The action this morning via Derek Berg...
...with bonus shuttlecock pic...
Tuesday, January 17, 2017
VHS collection up for grabs
First Avenue and Ninth Street. Some cinema classics here, such as "Deep Blue Sea" and "Broken Arrow," which showed the world what Howie Long could be capable of before "Firestorm."
Anyway. Hurry before the rain starts!
Thanks to Wiliam Klayer for the photo!
New owner of 629 E. 5th St. offers tenants incentives to move out early
[EVG file photo]
There is new ownership at 629 E. Fifth St., a building on the north side of the cul-de-sac between Avenue B and Avenue C.
And the new landlord's property manager, Jordan Cooper and Associates, has notified the tenants in the 24-unit building that they will need to move out at the end of their lease, but preferably sooner.
One current resident shared the letter from Cooper and Associates ...
[Click to go big]
The letter reads in part:
We hope you had a nice holiday season. As we begin the New Year, the new owners wish to communicate their business plan and how it will affect you as current tenants with as much clarity and transparency as possible.
Ownership’s goal is to improve the building’s infrastructure common areas, basement, and to renovate each unit in the building.
Therefore we do not plan to renew or extend any leases at expiration.
Instead of a standard 30 day notice of non-renewal, ownership wants to provide as much time as possible for each tenant to seek new housing.
We are not terminating anyone’s lease. You are absolutely welcome to stay until the end of your current lease term (if you need information on when your lease expires please email or call the office). In order to expedite the construction process, ownership is offering incentives to anyone willing to move out on or around February 28th, 2017.
We are keenly aware that moving is not easy. We would be happy to have any qualifying tenants back in the building as soon as units are complete (generally 4 months after renovation begins). Ownership feels that providing open, honest communication is the appropriate way to handle our relationship.
As the current resident said: "It's causing a lot of people to be displaced into an unrealistic rental market and creating more unaffordable housing in the East Village."
The building arrived on the market in April 2014. The asking price was $12.5 million. Per the listing at the time:
There are 24 residential units, all of which are Free Market. Of the 24 apartments, 13 are month-to-month, 6 expire at the end of April, 3 are currently vacant and 2 expire between May and July. The rents are performing at less than 75% of market and considering the building is fully deregulated, an investor could quickly bring the units up to market rents as the leases expire. Therefore, a gross annual income of around $930,000 could be achieved in a relatively short period.
Public records from November show that the building sold for $16.2 million. The LLC listed as the owner matches up to the address of Morgenstern Capital, run by Robert Morgenstern, co-founder of Stone Street Capital. The Luthien Group was the seller.
Former beverage distributor on 2nd Street demolished to make way for 8-story condoplex
[Photo from August 2016]
The former Houston Street Beer Distributors at 298 E. Second Street between Avenue C and Avenue D has been demolished ...
Up next: As previously reported via New York Yimby, East Village-based Starleeng Equities has filed applications for an eight-story, seven-unit residential building. New York Yimby noted that the residential units should average 1,967 square feet apiece — most likely condos. There will be a duplex apartment on the ground and second floors, with full-floor apartments on the third through eighth floors.
According to public records, the building sold for a little more than $7 million in the fall of 2015 to 298 East Village Owner LLC. We have not yet seen any renderings of the new building via Zakrzewski + Hyde Architects.
Meanwhile, in other former beverage distributor on Second Street news... the one that was housed at 188 E. Second St. between Avenue A and Avenue B is now, as of last November, Karma, the art bookseller and gallery...
Previously on EV Grieve:
298 E. 2nd St. latest development site up for grabs
East Village now minus 2 beverage distributors
Something brewing (demolition) for former beer distributor on East 2nd Street
Some good Karma for 2nd Street?
Sandwicherie New York yumming soon in former Fresh & Co. space on 4th Avenue
The abundant "yumming soon" soon signage is up on the southeast corner of Fourth Avenue and 13th Street ... where Sandwicherie New York is opening an outpost..
Here's more about them via their Facebook description:
Our aim is to give our customers a natural, healthy and vibrant lifestyle ... we strive to build our small family owned business one SANDWICH(erie) at a time.
We are committed to serving you fresh and healthy meals, coupled with a pleasant shopping experience and premium service. Operated by a seasoned and very talented team that consistently puts out chef-inspired or made to order salads and sandwiches that are packed with great flavor. Eye popping New York breakfasts and lunches that include healthy quinoa and wild rice bowls, fresh-pressed juices and a large assortment of bakery and desserts.
Kind of sounds like the previous tenant here, Fresh & Co., which closed at the end of December.
This will be the second NYC location for Sandwicherie ... joining the outpost on 42nd Street near Grand Central. You can find their menu offerings with meat and vegan options here.
This will also be a competitive corridor for sandwiches. Make Sandwich, which "serves uniquely classic sandwiches and quality make-your-own ingredients with NYC hustle," opened several storefronts to the north on Jan. 9.
