Rosie Mendez leads call on NYCHA officials to improve infill development process

From the EV Grieve inbox...

Friday at 9 a.m. on the steps of City Hall, City Councilwoman Rosie Mendez, Chair of the Committee on Public Housing, and Council Members Margaret Chin and Melissa Mark-Viverito will be joined by other elected officials, Tenant Association Presidents, community organizations, advocates and concerned residents as they hold a press conference to demand that the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) improve the Infill Development process to empower residents.

The Council Members will then proceed to Council Chambers in City Hall to conduct an oversight hearing of NYCHA’s Infill Development/land lease proposal and to consider a resolution that calls on NYCHA to “engage its residents in planning for and to include certain requirements in any ground leases for NYCHA land.”

In addition to the provisions in the resolution, the Council members will call on NYCHA to hold themselves to a “gold standard” of resident and community engagement, including, without limitation:

• Additional time between Infill meetings at affected developments so that all affected Tenant Associations and residents can secure independent legal and technical assistance to review plans and make meaningful comments

• Additional time between now and the release of the RFP — including a third meeting where residents and their “technical advisory team” can review a draft RFP and comment upon it before it is released

• NYCHA must ensure that all comments on the Infill plans are addressed and responded to; they must also provide a paper based system (to compliment the online portal) that captures the comments of those who do not have internet access. Lastly, suggestions should be centrally posted and logged for all residents to review

• NYCHA should commit to full Uniform Land Use Review Procedure (ULURP) review for each Infill site, ensuring that the community has an effective voice in the process and that additional considerations and interconnected issues that major development presents are unilaterally addressed

Previously on EV Grieve:
Outrage over proposal to turn the green space at the Meltzer Tower into private development (35 comments)

Here's what's in store for Campos Plaza under the city's land-leasing plan (16 comments)

[Updated] Masak has apparently closed on East 13th Street

Multiple tipsters have told us that Masak, the well-regard Singapore-influenced restaurant on East 13th Street just west of Avenue A, has closed. The gate was down the last two nights during its regular hours. No one answers their phone.

Meanwhile, this appeared on the Masak Twitter feed just after midnight Saturday... #lastsupper

#lastsupper #goteam twitter.com/MasakNYC/statu…

— Masak (@MasakNYC) March 31, 2013

No one responded to our query on the restaurant's status via Facebook.

Meanwhile, in a generally positive review at the Voice last August, Robert Sietsema noted the following:

Masak started out six months ago with a limited menu, and that's how most publications reported on it. Perhaps as a result, the place hasn't gotten much traction and sits half-empty most evenings. But that's not the only problem. The biggest difficulty is the name. When a friend recommended the place, I first thought she said Masa, referring to the wildly expensive sushi parlor at Columbus Circle. Next, I thought she meant Mas, the Greenwich Village wood-oven "farmhouse." Only after she spelled it out, quite literally, did I realize it was a unique place unto itself.

We noticed the work starting in the space back in August 2011.

Updated 10:31 a.m.:

Chef/owner Larry Reutens confirmed the closure via a Facebook message to us.

"We had a blast and love the East Village — most of all we'll miss the faces of our neighbors who've helped to give us all such great memories."

2 new sidewalk bridges arrive as city disapproves latest plan for P.S. 64

[Bobby Williams]

Workers arrived Tuesday to begin erecting new sidewalk sheds on East Ninth Street at the former PS 64 and CHARAS/El Bohio community center.



According to DOB records, the city disapproved developer Gregg Singer's latest round of plans, filed on Feb. 12, for the building on Monday.



Per the all-caps job descrioption:
CONVERSTION OF EXISTING BUILDING TO COLLEGE STUDENT DORMITORY (UG 3). RELOCATION OF FLOOR AREA TO ADD MEZZANINE.

But, as DOB records show, the dorm would be contained within the existing structure... and it would not look like — remember these plans? — this...

[OLD PLANS]

No word on who the dorm would be for... just like the other mysterious dorm project at 35 Cooper Square.

Anyway, given the history here, it should be another 10 years before any construction occurs. Singer bought the formerly city-owned building in 1998 for $3.15 million. Aside from a whole lot of neighborhood drama, not much has been happening with the space since then. (For background: The Villager has extensively covered this story through the years. Check out their archives here.)

