219 First Avenue shows progress, extra floor and all

The building at the corner of 13th Street and First Avenue (219 First Avenue to be exact), has been a boarded-up mess/construction site the last four or so years... Here's a shot of the corner from 2007....


(Via Flickr)

However, there has been some slow progress to report of late. According to the work permits, an additional two floors are being added on top of the existing four-story structure.

For starters, we're intrigued by the new roof...



Oh, anyway, if you look carefully at the building, there seems to be something off about it...like that seventh floor (technically the attic?)



Which may be one reason people have called in nearly 60 complaints about this site since 2005. (Several callers reported seeing squatters coming and going from inside the abandoned site.) The last complaint was logged in late summer:

CLR STS AT ABOVE CONSTRUCTION SITE, PERMIT POSTED IS FOR 2 ADDITIONAL STORIES, BUT 3 STORIES ARE BEING BUILT. WORK IS BEING DONE OUTSIDE THE SCOPE OF THE PERMIT #104894152-01 AL

So now what, lop off that slanted roof?

UPDATED: Per a commenter, there was approval for the addition.


Meanwhile, you may recall what used to be in this space -- the Mee Noodle Shop. As NY Songlines noted, it "was Allen Ginsberg's favorite Chinese -- and mine, too, I guess. It closed in 2005 after the building started to collapse."

As the Times noted in its obituary on Ginsberg from April 1997:

Ah Lan Chong, a waitress at Mee's Noodle Shop and Grill on First Avenue, which was Mr. Ginsberg's favorite Chinese restaurant, remembered Mr. Ginsberg in simpler, less heavily freighted terms.

Sure, she knew he was someone important, someone artistic. She could tell that from overheard conversations and from the way other diners would sometimes point at him when he entered. But to Ms. Chong, he was mainly the unfussy man with a dependable hankering for steamed flounder in ginger sauce. "When he came in," she said, "we knew what he wanted."

About that abandoned jar on East Third Street

On East Third Street between Avenue A and Avenue B...



Uh, what is the hell is this?



Is this how Momofuku delivers its calamari salad these days?

Looking at 12 St. Mark's Place

At first glance on the street level, 12 St. Mark's Place is fairly unremarkable. As Grub Street reported last week, Gama, the Korean bar and restaurant at 12 St. Mark's Place, closed after a three-year run...



It just seems as if this location has been many things in recent years...Prior to this, it was San Marcos, the Mexican eatery that served huge margaritas, Siren, a really lame club once visited by Sarah, the Duchess of York in some kind of Page Six baiting, and @Cafe, an Internet bar. (And before it became a restaurant that closed every few years, wasn't this the home of St. Mark's Books?)

However, take a look at this rest of the building...above the Yoga to the People sign...




The building was originally home to the The German-American Shooting Society. Per Revel in New York:

The German-American Shooting Society Clubhouse (Deutsch-Amerikanische Schuetzen Gesselschaft), at 12 St. Mark's Place, dates back to 1889-89. Prior to the 20th century, St. Mark's Place was the heart of Kleindeutschland, or Little Germany.

This yellow brick clubhouse, designed by William C. Frohne, served as headquarters for 24 companies who offered offsite facilities for target practice to the immigrant community.

A rare example of the German Renaissance style in New York, it features fanciful ornament, a steep mansard roof and tall ornate dormers. Particularly noteworthy is the arched panel at the center of the fourth story, depicting a target and crossed rifles above an eagle with outstretched wings.

The German-American Shooting Society Clubhouse was designated a landmark by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission in 2001.

For a lot more information on this and other historic parts of the East Village:
The Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation

The Lower East Side History Project

Bottom two photos via.

Help the Lower Eastside Girls Club make dough from dough

Something good from our inbox:

This holiday season the Lower Eastside Girls Club of NY) is offering shoppers with a sweet tooth a way to support teen training programs in culinary arts.

Join the Lower Eastside Girls Club on Saturday, December 19th from 1-3pm at the new Celebrate Café at the Bowery Poetry Club (308 Bowery at 1st Street, Manhattan) for the first annual Holiday Cookie Swap and Benefit Bake-Off. Celebrate Café is a new social venture project of the Girls Club that trains and employs at-risk teens in culinary arts and the basics of running a café business. Celebrate is located in the front of the Bowery Poetry Club.

For all the details.

Avenue B's Panache goes quickly

After just four months, it appears Panache Cafe has called it on day on Avenue B between 11th Street and 12th Street...



Did anyone ever go in here? I never saw a soul inside, except for rather glum looking workers...