JuiceGo awning arrives on 9th Street
[Photo by Steven]
As noted back in September, a shop called JuiceGo is opening at 333 E. Ninth St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue.
And yesterday, the awning went up ...
JuiceGo is expected to open later this month, and will sell a variety of made-to-order cold-pressed juices, smoothies, salads and sandwiches. You can find the JuiceGo website with more info here.
Beer & Cigars replace Massage & Bodywork on Avenue B
The storefront is coming together here at 206 Avenue B... not sure what this place will be called (the descriptive Beer & Cigars has a nice ring to it) between 12th Street and 13th Street.
Aside from beer and cigars, the shop will be selling cigarettes, glass, vape, e-juices and soda, per the signage.
The storefront was previously the equally descriptive Massage & Bodywork...
H/T to the EVG commenter who mentioned this arrival back in this post...
Monday, January 16, 2017
Today in yellow-bellied Sapsucker sightings in Tompkins Square Park
So that's what was causing that incessant drumming today (jk!) ... photo by Bobby Williams
Today in large holes in the middle of 10th Street
The 10th Street water main replacement and sewer rehab continued today between Avenue A and First Avenue...
Thanks to EVG regular Daniel for the photo...
What are those green bicycle lights on Citi Bike?
Via the EVG inbox today...
As part of an ongoing commitment to safer cycling in New York, the Citi Bike program is installing an innovative new safety feature — the Blaze Laserlight on 250 bikes this winter, Citi Bike and Blaze leadership announced today.
This pilot program aims to make Citi Bike riders more visible to drivers and pedestrians, creating safer conditions on the road and providing greater peace of mind to all.
Extensive research on the Laserlight on London’s bike share fleet revealed that a cyclist with a Laserlight at night is even more visible than a cyclist in daytime.
The vast majority of London bus drivers surveyed said the light made it easier to notice and react to cyclists at night, while 75% of cyclists felt more confident cycling with a Laserlight.
“By incorporating Blaze’s lights into the bike, we aim to keep New Yorkers on foot, behind the wheel and riding a Citi Bike safer and to improve the rider experience overall so that people of all backgrounds are inspired to try New York City’s popular bike share program,” said Jay Walder, President & CEO of Motivate, operators of the Citi Bike program. “Bike share is an extremely safe way to get around, and we are proud to work with Blaze to welcome every rider to Citi Bike while helping our city get ever closer to our Vision Zero goals.”
New map offers look at area's civil rights and social justice history
Via the EVG inbox from the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation (GVSHP)...
Civil rights and social justice are prominent in our minds as we begin 2017. And few places in America have made more significant contributions to civil rights and social justice struggles for African-Americans, Women, Latinos, Immigrants, and Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender people than the Village, East Village, and NoHo. Now more than ever, it’s important to remember and pay tribute to that history and to the lessons learned from it.
So GVSHP is kicking off 2017 by creating a new Civil Rights and Social Justice Map of the Village, East Village, and NoHo – view it here. You’ll find well-known landmarks like the Stonewall Inn and Judson Memorial Church, locations key to the founding of the ACLU and the Young Lords, and the places where Lorraine Hansberry wrote and Bella Abzug lived. Learn the former sites of some of our city’s first African-American and abolitionist churches, as well as where the NAACP’s iconic “A Man Was Lynched Yesterday” flag flew. Find out where Billie Holiday first sang the anti-lynching anthem ‘Strange Fruit,’ where birth control began, and the spots key to the abolitionist journeys of both Abraham Lincoln and John Brown, among many others.
With nearly a hundred locations, the map just skims the rich surface of civil rights and social justice history in our neighborhoods. Know another site that should be included? Just email it and all information, along with sources, to info@gvshp.org – the map will be updated regularly.
Keeping the dream alive at St. Mark's Church in-the-Bowery
[Photo by Lola Sáenz]
Via the EVG inbox...
Join us for a celebratory dinner and conversation in the spirit of Martin Luther King Jr.
Spoken word artists D Cross and Bettina Gold, and poet Eric Waters are all intimately acquainted with the criminal justice system. Each artist’s performance will be followed by another course of great food and time for planning specific actions to increase awareness of racism and to reduce the harm of mass incarceration in the U.S.
Free will donations gratefully accepted.
The event at the church (entrance is on 11th Street between Second Avenue and Third Avenue) is 6:30-9 p.m. Details here.
