[Updated] During Town Hall, Mayor announces city's interest in re-acquiring former P.S. 64

Mayor de Blasio and outgoing City Councilmember Rosie Mendez co-hosted a Town Hall last night at P.S. 188, The Island School, on East Houston Street.

EVG regular Peter Brownscombe shared these photos and this one item of particular interest:

During the proceedings, de Blasio said that a mistake had been made in the past and his administration would take steps to reacquire the former P.S 64 and CHARAS/El Bohio community center on Ninth Street between Avenue B and Avenue C.

The Lo-Down was there, and here is the full P.S. 64 quote:

…the decision made a long time ago by the Giuliani administration was a mistake. For the Giuliani administration to put that building into private hands failed miserably, and we’ve seen the negative effect that has had on the community. So I’m announcing tonight, the city’s interest in re-acquiring that building. We are ready to right the wrongs of the past and will work with Council member Mendez and her successor (almost certainly Carlina Rivera) to get that done.

The mayor did not expound on this.

Some background on this ongoing story. Developer Gregg Singer, who bought the property from the city in 1998, had reportedly been pushing de Blasio's administration to remove a stop-work order that has been in place since 2015.

According to public records, Singer is continuing to retain lobbyist Jim Capalino, a former de Blasio ally, for the remainder of 2017.



Among Capalino's lobbying targets: the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Housing and Economic Development and the Office of the First Deputy Mayor. Capalino, according to a New York Daily News story in March 2016, steered $50,000 to de Blasio after pushing the city to lift the deed restriction at the Rivington House. (The mayor said in August 2016 that he has cut off contact with the lobbyist in the wake of multiple investigations into his administration, per Politico.)

It was previously reported that Singer has a signed lease with Adelphi University, with hopes of having students move in by the fall of 2018. That move-in no longer seems plausible given the current state of the building.

Preservationist groups and other residents have been opposed to Singer's plans, and want to see a return of the landmarked building to use as a cultural and community center.

Updated 6:30 p.m.

DNAinfo has a comment from Singer's spokesperson.

...Singer has no intention of selling the building, according to his spokeswoman, who said the property is appraised at $60 million and that the owner has already poured $80 million into upkeep.

"Singer has absolutely no plans to give the 'building' back," spokeswoman Nicole Epstein wrote in an email. "The city is trying to be a bully here."

... and you can watch the full 3-hour Town Hall here...



Previously on EV Grieve:
'Misinformation' cited as DOB issues Stop Work Order at the former PS 64; community meeting set for Sunday afternoon

At the rally for the former PS 64 today at City Hall

I Am a Rent-Stabilized Tenant

East Village resident Susan Schiffman has been photographing the apartments of rent-stabilized tenants living in the East Village for her Instagram account, I Am a Rent Stabilized Tenant. She will share some of the photos here for this ongoing EVG feature.



Tenants: J and T, since 1980

J, a native New Yorker, moved into the apartment before T. J lived for awhile in New Hampshire, but wanted to come back. She worked at a longstanding neighborhood business, which recently closed.

How did you find your apartment?

There was a Russian guy, a fixture on First Avenue. He sat on a wooden box with a cane, maybe he was Siberian. He collected old rubber bands on his cane. His name was Max. Although he spoke little English, he thought I was really funny. I told him that I was looking for an apartment. He took me to see a man who had apartments in a building that he owned. He had an apartment available on the top floor with loads of light. He rented it to me that day for $150.

















If you're interested in inviting Susan in to photograph your apartment for an upcoming post, then you may contact her via this email.

[Updated] DOH temporarily closes Starbucks on 1st Avenue at 13th Street

This inspection took place yesterday...



The inspection report with the reported violations has not been posted online just yet. Pubic records show that this location has an A rating from an August inspection with 9 violation points for "Food not protected from potential source of contamination during storage, preparation, transportation, display or service."

Updated:

The DOH report is now online.

An inspector levied 33 violation points, the most critical being No. 1:

1) Evidence of mice or live mice present in facility's food and/or non-food areas.
2) Facility not vermin proof. Harborage or conditions conducive to attracting vermin to the premises and/or allowing vermin to exist.

Updated:

The city gave this location the OK to reopen after an inspection on oct. 18. According to the inspection report, there were 0 violation points.

