EVG Etc.: Creating the 9/11 Tribute in Light; Reading up on the candidates

[Morning view from Astor Place]

How the 9/11 Tribute in Light comes together (Curbed)

A local Voter Guide ahead of Tuesday's Primary Day (The Lo-Down)

How the City Council candidates view the future of the former P.S 64 and CHARAS/El Bohio community center on East Ninth Street (Crain's ... previously)

A feature on the married chefs who run Fat Cat Kitchen on 14th Street (Town & Village)

A years-in-the-making restoration of "Soul City" via East Village filmmaker-artist M. Henry Jones on Thursday night (Anthology Film Archives)

Spike Jonze brings a new dance-based project to La MaMa (The New York Times)

More talks on the future of Sara D. Roosevelt Park's Stanton Street Storehouse (DNAInfo)

Senior housing for the fire-damaged Beth Hamedrash Hagadol on the LES? (BoweryBoogie)

Bird migration in Tompkins Square Park (Laura Goggin Photography)

Alex shares some photos from the summer of 2017 (Flaming Pablum)

Diversions: Sammy Hagar's influence on the early Clash (Dangerous Minds)

... and the NYPD released info on an assault that took place last month on First Avenue between First Street and Second Street.

The #NYPD is seeking assistance in identifying the person ⬇️in regards to an assault that took place on 8/12/17 at 25 1 Ave ☎️ #800577TIPS pic.twitter.com/XaZd7hg7rb

— NYPD 9th Precinct (@NYPD9Pct) September 8, 2017

3rd Street development site on the market for $12 million

238-240 E. Third St. between Avenue B and Avenue C is now on the market. The two-story building is next door to the Nuyorican Poets Cafe, which will be undergoing a gut renovation.

Here are the details about No. 238-240 via the listing at Cushman & Wakefield:

The lot is approximately 50’ x 106’ with a lot coverage of 5,253 SF. The building houses offices, a meeting area, and a large theatrical studio with 20’ ceiling heights. Furthermore, it was most recently used by a local entertainment company in which theatrical acts and stunts were arranged. The fire alarm, sprinkler and electrical systems have been upgraded recently. The CO allows for a maximum occupancy of 76 on the ground floor, and 12 on the mezzanine.

The building has approximately 4,500 SF on the ground floor, 850 SF on the mezzanine level and 800 SF in the basement. It is in the R8B zone, which has a 4.00 FAR for residential or community facility uses. The total buildable square footage is approximately 21,000. Note: There is an outdoor walkway alley on the westerly side of the property (the majority of the building is 43 feet wide).

This is an excellent opportunity for a developer to acquire a 50’ wide development site in the East Village. In addition, considering how unique the building is, the offering presents an incredibly rare opportunity in which the current building and configuration could be maintained for a user.

So, the options are build up for some housing... or maintain as a property for theater. Either way, the asking price is $12 million.

In a previous life the building served as a movie theater. Public records from July list two of the founders of the Blue Man Group — Chris Wink and Philip Stanton — as the previous owners, who received $18.6 million for this and another LES property.

In a deal announced in early July, Cirque du Soleil acquired Blue Man Productions. Specific terms of the deal weren't disclosed, but it is believed to be worth in the tens of millions, according to published reports.

Hear about the rezoning of 3rd and 4th Avenues to limit large-scale commercial development

On Wednesday night, CB3's Land Use, Zoning, Public & Private Housing Committee will hear an informational presentation by the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation (GVSHP) on rezoning Third Avenue and Fourth Avenue.

Here's more info via GVSHP:

GVSHP will be presenting its proposal (PDF here) for rezoning the 3rd and 4th Avenue corridors to prevent oversized commercial development in this area, such as the 300 room, 13-story hotel under construction at 112-120 E. 11th St.

GVSHP is proposing and seeking zoning protections for the area between 5th and 3rd Avenues, Union Square and Astor Place, which is unique within the Village and East Village for its lack of adequate zoning and landmark protections. Community Board 3 ONLY covers the area east of 4th Avenue, so Wednesday's meeting is solely focused on 3rd and 4th Avenues (Community Board 2 covers west of 4th Avenue, and is already on record in support of our proposed zoning protections for Broadway and University Place).