As an aside, a reader recently noted that an entryway on East Ninth Street was wide open one recent Sunday... no one in sight... perhaps a good chance for some urban exploration...



Previously on EV Grieve:
Will old PS 64 get a theater for nonprofit groups?

Rebranded P.S. 64 up for grabs: Please welcome University House at Tompkins Square Park to the neighborhood

Deed for 'community facility use only' at the former P.S. 64 now on the market

Something new in the works for PS 64?; plus sidewalk bridge expiration anniversary

The Pudgie's-Nathan's-Arthur Treacher's action-packed combo is officially dead, officially

Back in the dark days of January, signs went up noting that the Pudgie's-Nathan's-Arthur Treacher's action-packed combo was "closed for renovations."

[The darks days of January]

The fryplex of fatty fun opened on First Avenue in June... by the fall, the joint was for sale. The asking price was $189,000.

We held out hope for a return, a renovated restaurant where we could stand proudly under the Pudgie's canopy out front.

[Bobby Williams]

But that was not to be. We spotted this sign last weekend...



Farewell, our feathered Pudgie friend... farewell... until we see you again at the West Islip branch...

Oh, and on a more serious note... the asking rent for this space between Third Street and Fourth Street is $7,500.

The Sunburnt Cow looks to be for sale

While looking for rental information on The Pudgie's-Nathan's-Arthur Treacher's space at the Misrahi Realty website... we spotted a listing for the Sunburnt Cow on Avenue C near East Ninth Street...



Listed price: $5,400.

Last month, the DOH temporarily closed the "Endless Brunch" hotspot after finding 56 violation points. Owner Heathe St. Clair "blamed the continuing recovery from Hurricane Sandy for his restaurant's dismal inspection report," according to an article by Serena Solomon in DNAinfo.

"The hurricane and now this — it is a disaster," said St. Clair, whose basement flooded during Sandy like many other businesses along this stretch of Avenue C.

The Moolife Group, owners of the Sunburnt Cow, closed Bondi Road last September after a six-year run on Rivington Street, as BoweryBoogie reported.

Last summer, the Moolife folks announced that the Sunburnt Cow would close to "undergo a physical transformation, but ... also shift focus to more gourmet oriented food and drink." However, that never happened.

The Sunburnt Cow is currently only open on Friday and Saturday nights and weekend brunch, according to their Facebook page.

To the person stealing this newspaper

Spotted along East 10th Street ... via Bobby Williams.



And who said newspapers are dead?

Report: Jared Kushner closes on latest batch of East Village walkups

The Kushner Companies have closed on its latest parcel of East Village buildings, Real Estate Weekly reported today. This was the $28.75 million deal for 329-335 E. Ninth Street and 325 E. 10th St., previously owned by Icon Realty.

If our counting is correct, then this makes 28 (29?) East Village buildings that Jared Kushner and his comapny have purchased this year.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Report: Jared Kushner paid $49 million for 7 more Ben Shaoul-owned properties in the East Village

More about Jared Kushner's East Village buying spree

Hotel Toshi takes over 325 E. 10th St.

Soon, we will all be writing our rent checks to Jared Kushner

John Penley changes plans for weekend campout at Ben Shaoul's office; gentrification meeting instead

We noted yesterday that longtime East Village activist John Penley was planning a weekend-long campout at the offices of developer Ben Shaoul's Magnum Real Estate on Broadway.

The protest was happening, in part, due to the the recent revelations about actor-poet-writer Taylor Mead's living conditions during a gut renovation of the building he lives in on Ludlow Street. (Mead, a former Andy Warhol star, had lived in the rent-stabilized apartment for 34 years and wasn't leaving.)

However, late last night, word began to spread via Mead's friends and family that a buyout/relocation deal was in the works ... there was also talk that, in light of this, the campout should be cancelled.

So now, per Penley:

This is what I am proposing ... that out of respect for Taylor's family and attorney, we will cancel our protest at Magnum Real Estate ... but since this is all over the place and people are gonna show up, we will have a meeting about the situation especially about others affected by Shaoul and his sledgehammer. I will be there at 5 pm and wait for anyone who wants to come and we will have the meeting at a location not in front but down the street ... I have no doubt whatsoever that calling for this protest had an effect on any buyout deal for Taylor Mead, but since others are in the same position he is I think it would be wrong not to do anything at all. I also think ... others have a right to meet about what Shaoul has done to them.