Previously on EV Grieve:
Panache Cafe now open minus the Megan Fox

Avenue B to get a little Panache

What Santa needs

Fire trucks on Avenue B

The fire department responded to a call in the 200 block of Avenue B between 12th Street and 13th Street just after 5... Several firefighters entered a building...and left almost as quickly as they arrived...

MTA doomsday service cuts include the M8

"Nearly every bus, subway and commuter rail rider in New York stands to be affected by a punishing slate of service cuts that was approved on Wednesday by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, which is struggling to fill a sudden financial shortfall of more than $400 million." The M8, which connects the East Village to the West Village, is one again on the chopping block. According to the Times, none of the cuts would take effect until June at the earliest.

Sorry about that annoying Twitter API thing that keeps popping up

Um, yeah, I don't know what the fuck it is either. But it's really annoying. Please hit cancel when it appears. Apologies.

Updated: think I fixed it....

Yuppies keep getting younger and younger on Extra Place

Thanks to the EV Grieve reader for sending along the photo....

Grimaldi's in the Financial District really, really REALLY facing eviction now

As Eater first reported, that superdeluxe Grimaldi's coming to John Street in the Financial Center was on the verge of eviction back in October. A notice appeared on the dormant Grimadli's site from the landlord's lawyers demanding $25,631 in back rent and other legal fees. The owners had until Nov. 5 to pay.

Well, now! Another notice has appeared on the door...




The total is now up to $62,767.91.




And the "tenant" has until Dec. 30 to take notice...or surrender the space...what next, triple secret eviction?

Back story: In July, it was announced that residents of the former NYU dorm next door at 200 Water St. would be able to bypass any lines at Grimaldi's and get free pizza delivery.

Tully's Gluten-Free Bakery opening on East 11th Street

Those storefronts next to Veniero's on 11th Street between First Avenue and Second Avenue have their tenants... the Village Veterinarian... and now, the first retail space for Tully's...



...the gluten-free bakery that has being peddling its good online and at outlets such as Zabar's. As a site called Gluten Free Atlanta reports, "Tully is an up and coming young female chef in New York City, originally from Memphis, TN, so she’s a gluten-free southern girl at heart. Diagnosed with celiac disease in 2008 and a graduate of Le Cordon Bleu in Austin, TX Tully’s made it her goal to create yummy gluten-free cookies and brownies that actually taste like cookies and brownies."

Oh, but so cruel to make people walk by Veniero's and Something Sweet to get here...



And, you know, Peter has a really nice selection of gluten-free desserts at Whole Earth Bakery on St. Mark's Place...

A new mural, and Life on Mars on Sunday afternoon

Over at the Mars Bar, a new mural....and a new exhibit kicking off Sunday at 4.

Spot the real New Yorker

34th Street and Ninth Avenue.

Union Square getting burritofied

Here's the proof that a Chipotle Mexican Grill is, in fact, coming soon to the Zeckendorf Towers on the northwest corner of Irving Place and 14th Street.



Will be right next door to the new Bravo Pizza.

Previously in EV Grieve:
Bravo Pizza coming to Union Square

Tompkins Square Park holiday tree lighting rescheduled for Sunday

Stupid rainstorm last Sunday led to the the postponement of the 18th annual holiday tree lighting...

Anyway, per the news release...

Tompkins Square Park Neighborhood Coalition
East Village Parks Conservancy & Third Street Music School Settlement present the 18th annual Tree Lighting at Tompkins Square

The 18th annual Holiday Tree Lighting at Tompkins Square, rescheduled due to rain, now takes place Sunday, December 20 from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. in Tompkins Square Park, near the southeast corner of the central lawn.

Over 30 caring people volunteer their efforts to make each year’s Tree Lighting our biggest and happiest celebration yet. The musicians of the Mandel & Lydon Trio, sponsored by Third Street Music School Settlement, join carolers from Theater for the New City, donating their time and talent to help lead everyone in songs of the season.

The carolers are outfitted in Victorian costumes provided by the New York Shakespeare Festival at the Public Theater. Notable East Village eateries, Veselka Restaurant and Life Cafe, provide hot chocolate, cider and other refreshments, free for all who attend.

A joyful crowd of neighborhood residents joins us as our audience, growing in size each year. The Tree Lighting has become a bright East Village tradition, touching more and more people every season.

(Updated) The Copper Building residences are looking rather...drab

Two listings popped up for the Copper Building on the Manhattan Management Group Web site. (And I'm assuming that it's the Copper Building on 13th Street and Avenue B: While no address is listed, how many other new condos in this neighborhood have a zen garden, a virtual doorman and are offering to cover common charges and taxes for the first two years?)