H/T @jcastro_nyc

The Earth School's Annual Fall Fair is tomorrow in Tompkins Square Park

Via the EVG inbox...

The Earth School (on Sixth Street and Avenue B) is hosting its annual Fall Fair on Saturday Oct. 14, from noon-5 p.m. in Tompkins Square Park, on the corner of Avenue A and 10th Street. The fair brings kids and adults together for an afternoon of outdoor fun and camaraderie. The fair is also an important fundraiser for The Earth School and its proceeds will benefit the school's enrichment programs.

Enjoy:
• silk screening
• a slime workshop
• make your own re-usable Halloween trick-or-treat bag
• cupcake decorating
• face painting
• the beloved photo booth
• fantastic PRIZES!

For the sporty, we have Mini-golf, Basketball, Toddler Games, and the Amazing Maze! The Fall Fair Shop will offer unique fashions and books for sale. Delicacies from around the world will highlight the diversity and multicultural heritage of the school.

Admission is free and tickets start at $1 for food and activities. Tickets can be purchased directly at the fair.

[Last year's Fall Fair action]

Space that was 5 restaurants in 1 year now for rent

In one year, 320 E. Sixth St. has been home to:

• Zerza
• 'Merica (for three whole weeks!)
• Zerza again
• Amoun Moroccan Mediterranean Cuisine & Lounge
• Mazmaza

Now the space between First Avenue and Second Avenue is on the rental market. Been waiting for the listing to show up online... but it's not there just yet.

Pop-up Mr. Bing has its grand opening tomorrow on St. Mark's Place

Mr. Bing has been in soft-open mode this past week at 115 St. Mark's Place between Avenue A and First Avenue.

The quick-serve shop, which specializes in the Northern Chinese street food crepe — aka a jianbing or bing for short — is having its Grand Opening tomorrow morning.

Per the EVG inbox: "The first 100 customers will enjoy a free bing [starting] at 11 a.m."

This is one of three new Mr. Bings to open in NYC. The St. Mark's Place location is apparently "the first to offer seating and late hours." The news announcement about the opening notes that "wine and beer [is] coming later this fall."

However, this Mr Bing is just temporary (as in a pop-up shop, not going out of business in three months): It's only going to be on St. Mark's through the end of the year. The other Mr. Bing shops will remain open. (Not sure what the deal is on the beer-wine license for the address, if that is temporary too. Mr. Bing was on the September CB3 SLA committee docket.)

The previous EVG post on Mr. Bing has more on the owner and operation.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Mr. Bing will sell traditional Northern Chinese street crepes on St. Mark's Place

343 E. 6th St. enlightened by new tenant

[EVG file photo]

The rental shop that specialized in Indian music and Bollywood cinema closed at 343 E. Sixth St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue in October 2015.

After two months as J-Mar Special Touch barber shop ... workers bricked up the storefront in February and turned it into what everyone thought would be a residential space...


[Photo from February]

Per Streeteasy, the studio was asking $1,999 per month.

Anyway!

In the past week... the space quietly became ... a ... PSYCHIC!

East Village resident writes and performs 'The Bench,' opening this Sunday

East Village resident Robert Galinsky is the writer and performer of a new play opening this Sunday at the Cherry Lane Theatre in the West Village.

Here are details via the EVG inbox...

Golden Globe Nominated Chris Noth
Drama Desk, Obie, and Olivier Award-winner Barry Shabaka Henley and Cherry Lane Theatre present

THE BENCH, A HOMELESS LOVE STORY
Inspired by Real People and True Stories
Written and performed by Robert Galinsky
Directed by Jay O. Sanders

Based on true stories, "The Bench," set in urban decay and rubble, explores the emotional heartbreak of five homeless characters and the catastrophic hysteria surrounding AIDS in the 1980s. The sparse set is accented with hand-drawn imagery, from Daphne Arthur's graphic novel adaptation of the play, and audio design is by world renowned composer and multi-instrumentalist Deep Singh.

Oct. 15 - Dec. 17
Playing Sundays at 7 p.m.
Exceptions: NO Performances on Nov. 5 and Dec. 3

The show runs 65 minutes, no intermission

Said Galinsky in an email to me: "I am simply telling the story of every human who has the potential to be more than society wants them to be."

Find more info here.

A moment in Tompkins Square Park today

Would have been a nice addition to the Tompkins Square Park Art Bar ...

