Plywood report and the future of 75 1st Ave. (Spoiler: condos)

An EVG reader shares the following about the plywood at the empty pit also known as 75 First Ave.:

I feel like this barrier on between Fourth Street and Fifth Street is going to collapse and flatten a child or small dog or old lady any moment now.

It even has crap leaning on it from the opposite side.

There is a complaint on file with the DOB from last October about the plywood, with the caller noting the fence "is in danger of collapsing." However, an inspector checked it out and said "site safe and secure." (The plywood did fall down during Sandy and Irene.)

Anyway, this reader query prompted us to take a look at this lot adjacent to Rite Aid. The space has been empty for years. There have been several variations of residential buildings in the works, but nothing ever materialized after nearly 11 years of efforts.

Last fall, Ozymandius Realty and Orange Management sold the property to the Colonnade Group for $12.9 million, as The Real Deal reported.

Now, here is info on what the Colonnade Group has planned for the lot via their website:

This striking cantilivered ground-up structure is located in the heart of the East Village, one of most exciting and vibrant neighborhoods.

Designed by HTO-Architect, the building will rise 8 stories and will stand out with its contemporary and timeless glassy structure. Comprised of 22 residential units, ranging from 1 to 3 bedroom condominiums, 75 I˚ AVE is the ultimate destination for New York sophisticated buyers looking for all the comforts of a high-end residence in a young and dynamic environment.

All of the units will benefit from a number of amenities, including Fitness Center, Lounge and Library, Private and Common Roof Deck, Storage, Bike Storage & Doorman.

Construction is anticipated to start at the beginning of 2016 and estimated completion is Fall 2017.

We didn't spot any full renderings of the project... but the Colonnade website had this tease of an image...



Also, a familiar name will be involved...

To clarify @trdny 's article, our 75 1st Avenue development will host 22 units and no retail. @RyanSerhant will handle sales and marketing

— Colonnade Group (@ColonnadeGrpNYC) October 7, 2015

Previously on EV Grieve:
Developer: A shorter building in the works now for 75 First Avenue

High-rise for 75 First Avenue back in play

Long-stalled First Avenue site now has a brand-new rendering

Report: Long-dormant 1st Avenue development site changes hands

Report: Landlord Steve Croman owes the city over $1 million in unpaid code violations

Controversial landlord Steve Croman, whose 9300 Realty owns multiple residential buildings in the East Village, reportedly ended 2015 with more than $1 million in unpaid building- and construction-code violations on properties he owns.

This is according to research by the Cooper Square Committee, the East Village-based tenants' rights group. As Crain's reported:

The fines that Croman and his firm, 9300 Realty, had accrued showcase the city's inability to collect about $1.6 billion in quality-of-life fines, known as Environmental Control Board (ECB) violations. The city has few means to ensure the fines are paid, giving some landlords and contractors leeway to continue to rack up infractions.

"The city issues quality-of-life violations when people violate construction safety rules, start construction before or after hours, or have dangerous sidewalk conditions—and nobody seems to care," said City Councilman Ben Kallos. "Many landlords and developers treat [the fines] as a cost of doing business."

A spokesperson for 9300 Realty disputed the $1 million figure. Here's more from them:

A Croman spokesman said that the firm invests in buildings prone to violations. "We invest in older properties with the objective of restoring and holding them for the long term," the spokesman said in a statement. "Due to the age of properties in Manhattan, these buildings usually require substantial upgrade and repair work. We take maintenance of our properties very seriously and continually invest to clear building violations and enhance the quality of life for all of our residents."

Among other things, Croman has been accused of using illegal tactics to force out rent-stabilized tenants. Tenants have also said that Croman hired a former NYPD officer to harass and intimidate them.

And in other Croman-related news making headlines... Steve's son Jake Croman, a member of the University of Michigan’s Tau Kappa Epsilon chapter, has been vilified on the Internet for a video in which he is seen berating an Uber driver in Ann Arbor, Mich., last week.

