Progress at the 'slowly handmade' 154 Second Ave.

We haven't checked in at 154 Second Ave., the former home of the Sigmund Schwartz Gramercy Park Chapel, since the end of January.

Here's an update on the "luxury rental apartments" with ground-floor retail via EVG reader Terry Howell:

"As you can see, this building is being slowly handmade. I have listened to every one of those girders being hammered into place by hand over this winter. You can see a small pile of girders waiting to be placed and pounded together on the flooring. There is a crew of about 5-6 guys who are doing it all!

Meanwhile! It looks as if there is an empty space in the rear... Perhaps a Party Patio? (A reader called a patio where these bros always hang out on East Fifth Street the "Dick Deck.")

Or, preferably, maybe a little green space with grass and what not...



...And a view of the front from Tuesday...



Previously on EV Grieve:
Former funeral home looks to double in size with help from 'the controversial penthouse king of the East Village'

Redeveloped funeral home looking for a few live retail tenants

The walls come tumbling down at 154 Second Avenue

Bob Perl's East Village

The Commericial Observer has a piece this week titled "Robert Perl: The East Village’s Counterculture Landlord."

A few passages.

Mr. Perl, the president of East Village specialist Tower Brokerage, is a rarity among local landlords for his long tenure and his wistfulness about the gentrified area’s squalid punk rock past.

And!

Mr. Perl’s advocacy on behalf of Life Café owner Kathy Kirkpatrick during the rent dispute, and his affinity for the East Village’s increasingly blunted edge, suggests that he is a benevolent landlord in a neighborhood with an ingrained suspicion of, or antipathy toward, real estate professionals. “The cynicism they have today is very different from the ‘Die Yuppie Scum’ days” Mr. Perl said. “You were more likely to be lynched as a capitalist pig in the ‘80s than today. Money is something people look up to now, as opposed to deride.”

Read the article here.

[EVG file photo]

And, after the storm...

10th and C via Bobby Williams.

2 amazing photos of tonight's incoming East Village thunderstorm

Well, we're find out how well The Jefferson handles a thunderstorm!



A view from East 13th Street via EVG regular Katja...

April 10

Northeast corner of 12th Street and Third Avenue. The new issue of the Voice as the time stamp.

Report: Ditch Kills team scrap plans to open tiki-bar concept on Avenue B

The partners behind Long Island City hotspot Ditch Kills will not pursue opening a cocktail bar in the former Mercadito Cantina space, DNAinfo reported this morning.

This decision follows Monday night's contentious CB3/SLA meeting in which the committee denied the request for the lounge to be called The Asphalt Jungle at 172 Avenue B.

After Jean-Paul Buthier, owner of vintage shop Rue St Denis at 170 Avenue B, spoke out against the applicant, Dutch Kills partner Richard Boccato replied that he and his partner Ian Present were "not carpetbaggers," adding, "with all due respect, sir, your accent doesn't sound like a Native New Yorker," as Grub Street first reported.

According to DNAinfo, the committee's denial "shocked Present, who grew up on Avenue B near East 10th Street, just a block from where the proposed bar was slated."

“It would have been a dream of mine to open a bar on the block I grew up on,” said Present, who added his mother still lives on the street and that his family has roots in the neighborhood dating back more than 110 years.

Present and Boccato were applying for for a full liquor license, with a 1 a.m. closing time Sunday to Tuesday and 2 a.m. on Wednesday through Saturday.

“We respect the neighborhood,” Present told DNAinfo.com New York. “We know that it’s residential, and we weren’t looking to stay open till 3 or 4 am.

“I didn’t feel the decision was actually a reflection of the desires of the community," he added.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Dutch Kills crew aiming to take over former Mercadito Cantina space on Avenue B

[Updated] Report: CB3 says yes to Golden Cadillac, denies the Asphalt Jungle (17 comments)

About Mercadito Cantina closing:'Open letter to EV Grieve and CB3' (58 comments)

What's going on at Open Road Park?

EVG reader Steve Carter notes this morning that workers are on the scene at Open Road Park, the playground popular with skateboarders adjacent to the East Side Community High School on East 12th Street between Avenue A and First Avenue...

It appears that the workers are dismantling/pulverizing the benches and other seating areas around the park.

One young man with a skateboard said, "I got to go inside before I kill somebody."