If you oppose overdevelopment in this area, it is vital that you attend. We must get these zoning protections to prevent further oversized development in the area, especially hotels and office buildings. Such development is proliferating in the area in part due to the expanding tech industry, and the Mayor’s planned 14th Street “Tech Hub.”

Find more info here.

The meeting is at the Rutgers Community Center, 200 Madison St. between Rutgers and Pike. The meeting begins at 6:30 p.m.; this is item No. 4.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Look at the former Bowlmor Lanes now

Behold Civic Hall, the high-tech future of Union Square — and NYC

Post office-replacing residential building with a Trader Joe's nearing the top on 14th Street

Looks like workers are just starting on the seventh floor (of eight total) here at 432-438 E. 14th St. near Avenue A.

Entrance to the two-level, nearly 23,000-square-foot Trader Joe's will be on the 14th Street side of the building while residents will access their rentals from the 13th Street side. (The plans call for 114 residential units with 20 percent designated as affordable housing.)


[Looking to the west on Avenue A]

You can find coverage about the former Peter Stuyvesant Post Office here.

Bonus shot of the work at 500 E. 14th St. at Avenue A, where Target is taking the corner retail slot with a summer 2018 opening...



Previously on EV Grieve:
Developer withdraws zoning variance request for former 14th Street post office site

[Updated] Krust Pizzeria is back open on 14th Street

Krust Pizzeria has been out of commission in recent weeks... the food shop on 14th Street between Second Avenue and Third Avenue seemed to have been in a constant state of renovation at the end of the summer ...


[Top 2 photos from Aug. 26]

And some time last week, legal documents arrived on the door ...



...eviction proceedings are underway...



As of now, Yelp is showing that Krust is permanently closed.

Krust opened in the fall of 2011.

Updated 9/16

Krust pulled through and is back in business, per EVG reader Shiv today...

Week in Grieview

[Photo Friday in Tompkins Square Park by Derek Berg]

Stories posted on EVG this past week included...

Cafe Orlin closing next month (Friday)

Spark Pretty bringing vintage clothes and accessories to 9th Street (Thursday)

Streecha Ukrainian Kitchen back open after the summer break (Wednesday)

Mr. Throwback will take it across 9th Street later this fall (Thursday)

A look at 3 condoplexes rising — or topping out (Thursday)

Croxley Ales-replacing bar on Avenue B is called the Hairy Lemon (Friday)

About this sponsor unit for sale on 1st Avenue (Thursday)

Cleaning the Cube (Tuesday)

The Bean's 3rd Avenue location is now open (Tuesday)

9th Precinct was hosting Sector Safety Summits for East Village residents (Wednesday)

Completing pedestrian ramp work along Avenue B (Saturday)


[Photo Tuesday on 2nd Avenue by Derek Berg]

Manhattan makes a return visit to Tompkins Square Park (Monday)

Still in the pit at 14th Street and Avenue C (Wednesday)

Penthouse with rooftop cottage sells on 1st Avenue (Sunday)

Szechuan Mountain House coming to St. Mark's Place (Tuesday)

The Film Forum adding new screen; upgrading auditoriums (Wednesday)

Gut renovation reveal on 9th Street (Friday)

Former 4th Street massage parlor for rent (Tuesday)

Art and signage arrive at future home of Broken Coconut on 4th Street (Tuesday)

Roll it Up looks closed on 7th Street (Wednesday)

... and this week's winning (or losing) Wizard Staff comes from St. Mark's Place near Third Avenue...



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A campaign stop for Mayor de Blasio in Tompkins Square Park

Mayor de Blasio stopped by Tompkins Square Park today as part of a campaign stop ... where he was joined by Carlina Rivera, who is running for City Council in District 2...



The NYC primary election is Tuesday. The Lo-Down has a voter's guide on all the candidates running for City Council in districts 1 and 2 here. As for the mayoral race, The Villager endorsed Sal Albanese, who emerged as de Blasio’s most serious opponent.

