Thursday's parting shot

Heading all the way back to today's spectacular sunrise...photo from the East Village via James and Karla Murray...

Remembering a fallen NYPD officer on the anniversary of his death

A ceremony took place today in honor of slain NYPD officer Brian Jones at PSA 4 on Avenue C at Eighth Street.

Jones, a four-year veteran Housing Bureau officer, who was assigned to PSA 4, was off duty when he was shot and killed while attempting to interview a robbery suspect on Oct. 13, 1996. He was 27.

Today, his family members were on hand for a plaque dedication ceremony at PSA 4...

We Will Never Forget! #NYPD PO Brian "HuggyBear" Jones EOW-10/13/96 -20yrs ago today he gave the ultimate sacrifice protecting our city pic.twitter.com/GEUhfAqcSg

— Chief James Secreto (@NYPDHousing) October 13, 2016

Thanks to EVG reader Peter D. for the photos.

Blink Fitness getting its Blink Fitness signage on Avenue A

Happening this afternoon at 98 Avenue A between Sixth Street and Seventh Street.

Signs on the windows say the gym is opening at the end of this month. Workers started carting in the machinery on Monday.

Memberships are, for now, $20 a month with $1 annual membership ... the membership office arrived at 115 Avenue A in late August. You can stop by Ray's for fried Oreos afterwards.

The gym is the retail tenant in Ben Shaoul's surrounding condoplex.

And two more shots via Peter Brownscombe...

Getting piggy with it: Found heart outside the Riis Houses not human, ME says

Last week, a man found what was thought to be a human heart in the trash outside the Riis Houses on the FDR Drive and Sixth Street.

After an examination, the New York City Medical Examiner’s office deemed that it was not a human heart, and likely belonged to a pig, DNAinfo reported yesterday.

Why was a pig's heart in the trash? One theory, per DNA:

Pig hearts are sometimes used in cooking — they are featured in recipes that are part of the Paleo diet and are the staple ingredient of several international dishes, including Bopis in the Philippines and Sarapatel in Brazil.

More details on the incoming Mount Sinai Downtown Beth Israel

[The current 2nd Avenue and 14th Street complex]

On Tuesday, thanks to NY1, we all got the first look at the rendering for what will be known as Mount Sinai Downtown Beth Israel.

Now that some time has passed, perhaps you're ready to embrace this bold [not bonkers] new hospital for the 21st century on the southeast corner of 14th Street and Second Avenue.

Let's try this again...



There's also another rendering via the architectural firm Perkins Eastman showing the view from Second Avenue looking to the south...


[Click for the glorious details]

Let's head to the news release about all this...

Mount Sinai Health System today announced the start of the first phase of its more than $500 million project to rebuild Mount Sinai Beth Israel (MSBI) and create the new “Mount Sinai Downtown” network. The new network will consist of expanded and renovated outpatient facilities at three major sites with more than 35 operating and procedure rooms and an extensive network of 16 physician practice locations with more than 600 doctors, stretching from the East River to the Hudson River below 34th Street.



Mount Sinai Downtown will be anchored by a new MSBI inpatient hospital with operating and procedure rooms, and a brand-new state-of-the-art Emergency Department, located two blocks from the current MSBI. The transformation will also include a major investment to support and strengthen behavioral health services, anchored at MSBI’s Bernstein Pavilion. Additionally, the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai will be preserved and enhanced. MSBI hospital will remain open throughout this transformation, and its emergency room will remain open until the new ED is fully operational at the new hospital.

And here are a few more areas of interest via the release...

Construction of the new Mount Sinai Beth Israel Hospital
Mount Sinai has retained renowned architectural firm Perkins Eastman, which will oversee design work and construction of Mount Sinai’s brand-new hospital. Pending approvals, demolition at the new site is expected to begin early 2017 with construction beginning early 2018. Construction of the new hospital is expected to be complete by late 2020. Initial renderings are available to the press and public, while the finalized renderings and designs are still being completed.

Workforce Impacts
Earlier this year, Mount Sinai confirmed that all union employees affected by the transformation would be offered other union opportunities at equal pay. Thus far, more than 150 Mount Sinai Beth Israel hospital employees have accepted new opportunities at the same or higher salaries with the Mount Sinai Health System. Mount Sinai continues to work closely with all employees during this transformation.

There's an FAQ page as well that may have details you are looking for related to health care and the construction.

The hospital's downsizing from its campus on First Avenue and 16th Street is part of a $550 million plan by Beth Israel’s owner to adapt to a changing health care landscape where patients are using more outpatient care and spending less time in hospitals, as previously reported.

