Meanwhile, at your all-new St. Patrick's Day HQ

Key Food going all out this year on Avenue A with this inspiring display, which includes, randomly or not, bags of Lay's potato chips.

Thanks to Stacie Joy for the photo.

153 Avenue B returns to the market

153 Avenue B between Ninth Street and 10th Street (and adjacent to the Charlie Parker Residence) returns to the market with a new broker and a slightly lower price.

Here's the deal via the listing at Leslie J. Garfield:

Featuring 23 feet of frontage on Tompkins Square Park, 153 Avenue B is a rarely available grand and stately townhouse in the heart of the East Village.

Owned by the same family for nearly 60 years, this oversized brownstone stands five stories tall, is built 54’-deep, and is approximately 6,200 square feet. Features of this exceptional townhome include excellent width, period details, gracious ceiling heights, and sweeping views of Tompkins Square Park. Currently configured as five floor-through units, 153 Avenue B can be delivered vacant for single-family conversion, or operated as an investment property with a strong existing rent roll. Additional potential uses include condominium conversion in a surging East Village market or the potential to live with income.

Surrounded by charming cafes, trendy restaurants, and boutique shops, 153 Avenue B presents an incredible opportunity in a prime location. In a neighborhood that has seen rapid development and record prices, 153 Avenue B offers a charming glimpse into Manhattan real estate history.

Asking price: $6.85 million.

The building hit the market with a different broker in May 2016 with a $6.95 million ask.

The current owners shared some history of the building with the Post:

Over the decades, past residents, according to the current owners, have included actress Marisa Tomei, music producer Hal Willner, and musician and composer Charles Mingus.

“On the night that Robert Kennedy was shot, for instance, Mingus rang our bell. I remember seeing this heavy-set man in tears, crying to my mother about how they shot Bobby, too. His longtime lover lived on the fifth floor of our building with her children — she must not have been home at the moment he stopped over."

Recycle-A-Bicycle leaving the East Village

Recycle-A-Bicycle is closing its shop at 75 Avenue C between Sixth Street and Fifth Street at the end of the month... the sign on the front door says that the community-based bike shop and nonprofit organization (they provide programming and workshops for kids) will reopen somewhere on the Lower East Side this summer...



No word at the moment why they are leaving Avenue C. Recycle-A-Bicycle launched in 1994.

Thursday's parting shot

Photo this evening via Bobby Williams...

A moment with Christo in Tompkins Square Park

One of the resident red-tailed hawks perched on a low branch today in Tompkins Square Park... photo by Steven...

Breaking the ice on 7th and A

EVG reader Peter d. shared this photo from this evening... there were reports of falling ice at 109 Avenue A at Seventh Street... a crew from Paul Signs were called in with a bucket truck to remove ice from the building before any more fell...

Developers reduce zoning variance request by two-thirds at 432-438 E. 14th St.

[Photo from 13th Street taken March 8]

As previously reported, reps for the new development at 432-438 E. 14th St. have been lobbying to receive a zoning variance for a 12-story building — four more floors than the area's zoning allows.

Per previous reports, the site of the former Peter Stuyvesant Post Office between Avenue A and First Avenue "is burdened by a combination of unique conditions that result in practical difficulties in complying with the applicable zoning regulations."

There has been opposition to this variance. Last summer, Community Board 3's Land Use, Zoning, Public & Private Housing Committee issued a denial to the developers (Benenson Capital Partners in association with the Mack Real Estate Group).

Now, however, the developers have cut back their zoning variance request by two-thirds, according to the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation (GVSHP), one of the groups opposed to the new building's height.

Here's more from a statement that the GVSHP released yesterday:

The developers were seeking a more than 50 percent increase in the allowable height and a more than 25 percent increase in the allowable size of the planned development as compared to what the zoning allows for the site. But after GVSHP and dozens of neighbors turned out to oppose the zoning variance request at a Jan. 24 Board of Standards and Appeals (BSA) hearing, this week the developer submitted a revised application slashing the requested height and bulk variances by two-thirds, in anticipation of the next BSA hearing on March 28.

The developer is now requesting a 14.5 ft. increase in the allowable height of the building (restricted by zoning to a maximum height of 80 ft.), to allow the building to rise up to 94.5 feet. This is down from the 44 ft. increase requested in January, which would have allowed the building to rise up to 124 feet.

The developer is also now requesting a 10,000 sq. ft. increase in the allowable size of the development (restricted by zoning to a maximum of size of 103,800 sq. ft.), to allow the building to contain 113,929 sq. ft. This is down from a 27,550 sq. ft. increase in allowable size of the development requested in January, which would have allowed the building to contain 131,350 sq. ft.

Despite the decrease, GVSHP officials said that "the application still fails to demonstrate that the existing zoning imposes a 'hardship' upon the developer, and still fails to show that the proposed enlarged development would not negatively impact neighborhood character."

Here's a look at the building from its previous 12-story proposal...



You can find the revised and reduced variance application submitted this week here ahead of the March 28 BSA meeting.

The current approved plans show an 8-story building with 114 residences (reportedly 23 affordable, 91 market rate) and ground-floor retail. The residential entrance to the building will be on East 13th Street... while access to the storefronts will be on East 14th Street.

The Peter Stuyvesant Post Office, which had operated since 1953, shut down in February 2014. Berenson has been the longtime landlord at the address.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Former Peter Stuyvesant Post Office slated to be demolished

The former Peter Stuyvesant Post Office will yield to an 8-story residential building

New residential building at former 14th Street PO will feature a quiet lounge, private dining room

A look at the new building coming to the former Peter Stuyvesant Post Office property

Black Market is not reopening

We noted yesterday that Black Market closed on Sunday... the sign on the door here at 110 Avenue A near Seventh Street notes that they are closed for renovations.

