Christo and Dora's lone red-tailed hawk offspring this year
Thanks to Bobby Williams for the photo...
Thursday, June 8, 2017
Ready to leave the nest?
Christo and Dora's lone red-tailed hawk offspring this year
Thanks to Bobby Williams for the photo...
Soil testing continues at 2nd Avenue explosion site
Several EVG readers noted the arrival of a Davey Drill on the former site of 119 Second Ave. yesterday... workers were apparently doing some soil testing (or a "'due diligence' subsurface investigation," per olympiasepiriot).
Upon leaving for the day, someone from the crew apparently put up generic-looking "no parking Thursday" signs up here on Seventh Street at Second Avenue... and blocked off part of the street with cones...
An EVG reader who shared these photos believes these are fake NYPD signs ... the one below is from the Dance Parade, which has the NYPD logo and department number on the bottom...
So far there aren't any work new permits on file for work on this property.
As noted in previous posts, there have been reports that landlord Maria Hrynenko, who the DA charged with involuntary manslaughter and other alleged crimes, was poised to sell her now-empty lots at No. 119 and 121. Lawyers have said that a sale could potentially jeopardize the settlements of the victims.
Hrynenko is now claiming in a new lawsuit that her management company was "careless and reckless" in its work that led to the deadly explosion. Investigators have said that an illegal cost-cutting gas delivery system at 121 Second Ave. may have caused the blast that killed two men and injured a few dozen other people as well as destroyed three buildings — 119, 121 and 123 Second Ave.
Previously on EV Grieve:
Report: Maria Hrynenko looking to sell 2nd Avenue properties destroyed in deadly gas explosion
Reader report: A buyer for 119 and 121 2nd Ave., site of the deadly gas explosion?
Report: Hotel Indigo, home to the rooftop bar Mr. Purple, is for sale
[Image via]
The Indigo Hotel, with 294 rooms at 171 Ludlow St. between East Houston and Stanton, is on the market.
The Commercial Observer has the scoop on the property, which first opened in November 2015 via a joint venture between Brack Capital Real Estate and InterContinental Hotels Group (ICG):
The hotel, one source with intimate knowledge of the property said, would likely go for $600,000 per key, or $176.4 million, because it is the flagship Indigo for IHG. Highlights, he noted, are the higher-end finishes and room designs as well as the unobstructed views from all sides of the building.
The hotel includes Mr. Purple, the 15th-floor restaurant and bar, which drew sharp criticism from locals when it was revealed that Adam Purple, aka David Wilkie, the longtime LES activist and community gardener, was the inspiration for the space. (Purple died in September 2015 at age 84.)
The restaurant, operated by the Gerber Group, stuck with the name even after reports surfaced that Purple had served time in prison in the 1960s for sexually absuing his daughters.
Previously on EV Grieve:
[Updated] The upscale hotel bar with a pool named for the late environmentalist Adam Purple
[Updated] The Gerber Group responds to criticism over Mr. Purple (23 comments)
As the Hotel Indigo and Mr. Purple continue efforts to be part of the LES neighborhood
Adam Purple's legacy
Wednesday, June 7, 2017
Some jazz to go with the All That Jazz piano in Tompkins Square Park
As noted yesterday, the Sing for Hope piano — called "All That Jazz" — has arrived in Tompkins Square Park. Appropriately enough, the Eric Paulin Jazz Ensemble, regulars in the Park, were asked by the Sing For Hope folks to incorporate the piano into their sets.
EVG contributor Steven shared these photos from late this afternoon...
The piano will be here near Temperance Fountain until June 25.
Read more about longtime East Village resident Eric Paulin here.
This morning at Ray's Candy Store
The reading of a passage from Omar Khayyam to a Persian customer...
As Peter Brownscombe, who shared these photos, says: Ray provides this service upon request at no extra charge.
Ray's is at 113 Avenue A near Seventh Street.
Soil testing underway at the 2nd Avenue explosion site
Several EVG readers have noted the arrival of a Davey Drill this morning at 119 Second Ave., at the site of the deadly gas explosion in March 2015.
It appears that workers are taking soil samples here at Seventh Street ahead of some possible new development. A survey crew was on the scene last week. One of the workers said that they were surveying the site ... and said they were there representing the buyer of 119 Second Ave. and 121 Second Ave.
