An all-American modeling moment

EVG reader Tyler spotted this friendly note with nice penmanship on a front door along East Fifth Street... anyone else want to see these photos?

On the campaign trail with East Village landlord Jared Kushner

[Reader photo at 118 E. 4th St. from March 6]

Several readers passed along the link to the Page 1 feature today in The New York Times titled Quiet Fixer in Donald Trump’s Campaign: His Son-in-Law, Jared Kushner.

According to the Cooper Square Committee, only Steve Croman owns more residential buildings in the East Village than Kushner does.

And as we've noted in multiple posts, there haven't been any shortage of tenant horror stories since Kushner and his company, Westminster City Living, started buying up properties in the East Village in 2013. For instance, in March, tenants at 118 E. Fourth St. went to Manhattan Housing Court as part of ongoing litigation against Kushner. Tenants there had been without gas for cooking since October. There are other issues too, such as collapsed ceilings, overflowing trash and sporadic heat. (Kushner eventually settled with the tenants.)

Brandon Kielbasa at the Cooper Square Committee told Gothamist in March that Kushner "treats both rent-stabilized and market-rate tenants badly, and seems to feel that he can get away with not maintaining buildings because the housing market is so tight he can keep them full anyway."

In July 2014, DNAinfo reported that "Kushner is using lawsuits, disruptive construction and neglect to force rent-stabilized tenants out of two buildings he owns in the East Village, as he converts them to high-end apartments, according to court documents and residents."

Meanwhile, around that same time, the Daily News filed a story with the headline Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner forcing residents out of East Village building so he can get higher rents: tenants

In any event, the feature in the Times does not mention any of Kushner's holdings in the neighborhood or his reported aggressive tactics... focusing on his role as a key Trump adviser.

Here's an excerpt from the article:

In a gradual but unmistakable fashion, Mr. Kushner has become involved in virtually every facet of the Trump presidential operation, so much so that many inside and out of it increasingly see him as a de facto campaign manager. Mr. Kushner, who is married to Mr. Trump’s daughter Ivanka ... oversaw the creation of an online fund-raising system and has had a hand in drafting Mr. Trump’s few policy speeches. And now that Mr. Trump has secured the Republican nomination, Mr. Kushner is counseling his father-in-law on the selection of a running mate.

It is a new and unlikely role for Mr. Kushner, a conspicuously polite Harvard graduate whose prominent New Jersey family bankrolled Democrats for decades and whose father’s reputation was destroyed, in a highly public and humiliating manner, by his involvement in electoral politics.

The article notes that given the hectic campaign trail, "Kushner is devoting far less time to his real estate empire."

Previously on EV Grieve:
Tenants claim: Kushner and Westminster want to destroy this building's beautiful garden

Reports outline how Kushner Companies is aggressively trying to empty 170-174 E. 2nd St.

Local politicos join residents of 2 Jared Kushner-owned buildings to speak out about poor living conditions, alleged harassment

Jared Kushner's residents at 118 E. 4th St. would like gas for cooking and some heat

[Updated] New installation on Astor Place that you can take for a spin

[Photo by Sparber]

Uh, sorry... not the Alamo ... workers today put in a Citi Bike docking station on the under-renovation Cooper Square-Astor Place...


[Photo by Vinny & O]


[V&O]

I believe they just relocated this one from in front of Kmart... (and wasn't there one in front of Cooper Union a few years back?)

Updated 7:55 p.m.

Citi Bike says that this is a temporary relocation... due to the construction outside the uptown 6 stop...

[Updated] Report of a death in Tompkins Square Park

[Photo by Steven]

A body was found early this morning near the southeast entrance of Tompkins Square Park on Avenue B and Seventh Street. Readers reported seeing emergency responders as early as 7 a.m.

An emergency responder at the scene told EVG correspondent Steven that the male victim was found next to a tree. There's conflicting information at the moment about the man. One worker said that the man appeared to be at least 50 while another Park regular said that he was a younger traveler. A drug overdose is suspected as the cause of death.

We'll update when there's more information to share.

Updated 7/6

According to Downtown Manhattan Patch, the man was 52 years old. The medical examiner was still waiting for results and investigating the cause of death, a spokesperson from the ME's office said today.

Dorian Grey Gallery space is for rent on 9th Street

The now-empty gallery space is on the market here on Ninth Street between Avenue A and First Avenue...



Per the Sinvin listing:

Ground Level: 650 SF (approx)
Storage Basement: 300 SF
Description:
• Eclectic and busy East Village street close to Tompkins Square Park
• Perfect for either boutique retail or restaurant
• Landlord will vent and install grease trap for food tenant

The asking rent is $7,900.

Gallery rep Molua Muldown told us last month that they were unable to come to terms on a lease with the new landlord (Benchmark Real Estate Group). Dorian Gray has a pop-up gallery space in Watermill for the summer.

Thanks to Steven for the photos

Previously on EV Grieve:
The Dorian Grey Gallery saying goodbye to 9th Street

Looking at the new residential building for 13th Street and University Place

We haven't walked by the now-demolished stretch of University Place between 12th Street and 13th Street in some time.

So we hadn't seen the rendering for the new residential building for the corner space at 13th Street...



New York Yimby previously reported that a Adjmi Architects-designed seven-story residential building (condos) is in the works... good for one unit per floor on top of 3,200 square feet of ground-floor retail.

The corner previously housed University Place Gourmet as well as several adjacent storefronts, including Bennie Louie Chinese Laundry.

Developer Ranger Properties paid $22 million for the lot, and sent everyone packing.