Photo by Steven

Bear down

An EVG reader shared this from Third Avenue near 14th Street today. As Howard Jones said, Things Can Only Get Better.

Street co-naming ceremony Saturday for the 2 victims of the 2nd Avenue gas explosion

Last spring, City Council approved co-naming the northwest corner of Seventh Street and Second Avenue Moises Locón and Nicholas Figueroa Way.

Locón, 27, and Figueroa, 23, were killed in the gas explosion here on March 26, 2015, that also destroyed three buildings, 119-123 Second Ave.

This Saturday morning at 11, city officials will be on-hand on this corner for the official co-name ceremony ...



Organizers who were behind the co-naming hope that the street sign bearing the names of the two men will both help commemorate their loss and serve as a warning against unscrupulous landlords.

In a story at DNAinfo on the co-naming proposal this past May, Ana Lanza, Figueroa's mother, said, "It's not going to bring him back — nothing is going to bring him back. But at least this brings a little bit of comfort, that he's going to be remembered somewhere, somehow. That his life wasn't taken in vain. That he meant something."

Authorities have said that illegally siphoned gas at 121 Second Ave. was to blame for the explosion. In February 2016, Manhattan DA Cyrus Vance's office charged landlord Maria Hrynenko and her son Michael Hrynenko Jr. along with contractor Dilber Kukic and plumber Jerry Ioannidis with manslaughter in the second degree, criminally negligent homicide and assault in the second degree, among other charges.

According to an obituary, Michael Jr. died on Aug. 25 at age 31.

The criminal case has yet to go to trial while the multiple civil actions are still making their way through the courts.

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

Memorial for Mary Spink tomorrow

RIP Nicholas Figueroa

RIP Moises Ismael Locón Yac

A proposal to co-name part of 2nd Avenue and 7th Street after the victims of the 2015 gas explosion

Michael Hrynenko, Jr., awaiting trial for his role in the 2nd Avenue gas explosion, dies at 31

About the scaffolding at 125 2nd Ave.

On the topic of the Second Avenue explosion... several readers have asked about the scaffolding that arrived at the end of September on the south-facing wall at 125 Second Ave.

A reliable source told me workers are will be repointing the building, and it has nothing to do with any possible new construction in the now-empty adjacent lots.

As for those parcels... late last spring, Shaky Cohen's Nexus Building Development Group paid $9.15 million for 119 and 121 Second Ave. at Seventh Street. To date, there haven't been any new permits filed at the DOB.

In September 2016, the lot that housed 123 Second Ave. sold for $6 million. The buyer was reported as Ezra Wibowo under the LLC 123 Second Ave. Corp. His plans? "[I]t’s a long-term investment. He’s not in a rush to build or develop," a source told the Post last March.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Exclusive: 2nd Avenue explosion sites have a new owner

Hitchcocktober movie of the week — 'Notorious!'

Tonight's Hitchcocktober movie of the week is "Notorious!" playing at 8 at the Village East Cinema on Second Avenue and 12th Street.

Here's a look at the Cary Grant-Ingrid Bergman spy noir...



And the upcoming Hitchcocktober films:

Oct. 19 — "Vertigo"

Oct. 26 — "Rebecca"

And on Oct. 31, Halloween night, there's a screening of "Psycho."

You can buy advance tickets here.

A wedding in Tompkins Square Park

On Sunday, East Village residents Yael Kanarek and Gili Getz, surrounded by friends, family and the neighborhood they love, were married in a ceremony in Tompkins Square Park (near the Slocum Memorial Fountain) ...





Following the short ceremony, the guests went to a celebration at Abraço, the cafe on Seventh Street where the couple are regulars.

Photos by Daniel Efram

Noted

EVG reader Brad212 notes an addition to the monument-sculpture along Avenue D here between Sixth Street and Seventh Street... there, up top...





The person/people responsible might say that the addition speaks for itself...

RIP Bonnie DeWitt

Bonnie DeWitt, an artist and teacher who lived in the East Village, died on Oct. 1. She was 34.

Here is part of her obituary, which does not mention the cause of death:

Born on August 11, 1983 in Plainview, NY, she was a daughter of David and Sara Dewitt. After graduating Old Beth Page John F. Kennedy High School in Plainview, she continued her education in Massachusetts at Tufts University and the School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, graduating in 2005. In 2007 she earned a Masters in Fine Arts at the New York Academy of Art.