There have been reports that landlord Maria Hrynenko, who the DA charged with involuntary manslaughter and other alleged crimes, was poised to sell her now-empty lots at No. 119 and 121. Lawyers have said that a sale could potentially jeopardize the settlements of the victims.
So far, nothing has appeared in public records noting a deal. In addition, there aren't any new permits filed with the Department of Buildings for these two properties.
Updated:
Here are two more photos via EVG contributor Steven...
One of the workers told Steven they are doing pre-construction borings. The worker did not have any idea about when construction might begin.
Previously on EV Grieve:
Report: Maria Hrynenko looking to sell 2nd Avenue properties destroyed in deadly gas explosion
Reader report: A buyer for 119 and 121 2nd Ave., site of the deadly gas explosion?
Chinese restaurant in the works for former Surma Books & Music space on 7th Street
Surma Books & Music closed last summer at 11 E. Seventh St. near Cooper Square after 98 years in business.
Third-generation owner Markian Surmach cited a decline in business and the expense of property tax and other charges related to owning the building. Public records show that the Surmach family sold the property to Icon Realty for $5.75 million.
Since last September, Icon had been listing the space — "perfect for restaurant, bar, clothing store ..." — at $17,000 per month.
According to a liquor license application (beer-wine) posted on the CB3 website, a Chinese restaurant going by Le Xia will be opening in the space.
The paperwork shows proposed daily hours of 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. with seating for 48 people (via 21 tables). There isn't much more information on the application (PDF here), such as the previous experience of the principal (listed as Tianye Chen).
Given the method of operation and the owner's agreement to CB3 stipulations, this applicant will not be appearing before the CB3-SLA committee meeting on Monday night.
East River hosting July 4 fireworks again; prepare thee for 'never-before-seen shells and effects'
For the third consecutive year, the Macy's 4th of July fireworks will launch from the East River. [Insert west side taunt here.]
Anyway, here are all the glory details via the official news release released Monday announcing the 2017 edition...
A pyrotechnic anthem for the ages will ignite New York City’s famed skyline on Tuesday, July 4, as the 41st Annual Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks® launch an unrivaled barrage of color, shape, light and sound to celebrate Independence Day.
The nation’s largest pyrotechnic display will come to life over the East River, captivating more than 3 million spectators lining the shorelines, waterways, streets and rooftops of the Big Apple and millions more on television coast-to-coast as together they marvel at the nation’s largest and most exciting party.
Beginning at approximately 9:25 p.m., the first shells will launch the celebration along the shores of Manhattan, Queens and Brooklyn with more than 60,000 effects rumbling toward the grand finale.
The 41st edition of the festivities will showcase a 25-minute display featuring never-before-seen shells and effects. Pyro Spectaculars by Souza is once again at the helm of the pyrotechnics that will feature multiple new shells including color changing chrysanthemums, purple crackling ghost peonies, orange bees, and pulsing happy faces in 23 electrifying colors including fuchsia, lemon and aqua.
Cherin Sushi now open in larger space next door on 6th Street
Cherin Sushi has made the move next door ...
As previously noted, the restaurant with popular early-bird dinner specials was relocating to the larger adjacent space (to the east) here on Sixth Street between First Avenue and Second Avenue ... and expanding their menu offerings to include ramen. Vinny & O noted that they were open for dinner starting on Monday...
Brick Lane Curry House moved from this spot to 99 Second Ave. between Sixth Street and Fifth Street in August 2014.
Looking at the former Neptune space on 1st Avenue
[Photo from April by Steven]
We've been keeping an eye on the former Neptune space at 192 First Ave. between 11th Street and 12th Street.
The Polish-American restaurant closed its doors last Dec. 4 after 15 years in business. (The address has been home to a diner for many years before this.)
There were rumors that the new landlord, Nazarian Property Group, already had a new tenant lined up.
This spring, workers gutted the space...
... and finally this past Friday, the for lease banner arrived...
Per the listing at Eastern Consolidated, the asking rent is $140 per square foot... the space includes a "large backyard" and is being "delivered white box."
Tuesday, June 6, 2017
The new 14th Street location of Artichoke Basille's Pizza is now open
EVG reader Pinch shared this photo from tonight... the pizzeria opened today at 321 E. 14th St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue ... leaving behind their (now fire-damaged) home of nearly 10 years across the street.
Arthur Bovino at Best Pizza NYC noted the possibility of this opening earlier today. As for the new space, he writes that it's "about six times the space for customers, and about 15 times more room for the Artichoke crew to sling their signature pies."
