Demolition watch: 112-120 E. 11th St., future home of a Moxy hotel

[Photo from May 2016]

Workers have been bringing down the five walk-up buildings at 112-120 E. 11th St. in recent months.

Here's where the demolition stands as of Saturday... hard to say what's left behind the construction netting. Maybe two floors?





Plywood signage points to a summer completion for the demolition...



And then! One day!


[Rendering via Flintlock Construction]

As previously reported, the buildings are coming down to make way for the 13-story hotel for Marriott’s Moxy brand here between Third Avenue and Fourth Avenue. The Moxy website shows that the 11th Street hotel is expected to open in late 2018.

Local residents, preservationists and local elected officials have all spoken out about the demolition of the "landmark-elegible" buildings and loss of housing.

The Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation posted this on Instagram Friday...

These historic ca. 1890 Beaux Arts tenements in which a young Pete Seeger and his brothers once lived are being demolished because Mayor de Blasio refused to honor a 2008 Landmarks Preservation Commission determination that they were "landmark eligible". Now they will be replaced by a 120-room 'Moxy' hotel geared towards party-hopping millennials, to be built by the Mayor's campaign donor and political ally. And the Mayor is opposing our rezoning proposal for the area which is widely supported by the community and elected officials to discourage this kind of hotel and office development and instead encourage residential development that includes affordable housing. Tell the Mayor this is unacceptable and to support the rezoning -- go to www.gvshp.org/mayor, and learn more at www.gvshp.org/savemyneighborhood. #eastvillage #eastvillagenyc #tenements #mayordeblasio #activism #affordablehousing #zoning #savemyneighborhood #savenyc #preservation #beauxarts #peteseeger

A post shared by GVSHP (@gvshp_nyc) on May 12, 2017 at 6:18am PDT

Previously on EV Grieve:
6-building complex on East 10th Street and East 11th Street sells for $127 million

Report: 300-room hotel planned for East 11th Street

Preservationists say city ignored pitch to designate part of 11th Street as a historic district

Permits filed to demolish 5 buildings on 11th Street to make way for new hotel (58 comments)

At the Moxy hotel protest on 11th Street last evening

Post office-replacing residential building reaches ground level on 14th Street

The foundation appears to be set at the 8-story retail-residential building for 432-438 E. 14th St. This photo shows the workers at ground level now here between Avenue A and First Avenue...


[Photo by Bobby Williams]

Reps for Benenson Capital Partners and Mack Real Estate had been lobbying to receive a zoning variance for a 12-story building — four more floors than the area's zoning allows — at the site of the former Peter Stuyvesant Post Office.

Facing opposition from community groups and residents in previous meetings, the developers cut back their request by two-thirds. Their new proposal sought nine stories on the East 14th Street side of the building, one higher than the eight allowed under the current zoning.

The developers had claimed that the property "is burdened by a combination of unique conditions that result in practical difficulties in complying with the applicable zoning regulations."

Specifically: "Unusually elevated groundwater levels and exceedingly soft and unstable soil (owing to the presence of an underground stream) ... result in extraordinary construction costs, which make a complying development with affordable housing infeasible." (An analysis of the project put the extra construction costs due to the substandard soil at $8.8 million.)

However, in March, they withdrew their request for the extra floor.

The pile driving started here last May. Crews for the new developments at 500 and 538 E. 14th St. likely encountered similar "soft and unstable soil," as foundation work lasted lasted more than a year.

The original plans for 432-438 E. 14th St. called for 114 residential unit with 20 percent affordable housing.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Former Peter Stuyvesant Post Office slated to be demolished

The former Peter Stuyvesant Post Office will yield to an 8-story residential building

New residential building at former 14th Street PO will feature a quiet lounge, private dining room

A look at the new building coming to the former Peter Stuyvesant Post Office property

Chinese restaurant in the works for former funeral parlor on 2nd Avenue

[Photo by Steven]

A Chinese restaurant is coming to 152 Second Ave. between Ninth Street and 10th Street. (Ads for the businesses next door are currently in the window.)

The applicant, going by Chibaola Inc., is on tonight's CB3-SLA committee docket for a beer-wine license. However, this item will NOT be heard this evening.

According to the questionnaire (PDF) on file at the CB3 website, the restaurant will be open daily from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. The configuration shows 15 tables with a 45-person capacity.

The applicant, listed as Richard Lam, has also operated a restaurant on Main Street in Flushing.

The building at 152-154 Second Ave. is the former Sigmund Schwartz Gramercy Park Chapel, which Icon Realty bought, gutted, added three extra floors and opened as luxury rentals.

The other retail space at this address is occupied by the Greecologies-Pure Green combo. The spaces had been on the market since the new building was unveiled in early 2014.

