March 26, 2015 — March 26, 2016

Today is the one-year anniversary of the deadly Second Avenue gas explosion.

And there are several articles marking the one-year point. NY1 talks with Mildred Guy, who lived at 119 Second Ave. for 45 years.

[S]he is still reminiscing about her old life but feeling optimistic about the future.

“I'm just grateful. I feel blessed,” she said.

While the blast and fire destroyed three buildings — 45 East Seventh St. (119 Second Ave.), 121 Second Ave. and 123 Second Ave., 15 units in total — several apartments next door at No. 125 also received substantial damage

Inside Edition, the syndicated newsmagazine, talks with several residents, including Bonnie Ramon, who lived at 125 Second Ave. She lost everything from the smoke and water damage, and eventually found a place to say in Brooklyn. She has returned, though.

"I grew up on the Lower East Side; the East Village is home to me," she said. "It’s hard not to come back."

Authorities have said that siphoned gas at 121 Second Ave. is to blame for the explosion, which killed Moises Ismael Locón Yac and Nicholas Figueroa, and injured two dozen other people. A 21-year-old student visiting from Berkeley during spring break lost an eye and fractured his larynx. Two firefighters also suffered serious injuries.

On Feb. 11, the DA charged No. 119 and 121 landlord Maria Hrynenko and her son, Michael Hrynenko Jr., with involuntary manslaughter ... as well as contractor Dilber Kukic and an unlicensed plumber, Athanasios Ioannidis. (A fifth person, Andrew Trombettas, faces charges for supplying his license to Ioannidis.) All pleaded not guilty.

Several weeks ago, George Pasternak, the landlord of 123 Second Ave., put his vacant plot of land up for sale, asking $9.7 million.

Today at 1, City Councilmember Rosie Mendez is holding a press conference to reflect on the tragedy and share legislative measures introduced to prevent future disasters, according to the announcement.

Nora Brooks, who lived on the top floor of No. 123, relocated to Portland, Ore., with her husband Matthew.

She told Inside Edition: "I really would like people to appreciate what Maria (Hrynenko) has taken from people; the lasting effect on the neighborhood and the lives of the people who live there."

I will post photos and a recap from the press conference on Monday morning.

Previously on EV Grieve:
[Updating] Explosion on 2nd Avenue and East 7th Street

How displaced residents are faring after the 2nd Avenue gas explosion

Living out of a suitcase 6 months after the 2nd Avenue explosion

Moving on — and feeling lucky — after the 2nd Avenue explosion

A family continues to feel the loss on 2nd Avenue

Updated: 2nd Ave. explosion — landlord, 3 others charged with 2nd degree manslaughter; showed 'a blatant and callous disregard for human life'

Former residents talk about landlord Maria Hrynenko: 'it was clear she wanted to get rid of anyone with a rent-regulated apartment'

Report: 123 2nd Ave. is for sale

Selling 123 Second Ave.

And read our interviews with longtime residents of 45 E. Seventh St. Mildred Guy and Diane McLean.

What about Bob?

Was browsing the Other Music website I saw that there's a Replacements LP box coming out next week showcasing the Minneapolis-based band's Sire years — Tim (1985), Pleased to Meet Me (1987), Don’t Tell A Soul (1989), and All Shook Down (1990).

The video above is from the Twin/Tone years... the video is from September 1981... and features a handful of songs from their debut release, Sorry Ma, Forgot to Take Out the Trash. (The Twin/Tone YouTube page has five other videos from this show.)

And Bob Stinson (RIP) was a great guitar player.

Good Friday on Avenue B

From the Church of Saint Brigid - Saint Emeric on Avenue B and East Eighth Street...the "Way of the Cross" procession for Good Friday...





More realistic this year... (Jesus and the Roman guards were not wearing tennis shoes, for instance, though I understand why you'd want to wear comfortable footwear for this.)