Photos by Derek Berg

New 9/11 mural underway on 9th Street

As noted here last week, artist (and musician) David Ouimet was creating a new 9/11 mural — incorporating part of the original — starting today here on Ninth Street at Avenue A.

The original 9/11 mural here was in bad shape. (Nigel, an owner of Gelarto, the corner business, had asked for feedback about the mural.) Ouimet saved what he could from that work.

He started earlier this morning... and will be joined by his kids at some point today...



Jesse Fischler, who co-owned the former Shrine Records on Ninth Street, created the original mural.

Updated 9/11

The mural will be finished this evening...



Updated 5 p.m.

Before the mural was completed (and while Ouimet was away) building management installed new trash bins, bolting them into the sidewalk in front of the work...



When apprised of the situation, landlord Icon Realty gave Gelarto the OK to incorporate the trash bins into the final work... so now the artist will figure out how to make this work ...

Photos by Steven

Previously on EV Grieve:
A new (and refurbished) 9/11 mural for 9th Street and Avenue A

Thoughts on the 9/11 mural on 9th and A

The 9/11 mural on 9th and A

At the 46th annual 10th Street Block Party

The 10th Street & Stuyvesant Street Block Association hosted the 46th edition of the Block Party today between Second Avenue and Third Avenue... EVG contributor Derek Berg was there and shared these photos...

Completing pedestrian ramp work along Avenue B

A quick follow-up post on the neighborhood curb work (first post here) ... Vinny & O shared these photos from yesterday... showing workers filling in the pedestrian ramps along Avenue B...







... and curb work will take place Monday and Tuesday along Avenue A, per the barrel signage...





Public Advocate Letitia James has been critical of the city's sidewalk accessibility, citing that they fail to meet the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

2 free shows in Tompkins Square Park this weekend

This afternoon (2-6) it's SOS & Friends with the above lineup... head over to the Facebook Events page for more details on the bands.

And there's another show tomorrow afternoon hosted by The Shadow featuring, Rebel, The Carvels, El Muchacho, DIYing Breed, The Blame, Coffin Daggers and Urban Waste. More details here.

The 46th annual 10th Street Block Party is tomorrow (Saturday!)

Tomorrow is the 46th annual Block Party on 10th Street between Second Avenue and Third Avenue... brought to you by the 10th Street & Stuyvesant Street Block Association.... From 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. there will be antiques, collectibles, music and Skarsgård gawking.

Image via @GVSHP, who will have a tent at the event...

Transfer of 'Energy'

Thee Oh Sees are back though now as just Oh Sees. John Dwyer and company (a rotating crew of musicians) released a new record (his 19th under the/thee Oh Sees moniker) on Aug. 25 called Orc on Castle Face Records.

They're playing out at the Warsaw tomorrow and Sunday night then the Bowery Ballroom on Monday night.

The above video for "Dead Energy" from a show in France this past summer shows their live vibe. More drums!

Cafe Orlin will close next month after 36 years in business

[Photo from Aug. 26]

After 36 years in business at 41 St. Mark's Place, Cafe Orlin will close at the end of service on Oct. 15.

Jeremiah Moss first reported on the news this morning.

A rep for Cafe Orlin confirmed the closure in an email: "Yes — it's sad but true. The owner asked me to say that he's thankful to all who came to the cafe over the years. Cafe Orlin had a great run of 36 plus years, but he's ready for a change."

Grub Street noted that the Cafe Orlin owner also owns the building, "and a new restaurant will open in its place."

And Grub Street summed up the restaurant between First Avenue and Second Avenue pretty well: "The menu is a grab bag of salads, burgers, lots of eggs, and some Middle Eastern dishes, but it was well-executed and reliable." And... "The restaurant ... never dipped in popularity during this very long run: It’s not one of those older places everyone will miss but forgot to go to for the last five years ..."

Meanwhile, Cafe Mogador, Cafe Orlin's sister restaurant down the block, remains alive and well for now.