As Gothamist noted:

Uber driver Artur Zawada started filming Croman and his friends after they began harassing him when he apparently canceled a ride they ordered. "Fuck you Artur, you little faggot fuck," Croman yells. "You wanna kick me off? Kick me off, you little piece of shit. You're an Uber driver! Go fucking drive, you little fuck! Minimum wage faggot! Go fuck yourself!"

He added toward the end, "You're working all night! Guess what? I'm gonna sit on my ass and watch TV. Fuck you!"

In a statement to BuzzFeed, Jake Croman said, in part: "What you don’t see in the video is that the driver had made a number of offensive anti-Semitic remarks that provoked my response. I am not proud of my reaction to his discrimination and I regret my choice of words."

The Uber driver denied the accusations.

Someone quickly created "the public warning website about the world famous Michigan/New York City douchebag Jake Croman."

Jake Croman's LinkedIn profile notes that he is an associate for his father's real-estate firm.

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

Image from May 2015

Report: Lack of gas stations downtown a concern

As we first reported last week, the BP station on East Houston and Lafayette is closing on April 14 to make way for a 7-story boutique office building.

With this closure, there will be just one gas station in the city below 14th Street — a Mobil on Eighth Avenue near East 13th Street. (There is also a BP on East 23rd Street at the FDR.)

Now as DNAinfo's Allegra Hobbs reports, community groups are concerned about the lack of options in the case of another disaster such as Sandy.

“We learned from that gas shortage that occurred in Superstorm Sandy how important this resource is to a community, and now we find ourselves with no gas stations anywhere near,” said Damaris Reyes, executive director of Good Old Lower East Side and chair of emergency preparedness group LES Ready.

“This does not do well for thinking about a balanced community with all of the resources that are necessary to help it be functional and resilient in a time of need,” she said.

You may recall the vehicles lined up for gas in the days that followed Sandy in November 2012 before the last two stations in the East Village closed ... and there were also lines of pedestrians filling up gas cans for generators at the now-closed Mobil on East Houston and Avenue C...

[EVG photo from November 2012]

...when there was gas anyway...

[EVG photo of the 2nd Avenue BP from November 2012]

Heading to another borough or New Jersey would be a very real possibility, per DNAinfo.

“Having to cross a bridge or go through a tunnel to get gas is not the best way to prepare for an emergency,” said Trever Holland, president of the Two Bridges Tower Tenant Association. “If there are no gas stations to go to, it becomes extremely problematic as to how you’re going to get gas for generators.”

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

Have you seen the glass tower in the works for Lafayette and East Houston?

Filling up: the status of 2 former East Village gas stations

Report: Boutique office building on East Houston and Lafayette at BP site a go

BP station on East Houston and Lafayette closes April 14

Confessional space for rent on East 6th Street

[Photo via Vinny & O]

A follow-up to the news from last week that Confessional has closed at 308 E. Sixth St. The bar-restautrant with a a Latin-Influenced tapas menu was said to be relocating to an undisclosed location from here between First Avenue and Second Avenue.

Meanwhile, the space is now on the rental market. The listing for the 1,400-square-foot space offers the following details:

Full kitchen in great condition 6-burner stovetop, oven, hood, dishwashing station.
Full Basement with Walk-in Fridge, Ice machine, and food storage
2AM Liquor License
Upside Potential by Opening More Hours - Has been operating only 4 days a week opening after 6pm
Business for Sale: $125,000 with Partnership offered but not necessary.
Rent $8,500 including RE Tax

Confessional opened in June 2014.

It's raining men and chimneys

Photo (and headline) by Grant Shaffer

Report: Coyote Ugly is now a global brand worth $80 million

Fox Business checks in with a story about Coyote Ugly, the 23-year-old bar on First Avenue between East 10th Street and East 11th Street that spawned a global empire.