Previously on EV Grieve:
152 2nd Ave. storefront to yield a combo Greek yogurt and smoothie shop

The Village Pourhouse still looks like the Village Pourhouse outside, but E.Vil is on the way

After 10-plus years in business, Village Pourhouse, the pub-crawling hosting hotspot on 11th Street and Third Avenue, closed its doors in early April.

From the outside, the place looks pretty much the same, though the Pourhouse neon has finally been extinguished. This video is from April 22...



Also, as this photo by EVG reader Arin Gilbert shows, someone tagged the Third Avenue side last Thursday night/Friday morning...



A rock club called E.Vil was reportedly expected to open in the space this spring.

To date, this item hasn't shown up on the CB3-SLA docket for a new liquor license. (And there aren't any work permits on file with the DOB for alterations, etc.) This new venture via, among other partners, club owner Richie Akiva, is "where you go to hear Aerosmith, the Clash, Guns N’ Roses, Led Zeppelin, ’80s/’90s rock, the Cult," one source told Page Six back on March 20.

E.Vil's Instagram once noted an April 17 opening date. (The account, mostly iconic photos of everyone from David Bowie to Johnny Thunders to the Sex Pistols, has been quiet of late. No new posts in five weeks.) But the account does now show a June 1 opening date...



Previously on EV Grieve:
E.Vil is coming to the East Village

Tailors Atelier expanding next door on 9th Street

As previously reported, Satish Pate, the founder-owner of JuiceGo, died in early April following a short illness. His family decided not to continue with the business he opened at 333 E. Ninth St. in February.

EVG correspondent Steven reports that Nigel Ramsey (pictured on the left above), the proprietor of Tailors Atelier next door, is renting the space to open a bridal shop here between First Avenue and Second Avenue.

[Updated] Report of a fire this evening at historic Lower East Side synagogue

You likely saw or smelled the smoke earlier this evening... Bobby Williams shared these photos from 10th Street and Avenue C...



There was a three-alarm fire at Beth Hamedrash Hagadol, the landmarked synagogue at 60 Norfolk St. between Broome and Grand. The FDNY had it under control by 8 p.m. You can find more details at BoweryBoogie and the Lo-Down.

Updated 5/15

Per DNAinfo:

Surveillance footage shows three “kids” running from the area, the Deputy Inspector of the 7th Precinct Steve Hellman said, although it is still unknown whether they were fleeing the historic synagogue and it is too early to say whether criminality was involved in the massive blaze.

Updated 5/17

Per ABC 7:

A 14-year-old boy was taken into custody Tuesday night in connection with a fire at the Lower East Side synagogue Sunday night.

The boy was charged with third-degree arson as a juvenile. He will appear in family court Wednesday.

"We do think it's arson. We think it's a purposeful fire," said Robert Boyce, NYPD chief of detectives.

Week in Grieview

[Photo on East 1st Street from yesterday]

Stories posted on EVG this past week included...

The St. Mark’s Church Greenmarket will not be returning this year (Thursday)

David Chang's Momofuku Ko is expanding in Extra Place (Monday)

Nest watch in Tompkins Square Park (Friday ... Saturday)

New 7th Street rental named for artist Louise Nevelson; amenities include a backup generator (Tuesday)

Report: Crews working to clean up the Con Ed oil spill in the East River (Wednesday)

Demolition watch: 3 E. 3rd St. (Wednesday)

Celebrating Hummus Day (Friday)

About the cantilevering condos coming to 4th Avenue and 10th Street (Tuesday)

Report: East Village resident pays fine for renting out city-subsidized home on Airbnb (Tuesday)

A Sean Spicer lawn ornament for the bushes of Tompkins Square Park (Friday)

The 7th Street Village Farm is for rent (Thursday)

Behold the chicken fillet at Ray's (Monday)

Zabb City appears to have closed on 13th Street (Monday)

Looking at the BP-replacing condos coming to 32 E. 1st St. (Wednesday)

Jennifer's Way Bakery reduces store hours to service online orders (Friday)

A help wanted ad on St. Mark's Place (Thursday)

New dry cleaners coming to 6th Street between A and B (Monday)

More about Yuan Noodle, coming soon to 2nd Avenue (Monday)

Supporting 249 E. 2nd St. during the construction next door (Friday)

Details on the 17th annual Joey Ramone Birthday Bash (Monday)

Taxi Parts Inc. departs the East Village (Wednesday)

Below 7th closes again on 7th Street (Thursday)

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A few items to note from the past week and probably a few weeks before that...

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New broker bunting is up on the sidewalk bridge on Avenue A between 11th Street and 12th Street... with a reminder of how fabulous Steiner East Village will be...







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Meant to share this much earlier... In Living Stereo is no longer selling records here on Great Jones between Lafayette and Broadway...



They had a small but well-curated collection...



In Living Stereo remains open.