There have been off-and-on again issues here the past few years... In June 2011, officials from East Side temporarily closed the park. During a public meeting, officials cited increasing incidents of discarding trash and debris, smoking cigarettes, selling marijuana ... and trouble with people not respecting set school or other programmed activities.

We'll see what's next here ...

Previously on EV Grieve:
Open Road Park closed now on 12th Street

Why the Open Road Park is closed

Out and About in the East Village

In this weekly feature, East Village-based photographer James Maher provides us with a quick snapshot of someone who lives and/or works in the East Village.

By James Maher

Name: Jasmin Olmo (and Rocko)
Occupation: Stay at home mother, Medical Assistant
Location: 9th Street and Avenue C
Time: 3:15 on Sunday, April 7

I’m 28 and I’ve lived in this area all my life. Right now I’m home with the kids and my husband works. I have two kids, an eight year old and a four year old, but I do have my certificate as a Medical Assistant. I did that for a year and then decided to take some time to take care of my kids. Hopefully once my son is in regular school then I can go back to work.

My grandparents were from Puerto Rico. My grandmother was born there. I believe she came here when she was a teenager with her mother. I think they came for a better life and everybody was moving here at that time. My grandmother cleaned houses but mostly she was a homemaker. She had 7 kids and her first very young so she was mostly home with them. I had my mother, my grandmother, and my great grandmother here. My daughter was able to see these generations of women and the family. We have a lot of family. My grandmother has 22 grandchildren. I’m the 22nd. I’m the baby.

Both my parents were from the neighborhood and they met very young, in junior high school, and they were together ever since. My father was a Marine and then he worked for Sanitation. My mom also cleaned houses when she was young and then there was a point in her life where things were really rough. Both of them are now deceased, so it’s great hearing stories about them being young and the things they’ve done. My mom was a wild one when she was young. Hearing stories about her, it’s like, “Okay I’m definitely not like my mother.” That’s one thing that my grandmother used to always say to me, she was like, “You, next to your mother, you are an angel. Your mother used to do some crazy stuff.”

I can tell you, there are these projects on Avenue D, they start on 6th Street and go down to Houston Street, called the Lillian Wald Houses. My grandmother was one of the first tenants to move into those projects. She knew everyone who moved in and all of the families that were there for all those years. She was head of the tenant patrol for years. I probably have a family member in each project. We have family throughout the whole neighborhood and everyone knows each other. My Aunt still lives over there.

Me and my friends would run around the projects playing manhunt, playing hide and seek, and my mom would be in front of one building and I’m on the whole other side of the project. She didn’t have to worry because she knew everybody and everybody knew us, so if I was doing anything wrong they were definitely going to tell her. We would play manhunt and there would be like 10 of us in the elevator acting stupid and we’d get stuck in there for like two hours, hot as hell, in the summer, just hoping and praying that nobody’s parent would find out. But of course, somebody would find out. We caused a lot of trouble growing up but she didn’t have to worry about us. Nowadays it’s really different. I won’t let my daughter go downstairs to the store by herself or walk to school by herself. That’s the sad thing about it.

On my block on 10th Street on the weekends everybody’s outside playing music and somebody’s always having a party. If you walk down 10th Street between B and C, there’s always going to be people out. But I remember in the summer you could walk down Avenue D and everybody was outside with their kids. I mean everybody, in front of the stores just hanging out. The East River, I remember when I was like 7 or 8, every weekend in the summer they would have music out there. They would have a DJ in one spot and a Spanish band in another and have food. That’s what I can remember about being in this neighborhood. There was always music and food and people dancing and rejoicing and just hanging out and kids running around. Back then you didn’t have to worry about your kids running around. Nowaways it’s not like that anymore. You’ll see people here and there but a lot of people left. They’re out in Florida or down south. If you go to Miami you’ll see a bunch of people that you know from your neighborhood.

The only time you see a whole bunch of people now is during the Loisaida Festival. Every May, every Memorial Weekend, they have a big festival down Avenue C. It’s right before the weekend of the Puerto Rican Day Parade, so you’ll see a lot of people selling flags and t-shirts and there’s all types of food. You can come and eat, they have some rides for the kids, and they usually have like five Spanish bands come out. People dance in the streets and the kids are running around. You’ll see people that you haven’t seen in years. Everybody comes back for Loisaida because they know they’ll see people that they haven’t seen in awhile. They come back to see family and friends. That’s always fun to see.