Liliana "Lil" Lovell, Coyote Ugly CEO and founder, said that she opened the First Avenue location in 1993 with $70,000. Today, there are 20 Coyote Ugly bars worldwide (she owns 11 of them). Last December, her company opened up its fifth location in Russia. In May, a Coyote Ugly debuts in Wales ... and the company has plans to set up bar in Montreal by August, per Fox.

Lovell said that the company is worth $80 million today.

“I was like wow, who would have thought this little dive bar in the East Village would take off?"

This open-air home could use a home on Avenue B

EVG reader Katie spotted this earlier today on Avenue B at East Houston Street... looks nice from the outside, though, TBH, it is a bit of a fixer-upper upon closer inspection...



Still, it's located in an up-and-coming area with a thriving pancake scene.

A Day of Remembrance

[Photo by EVG correspondent Steven]

On Saturday afternoon, local elected officials along with community members and families of victims came together to mark the one-year anniversary of the deadly East Village gas explosion. (The event was billed the East Village Explosion Day of Remembrance.)

"A year after the East Village explosion, all that remains is three empty lots as a constant reminder of an avoidable tragic event that took the lives of two young men, rendered dozens of residents homeless, temporarily displaced hundreds of others from their homes and interrupted the livelihood of small business owners for weeks and in some cases months," City Councilmember Rosie Mendez said in a prepared statement.


[Rosie Mendez]

The speakers offered their condolences to the families of the victims, Moises Ismael Locón Yac and Nicholas Figueroa, thanked the first responders and vowed to take steps to make sure that tragedies like this don't happen again.

"One year ago, we lost two innocent individuals due to greed and poor safety oversight. This tragedy is a reminder that the pursuit of profits over people too often jeopardizes the safety of all New Yorkers," said Assemblymember Deborah J. Glick. "While the City has made efforts since the explosion to bring those responsible to justice, there is still much to do in order to ensure that this type of tragedy cannot occur again."


[Deborah J. Glick]

As for future safety issues, City Council has introduced legislation aimed at preventing another disaster. Mendez is the lead sponsor of Intro. 1093, which requires gas providers to notify the Department of Buildings within 24 hours of issuing a gas service shut off. This bill and eight others were introduced in the City Council on Feb. 24 to hold individuals and agencies accountable.

"As a community, we join the families of East Harlem in their sorrow," Mendez said. "We can never forget the tragedies that were avoidable and we vow to work to ensure that no one else has to suffer and endure what the families and our communities have."


[Mildred Guy, who lived at 119 2nd Ave. for 45 years]


[1st responders representing Engine 33/Tower Ladder 9 and FDNY Engine 28, Ladder 11]



Media coverage from the Day of Remembrance included:

• ABC 7

• CBS 2

• Daily News

• DNAinfo

• Fox 5

• NBC New York

• Newsday

• New York Post

• PIX 11

All photos by Stacie Joy unless noted

Brazen Fox owners looking to open a bar-restaurant across the street

There's an application on file with CB3 for a new liquor license at 104 Third Ave. on the southwest corner of 13th Street.

According to paperwork (PDF) at the CB3 website and in the window of the empty storefront...





... the applicants are Declan Rainsford and Rory Dolan, who are partners in several establishments in White Plains as well as the two-level Brazen Fox directly across 13th Street.

The questionnaire with more information about the proposed bar-restaurant hasn't been posted just yet. However, the notification in the window shows that the two are seeking a full liquor license and a sidewalk cafe.

The empty storefront was home until last June to Gothic Cabinet Craft shop. The family-owned custom wood furniture shop had been on this corner since 1969.

It will be interesting to see the response to a new liquor license in a saturated area in a storefront that previously wasn't licensed.

The CB3 SLA committee meeting is April 18 at 6:30 p.m. in the CB3 office, 59 E. Fourth St. between Second Avenue and the Bowery.

East Village Tobacco & Variety Shop is closing after 6 months on East 9th Street

[Photo Friday by Steven]

After less than 6 months in business, the East Village Tobacco & Variety Shop is closing this week here at 350 E. Ninth St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue. As the sign shows, there is a going-out-of-business sale.