Meanwhile, next door, 23 floors of condos are going up at the former home of Bowlmor Lanes and several other businesses. That building will be called 21E12.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Building that houses Bowlmor Lanes will convert to condos, like everywhere else around here

76-year-old Bowlmor Lanes closes for good today

Bowlmor says goodbye

Bowlmor Lanes replacement: 23-floor residential building

Major changes coming to University Place and East 13th Street

How about some more condos for University Place

Here's what's left of the block of University Place that once housed Bowlmor Lanes


[13th and University in June 2015]

Santos Variety Shop is closing on Avenue C

The shop at 77 Avenue C between Fifth Street and Sixth Street will be closing on July 25.

The owner, who is 80, has decided to retire... so for the next few weeks, Santos, which sells various religious artifacts, such as candles, statues and incense, will be unloading its inventory...







The circa-1950s canisters of Saint Mark powdered incense were going for $1.50.

La Contrada now open on 2nd Avenue

Several readers, including Vinny & O, who shared these photos, have noted that La Contrada is now open for service on Second Avenue at Fourth Street...





The place is billed as an "Italian American Restaurant and Caterers" ...



The restaurant menu shows a variety of standard pasta, meat and fish offerings...


[Click on image to go big]

They also offer takeout items ... as well as juices and smoothies...



The hours are 8 a.m. to midnight daily.

This southwest corner of Second Avenue and Fourth Street was formerly home to Contrada, Calliope and Belcourt. For now, the Contrada signage remains up.

Please ket us know if you have tried La Contrada.

Today we celebrate our Independence Day!

[Photo on East 3rd Street from last night]

As you know the Macy's 4th of July Fireworks are on the East River this year/tonight...

Here are some articles with the rundown on places to watch the fireworks, street closures, etc., at Gothamist ... Curbed ... DNAinfo ... The Village Voice

And there are parking restrictions...

Be mindful of Parking Restrictions for the 4TH, No Parking both sides of E 14 from 1 Ave to Ave C, Sun & Mon #NYPD pic.twitter.com/l5SI7lr4aJ

— NYPD 9th Precinct (@NYPD9Pct) July 2, 2016

...and the 9th Precinct offers this...

Wishing everyone a safe #July4th weekend including all our furry friends. #NYPD @NYPDPaws pic.twitter.com/e7UXfnysGS

— NYPD 9th Precinct (@NYPD9Pct) July 2, 2016

Lastly, a reminder not to have any breath-holding contents.

Otherwise, enjoy, be safe ...

Noted

As we reported back on Friday, the owners of the Kati Roll Company are looking to open their fourth Manhattan location at 128 Second Ave., former home of the Stage, according to preliminary paperwork filed ahead of this month's CB3-SLA committee meeting.

This spray-painted message arrived overnight here between St. Mark's Place and Seventh Street...





The Stage, the 35-year-old lunch counter, closed March 30, 2015. Stage owner Roman Diakun had been involved in an ongoing legal/eviction battle with landlord Icon Realty. (You can read that background here.)

Reps for the the well-liked Kati Roll Company will be seeking a beer-wine license during the CB3-SLA committee meeting next Monday, July 11.

Neighborhood alert for the 3rd Street Rose Snipper

These are flyers up on Third Street between First Avenue and Second Avenue ... for an alleged flower thief.

Thanks to EVG reader Marjorie for the photo

Week in Grieview

[Photo on 2nd Avenue by Derek Berg]

Stories posted on EVG this past week included...

The Sock Man is returning to St. Mark's Place (Thursday)

Gregg Singer secures $44 million loan to continue plan to convert former PS 64 into a dorm (Monday)

Report: East Village man admits to three sexual assaults in 2014 (Wednesday)

At ABC No Rio's last HardCore/Punk Matinee on Rivington Street (for now) (Tuesday)

Reverend Jen departs her LES home, and Troll Museum (Tuesday)

A visit to former East Village mainstay Love Saves the Day in New Hope, Pa. (Thursday)

Brooklyn's Dun-Well Doughnuts opening an outpost on St. Marks's Place (Wednesday)

Out and About with Colette Pwakah (Wednesday)

Another freeze on 1-year leases for rent-stabilized apartments; 2% for 2-year leases (Tuesday)

Other Music storefront is for rent (Monday)

The Kati Roll Company vying for the Stage space on Second Avenue (Friday)

Thursday Kitchen will serve Korean tapas on East Ninth Street (Tuesday)

235 Second Ave. being pitched for bar-restaurant usage (Wednesday)

B4 has closed on East Fourth Street (Thursday)

Final 4Knots Festival lineup unveiled (Monday)

Checking out the penthouse at THREE99 — "unlike any apartment ever in the East Village" (Friday)

Sweetgreen opening on Astor Place (Thursday)

The black crowned night heron continues to come out at... night in Tompkins Square Park (Tuesday)

Two more sidewalk cafe choices for Second Avenue (Tuesday)

Films in Tompkins return this summer with "Do the Right Thing," "True Romance" and "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" (Friday)

A reminder about breath-holding contests (Wednesday)

Osaka Grub bringing Japanese fast food to the Essex Street Market (Tuesday)

Full reveal at Icon Realty's 327 E. Ninth St. (Tuesday)

Inch by inch, 190 Bowery is losing its graffiti (Thursday)

Lost and found PSA from Tompkins Square Park

Paging William A. Morton...

Photo via Steven

A LinkNYC kiosk for 2nd Avenue, and several false alarms

The influx of LinkNYC kiosks continues... as one of the [free] Wi-Fi hotspots has been installed on Second Avenue and East 12th Street... the first that we recall seeing in the neighborhood outside the Third Avenue corridor at and above 14th Street.

The city is reportedly expected to have more than 500 kiosks up and running by the end of this month... with a goal of 7,500, each replacing a pre-existing phone booth, over the next eight years.

Meanwhile, given the anticipated arrival of more kiosks, there has been some confusion... none of these are LinkNYC kiosks, just FYI...