Photos by Michael Paul Photography

EV Grieve Etc.: Demolition concerns over the former Chase branch on 2nd Avenue

[Photo Wednesday at 51 Astor Place by Derek Berg]

Neighbors worry about what Icon might do to the former Chase branch on Second Avenue (The Villager... previously on EVG)

Best dive bars in NYC (Gothamist)

Parents remember their son, Colton Daniel Hudson, 23, who loved living in the East Village (The Villager)

A visit to Julie's Vintage on East Second Street (B+B)

Red-tailed hawk egg watch in Tompkins Square Park (Laura Goggin Photography)


[Christo on watch via Bobby Williams]

Check out the calendar of upcoming events in the Back Room at HiFi on Avenue A (HiFi)

Somehow the LES is getting another hotel (The Lo-Down)

Power-washing 190 Bowery (Curbed)

Broadway and East Fourth Street (Tower Records, the MLB Mancave) is empty again (Flaming Pablum)

Friends Seminary on East 16th Street accused of fraud to secure LPC approval for $67M renovation (DNAinfo)

Kimlau Square in Chinatown is ready for rehabilitation (BoweryBoogie)

A month-long celebration of Albert Camus (The New York Times)

NYC 2015 population increased to 8,550,405 (NY Yimby)

Cuomo: Make Julius' Bar a historic landmark (DNAinfo)

Hogs & Heifers now a vanilla box (Jeremiah's Vanishing New York)

... and at the 6 & B Community Garden Easter Sunday... via the EVG inbox ...

A quick trip to St. Mark's Place circa 1978

[Click photo to go big]

This photo has been making the rounds in recent weeks... and several readers have forwarded me a copy via the Dirty Old 1970's New York City page on Facebook.

The photo by Manel Armengol faces east on Saint Mark's Place at Third Avenue, circa 1978.

And a fairly half-assed attempt to make a now-then comparison...

Tribeca Pediatrics opening an outpost on 1st Avenue

An EVG reader (and parent) shares the news that Tribeca Pediatrics is opening an office at 205 First Ave. between East 12th Street and East 13th Street.

The storefront previously housed the Mecca of Hair.

As for Tribeca Pediatrics, there's no word yet on when they will apply for a beer-wine license — just to have something to pair with the Pentacel.

Bluestone Lane Coffee opens next week at 51 Astor Place

This, according to Twitter...

The new #AstorPlace coming so soon. Oh yeah, there's also a #BluestoneLane set to open next week there too... pic.twitter.com/4vCo4mSf33

— Bluestone Lane (@BluestoneLane) March 24, 2016

The cafe/coffee shop is on the Fourth Avenue side next to the front entrance/red rabbit of 51 Astor Place/the IBM Watson Building/Death Star ...


[EV Arrow file photo]

Bluestone also has a location across the street in the lobby of 770 Broadway.

And here's more about Bluestone Lane Coffee via their website:

Bluestone Lane offers a refined product proposition dedicated to producing the highest quality coffee and complimentary foods, delivered in an engaging way. We are focused on creating environments where customers are immersed in the experience and leave feeling like a local.

Bluestone Lane Coffee is influenced from the renowned coffee culture hub of Melbourne, Australia, where premium coffee is a way of life.

With Bluestone's opening, 51 Astor Place will have all its retail slots filled ... alongside Chopt, CVS and Flywheel Sports.

Previously on EV Grieve:
3 retail spaces available at 51 Astor Place (22 comments)

You can finally shop at 51 Astor Place!

3 new retail tenants for 51 Astor Place: Bluestone Lane Coffee, Chop’t and Flywheel Sports

Chopping soon signage up at the Death Star

Here's the Bluestone Lane Coffee signage at 51 Astor Place

Spin cycle: Flywheel Sports opening next month in 51 Astor Place

It was a nice day for a ride along Avenue A

Photo by Derek Berg

Ball of confusion

[Photo by Nora Gala]

Several readers noted the giant ball (looking slightly damaged) outside Webster Hall on East 11th Street near Fourth Avenue this morning... Majority opinion: Mini Death Star re-creation!

Apparently it was a loadout from a party...

An enchanted yarn garden on St. Mark's Place

At Avenue A... yarn garden courtesy of @madebylondon ...

Photo by Derek Berg

Previously on EV Grieve:
An evolution in yarn at La Plaza Cultural

Construction watch: 500 E. 14th St. (plus, Extell construction site still keeping residents up at night)

Extell Development is running a generator non-stop at their construction site on East 14th Street between Avenue A and Avenue B, according to residents who live adjacent to the property.

We heard from residents about construction noise several times ... most recently in December, and specifically about the generators that are running at the site closer to Avenue A.

As previously reported, Extell is putting up two 7-floor retail-residential buildings ... 500 E. 14th St. at Avenue A will have 106 residential units … while, further to the east, 524 E. 14th St. will house 44 residential units.

A resident whose apartment faces the construction shared this:

It is SO loud — with windows closed — that it keeps me up all night.

An email that I tried to send to the building company bounced back.

So infuriating!