Mount Sinai will sell the 16th Street property, which has a current reported value of $600 million. Beth Israel reportedly has outstanding debt of some $200 million.

Kenneth Davis, president and chief executive officer of Mount Sinai Health System, previously stated that it will cost $250 million to build the new hospital and upgrade the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary on Second Avenue and 14th Street.

Previously

New renderings for the luxury building that will hang out over the Mercury Lounge

[EVG file photo]

Plans to build on top of the former Provident Loan Society building on the southwest corner of Houston and Essex continue to move forward.

CityRealty got the first look at the latest set of renderings for the space...


[Renderings by Rogers Partners via CityRealty]

Per CityRealty:

The Lower East Side development will rise within an existing two-story building from 1912 to become a 120-foot-tall structure with 12 stories. The building's design features an irregularly stacked structure that will cantilever on floors 8 though 12, hovering over a neighboring residential property.

And!

Rogers Partners drew design inspiration from former tenant Jasper Johns’ number series, pieces that allow the abstract and concrete qualities of the numbers to build upon one another and create an ultimate sense of structure. The design for 225 East Houston Street finds rhythm in both its bold form, unique rising mass, and distinct arrangement of windows. The new 44,000-square-foot building will host 38 residential apartments, as well as a rooftop terrace, a fitness center...

[Renderings by Rogers Partners via CityRealty]

As BoweryBoogie previously reported, building owners Elsa and Dunnie Lai have lived in the neighborhood for 40 years, and say that they are committed to restoring the original structure. Head over to BB for that background as well as some of the community opposition to such a tumor-like structure here.

After a string of random clubs and concepts through the past 20 years, the Provident Loan Society Building is currently unoccupied. The space served as a studio for Johns in the 1970s.

Local elected officials asked to vacate longtime office space on First Avenue and 14th Street

Commercial tenants who rented office space on the upper floors of 237 First Ave. at 14th Street were recently served with notices to vacate.

Among other tenants, the building served as an office for City Council District 2 and Council Member Rosie Mendez as well as Brian Kavanagh, a member of the New York State Assembly representing the 74th Assembly District.

Here's more about the situation via Mendez's blog:

The district office located at 237 First Ave., at the Southwest corner of East 14th Street, was also home to previous Councilwoman Margarita Lopez. Every commercial tenant in the tenant was served with a notice to vacate, including Assemblymember Brian Kavanagh, who now occupies an office at 250 Broadway full-time.

This suite on the fifth floor has served constituents of Council District 2 for over two decades and the displacement is sad news to Team Rosie. As the exhausting search for affordable space within the boundaries of the district continues, we will be sure to keep you updated when we relocate.

Mendez's team is for now working out of 250 Broadway.

A rep for Mendez's office said, "I'm not sure why we were all asked to vacate but I can only guess they want to hike up the prices."

There are work permits on file for each of the floors here via landlord Noam Management Group.

Report: Babu Ji on Avenue B hit with another wage lawsuit

Earlier this month, news broke via Eater that the owners of Babu Ji, the popular Indian restaurant on Avenue B at 11th Street, settled a wage lawsuit with two employees for $95,000.

Now, Eater reports that "frequent suer-of-restaurants" attorney Maimon Kirschenbaum filed yet another class-action suit against owners Jessi and Jennifer Singh last month. The suit, identical to the previous one, alleges that the two pocketed all tips and paid staff under minimum wage.

Per Eater: "Employees Rakesh Raju and Benson D’Silva claim they regularly worked more than 40 hours a week and were paid a flat rate of $600, regardless of the time worked."

Read the full story here. Read the full 15-page complaint (PDF) here.

Babu Ji opened in June 2015.

Previously

Hitchcocktober move of the week: 'Suspicion'

Tonight's Hitchcocktober movie of the week at Village East Cinema on Second Avenue and 12th Street is ... "Suspicion."

The one-sentence plot via IMDB: "A shy young heiress (Joan Fountaine) marries a charming gentleman (Cary Grant), and soon begins to suspect he is planning to murder her."



And upcoming:

Oct. 20 — "Dial M for Murder" in 3D

Oct. 27 — "The Trouble With Harry"

Oct. 31 (Halloween night!) — "Psycho"

You may buy advance tickets here. The movies start at 8 p.m.

Meeting tomorrow night for shareholders living in HDFC buildings

Via the EVG inbox...



