Grant Shaffer's NY See

[Click on image to go big]

Here's this week's NY See, East Village-based illustrator Grant Shaffer's comic series — an observational sketch diary of things that he sees and hears around the neighborhood.

The conversation continues on the now-approved tech hub for 14th Street

[Rendering via NYCEDC]

The conversation/fallout continues from last week's City Council approval of the the mayor's plan for the Union Square Tech Training Center (aka tech hub) at the former P.C. Richard site on 14th Street at Irving Place.

The unanimous approval includes the rezoning required to build the the 21-story tech hub — which is larger than what current commercial zoning allows. For months, some residents, activists, small-business owners and community groups expressed concern that the rezoning necessary for the project would spur out-of-scale development on surrounding blocks.

The project is being developed jointly by the city’s Economic Development Corp. and developer RAL Development Service. The 240,000-square-foot building includes Civic Hall, which will offer tech training for low-income residents, as well as market-rate retail and office space.

The support of local District 2 City Council member Carlina Rivera was key to making the tech hub a go, as Crain's other other media outlets noted.

Rivera had reportedly promised to seek a separate rezoning for the surrounding area during her campaign last year to establish height limits and, in some cases, cap commercial square footage in exchange for her support of the hub.

In voting yes on the project, Rivera said the tech hub would bring "true community benefits, tech education, and workforce development services that will finally give women, people of color, and low-income New Yorkers access to an industry that has unfairly kept them out for far too long."

This link goes to the letter that Rivera shared following the vote.

Meanwhile, the Greenwich Village Society for Historical Preservation (GVSHP), which had lobbied for protections for the surrounding neighborhood as a component of the tech-hub plan, released this statement from executive director Andrew Berman critical of Rivera's yes vote without any substantial zoning limitations.

The GVSHP and other critics (the Met Council on Housing, the Historic Districts Council, the Lower East Side Preservation Initiative, the Bowery Alliance of Neighbors and the East Village Community Coalition were among the groups to express concern during the approval process) have said that the tech hub will provide important and valuable training services for low-income residents and small businesses starting out. However, Berman has pointed out that the training facilities could have fit in a smaller building on the site, which wouldn't require any commercial upzoning that only serves the mayor's real-estate interests.

On Monday, Rivera released a letter to Marisa Lago, the director of NYC's Department of Planning, calling on that agency to establish a special permit for hotel developments south of Union Square from Third Avenue to University Place. The permit would require an additional site-specific review process for extra time to evaluate a given project's impact on the local community, as Patch reported. (The Villager published a copy of Rivera's letter here.)

Berman quickly issued a rebuttal, stating, in part:

The requirement of a special permit for hotels will have little to no effect on the development problems the Tech Hub will exacerbate. First, any hotel can still be built with the approval of the City Council. Second, this really only applies to a portion of the affected area, since the zoning for about half the area already prohibits or restricts hotels. Third, hotels are only one of many forms of bad development this area is experiencing which this measure will not address, such as office buildings and high-rise condos, as well as doing nothing about affordable housing which the community rezoning plan Rivera promised to hold out for would have.

The GVSHP also created a table, comparing the neighborhood protections that were promised to accompany the tech hub, and those that were actually delivered. (For more detailed analysis, follow this link.)

Full reveal at 127 Avenue D

The remaining plywood recently came down at 127 Avenue D, where this 7-floor building between Eighth Street and Ninth Street is looking closer to renting action.

As previously reported, developer H Holding Group is behind this building with 11 dwelling units and a commercial space on the ground floor.

To date we haven't seen any listings for the (presumably) rentals.

This fancy lighting fixture will greet residents...



The previous building here was a one-level structure that housed Sergio Deli Superette.

Previously on EV Grieve:
On Avenue D, Sergio Deli Superette will yield to a 7-story building

Dia bringing Roman-style pizza and coastal Italian seafood to 2nd Avenue

Just noting that the awning is up at the new restaurant coming to 58 Second Ave. between Third Street and Fourth Street.

Once open, Dia will specialize in "Roman-style pizza and coastal Italian seafood," per their (still under-construction) website. Their listed hours are 5 p.m. to midnight Monday through Friday, with an 11 a.m. weekend opening.

Not sure at the moment who's behind this venture. The applicant, who had not been previously licensed, received the OK for beer-wine from CB3 back in March.

N'eat, which offered "new Nordic fare," had a nearly 8-month-run at the address before "closing for renovations" and never reopening in July 2017. Before N'eat, Cellar 58 served Italian fare here.

Eat's Khao Man Gai opens on 6th Street

Eat's Khao Man Gai opened yesterday and is serving the namesake Thai chicken-and-rice combo — a popular street food in Thailand — here at 518 E. Sixth St. between Avenue A and Avenue B.



From the looks of things, this is their only dish... available with drinks such as Thai ice tea or Vietnamese cold brew.

Until last month, this space was home to Zen Yai Pho Shop. The owners said that they were moving to a larger storefront, and using No. 518 for a new concept.

Wednesday's parting shot

Photo opps on Seventh Street via Derek Berg...

Good burger: Lunch break with Iggy Pop and the Death Valley Girls

A little lunch-time diversion... the new video from the Death Valley Girls was released today... the clip for "Disaster (Is What We're After)" is four minutes of (former East Village resident) Iggy Pop eating a hamburger. (An homage to Andy Warhol. Thank you Glenn.) Enjoy!