The store sells some standard deli fare (sodas, water, cigarettes, etc.) and a few seemingly random items such as children's clothing and perfume.

The space was previously home to A.K. Shoe Repair, which closed last August. The proprietor said that he was no longer able to sustain the business after his landlord raised the rent from $2k to $4.5k a month.

H/T William Klayer

[Updated] Milling about East Second Street tonight

In case your driving or parking plans were to take you to East Second Street between Avenue A and First Avenue tonight...



The street is scheduled for roadway milling, as the plentiful signage along the block shows... (some signs pointed to milling action on Friday evening, but I didn't see any)...

Despite all the signs, someone should tell the pigeons about the milling and temporary displacement of the buffet...



No signs just yet about when the resurfacing will take place.

-----

And unrelated ... but while we are on this block... The TLC Tea House opened back on March 18...


[Photo from March 19]

They serve coffee, tea, sandwiches ... catering, in particular, to the various drivers (cabs, car services) who take a break on this block...

Updated 3/29

EVG reader Gacjon shared photos of the milling action last evening...

Shinbashi Restaurant arrives on 1st Avenue

The sign is up for Shinbashi, a new Japanese restaurant at 85 First Ave. between East Fifth Street and East Sixth Street.

We don't know too much about this business. They were on the CB3 SLA docket for a beer-wine license last September, though it was not heard before the committee. (The questionnaire for the applicant has very little information aside from proposed hours and seating — 18 tables with 72 seats.)

And it appears as if the proprietors added in the sushi lettering from the hardware store after the fact on the sign....



The address was previously home to the wine shop Tinto Fino, which closed in May 2013.

Week in Grieview

[The skateboard phone on St. Mark's Place via Derek Berg]

Stories posted on EVG this past week included...

"Concrete blowout" at Broadway condo project damages neighboring building (Wednesday)

BP station on East Houston and Lafayette closes April 14 (Tuesday)

Out and About with Brother Rasheim (Wednesday)

Lavagna is helping an East Village resident in his fight against cancer (Thursday)

Comptroller Scott Stringer looking at city's decision to lift deed at the former Rivington House (Wednesday)

Construction watch: 500 E. 14th St. (plus, Extell construction site still keeping residents up at night) (Thursday)

319 E. Sixth St. is for sale; conversion to single-family residence a possibility (Monday)

Confessional closes on East Sixth Street ahead of a relocation (Monday)

An enchanted yarn garden on St. Mark's Place (Thursday)

Fake cops rob man on Third Avenue (Wednesday)

Bluestone Lane Coffee opens next week at 51 Astor Place (Friday)

Report: An interest in keeping the Associated on East 14th Street (Tuesday)

The morning bread dump in Tompkins Square Park (Monday, 32 comments)

The former Contrada space remains on the market, though now with less key money (Tuesday)

Top Nails is moving next door on Avenue A (Monday)

Tribeca Pediatrics opening an outpost on First Avenue (Friday)

LinkNYC privacy concerns (Thursday)

The First Avenue Ricky's is now empty (Monday)

Media coverage of Mayor de Blasio's affordable housing plan getting the OK from City Council (Wednesday)

Report: M9 stop on Avenue C gets light after seven years in the dark (Tuesday)

Space at 249 E. Houston is for rent, and an update on the proposed 13-floor building on the block (Monday)

A quick trip to St. Mark's Place circa 1978 (Friday)

Former Bollywood rental shop becoming a hair salon on East Sixth Street (Thursday)

Laundromat-replacing laundromat closing on East 10th Street (Wednesday)

... and, this past week, this David Bowie stencil arrived outside the F stop on Second Avenue... courtesy of @zimad_art...





Previously

Mystery ball mysteriously arrives in Washington Square Park

That ball that was spotted outside Webster Hall on Thursday...


[Photo by Nora Gala]

...was seen in Washington Square Park yesterday, as our blogging friend Roger_Paw pointed out...



Perhaps it rolled there?