As the flyer shows, the meeting is tomorrow night at 6:30, PS 15, 333 E. Fourth St between Avenue C and Avenue D.

Find more information at the the HDFC Coalition website here.

Discarded toilet on 2nd Avenue continues to captivate

[Photo by Steven]

The toilet arrived yesterday morning on Second Avenue between Fifth Street and Sixth Street... delighting the children as only a discarded toilet can...


[Photo by Steven]

...and by today, there were additions...


[Photo by Derek Berg]


[DB]

More Mosaic light poles arrive at Astor Place

[Photo by Steven]

This morning, two more of Jim Power’s Mosaic Trail light poles were reinstalled at the (not-yet-complete) redesigned Astor Place... seven poles are expected in the final redevelopment... (you can read more abut the pole-restoration project here).





Previously on EV Grieve:
The first of Jim Power's restored mosaic light poles has returned to Astor Place

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: Michelle Candela
Occupation: Writer / Artist
Location: Tompkins Square Park
Time: 2:30 on Friday, Oct. 7

Originally, I’m from Philadelphia, but my father’s side of the family are all from here. I moved to New York in 1985, then I left in 1995, and I came back in 2005.

I used to work in animation. I write. I’m trying to write a couple screenplays. I did act for awhile. I was a librarian. It was one of the best times of my life here. I lived on Avenue B between 4th and 5th.

As a matter of fact, I come down here every now and then to recharge my batteries. I came today to see some friends of mine down the street on Avenue A. I just like coming in and walking around.

Avenue B was nothing like it is now. There was garbage everywhere, which I didn’t mind. There were lots of bodegas and small little shops, which really weren’t much. There’s the Horseshoe bar, which is a great bar on B. On the corner of 7th and A was King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut, then there was 7A Café, which is now Ms. Lily’s, and then across the way was Leshko’s. That was a Polish coffee shop, and it was the first time I ever had kielbasas and pierogies. Next door to King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut was Sal’s Pizzeria, which was where I found my kitten, who I had for 18 years. She was a little black cat and she was so adorable. I named her Zia. So I got her right there and I fell in love with her.

New York, and especially down here… you never had to worry about who you were. It was unpretentious. It was just life. When you came over here you could just be yourself. It didn’t matter what walk of life you came from. It was where all the misfits congregated.

You can still see it now. There are a lot of really cool people here. The feel and the community was just awesome. It was down to earth. It was just life. People were cool. Whether they had a bad attitude or a good attitude, it didn’t matter, because it just fit into the neighborhood and you understood it. Everybody understood each other.

My philosophy is: Be who you are; have a great time; everybody is awesome.

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

Empire Biscuit has until Tuesday to pay the back rent or surrender their Avenue A storefront

Over at Empire Biscuit, the 7-month-old disposable plate posted to the window notes that they are (still) peeling' potatoes here at 198 Avenue A between 12th Street and 13th Street.

The quick-serve biscuiteers have only been open a few days this year. They announced reduced hours in January, and then never reopened. Empire Biscuit owner Jonathan Price promised a return in March. That never happened.

Meanwhile, there's rent to pay.

Yesterday, several pages of legalese arrived on the front door...



According to the paperwork, it appears the biscuiteers haven't paid the rent — a little more than $6,000 a month — dating back to the summer of 2015. (There are also some early unpaid real-estate taxes.) Not sure what the total bill is. The front page has $29k and change through November 2015. The rest of the paperwork is taped pretty well to the door.

Anyway, ownership has until Tuesday to pay up or surrender the possession of the property, per the paperwork.

Back in the summer, the City Waste Services of New York dropped some legal papers off here to collect a debt.

Empire Biscuit opened to some fanfare in the fall of 2013.

H/T Greg Masters!

Previously on EV Grieve:
Incoming Empire Biscuit on Avenue A launches Kickstarter campaign (122 comments)

Report: Empire Biscuit opens today (65 comments)

The Citibank branch on Avenue A is closing

[Photo from 2014]

The Citibank branch at 50 Avenue A between Third Street and Fourth Street is closing in January.

Citi customers started receiving letters yesterday about the development. An EVG reader shared this...



The letter, which does not offer a reason for the closure, states the last day on Avenue A will be Jan. 13. This customer's account will be transferred to the branch on Grand Street in Seward Park, which is not really convenient. (Why not the Stuy Town branch on First Avenue at least?)

Another EVG reader recalls that No. 50 was previously home to an E.A.B. branch. Citibank bought E.A.B. in 2001, according to The New York Times.