The Facebook event has been changed to "Meeting on gentrification at HQ of Magnum Mgt Office of Ben Shaoul — NYC's worst real-estate developer."

[Image part of the Facebook event for the meeting]

Kinofest NYC kicks off tomorrow; a weekend of films in the East Village

From the EV Grieve inbox...

Kinofest NYC is proud to announce its program for its fourth festival featuring films from Ukraine and other post-Soviet countries. This year's festival will include 10 screenings, presenting more than 25 short and 4 feature films from independent filmmakers from Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Estonia, Russia, Slovenia, Switzerland, Tajikistan, the UK and the US.

The festival will kick off tomorrow at the Ukrainian Institute of America, 2 E. 79th St, and will end on Sunday. Film screenings will take place at two East Village cultural institutions: The Ukrainian Museum, 222 E. 6th St., and the Anthology Film Archives at 32 Second Ave.

This year's festival will feature seven short films from the Kyiv-based collective called "Goodbye, Ukraine!" In 2012, this group of filmmakers completed an anthology of 34 short films that examine and explore the reasons why hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians have left their country since the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union. According to a recent report by the BBC, 1.5 million Ukrainians have left their homeland in search of greater economic opportunities that are not available in Ukraine.

Go here for schedule and ticket information.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Q-and-A with Andrew Kotliar, festival director for Kinofest NYC

Video break: NYC in 3 words

Via Cokau Lab, an audiovisual studio based in ... Paris.

3 words about this video: Too much High Line! Damn, that's four! Too much Highline!

And maybe we should do an "East Village in 3 words" video...

h/t @guywasko

Out and About in the East Village — 2013 recap

We're taking a week off to provide a quick recap...

So! Here's a look back at our 12 subjects from 2013 ... many thanks to East Village-based photographer James Maher and everyone who has taken part in this series... we'll return next week with Out and About in the East Village ...

• Jan. 9 — Lee Schramm

• Jan. 16 — Chris Riffle

• Jan. 23 — Jane Kelton and Little Egg

• Jan. 30 — Paul Kostabi

• Feb. 6 — Cheryl Pyle

• Feb. 13 — Mike Bakaty

• Feb. 20 — Jacquelyn Gallo

• Feb. 27 — Reverend Jacqui Lewis

• March 6 — Manny Garcia

• March 13 — Annette “Mistress Evil” Moccaldi

• March 20 — Katie Kenney

• March 27 — Lucille Krasne

And here is a link to our profiles from 2012.

Boca Chica apparently won't be reopening on First Avenue; and the return of Golden Cadillac

[Via Facebook]

In late February, Boca Chica, the inexpensive Latin American restaurant on First Avenue at First Street, closed its doors, though perhaps only temporarily. As first reported by Serena Solomon at DNAinfo, two partners abruptly exited the business, and the remaining owner was "frantically searching for new partners." The remaining partner was hopeful to continue operations.

Apparently that won't happen here. Paperwork on file (PDF) ahead of Monday's CB3/SLA meeting show that a bar-restaurant called Golden Cadillac is in the works for the space.



There's extensive background about the proprietors at the CB3 website. Francis Derby, who was part of the opening team of wd~50 under Chef Wylie Dufresne and a one-time sous chef at Momofuku Ssam Bar, is listed as the executive chef.

Giuseppe Gonzalez, a veteran of Dutch Kills and PKNY/Painkiller, is listed as "head barman." James Tune, general manager of Pegu in Soho, is listed as the general manager.

The paperwork includes a sample menu...



... and renderings...



This isn't the first time that we've heard about Golden Cadillac. Time Out reported in November 2011 that the new venture from the above-mentioned folks was opening on East 13th Street between Avenue A and First Avenue. But that never materialized, for whatever reasons.

At that time, Gonzalez described the look this way: "Remember that bar called Volpe's in 'Mean Streets'? That's the way Golden Cadillac's going to look — an old Italian social club, but with tons of Art Deco details."

Boca Chica opened in March 1989. As predicted, the high-scale evolution of this corridor continues.

Previously.

