[Updated] 10th Street fire now treated as a crime scene

Following up on our previous post... there was a heavy police and fire presence on 10th Street between Avenue B and Avenue C this afternoon. One witness reported a fire. According to a commenter: "I just spoke to someone working on site who is the 'board up guy'... he said a man set his apartment on fire right before shooting himself." (Please keep in mind that none of this has been officially confirmed by police or fire personnel.)

Reliable sources have confirmed this story... The man was believed to be living in an apartment on the top floor... more details will follow... Police are currently at the scene, and are remaining tight-lipped — not even responding to queries from neighbors here.

While standing here, several fire trucks pulled up... but the crews didn't stay long...

More to come...

Patrick Hedlund has more information at DNAinfo. Per his story: "Authorities at the scene said that a man on the building's fourth floor, where the fire started, had shot himself in the head and died. Police said they didn't know if there was a link between the shooting and the fire. The NYPD and FDNY could not confirm that information."

More photos from the East 10th Street fire/crime scene

EV Grieve correspondent Bobby Williams was on the scene this afternoon for the fire on East 10th Street between Avenue B and Avenue C... (Read more here.) It is now being treated as a crime scene. Several commenters as well as people on the scene believe the resident on the top floor shot himself before the fire started... Please keep in mind that none of this has been officially confirmed by police or fire personnel.

Kenny Scharf mural bombed again

Previously. AnimalNY has a shot too.

Fire on East 10th Street

Several readers are reporting on a fire on East 10th Street between Avenue B and Avenue C...

Per one: "I saw it after the fire was put out but something BAD happened earlier, tons of ambulances/ladders. I even saw one guy who looked bloodied being taken away on a stretcher..."

And from another reader: "10th btwn B & C, 4 story bldg next to Charas. Lots of trucks, a hook and ladder, I don't see any smoke or fire. They've been there about 40 min."

[Photo via EV Grieve reader Ashir]

On second thought, a sushi place sounds pretty good!

Alternative headline: The Bowery finally gets the boutique hotel it so sorely needed!



So, yeah, you probably heard this story spanking making the rounds today about 347 Bowery at Third Street ...



According to Lois Weiss at the Post today, France’s Louzon Group has acquired the former Salvation Army building for $7.6 million and plans to turn it into a 65-room boutique hotel with one of their restaurants on the ground floor.

As we — and others! — reported, high-end sushi place Koi wanted to open here back in the summer of 2009 ... CB3 said no ... and we kept waiting to find out what next glamourous thing would take over this former men's shelter, home briefly to convicted killer Jack Abbott... Was just a matter of time. (And money!)

Wonder if the hotel will select a Bowery-sensitive name...? Like, Shattered Dreams ... or, Next Step, Potter's Field ... with a cafe that serves trendy drinks in colostomy bags and artisanal cheeses in faux-dirty socks ...

So, yeah — I'm feeling pretty good about things!

Previously on EV Grieve:

Paint job at 347 Bowery brings an end to random Heath Ledger graffiti

Looking at what may be coming to 347 Bowery

Your invite to meet your new neighbor who wants to turn a men's shelter into a high-end sushi joint

On the Bowery: "What the hell is this?"

Your guide to the doomed corners of the Bowery

Possible delay in emergency response this afternoon from Ladder 11

We'll periodically have information on local fire company activities, including when they are closed for periods of time... particularly the FDNY’s Engine 28 and Ladder 11 — the two fire companies quartered at 222 E. Second St.

Ladder 11 (as well as Ladder 6 and Ladder 18 that serve the area) will be conducting Building Inspection today from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. (as well as every Wednesday). During this time, they may be delayed to emergency responses because parts of their Buidling Inspection District are not in their 1st, 2nd or 3rd due emergency response area.

Snow caps

Thanks to BaHa for the photos from earlier today...

EV Grieve Etc: Mourning Edition

How New York City threw away a mountain of cash over a new computer system (The Voice)

Bloomy's snowplow overkill (Gothamist)

Our Lady of Sorrows closing on Stanton Street (The Lo-Down)

Ray gets a buzz (Nadie Se Conoce)

Card and stripper-pole store shutters on Allen Street (BoweryBoogie)

Remembering Harlem legend Bobby Robinson (Jeremiah's Vanishing NY)

Another wannabe to challenge the EVLambo (East Village Corner)

The faces and figures lurking at you from above (Ephemeral New York)

(nsfw) Is this the sleaziest American Apparel ad ever? (Copyranter via Racked)

And last night, Billy Leroy was at the grand opening of Crif Dogs, the EV-based hotdoggery that expanded to Driggs and North 7th in Williamsburg ... he passed along a few photos...

[Updated] Report: Man wounded in Second Street shooting

DNAinfo is reporting that a man was shot last night following a family dispute at 225 East 2nd Street between Avenue B and Avenue C.

News crews are currently on the scene. One passerby was told: "All I got was 2 shot dead on sidewalk." (Not true...)

The Post reports that the two men who were arguing are cousins. The Local East Village reports that a resident said there was a shooting at the same building last summer.


[Photo — DNAinfo/Benjamin Fractenberg]

Pho 32 shuttered by Health Department

A reader sends along this shot from Pho 32 and Shabu on St. Mark's Place.

Surviving the Great Storm of 1-11-11

Despite the dire predictions of local TV news outlets, dawn arrived as usual today... Somehow, in the face of snowversity, the human spirit triumphed once again. Or something.

Anyway! The snow made for a few photo opps with those hammy trees and sun.

Meanwhile, thanks to everyone for sending along some snow photos... and video! Like this one from Tim Melideo...



A few photos on 10th Street via Laura...

And staying on 10th Street... between Avenue C and Avenue D... shot by Bobby Williams at 3:35 a.m...

From jdx on Lafayette Street...

Dash Snow tag discovered, covered

Roger's Garden on First Avenue between First Street and Second Street is now closed for renovations, as I pointed out last week...



The market was always open 24/7, which meant we never really saw the rolldown gate... But, with the closing, the gate was finally pulled down... where the Intern of EV Grieve (IOEVG) noted there is SACE art — the tag used by the late Dash Snow ... we went for a photo before the gate is painted over...




Meanwhile, workers have put up plywood around the store...

Will 228 First Avenue become part of Taco Town?

Yesterday, Grub Street provided plenty more information about El Camion, which opens tomorrow on Avenue A at 12th Street... (They have a PDF of the El Camion menus too.)

Given El Camion's proximity to the Mercadito locations... and Diablo Royale Este... La Lucha... Benny's... San Loco...Zaragosa ... it's no wonder Daniel Maurer dubbed this "Taco Town."

Which brings me to.... last April, workers began gutting the former David's Bagels space on First Avenue near 14th Street... At the time, a nearby shopkeeper told me the space will become a Mexican restaurant. "Tacos, burritos — that kind of shit."

I haven't heard any updates about this space... and the work permits are pretty standard:

"Installation of drywall partitions, plumbing fixtures, kitchen cooking equipment in existing eating and drinking establishment. Also replacement of existing storefront with new..."

Quickie 7A renovation progress report

As noted last week, 7A on Seventh Street and Avenue A closed for 10 days or so of renovations... still haven't gotten used to seeing the usual 24/7 spot closed up and dark in the evenings...




The windows are painted over, mostly, so getting shots was a little tricky, unless you're like, say 7-1.




The signs say 7A is back open Friday.... Meanwhile, 7A is the third space in recent weeks to close for extensive renovations.... joining Virage and Westville East...