The community email address that's posted on the East 14th Street field office has apparently never worked... and calls to 311 haven't accomplished anything, residents claim.

A look through the blogger portals along East 14th Street reveals a whole lot of pumping going on inside the construction pit... (we have noted the standing water on the site, freezing and thawing)...







While works seems to be progressing fairly quickly at the nearby 438 E. 12th St. condo build, where there are five floors above ground, this project still looks to be focused on creating the foundation.



Previously on EV Grieve:
A question about Extell construction noise on East 14th Street

Community meeting tonight to address construction noise at Extell's East 14th Street development sites

New 7-floor buildings for East 14th Street include 150 residential units

1st activity at 500 E. 14th St. since the demolition phase, and when the standing water froze

Lavagna is helping an East Village resident in his fight against cancer

East Village resident Brett Kilroe was diagnosed with Stage IV colorectal cancer in 2011. According to his friends, he was denied coverage from insurance because it was considered to be a pre-existing condition.

Donations have helped Kilroe, an art director who has worked with Kings of Leon, the Strokes and Alabama Shakes, get the care he needs. However, his ongoing treatment continues. (According to the Kings of Leon Facebook page, the cancer has spread to Kilroe's skull, "which is relatively good news because it didn’t spread to his brain, and doctors believe it can be treated with targeted radiation.")

Throughout 2016, Lavagna, the excellent Italian restaurant at 545 E. Fifth St. between Avenue A and Avenue B, is helping with Kilroe's expenses.

On the last Monday of every month, Lavagna will donate 100 percent of the food and drink sales (before tax and tip) to anyone making a reservation and referencing the code Brett2016.

You can make reservations via Open Table or by calling the restaurant at (212) 979-1005.

You can read more about Kilroe via SweetRelief.org.

LinkNYC privacy concerns

Happy #NationalPuppyDay to NYC's tech-savvy dogs! 🐾 A perfect day to walk to a Link, but please, #dontpeeonthewifi pic.twitter.com/JJnlNsBFR1

— LinkNYC (@LinkNYC) March 23, 2016

Previous posts about LinkNYC, the city's new network of [free] Wi-Fi hubs, drew a few privacy concerns from readers.

Last week, the New York Civil Liberties Union shared their own privacy concerns with Mayor de Blasio, who officially launched the network on Feb. 18. Here's part of the NYCLU news release:

LinkNYC ... will eventually become a network of as many as 7,500 to 10,000 public kiosks offering fast and free Wi-Fi throughout all five boroughs. The sheer volume of information gathered by this powerful network will create a massive database of information that will present attractive opportunities for hackers and for law enforcement surveillance, and will carry an undue risk of abuse, misuse and unauthorized access.

“Internet access is not a choice, it’s a modern-life necessity,” said Mariko Hirose, senior staff attorney at the NYCLU. “The city’s public Wi-Fi network should set the bar for privacy and security to help ensure that New Yorkers do not have to sacrifice their rights and freedoms to sign online.”

In order to register for LinkNYC, users must submit their e-mail addresses and agree to allow CityBridge to collect information about what websites they visit on their devices, where and how long they linger on certain information on a webpage, and what links they click on. CityBridge’s privacy policy only offers to make “reasonable efforts” to clear out this massive amount of personally identifiable user information, and even then, only if there have been 12 months of user inactivity. New Yorkers who use LinkNYC regularly will have their personally identifiable information stored for a lifetime and beyond.

However, LinkNYC and city spokespeople offered their reassurances to The Huffington Post:

Jen Hensley, general manager of LinkNYC, told The Huffington Post that the company would never sell a user’s private information and that law enforcement doesn’t have unfettered access to the data.

“CityBridge would require a subpoena or similar lawful request before sharing any data with the NYPD or law enforcement, and we will make every effort to communicate government requests to impacted users,” Hensley said.

And Natalie Grybauskas, a spokeswoman for New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, told HuffPost there are privacy protections in place on the public Wi-Fi system.

“New York City and CityBridge have created customer-first privacy protections to ensure our users’ personal information stays that way — personal,” Grybauskas said.

Ayyway, we learned about all this in an article at The Next Web from Tuesday titled New York has just opened a massive public spying network.

H/T Dr. Bop!

Reader report: Former Bollywood rental shop becoming a hair salon on East 6th Street

Several EVG readers have noted the arrival of several salon chairs inside 245 E. Sixth St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue. Apparently workers are converting the space into a hair salon/barber shop... That's all we know about the new tenant at the moment.