Bonnie went on to pursue her passion for art in Manhattan, working as curator of the Kraine Gallery in the East Village. She then redirected her love of art towards teaching. She taught at the New York Academy of Art for nearly a decade, specializing in figure drawing. Her innate artistic abilities and dedication to her craft fueled her desire to share her talent and knowledge.

She loved to explore New York's museums and would often take her art students on field trips to the Met. Outside of museums, she spent her free time in her beloved neighborhood, the East Village. She had a vibrant personality and a great sense of humor. Full of compassion, she loved animals, and was always a helping hand to others in a time of crisis.

Bonnie had a radiant presence; anyone who had the opportunity to cross paths with Bonnie would agree that she was someone everyone wanted to know. She was a true rarity, someone who was and will always be unforgettable.

This Saturday from 3-5 p.m., her friends and loved ones are gathering for a celebration of her life at the Fish Bar on Fifth Street between Second Avenue and Cooper Square. Find more details at Facebook.

Ai Weiwei on 7th Street

[Photo yesterday by EVG reader Russell K.]

As previously reported, artist-activist Ai Weiwei's installations titled "Good Fences Make Good Neighbors" are going up around the city.

Yesterday, workers were installing the site-specific fencing at 48 E. Seventh St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue. (Other local installations include 189 Chrystie St., 248 Bowery, Cooper Union and the Essex Street Market.)


[Photo by Derek Berg]

The press materials note that "Good Fences Make Good Neighbors" is "a reflection on the growing hostility toward immigrants and the rise of nationalism throughout the world."

This collaboration with the Public Art Fund is officially on view starting tomorrow through Feb. 11.


[Photo by DB]

The Dessert Kitchen opens on St. Mark's Place

The Dessert Kitchen is up and running (in soft-open mode) at 94 St. Mark's Place between Avenue A and First Avenue.

They serve "homemade Asian-fusion-styled desserts from Hong Kong, Taiwan and Japan," per their Facebook page.(Menu here.)



The Dessert Kitchen was previously over at 192 Bleecker St. near Sixth Avenue. I do not know the circumstances behind the closure there and move here.

This space on St. Mark's adjacent to Fun City Tattoo was previously a residence. Workers converted it into a storefront back in the late winter and early spring.

The return of the WASP

[On the Bowery]

You've probably seen the many No Parking-filming notices on parts of Sixth Street and Seventh Street between First Avenue and Second Avenue... and on the Bowery for WASP2017...


[7th Street]

WASP2017 is short for Woody Allen's Summer Project, a still-untitled movie starring Elle Fanning, Selena Gomez, Jude Law, Diego Luna and Liev Schrieber, among many others. Crews will be filming in parts of the East Village today and tomorrow.

Last year, Allen filmed a few scenes for "Wonder Wheel" around here ... and in 2009, he was here shooting "Whatever Works" with Larry David.

DA: Man sentenced to 40 years in prison for November 2015 rape in East River Park

A man who attacked and raped a 26-year-old woman jogging near the FDR Drive and Cherry Street in November 2015 was sentenced to 40 years in prison today.

Here's part of the news alert from the DA's office:

Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance, Jr., today announced the sentencing of Paul Nies, 30, to 40 years in state prison and 20 years’ post-release supervision for raping and robbing a 26-year-old woman who was jogging in East River Park in November 2015.

On September 12, 2017, the defendant was convicted by a New York State Supreme Court jury of the top counts in the indictment against him, including Rape in the First Degree, Robbery in the Second Degree, and Strangulation in the Second Degree.

“This was a brutal stranger assault, and I commend the victim for her bravery in bringing her attacker to justice, as well as the prosecutors and members of law enforcement who worked tirelessly on this case,” said District Attorney Vance.

As proven at trial, at approximately 7:30 p.m. on November 25, 2015, NILES attacked a 26-year-old woman as she was jogging in East River Park and forced the victim to move to a different area of the park, where the defendant sexually assaulted her. Following the attack, Niles took the victim’s phone and credit card, which he later used at a fast food location in Brooklyn.

As The Lo-Down reported, at the time of the attack, "local residents complained about poor lighting in East River Park." A reader told the Lo-Down today that the new lighting is not working at this time.

Image from November 2015