A now-former employee shared a text (said to have been sent March 7) from management about what was happening... per the text, Black Market won't be reopening ...



... a tipster said that the owners (Johnny T and Jesse Malin) are updating the space for another venture.

Black Market, which served burgers, oysters and cocktails, opened in 2010.

Report: Arrest made in Orchard Street beating

WANTED: 2 males for assaulting a 24-yr-old man in front of 156 Orchard St., Manhattan. Call #800577TIPS with info. @NYPD7Pct pic.twitter.com/Ycw8oO3Msu

— NYPD NEWS (@NYPDnews) March 11, 2017

Police have arrested one of the suspects wanted in a 2-on-1 beatdown on Orchard Street early last Friday morning.

Per PIX 11:

Nawang Choying, 23, of Queens, is charged with gang assault.

Sources say the beating was over the victim stepping on the attacker's shoe at Piano Bar.

The attack happened around 2:45 a.m.

Police say two men chased a 24-year-old man north on Orchard Street towards Stanton Street. The men caught up to the victim in front of 156 Orchard Street and began to punch and kick him multiple times in his head, face and body, police say.

The victim, 24-year-old William Franco, was taken to Bellevue for his injuries. His mother, who lives a block from the incident, said that her son is OK.

CBS 2 said that the police are continuing to search for the second suspect.

Updated 7:40 p.m.

Police have arrested the second suspect, Shachin Gauchan, 32, of Woodside, Queens, the Daily News reported.

Former firehouse on 11th Street returns to the market for office use

There's 5,000-square-feet of office/showroom space in the former firehouse at 604 E. 11th St. between Avenue B and Avenue C that's currently for rent.

Here are details per the listing (where you can find interior shots too):

Architecturally stunning beautifully designed creative office space featuring high exposed ceilings, original wide plank pine wood floors, exposed brick, skylights, and private roof-deck. This office is two full 2500 square foot floors totaling 5000 square feet.

This classic loft / office / townhouse has a chic stylish modern installation including floor to ceiling glass conference rooms, pre-built offices, large windowed wet pantry, and lots of dramatic open space perfect for your company's bull-pen, show-room, or studio needs. Excellent space for any office, showroom, or studio.

This space is truly one of kind and spaces like this rarely hit the market so this space will not last long. Amazing office / showroom / studio opportunity for any Tech, Fashion, Advertising, Film / TV, Media or any business seeking a unique inspiring dynamic dramatic space for it's business.

The two floors here can be leased together or separately. The monthly rental for both floors is $$20,850.

The space is available starting next month. The current tenant is an integrated marketing communications and entertainment company.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Old firehouse on East 11th Street no longer really looks like an old firehouse

Fired up at La Plaza Cultural

Here's a scene from last night's fire jumping (the Persian/Zoroastrian fire-jumping holiday) at La Plaza Cultural on Ninth Street at Avenue C... thanks to Ryan John Lee for the photo (see more of his work here ... and here).

The snow car of 4th Avenue

Photo today by Derek Berg

Citi Bike research: 'Bikes are being used for errands and commuting'

[Citi Bike photo today by Daniel]

NYU’s Rudin Center for Transportation examined how people are using Citi Bikes. The Daily News got the first look at the research, which hasn't been publicly released just yet.

Per the News:

The vast majority of Citi Bike trips, 98 percent, are shorter than 45 minutes, and nearly half clock in at less than 10 minutes.

“People are using Citi Bike in short distances that are perhaps too short to jump on a subway, but may be too long to walk,” said Rudin Assistant Director Sarah Kaufman. “Citi Bike introduces a new option that ... really cuts down on travel times.”

The stats show the bikes are being used for errands and commuting, rather than leisurely cruising.

“It’s not being used by tourists, it’s being used by commuters and regular New Yorkers,” Kaufman said.

See a production of Tennessee Williams' 'In the Bar of a Tokyo Hotel' on 3rd Street

Longtime East Village residents Charles Schick and Regina Bartkoff are involved again in a production of Tennessee Williams' "In the Bar of a Tokyo Hotel" at 292 Theatre/Gallery on Third Street.

Here's more about what to expect starting tonight:

A happy hedonist wife has come to the end of her patience with her husband, a forever-experimenting artist. The late 1960s resounds throughout Tokyo Hotel in masterful staccato rhythms, which serve as breaks in the lilt of Williams' earlier dialogue.
This intense and personal late-60s Williams one act features the original cast of the 2012 New York production.

Charles Schick and Regina Bartkoff are both well-acquainted with the more experimental plays that Williams wrote late in his life, which have been enjoying a renewed interest in recent years. Charles Schick played in "The Strangest Kind of Romance" as part of a touring Tennessee Williams festival in early 2011, and both he and Regina Bartkoff had roles in "Now the Cats With Jewelled Claws" that same year along with Everett Quinton and Mink Stole. Their original performance of "In The Bar of A Tokyo Hotel" in 2012 received rave reviews. In 2014, they gained even more recognition in their hilarious and beautiful rendition of "The Two Character Play," starring as deranged brother/sister duo Felice and Claire.

Most recently they resumed the roles of Miriam and Mark for "In the Bar of a Tokyo Hotel" at the Provincetown Tennessee Williams Festival.

Located in the East Village at 292 E. 3rd St. between Avenues C and D, 292 is a small house of 20 seats with big theatrical gifts in the tradition of Caffe Cino and other exceptional, influential tiny stages of the 1950s and 1960s. Charles Schick and Regina Bartkoff have been mounting plays here since the early 1990s, when the building was a squat surrounded by other squats. The first play they performed here was their own version of Medea.

The play starts tonight ... through March 25. (The performances are Wednesday through Sunday at 8:30 p.m.) Tickets are $20 and available here. Find out more a the Facebook Event page.