Until last fall, the space housed a rental shop that specialized in Bollywood cinema...


[EVG file photo]

H/T Vinny & O and Michael Hirsch...

The A7 35th Anniversary Throwback Show is tomorrow night

A7 opened on the southeast corner of Avenue A and East Seventh Street in 1981... and over the next three years, some of the hardcore scene's most influential bands played on A7's small stage... tomorrow night (Thursday, March 24) at Niagara, the bar in the former A7 space, there's a 35th anniversary show featuring the following lineup (via Facebook):

7:00 Doors open
8:00 - 8:30 Killer Instinct
8:30 - 9:00 The N.Y.H.C. Chronicles Film (Excerpt screening)
9:00 - 9:30 Ultra Violence
9:45 - 10:15 Urban Waste
10:30 - 11:00 Antidote
11:15 - 12:15 The Undead
All Night D.J. Jimmy G.

And it's a free show.

The evening includes excerpts from the documentary "The New York Hardcore Chronicles" ... here's the trailer...

Media coverage of Mayor de Blasio's affordable housing plan getting the OK from City Council

"NYC is now one step closer to being a city where EVERYONE can work and live." - @BilldeBlasio #affordablenyc pic.twitter.com/LN6kgDzTTE

— NYC Mayor's Office (@NYCMayorsOffice) March 22, 2016

As expected yesterday, City Council approved Mayor de Blasio's housing plan that will pave the way for a series of rezonings across New York City that aim to build and maintain 200,000 units of affordable housing by 2024. Here's a roundup of headlines from various media outlets about the mayor's rezoning victory ...

---

New York Passes Rent Rules to Blunt Gentrification (The New York Times)

De Blasio’s affordable housing plans both clear City Council with ease, despite spirited protest from community groups (Daily News)

City Council Approves Zoning Changes Key to de Blasio's Affordable Housing Plan (WNYC)

Council overwhelmingly approves de Blasio’s plan to rezone the city (Politico New York)

Community Groups Disappointed by Lack of Details and Info on Rezoning Deal (DNAinfo)

Developers say de Blasio affordable housing plan is “almost meaningless” without 421a (The Real Deal)

De Blasio Earns Political Win in NYC Affordable-Housing Vote (Bloomberg)

Developers Are "Very, Very Excited To Pioneer" New Neighborhoods Under De Blasio's Affordable Housing Plan (Gothamist)

New York City Just Took A Huge Step To Tackle Obscenely High Rents (Huffington Post)

What you need to know about de Blasio's affordable housing victory (New York Business Journal)

Activists Vow to Fight Mayor's 'Gentrification Plan' in the Neighborhoods (DNAinfo)

Protesters Denounce De Blasio's Housing Plan Ahead Of Vote: "The Word Affordability Has Been Co-opted By The Government" (Gothamist)

City Council Approves Mayor's Affordable Housing Plan, But Not Without Drama (NY1)

New York City affordable housing programs designed to benefit developers (World Socialist Web Site)

Report: Fake cops rob man on 3rd Avenue

Here are details from the the Daily Blotter today at the Post:

The 21-year-old victim was on Third Avenue near East 12th Street at 2 a.m. on March 6 when one suspect approached and barked “NYPD,” then the other told the man to empty his pockets. The victim handed over his cellphone and wallet.

The two men then took off with the phone and wallet, the Post noted.

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: Brother Rasheim
Occupation: Volunteer
Location: Tompkins Square Park
Time: Noon on Tuesday, March 22

I’m from the city. I came around here in the 1980s. I was homeless and I was checking out some church and the Bowery Mission, some resources, and I used to do volunteer work. It was beautiful. It’s not a good thing being homeless, but for a young man like I was at that time, I was actually learning about the world. I was in the street, but a lot of people told me their stories, so it was very educational, brother.

This community is just as powerful as Harlem. This is a rich multicultural place. This park was a melting pot for many cultures. So every time I come to get this pantry from this beautiful church, I never want to forget where I come from. Trinity is a powerful church. It’s been a soup kitchen for many years, where you can come. They’ve been doing that for over 20 years now, probably more. Every time I come here, it’s actually me walking into a whole historical place.

I was here for the riot that happened. I was here that night. It was pure chaos. I saved a couple peoples’ lives who were throwing bottles at the police. A policeman was going to retaliate and I just yelled out, 'Noooooo! Please!' He snapped out of it, and put his gun in his holster. It was a whole big thing that night. It was horrible.

