loved it. There is a reason the East Village has the reputation that it does, historically, because it was a wild and crazy place, and yes it was sometimes scary. I had amazing things happen, including people stealing from me. It had kind of an outlaw feeling. In the moment it was frustrating, but you just kept going.

I built the 12th Street location in 1987, so it’s still the new place. It used to be the Café Royal when it was Jewish Broadway and all kind of characters were in here, including Bugsy Siegel and George and Gracie, and just on and on. I loved the fact that it was a gathering spot back in the day and now since 1987 it has been too.

Before the city made recycling law, I was already doing it, and not only recycling with recyclable goods, but also of compost, which of course made the weight on our garbage go down because we weren’t putting all of the refuse in the garbage bags. We were saving it in five gallon buckets to be used in a composting operation that Christina had set up on my block on 7th Street.

You know who didn’t like that? The garbage carters. You know who ran the garbage carters? It was an organized group called The Family. Things started happening to Christina. I think her truck got blown up. I’m pretty sure that’s the right story. I’m not sure if it was those people, but it was some kind of a competition issue.

Then one day right after I had opened on 12th Street, a group of shall we say gentlemen — four rather stocky men in suits — came to the front door to talk to me. So I called this guy, Carl Hultberg, who was handling the recycling for NYU, to come over and sit with us. These guys had come to intimidate me to stop my composting and recycling. They were at that time charging by the weight, and the weight wasn’t what it should have been according to them. So Carl, who was a strong activist and informed recycling man, started laying out information for them. They were claiming that they were recycling, these four men, and Carl said, "We would like to see your recycling operation. Can we go there?"

You could just see them think, "Who do these kids think they are?" But Carl was asking them very pointed questions to prove they weren’t recycling. It was a funny meeting. They walked out and they got nothing from us. We were cheering and high fiving. That was a great moment for not only Angelica Kitchen, but also a big moment in the changes that were coming. I don’t know if it influenced those four men or not, but now that recycling is a law and composting is encouraged, it’s kind of interesting to look at the progress we made.

Now things have changed drastically. From being, I guess they say farm-to-table, long before it had a terminology. Now a lot of people say that’s what they do, but there’s no way to verify. So I feel for the consumers because people who are really looking to support that movement are just kind of up to the whim of the people who are doing the branding of any particular location.

Some people are doing a very good job and some people are taking advantage of the trend — local, regional, artisan. That’s always just been how we do things here. But I don’t want it to be negative — I want it to be positive. We’re the real deal. We’re doing what other people say they’re doing. You can always count on Angelica to be completely plant-based and organic. We’re here seven days a week, lunch and dinner.

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

Virgola is opening a 2nd East Village location this spring on Avenue B

[221 Avenue B]

Virgola opened at 111 E. 7th St. between Avenue A and First Avenue last month.

Now owner Joseph Marazzo is planning to open another outpost of his oyster bar and Italian wine cafe... this time at 221 Avenue B between East 13th Street and East 14th Street.... there's a CB3 notice on the gate announcing that Virgola will be on the February SLA docket for a beer-wine full-liquor license...



The address was last home to Camp David, an upscale lounge-tapas bar that quietly closed some time last summer.

According to its website, the Avenue B Virgola will open this spring. Aside from the original location on Greenwich Avenue, there's an outpost in the works for Ormond Beach, Fla., as well.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Oysters coming to the former Bourgeois Pig space on East 7th Street

Owner's retirement marks the end of Broadway Panhandler

In case you didn't already see this. Several EVG readers have sent along the link from the Times on Monday... reporting that Broadway Panhandler will be closing for good this spring after 40 years in business ... the last 10 on East Eighth Street at Broadway.

Norman Kornbleuth, the owner of the well-stocked cookware retailer, is retiring. Per the Times:

“I’ve been in this business for 40 years,” Mr. Kornbleuth said on Thursday. “I’m now 72; my wife has health issues. It’s time.”

Mr. Kornbleuth said that his two daughters were not interested in running the business and that his efforts to sell the company fell through. He has yet to decide the date when the store will close its doors for good.

Kornbluth, however, didn't completely rule out staying away from the retail world, telling the Times that he might open a small knife shop sometime after Broadway Panhandler closes.

Image via the Village Alliance