James Maher is a fine art and studio photographer based in the East Village. Find his website here.

Easy as...: Alphabet Plaza makes first appearance above ground

Work continues here at East Houston and East Second Street/Avenue D... future home of a 12-story mixed-used apartment building called Alphabet Plaza ... the new structure has made its first appearance above ground, as these photos from EVG Facebook friend Edward Arrocha show...





Still waiting to see new renderings... as well as learning what franchises will be leasing the retail space (smart money is on Walgreens).

Previously on EV Grieve:
Will Avenue D finally turn into Avenue C?

Listing appears for Houston and Avenue D development

Report: 12th-story 'Alphabet Plaza' in the works for Second Street and Avenue D

Alphabet Plaza ready to rise on Avenue D

Alphabet Plaza is rising on East Houston and Avenue D

202 First Ave. is for sale

There's a new listing at Eastern Consolidated for 202 First Ave., the story-story building that houses No Relation between East 12th Street and East 13th Street.

A few details from the listing:

Of the 20 residential units, 5 apartments (25%) are Rent Stabilized with an average monthly rent of $1,016, which represents over a 50% discount to current market rates. The remaining fifteen (15) one, two, and three bedroom apartments (75%) are free market with an average monthly rent of $2,903. 8 of the units have a washer and dryer and 3 units are duplexed with rooftop terraces. In total, the 20 occupied apartments are renting at well below market rates with an overall average monthly rent of $2,431, offering tremendous upside to new ownership.

In summary, the in-place rents at the Property are substantially below market and the building is in excellent physical condition. It has been very well maintained, evidenced by its continuous 100% occupancy. Located in one of Manhattan’s most desirable submarkets, the Property offers an opportunity for investors to reposition the building and capture the significant upside potential.

The listing notes that No Relation "recently signed a new 5-year lease with no options, 3% increases per annum."

Asking price: $13 million.

[Updated] Nevada Smiths might be opening today in their new Third Avenue home

[A look inside a few weeks ago]

We've heard rumors for months now that Nevada Smiths was opening in their new home at 100 Third Ave. — dating back to October ... and every time, those rumors were wrong... Last evening, Zagat reported that the soccer bar would be opening today. Nothing official about this just yet on the Nevada Smiths Facebook page.

Nevada Smiths has been moonlighting at Webster Hall since late 2011. We first reported on the move and demolition of the bar's old home in November 2011.

DANinfo's Serena Solomon got the first look at the $3 million Nevada Smiths last July. The space will reportedly sport 20 plasma televisions scattered throughout the space as well as a pair of massive projection screens that measure 18 feet by 10 feet.

Meanwhile, here's a little look at what used to be in the building at 100 Third Ave.

Updated 5:30 p.m.
Several readers confirmed that the new Nevada Smiths did open earlier this afternoon.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Nevada Smiths is closed, and here's what's next

Those persistent rumors about 74-76 Third Avenue and the future of Nevada Smith's

The East Village will lose a parking lot and gain an apartment building

Here then, where Nevada Smiths once stood

Here's what's left of the motorcycle that caught on fire Sunday night

The one on East Third Street that was parked in front of the Church of the Most Holy Redeemer.

No word yet on the cause of the fire.

Thanks to ‏@katieaka for the photo.

Today's hawk

Late this afternoon in Tompkins Square Park. Photos by Bobby Williams.

Giuseppi Logan

Always good to see Giuseppi Logan in Tompkins Square Park. Photo by Bobby Williams.

[Updated] Taylor Mead is (temporarily) leaving New York

Taylor Mead, the poet and former Warhol star currently living in hellish conditions during his Ludlow Street building's gut renovation, was scheduled to appear Sunday at the Anthology Film Archives.

He was to appear with director Michel Auder to discuss the 1970 cult classic "Cleopatra," which Mead appeared in alongside Nico and Gerard Malanga. However, that appearance has been moved up to tonight.

Per the Anthology website:

Since going to press with our Spring schedule, we've learned that Taylor Mead will be temporarily leaving NYC (for an undetermined period of time) just before our originally scheduled program on Sun, April 14. As a result, we have added a screening on Tues, April 9, with Taylor in person! Since this may be the last chance to see Taylor here in NY for some time, this evening is not to be missed! Come say goodbye to Taylor as he embarks on an adventure out west!