This was the home, if you want to talk about Woodstock, if you want to talk about Harlem, there was a powerful history here. There were a lot of things that were done here that were beautiful, that brought community. There are a couple community gardens that have been here forever. The Charlie Parker House is right here. That’s where he used to live. That’s a historical landmark right there, brother. A lot of jazz artists came down here from Harlem and did a lot of powerful things here. People used to be out here at three, four, five in the morning playing jazz music and singing love songs from the old 1960s. This is a beautiful melting pot.

And there’s Diane. Diane feeds the homeless here and she helped a lot of people. She has a food ministry, where she comes right out in the park on certain days. She comes here and preaches in this park to the homeless. She was part of the spiritual reform here. She’s a powerful person. She was out here in the early 1980s, preaching when it was rough in this park, telling people to get their lives together.

As a matter of fact, she told me to get myself together. I met her 25 years ago. She told me the truth. I never forgot her for that. She said, ‘You’re a very good, nice young man,’ but she told me I had a very nasty attitude. That hurt my feelings, you know, but she told me the truth. She told me that I was a young man and I had to work on my attitude. She was telling the truth. I have had a lot of issues that I worked on with family and stuff like that, and I worked on it now, and now I’m getting ready to go to my brother’s wedding ceremony in about two weeks, so I got my family in my life.

And me, I’m Brother man, I learn from everybody. I help everybody. And that’s pretty much who I am. So I come here to get this little beautiful pantry here, just to remember where I came from. And soon I’m going to be starting my food ministry, in the same way all of these beautiful people are out here. I’m going to be doing everything. I’m going to be giving referrals to shelters and pantries. I’m going to be feeding people. I’m waiting on some paperwork to come through, so I can receive donations. You have to have things in place, your documents, in order for restaurants and the Salvation Army to donate stuff. So I’m waiting on that. It’s a beautiful place. Life is beautiful.

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

'Concrete blowout' at Broadway condo project damages neighboring building

At 809 Broadway, where workers are adding a 10-story addition to the former Blatt Billiards building, a "concrete blowout" during construction on March 11 has caused "extensive damage" to the adjacent property where residents have been forced from their homes, according to city records.



According to the DOB, there are four Stop Work Order complaints for 809 Broadway, including one for "work does not conform to approved construction documents."



Next door, at this building between East 11th Street and East 12th Street, a a Partial Vacate Order remains in effect. Residents have not been allowed back into the building since the construction accident. (City documents show that contractors were admitted inside to remove personal effects for the tenants.) In addition, the 7-Eleven on the ground floor remains closed.





Property records show that Ben Shaoul's Magnum Real Estate is the owner of the damaged 813 Broadway, where the rentals feature four and five bedrooms that range in price from $7,000 to $10,000 a month, via Streeteasy listings.

A neighbor says that residents at 813 won't likely be able to return for at least two more weeks.

809 Broadway was the longtime home until 2013 to Blatt Billiards, a pool table manufacturer that had owned and occupied the building since 1972. Blatt principals Ronald Blatt and Bruce Roeder reportedly sold the building to a buyer who was identified only as 809 Broadway Holding LLC.

The Commercial Observer noted last July that 809 Broadway Holding LLC "is a partnership of three private investors led by its principal Ariel Rom." New York-based IDM Capital is the project's development manager, per the Observer.

There are approved permits on file to boost the height of the 55-foot building to 199 feet, adding 10 stories to the existing five-story structure. In total, the building will house 10 luxury condos, including one duplex and one triplex penthouse on the top floors.

Here are renderings via ODA-Architecture...





The construction incident at 809 Broadway sounds similar to what occurred in 2012 at 133 Third Ave., where workers accidentally sent wet concrete oozing through a wall and into an the NYU dorm next door on East 14th Street. The owner of the building that NYU leases the dorm from subsequently sued to halt the project. The 16-story residential building has remained dormant since the accident. Recently approved amendments to work permits suggest that constructions will resume again here.

Thank you to EVG reader Mitchell Schneider for the tip and photos

Laundromat-replacing laundromat closing on East 10th Street

Closing signs are up now at Le Pressing, the laundromat/dry cleaner at 204 E. 10th St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue.

Le Pressing opened in early 2014 ... taking over the space from Mimi and her son, who operated a laundromat here for many years. They had to close in 2013 after a rent increase.

According to the sign, Le Pressing will close after the business day on March 31.

H/T to Blue Glass for the photo