Anyway, some of the Copp's early renderings did look awfully nice and luxurious, such as:




And now check out the photos via the listing for the 850-square-foot one bedroom (on the fifth floor, and going for $790,000):




It looks pretty dull and drab. What's with the single lightbulb hanging in the kitchen? And what's with the tinted plastic covering half the windows? (Is this to frustrate the potential peepers?)

Anyway, according to Streeteasy, there are 10 active listings...and eight listings in contract.

Updated:

Apparently the photos above are phonies.... per the comments at Curbed...

Hi Curbedsters and friends. These are not photos of the project. What this is, is a small RE sales company using our name and photos of a different project to obtain client via their website. I would be happy to bring anybody into the project at anytime to see the work that is being done. Please know that these photos are not of our property "The Copper Building" just a scam to trick buyers. Call me at anytime 212-321-7113 my Name is Brian Meier www.Bkmeier.com and I have been working on the building for two years now. I would be happy to give you all a personal tour of the property you will see that we look nothing like the photos presented

As Curbed noted, the photos have already been pulled from the Manhattan Management Group site.

Previously.

$6.95 million gets you a Renwick Triangle Classic (with gold Bisazza mosaic tiles!) on East 10th Street

This six-story beauty at 114 E. 10th St. is now on the market for $6.95 million...(in what some real-estate types like to call "Central Village")...




And here's what you get, per the Sotheby's site...

Having undergone an extensive gut renovation, this home is laid out on 6 floors plus dry basement. Double exposures to the north and south provide an abundance of natural light and delightful views of trees and townhouses. Original features dating back to its 1861 design have been retained and merged with a thoughtful modernization.

The landmarked facade features a brownstone base and exposed brick upper levels. The renovation included major structural work, re-glazing of fireplace flue (3 fireplaces throughout can easily be re-opened), mechanicals, electrical and plumbing systems. The house is equipped with recessed lighting, sound system, central heating/air-conditioning, and video-intercom/security alarm systems. Whether custom oak closets, built-in shelves, gold Bisazza mosaic tiles or polished Calacatta marble, only the finest materials were used for the masterful design of this 6 bedrooms, 4.5 bath classic.

Let's go on inside!



Look on the wall back there on the right, it's Grace Jones...




Will those NYU kids be able to see you sunbathe in the nude and do yoga? (Get your oranges ready...)



Hey, a zebra-skin rug...does this place come furnished?



Related on EV Grieve, sort of:
Your chance to buy two historic townhouses on East 10th Street -- or create Central Village's first single-family mansion!

The long history of the Seventh Street tumor gets longer

Quickly to the recap at 83 Seventh Street near First Avenue, where we've been watching this tumor grow since May 2008....



April 2009!



May 2009!



August 2009 -- with a "for lease sign"!



October 2009 -- no more "for lease" signs!



And now, dear reader, a homemade for rent sign!



The listing at Besen Retail has been removed. It HAD said ... 2,000 square feet, plus another 1,000 square feet in the basement. And: "Many busy cafes in the vicinity."

Your move, tumor.

Updated:
Jeremiah gets a shot of the huge interior....

Previously.

Noted

As we mentioned yesterday, the Post checked in with a piece on the temp Max Fish outpost in Miami for Art Basel. According to the Justin Rocket Silverman at the Post:

While the Lower East Side has transformed into a gentrified playground, the Overtown neighborhood home of the new Max Fish has a long, long way to go. Yet that hasn’t stopped thousands of art and booze fans from descending on the new location. If anything, the dangerous surroundings make it a more authentic Max Fish experience.

The folks at the Miami New Times were a little amused by all this. A few thoughts from writer Kyle Munzenrieder:

According to the New York Post, all the homeless folks, hookers, and crackheads have won us the ultimate compliment: We're more "authentic" than New York now. OK, "authentic" is the ultimate compliment in the world of Hipster Runoff, but still.

The writer, Justin Rocket Silverman, however, seems a little surprised that Miami could be home to a down-and-dirty dive bar. Even though we have our own share of them -- Churchill's, the Club Deuce, and Tobacco Road, to name a few. Maybe one day someone will ship one up to New York. When is your major art fair?

Anyway, with Brooklyn, specifically Williamsburgh -- New York's latest attempt at gritty, authentic, yet culturally relevant neighborhood, now a punch line inhabited by trust-fund kids -- we have to wonder if the vast hipster exodus to Overtown is right around the corner.