As you may have read, Ben Shaoul bought the building Mead lives in last summer. Mead, 88, continues to live in his rent-stabilized apartment while the rest of the building is converted to market-rate homes. (Mead has lived here for 34 years and pays $380 a month in rent.)

According to a report in the Post, "Workers hammer outside his door from 7 a.m. till the evening. Plaster falls from his walls and roaches crawl up his legs. The kitchen sink doesn’t work."

Word began to spread via Mead's friends and family last week that a buyout/relocation deal was in the works.

As for tonight, the film starts at 7.

Updated 10 p.m.
We asked Clayton Patterson, who has been working to help Mead, for an update. He said that Mead will be spending a few weeks with his niece in Denver... and that there are possibles trips to New Orleans and Upstate New York to follow... "then hopefully back to the LES." Patterson noted that Mead has not ben receiving any help from any local officials. He received one visit from reps from the offices of Councilwoman Margaret Chin and the Cooper Square Committee, as BoweryBoogie noted. "If Taylor had to rely on these political groups and our politicians he would probably be dead by now," Patterson said last night via email. He was unaware if Mead had reached a buyout agreement with the landlord.

[Image via]

Bleecker Bob's closes on Saturday

Via the store's Facebook page:

ONLY 5 days left!!!!!
get to Bleecker Bob's NOW!!!
we're closing this Saturday April 13!!!

Now word just yet if they have found space in the East Village.

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

Bleecker Bob's is for rent

Workers remove last fire-damaged car from East Ninth Street

A fire on East Ninth Street late Friday night destroyed three cars parked next to the controversial former P.S. 64 between Avenue B and Avenue C... this afternoon, workers removed the remaining car from the street...



Photo and video via MoRUS.

Previously on EV Grieve:
[Updated] Early-morning car fire on East 9th Street

Looking at the remains of last night's East Ninth Street car fire

Father Pat lost his car in Friday night's fire

[Updated] Report: CB3 says yes to Golden Cadillac, denies the Asphalt Jungle

Golden Cadillac received the OK last night from the CB3/SLA committee to take over the former Boca Chica space on First Avenue at East First Street, Grub Street's Mary Reinholz reported this morning. (Read more about Golden Cadillac here.)

Meanwhile, regarding another big-ticket item, we heard from several attendees of last night's meeting about the contentious nature of the discussion over The Asphalt Jungle, the new cocktail lounge from the Dutch Kills team. They were applying to take over the former Mercadito Cantina space at 172 Avenue B.

Jean-Paul Buthier, owner of vintage shop Rue St Denis next door, was one of the people to speak out against the applicant. From his view, there are already enough bars on Avenue B ... "Maybe we need more AA meetings."

We'll let Grub Street pick up what reportedly happened next.

Seemingly stung by the Frenchman's comment, [Dutch Kills partner] Boccato replied that he and his partner Ian Present had roots in the East Village and were trying to create a safe and reputable establishment. "We're not carpetbaggers," he said, adding, "with all due respect, sir, your accent doesn't sound like a Native New Yorker." The barman's zinger elicited groans and protests from spectators, and even resulted in calls from committee chair Alexandra Militano for attendees to settle down.

The committee later voted to deny the Asphalt Jungle application. Read the rest of the Grub Street post here.

Updated 4-10
The Dutch Kills team have said they will not move forward with this project on Avenue B.

Tree of life

Yesterday in Tompkins Square Park via EVG contributor jdx.

See Madonna in the East Village again for the very first time

Fashionista has a post on "MADONNA: A Transformational Exhibition," a traveling collection of "unseen" photos of her Madgeness from her days in the East Village circa early 1980s... Photographer Richard Corman talks about meeting Madonna for the very first time... at her place in 234 E. Fourth St. between Avenue A and Avenue B...

I went into the building and the seas parted – there must have been 20 kids sitting on the stoop and in the hallway and then I went up to meet her. I really didn’t know what I was getting into, but as soon as I met her, as soon as she served me espresso on a silver plated tray with Bazooka bubblegum, I knew I was in for a ride.

The exhibit opens Thursday with a private event. Read the Q-and-A (and find more photos) here.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Madonna in the East Village circa 1982