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Kings Hairstyling on 14th Street between Second Avenue and Third Avenue closed for renovations on April 29... reopening this past week... the place is unrecognizable ... new name and signage... not sure if the same people are still running it...





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Work continues on the new retail space at 94 St. Mark's Place between Avenue A and First Avenue (next door to Fun City Tattoo)...


[Photo from Friday by Steven]

The workers were not aware if there is a tenant for the storefront. The asking rent was listed at $6,800.

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Here's the new-look Xe Máy Sandwich Shop sign at 96 St. Mark's Place...



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Midnight Oil sold out Webster Hall... they're a band that I lost track in recent years ...



From 1990...



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Addiction NYC closed up shop at 27 St. Mark's Place between Second Avenue and Third Avenue at the end of March ... with the tattoo parlor and smoke shop relocating across St. Mark's Place to No. 18...



On Thursday, workers started taking apart the previous storefront at No. 27...



...and painting over the skull...



No. 27 was one of the 20-some properties that landlord Rapahel Toledano used to own.

It rained a lot today

Second Avenue and Fourth Street late this afternoon... photo by Derek Berg...

Baby boomer

A quick follow-up to yesterday's post on Christo and Dora's latest batch of red-tailed hawk kids... that steady diet of locally sourced, park-to-nest food makes them grow so quickly... Bobby Williams caught up with the fam late yesterday afternoon... One baby has made an appearance ... with speculation that there's at least one more in the nest...







...and a shot via Steven...

Plant sale tomorrow (Or Sunday!) at Campos Community Garden

Hopefully this will happen this weekend ... either tomorrow or Sunday depending on the rain situation... at the Campos Community Garden on 12th Street between Avenue B and Avenue C... via the EVG inbox...

Rain is very likely for tomorrow's Plant Sale benefitting Campos Community Garden. If so, the rain date is the next day, Sunday, May 14, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.. Get plants for Mom for #mothersday, give her tomato plants for her garden, buy herbs and create an herb planter for her window or balcony.

A Sean Spicer lawn ornament for the bushes of Tompkins Square Park

Anyway, the White House press secretary was among the bushes the other evening, not in them.

Photos by Steven

Oh, 'Boy'

The Montreal-based She-Devils are one of the 50000000 bands playing during the Northside Festival in Brooklyn next month.

This video for "Hey Boy," released yesterday, is off the band's self-titled debut album due May 19.

Art and ice cream tonight at Alphabet Scoop

Alphabet Scoop has its official season opening today at 543 E. 11th St. between Avenue A and Avenue B.

Here's more about the seasonal ice cream shop, operated by the Father's Heart Ministries next door:

Alphabet Scoop is a job and life skills program for teens. The program is designed to prepare teens with the skills needed to advance in their school and work endeavors. Teenagers receive classroom instruction and work under a shift supervisor in the retail store.

Current mood

Photo in Tompkins Square Park today by Steven

Happy Hummus Day!

Hummus Day is actually tomorrow. And it appears that you will be able to celebrate on Astor Place today. As these early-morning pics by EVG reader Liz S. show, crews are setting up some hummus-related tasting tables on Astor Place...



This is sponsored by Sabra Dipping Company...


[Another reader-submitted pic]

Updated 1 p.m.

Here are a few pics from Steven showing the Hummus Day in action...





There are also Hummus Goody Bags for the taking...

Nest watch in Tompkins Square Park

[Photo by Bobby Williams]

For the fourth consecutive spring, red-tailed hawk couple Christo and Dora once again welcome home(?) a new batch of hawklets, as Goggla has been documenting.

To date, it has been difficult to tell how many kids are up in the nest in Tompkins Square Park. There has been visual confirmation of at least one...




[Photos by Steven]

Per Goggla:

"The number of hawk babies up in the nest in Tompkins Square is still difficult to determine. Christo and Dora definitely have one, possibly more, but it's been a challenge to get a good view of what's happening up there. We will just have to wait for the nestling(s) to get bigger."

Until then... a quick recap. Christo and Dora raised their offspring in Tompkins Square Park last spring/summer ... after bringing them up on AC units in 2014 and 2015. No word on a family reunion this summer.

Jennifer's Way Bakery reduces store hours to service online orders

Jennifer's Way Bakery at 264 E. 10th St. between Avenue A and First Avenue has reduced hours now, as of Wednesday ... opening just on Friday through Sunday...



Another sign on the door points to an increase in online orders for the organic bakery that makes its products without gluten, dairy, soy, refined sugar or peanuts...





Another Facebook post notes that the bakery is selling most of the vintage items in store. "Time for spring cleaning and giving the bakery a new look."

The bakery is owned by Jennifer Esposito, the Brooklyn-born actress (currently on "NCIS"), who was diagnosed with celiac disease in 2009. The bakery opened in March 2013.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Jennifer Esposito responds to reports that she fled East 10th Street for Denmark