Per the reader:

In the 1990s, we loved E.A.B. and the people who worked there, especially the manager, John Ottino. Then at some point, Citibank bought out E.A.B., which upset us because everything became so corporate, but at least John and several other wonderful people who had worked for E.A.B. stayed on at the branch for a while, and at least we’ve been able to keep our original E.A.B. account numbers all these years. Because of constant employee turnover, this Citibank branch hasn’t provided a personal touch for many years, but it certainly has been convenient to bank there.

The Chase branch at 20 Avenue A closed last November. That space remains vacant.

Report: City claims immunity in tenant lawsuit over deadly 2nd Avenue gas explosion

Catching up to this piece in the Post from yesterday ... as previously reported, several dozen former Second Avenue residents filed a $17 million lawsuit in the wake of the deadly March 2015 gas explosion.

The suit ... alleges the city and Con Edison, along with the owners of the restaurant Sushi Park and contractor Neighborhood Construction Corp., failed “to observe significant and dangerous ‘red flags’ … failing to take any steps to protect the public and their property.”

The city and the others also failed to “properly test the gas lines” and relied “upon an illogical and antiquated system of enforcement, inspections and unreliable self-certification,” according to the suit.

As the Post reported yesterday:

In denying any fault, the city said the damages were caused by Con Edison, the building’s managers, and the five people busted for the illegal gas hookup blamed for the blast.

The lawyers representing the tenants stated: "We believe that the city’s failures were not of the nature of misjudgment in discretionary acts but rather a fundamental failure to carry out ministerial acts and essential functions."

As for Con Ed, a spokesperson said simply: "We will address the matter in court."

In February, 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.

The lot that housed 123 Second Ave., one of three buildings destroyed following the explosion, recently sold for $6 million to Ezra Wibowo under the LLC 123 Second Ave. Corp. There haven't been any details divulged about what might be coming to the property.

Joey Pepperoni looking closed on 1st Avenue

The Joey Pepperoni $1 pizza outpost on First Avenue between 13th Street and 14th Street appears to be closed for good. There's a space for rent sign above the $1 on the marquee... the phone number is also out of service.

This location opened in August 2012, and lasted nearly four years longer than some people anticipated. (The storefront was on the market back in the fall of 2014.)

If this is a permanent closure, then it appears that the Great $1 Pizza War of First Avenue is officially over. Many $1s were lost during this challenging time in which we witnessed multiple sidewalk sandwich boards … the introduction of $1 drafts… and the legendary dancing pizza menu woman.

With JP's closure, along with the July 2014 departure of the 2 Bros. Pizza next door, Vinny Vincenz can have the block back again. (There's still nearby cheap slice competition with Papa John's a block away.)

The Joey Pepperoni closed on 14th Street on IHOP Way in February 2014.

H/T Michael Ivan!

Previously on EV Grieve:
First Avenue $1 Pizza Wars — now with draft beer

Checking in on the $1 pizza war on First Avenue

Latest weapon in the First Avenue $1 slice wars: Dancing Pizza Menu Woman

[Updated] Reader report: The 2 Bros. Pizza on 1st Avenue has apparently closed

The new Beth Israel hospital for the East Village looks pretty bonkers

As you know, officials will be closing the Mount Sinai Beth Israel campus on First Avenue and 16th Street ... and there are plans to open a smaller facility on 14th Street and Second Avenue.

Well, NY1 got the scoop on what this facility will look like on the southeast corner of 14th Street and Second Avenue... hold on tight...



Per NY1:

It will be known as Mount Sinai Downtown Beth Israel.

As part of a $500 million, the hospital will become a network of buildings, including a specialized care facility and with a new urgent care center, among other upgrades.

Part of this new complex will sit on space belonging to 321 E. 13th St., a 14-floor building between Second Avenue and First Avenue that houses training physicians and staff of the nearby New York Eye and Ear Infirmary. This building will be demolished.

This free mattress has no bed bugs, however...

A reader shared this photo of a mattress on 11th Street this morning:

"Gratis — no bed bugs just cat piss."

Report of a fire at 99 1st Ave.

As several readers noted, the FDNY was on the scene this morning around 7 after a report of a fire at 99 First Ave. at Sixth Street.



It appears the fire was coming from a corner apartment on the third floor.



The FDNY looked to have the situation under control fairly quickly. (The fire did not make the @FDNYAlerts feed.) No word at the moment about cause or extent of the damage.

The ground floor houses Mancora Restaurant and Bar.