Previously on EV Grieve:
Artichoke appears to be moving into a new space on 14th Street
Report of an early-morning fire at 328 E. 14th St., home of Artichoke Basille’s Pizza
Artichoke Basille's Pizza signage arrives at new 14th Street location
The Sing for Hope piano has arrived in Tompkins Square Park
The Broadway cast of "Chicago" in collaboration with Queens-based artist Stephanie Tartick designed this still-under-wraps piano, titled "All that Jazz" ...
Per the Sing for Hope website:
The Sing for Hope Pianos places artist-designed pianos throughout NYC’s parks and public spaces for anyone and everyone to play. For three weeks this June, the pianos will bring individuals and communities together in an open festival of art for all. After their time on the streets, Sing for Hope will transport the instruments in NYC public schools, where they will become hubs for Sing for Hope’s ongoing creative programs and enrich students’ lives for years to come.
This year, Sing for Hope will place its 400th unique piano artwork in the five boroughs, making NYC host to more street pianos than any other city in the world. As New York City’s largest recurring public art project, the Sing for Hope Pianos impacts an estimated 2 million people each year.
The piano will be here near Temperance Fountain until June 25.
Tompkins Square Park was home to the Prince-inspired piano last June.
Thanks to Steven for the photos!
Updated 7 p.m.
Bobby Williams notes that the piano has been unwrapped...
AG announces guilty plea of landlord Steve Croman, who'll serve 1 year at Rikers
This just in from the Attorney General's office...
Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman today announced the guilty plea of Steven Croman, a major New York City landlord with more than 140 apartment buildings across Manhattan, for fraudulently refinancing loans and committing tax fraud. Under the terms of his plea, Croman would serve one year of jail time on Rikers Island and pay a $5 million tax settlement – marking a significant precedent in the effort to combat landlords who base their business model on the displacement of rent-stabilized tenants.
Rarely, if ever, has a landlord been sentenced to serve time in jail for engaging in these practices. The jail time and multi-million settlement announced today send a strong message to landlords that the Attorney General will pursue anyone who engages in these types of practices to the fullest extent of the law.
“Steven Croman is a fraudster and a criminal who engaged in a deliberate and illegal scheme to fraudulently obtain bank loans,” Attorney General Schneiderman said. “He went to outrageous lengths to boost his bottom line – including falsely listing rent-stabilized units at market rates when his efforts to displace those renters had failed. Now Mr. Croman faces a year in Rikers and a $5 million settlement – and unscrupulous landlords are on notice that we’ll pursue them to the fullest extent of the law.”
Per The Real Deal:
Appearing at the courthouse at 100 Centre Street Tuesday morning in a dark blue suit and blue tie, Croman read an allocution in front of state Supreme Court Justice Jill Konsiver admitting details of his scheme directing employees to file documents – including inflated rent rolls – that would allow him to secure bigger mortgages on his multifamily properties.
“I knew the documents were false,” he said.
His sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 19
The AG's office still has a pending civil case against Croman accusing him of forcing tenants from their rent-controlled apartments. His next court date for the civil case is June 22, the 10th time it has been adjourned, according to the Cromans' Tenant Alliance.
Schneiderman first announced the charges against Croman in May 2016. Those charges included multiple felonies for his role in an alleged scheme to fraudulently obtain several multi-million dollar refinancing loans between 2012 and 2014.
The civil lawsuit, filed in New York Supreme Court in Manhattan and the product of an independent investigation, alleges that Croman used, among other things, the illegal tactic of pressuring tenants into surrendering their apartments by repeatedly filing baseless lawsuits against them.
Croman's real-estate empire includes 47 buildings with 617 units in the East Village. As previously noted, Croman owns more buildings in the East Village than any other landlord.
Owners of Triona's lined up to take over Croxley Ales on Avenue B
[EVG file photo]
It appears that Croxley Ales is ending its run on Avenue B.
The owners behind the Irish bars Triona's on Sullivan (est. 2012) and Triona's on Third (est. 2009) are on this month's CB3-SLA docket for a new liquor license for the space at 28-30 Avenue B between Second Street and Third Street.
According to the questionnaire (PDF here) on file at the CB3 website, this is a sale of assets.
The yet-to-be-be-named establishment (Triona's on B?) shows proposed hours of noon to 4 a.m. Monday through Friday, and 11 a.m. to 4 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday. The menu is "traditional American-Irish comfort food," with fish and chips, burgers, etc.