Have you seen the glass tower in the works for Lafayette and East Houston?

So there are BIG plans in place for the busy instersection of Lafayette and East Houston. The property owner has designs on demolishing the bar Puck Fair (ever been? I haven't) and the BP station, as DNAinfo first reported on Monday.

Plans for the 7-story, 60,000-square-foot office-retail space were unveiled Monday night during Community Board 2's landmarks committee meeting, as reported by Curbed.

Here we go.



And! An upclose view...



I just fell off the rendering's balcony.

There are still a lot of hurdles to get this through city planning and all that. Read the details at Curbed and DNAinfo.

Anyway, if it all works out, then these new tenants will have the best views of the Calvin Klein billboard — and its rotating batch of ballsacks and boobs — in the city...




[Renderings up top: dbox for COOKFOX]

New 6-floor apartment building under way on Avenue B

An EVG reader emailed us this photo... Workers have arrived to start digging in at the former Croxley Ales beer garden at 26 Avenue B. As we reported in November, the city has OK'd plans here for a six-story apartment building with ground-floor retail space.

According to documents filed with the DOB, the building will contain eight residential units ... not to mention provide ample opportunities to go next door for "unbeatable world famous wing deals."

The sign on the plywood states that the work will be completed here last month.



Previously on EV Grieve:
Former Croxley Ales beer garden ready for development

Things that I didn't notice before: The beer garden at Croxley Ales has closed

Deal apparently in place for former Croxley Ales beer garden

[Updated] 6-story apartment building ready to rise from the former Croxley Ales beer garden

Deal of the day: FroYo shop for sale on St. Mark's Place

Spotted on Craigslist:

Busy Self-Serve frozen yogurt shop in East Village for sale buy owner.

Store is located on St. Marks Place between 2nd and 3rd Avenue. Extremely high foot traffic area 7 days a week.

Great for frozen yogurt business or other fast food concepts.

Store has been in business since 2008. Absentee owner looking to sell.

9 years, 6 months remaining on new lease with new 2013 tax base year.

750 SF plus basement storage space. Plenty of space for outdoor seating as well.

Current monthly rent way below market at $6200.

The listing doesn't mention the shop by name, but it has to be Yogurt Station, which recently reopened after a several-months hiatus.

New sign in the works at Bowery Poetry

Duane Park opened in the former Bowery Poetry Club space last month... Duane Park holds forth Tuesday through Saturday while Bowery Poetry has the space Saturday afternoons, Sunday and Monday.

Meanwhile, yesterday, workers continued to assemble the space's new sign...

For a look at the Duane Park interior and menu, head on over to Eater.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Is Duane Park in the Bowery Poetry Club's future?

What is happening with the Bowery Poetry Club?

Bob Holman on the future of the Bowery Poetry Club

Looking at Friday's Spotlight Speakeasy at Alphabet City Sanctuary

From the EV Grieve inbox...

On Friday, Alphabet City Sanctuary, 638 E. Sixth St., is hosting its next Spotlight Speakeasy event ... a monthly performance series where local artists share their work in an informal yet intimate environment.

Doors at 8:30 pm
Show starts at 9 pm
Suggested donation: $10 (all proceeds go directly to the artists)

Lineup to include:

Nicole Callihan, poet

Sean McMahon, singer-songwriter

Bird Courage, featuring Erik Meier, Samuel R. Saffery and Sean McMahon

and a LIVE PAINTING with artist info to come!

Find the Facebook invite here.

Noted

Spotted by Bobby Williams today in Abe Lebewohl Park off East 10th Street...

Bleecker Bob's have a bid on space in the East Village

As you know, Bleecker Bob's is closing up shop at its longtime home, which will become a FroYo shop in the West Village.

However!

Perhaps the store will live on... in the East Village. Per BB's Facebook page this afternoon:

Dear Friends,
only a few days left until closing day!!!

BUT..... we do have a "bid" in on a space in the east village so keep your fingers crossed!!

Previously on EV Grieve:
[UPDATED] Let's help Bleecker Bob's find space in the East Village

Bleecker Bob's is for rent

Bleecker Bob's won't be moving to the East Village — or anywhere else, for that matter

Deals of the day: This old tagged ATM

Spotted on Craigslist:



Is a tag considered "minor cosmetic wear"?