Sunday, January 15, 2017
Week in Grieview
[Photo from yesterday by Derek Berg]
RIP Rita Lasar (Thursday)
East Village groups to Mayor de Blasio: Jared Kushner’s actions are not those of someone who "cares deeply about New York City" (Friday)
Community meeting set as dorm plans continue moving forward at the former PS 64 (Monday)
About Patisserie Florentine, now open on 10th Street (Tuesday)
Reader report: Concern over lax stray voltage warnings on East Village streets (Friday)
Out and About with Ali Sahin, owner of C&B Café (Wednesday)
A new community arts and performance venue on 8th Street and Avenue B (Friday)
Did Friterie Belgian Fries close on St. Mark's Place? (Thursday)
Remembering David Bowie one year after his death (Tuesday)
A great photo above Avenue A during the snowfall on Jan. 7 (Monday)
183 Avenue B, with potential to double in size, is for sale (Tuesday)
[Wrapping up a week of Ukrainian Christmas yesterday. Photo by Steven]
Meeting on Jan. 17 for shareholders living in HDFC buildings (Friday)
Water Witch Mercantile hasn't been open this year (Tuesday)
So long Citibank branch on Avenue A (Saturday)
Beyond Vape latest shop to depart St. Mark's Place (Friday)
The art of the deal at Taj Restaurant (Thursday)
New mural in the works for Houston and the Bowery (Thursday)
Make Sandwich opens on Fourth Avenue (Monday)
CB3 gives OK for East Side Tavern to take over the former Redhead space on 13th Street (Wednesday)
Two more Vietnamese food options (Wednesday)
Take heart, the Orangetheory Fitness is now open on Astor Place (Tuesday)
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Thoughts on the new Astor Place
I missed this essay from Justin Davidson in the current issue of New York magazine.
And the architecture critic, who provides some history of the space, is on board with the redesign, which provides "a blackboard full of possibilities."
Some excerpts:
Now, after several years of construction on the knot of streets and plazas, the fences have been peeled away like bandages, leaving a broad and orderly plain designed by the New York architecture firm WXY. New curbs confine traffic to sensible channels rather than let it slosh across a delta of conflicting lanes. Sidewalks have been broadened into pedestrian boulevards. Astor Place in 2017 feels like fresh turf waiting to receive its next deposit of history.
And...
Even as recently as a couple of decades ago, this area formed a junction of classes and lifestyles. Ukrainians wandered in from the borscht and pierogi joints on Second Avenue, squatters and punks from Tompkins Square Park and Alphabet City; addicts and alcoholics drifted up from the Bowery. At Astor Place, they met clean-cut newcomers, NYU professors, and aging hippies, along with the new wave of West Village bankers on their weekend slumming excursions.
The triangle no longer has that souklike vibe, and no amount of street design can bring it back, but, with a combination of modesty and flair, WXY has literally paved the way for the next iteration.
Previously
A lunar landscape
A shot of last night's waning gibbous Moon with 95 percent illumination as seen from the East Village (via telescope)... Photo by Grant Shaffer
Saturday, January 14, 2017
EV Grieve Etc.: 'F*@#d in the East Village' takes the stage; Katinka retains its charm
[Photo in Tompkins Square Park by Derek Berg]
Teen arrested after stabbing sister, mother in the Riis Houses on Avenue D (Daily News)
Lower East Side Tenement Museum president announces retirement (The Lo-Down)
Two-person comedic play "F*@#d in the East Village" on stage through Tuesday at The Wild Project on Third Street (Official site)
An online retrospective on Bullet Space: "An Art Squat in the 1980s and 1990s" (Gallery98)
An appreciation of the colorful shop Katinka on East Ninth Street (Off the Grid)
East Village-based artist designed a lapel pin and is donating 20 percent of proceeds directly to the Women's March on NYC (The Red Pantsuit Pin)
Some East Village hawk visitors (Laura Goggin Photographer)
This weekend: Four-part series of short films inspired by New York’s Downtown gallery culture (Anthology Film Archives)
The "ambitious Vietnamese cooking" at newcomer HÃ Ná»™i House on St. Mark's Place (Grub Street ... previously)
A robbery at the TD Bank on 1st Street (B+B)
City finally ready to move forward with Package 4 of the East River Esplanade (BoweryBoogie)
A cat hospital on the LES in the 1870s (Ephemeral New York)
A last meal at Le Train Bleu, the quasi-hidden restaurant atop Bloomingdale's (Jeremiah's Vanishing New York)
...and in local squirrel news...
@evgrieve how could I forget Plastic Bag Squirrel today at union square? @thevulgarera pic.twitter.com/mSMFO1kj3m
— EdenBrower (@edenbrower) January 14, 2017
50 Avenue A is no longer a Citibank branch
About 20 minutes after the Citibank branch shut down operations yesterday at 50 Avenue A, workers began removing the signage here between Third Street and Fourth Street...
Workers continued to haul out the remains of the bank branch today... while telling customers that they need to go to the Seward Park branch on Grand Street for banking business...
There is also a Citibank ATM inside the 7-Eleven on Avenue A at 11th Street (and a branch on First Avenue in Stuy Town)...
Previously on EV Grieve:
The Citibank branch on Avenue A is closing
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