Croxley Ales has six locations total in the metropolitan area, opening the first outpost on Long Island in 1990. The East Village location opened in 2003, peddling sports, cheap wings and craft beer. (Their website still says "We do not carry Bud, Miller, or Coors.") They expanded into the adjacent space at No. 30 in early 2013, adding an extra 13 flat-screen TVs to its sports-watching arsenal.
The June SLA committee meeting is Monday, June 12. Location: the Perseverance House Community Room, 535 E. Fifth Street between Avenue A and Avenue B.
Previously on EV Grieve:
Croxley Ales beer garden sign finally removed
Croxley Ales reopens on Thursday
Avenue B condos near former heroin hot spot named Poppy Lofts
A pizza for Count Slima
[Photo of Count Slima by Walter Wlodarczyk]
Joseph "Count Slima" Williams worked for the Two Boots family for 30-plus years, starting with helping build the original location at 37 Avenue A in 1987.
He has retired from Two Boots ... and now the pizzeria has named a pie in his honor.
Starting today, you can grab a slice of the Count Slima, featuring bacon, andouille meatballs and tasso ham on a thick Sicilian crust...
Even if you don't see Slima playing pool at Sophie's (on Fifth Street between Aveue A and Avenue B), you can still see his artwork that adorns some of the walls there.
Rebranded Atomic Wings reopens this week on 1st Avenue
[EVG photo from August 2016]
The Atomic Wings location on First Avenue between 11th Street and 12th Street closed late last summer... and stayed that way for several months before reopening in the fall under new management ... only to close again earlier this spring.
Anyway, the Wing team is reopening on Friday in a rebranded space... with a new catchphrase: Authentic. Awesome. Atomic...
[Photo last week by Steven]
Here are some particulars about the grand (re)opening via Facebook:
Come WING IT with us on June 9th for our GRAND OPENING!
Enjoy the sounds of DJ Reach, and specials like FREE French fries to the first 100 people and FREE waffle [fries?] with any tender order through the entire weekend! Did we mention we're also raffling off a brand new mountain bike to one lucky guest!!
There are multiple AW locations in the NYC and surrounding area.
Monday, June 5, 2017
[Updated] Looking at David Choe's finished product on the Bowery mural wall
David Choe wrapped up work on the Houston/Bowery Mural Wall early this morning (4 a.m.) ... here are some details of the mural...
Here's what the wall looked liked on Day 1 — May 28...
The mural will be up through October. Curious if Goldman Properties will keep the security detail on it until then.
Updated 6/9
Hyperallergic has a post titled "How the New Bowery Wall Commission Puts Rape Culture on Display." Read it here.
Hurricane Season 2017: Do you know your zone?
The New York City Emergency Management Department launched a new phase of the “Know Your Zone” hurricane awareness campaign today to encourage residents to find out whether they live in one of the city’s six hurricane evacuation zones. (The 2017 Atlantic hurricane season officially started this past Thursday and continues through the end of November.)
This year's campaign features new ads that highlight personal preparedness tips from Community Emergency Response Team volunteers. That part is pretty straightforward.
Here's more from the city's news release ...
A 2017 Preparedness survey conducted by Global Strategy Group indicates that while 67 percent of New York City residents say they feel very or somewhat informed about what to do in the event of an emergency, one in four (25 percent) remain unsure about whether they live in a hurricane evacuation zone. In addition, the percentage of residents who say they live in an evacuation zone but cannot identify which zone they live in has increased by 7 points since a similar preparedness survey conducted in 2015 (2017: 57 percent don’t know, 2015: 50 percent didn’t know).
Hurricane evacuation zones are based on coastal flood risk resulting from storm surge (the “dome” of ocean water that is pushed ashore by the winds and low barometric pressure of a hurricane), the geography of the city’s low-lying neighborhoods, and the accessibility of these neighborhoods by bridges and roads. The city may order residents who live in a zone to evacuate depending on a hurricane’s forecast strength, track and storm surge.
The screengrab of the zone map shows this neighborhood ... Zone 1 is basically the area that got hit hard during Sandy, from the East River west to Avenue B, south to the north side of Seventh Street. Anyway, you can type in your address at the NYC Hurricane Evacuation Zone Finder here. (The address in the screengrab above is for Ray's Candy Store on Avenue A at Seventh Street. Zone 5!)
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