Here's more from the Death Valley Girls about the video:

“We’re strong believers in opti-mysticism and connecting with people through rock’n’roll. Having Iggy dig our music was more than amazing for us. When Kansas told us she had a dream about recreating the ‘Andy Warhol Eating a Hamburger’ short film but with Iggy starring for our music video, we were cautiously excited about the possibility. Next thing we know we’re in Miami with Iggy himself, and a rock’n’roll dream became reality!”

Reader reports: An early-morning police search on 5th Street and 6th Street

[Reader-submitted photo]

Several EVG readers asked about the presence of the NYPD helicopter hovering over parts of the neighborhood with a searchlight around 4:30-4:45 a.m.

There isn't anything from officials sources at the moment. Based on reader emails and the (sometimes reliable) Citizen app, police were searching for a burglary suspect. The Citizen app puts the scene of the incident at 519 E. Fifth St. between Avenue A and Avenue B.

The Citizen app had these updates... including request for the K-9 unit...



One reader put the helicopter in the air over parts of Fifth Street and Sixth Street between Avenue A and Avenue B at between 20 to 30 minutes. The last report from Citizen listed the suspect as still at large. Will update this post if any more info becomes available.

Updated 11:45 a.m.

Thanks to the commenter who pointed out this tweet from this morning...

Great example last night of “If you see something, say something” when a building super alerted our #NYPD AntiCrime team of a suspicious person which lead to the arrest of a serial burglar in the #EastVillage. @NYPDnews pic.twitter.com/eyb7VLLq0M

— NYPD 9th Precinct (@NYPD9Pct) August 15, 2018

Petition asks Madison Realty Capital to waive legal fees for evicted East Village family

[5th Street buildings that were part of Raphael Toledano's portfolio]

After a lengthy legal battle that started with landlord Raphael Toledano, longtime East Village residents Craig Smith and Elise Stone and their family have been evicted from their rent-stabilized apartment on Fifth Street.


[Smith, Stone and family]

With Toledano in bankruptcy, Madison Realty Capital is the de-facto landlord. Due to a clause in their lease, Smith and Stone are now being held accountable by Madison's lawyers for Toledano/Madison Realty Capital's legal fees, which amount to $250,000.

This petition is asking Madison Realty Capital, who reportedly manages over $4 billion of capital, to waive their legal fees.

The following, via the EVG inbox, is from the group Tenants Taking Control...

In July of 2018, Craig Smith and Elise Stone, their three college-age children Kerem, Tes and Hakima, and Elise's ageing mother Sandy were given 12 days to leave their home of 15 years — a walk-up apartment in the East Village.

Craig and Elise — much can be said about this extraordinary couple. They are parents, thespians, teachers and artists who have spent a lifetime giving to their community. Notably, they started up a local, award-winning, nonprofit theater company in 2004 that, in addition to producing shows, runs educational programs for aspiring actors, children and seniors.

The SmithStones were sued for eviction in 2015 by their new predatory landlord, Raphael Toledano, whose lawyers spotted a loophole in the city's rent-stabilization law. Rather than give up, Craig and Elise fought back. Their motivation was not just self-preservation — in keeping with their community spirit, they aimed to protect other New York City rent regulated tenants who face similar gentrification pressures. Had they won, thousands of deregulated apartments in the city could have been re-regulated.

The legal battle lasted 34 months. In the midst of it, Toledano defaulted on the loan he'd gotten from Madison Realty Capital to buy their building (along with 14 others). Although still owned by Toledano's LLC, in the bankruptcy Madison Realty Capital became the de facto landlord of the buildings, put up the money to manage the properties, and continued prosecuting the lawsuit.

In June of 2018, the Appellate Division of NY State Supreme Court ruled against Craig and Elise. Madison Realty Capital told them to leave their home, and NYC lost yet another affordable apartment. The loss to the neighborhood has been devastating.

Due to a clause in their lease, the SmithStones are now being held accountable by Madison's lawyers for Toledano/Madison Realty Capital's legal fees, amounting to $250,000. As dedicated artists and educators, this couple does not have that kind of money.

THIS PETITION ASKS MADISON REALTY CAPITAL TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND PAY ITS OWN LEGAL COSTS.
It is a private investment fund, so its earnings and revenue are not publicly disclosed. But last month, Madison's CEO Josh Zegen told The Commercial Observer: "We manage over $4 billion of capital and we have every piece of the business in-house." It's likely that they can afford their own legal fees, and still be a very profitable business.

In the same interview, there was this exchange:

COMMERCIAL OBSERVER: "What keeps you up at night?"

JOSHUA ZEGEN: "The unknown. You’re starting to really feel the rate creep more than you did six to nine months ago..."

So, the TTC (Tenants Taking Control) asked the same question of the SmithStones.

TTC: "What keeps you up at night?"

CRAIG SMITH: "Bankruptcy. No money to pay for my kids' college, no money to pay for a dentist, long commutes... the fear that we won't be able to keep the theater going, and no longer be able to show seniors and children the joy of being involved in the arts."

This family is in a precarious situation now, and really needs the help of the greater community. They have already lost their home. Please add your name to this petition, to have Madison Realty Capital relieve the SmithStones of the crushing, unfair debt burden they will otherwise face.

Here's the link to the petition.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Foreclosure notice arrives on Raphael Toledano-owned building on 12th Street

Report: Raphael Toledano files for Chapter 11; $145 million deal for EV portfolio is off the table

Raphael Toledano tenants take to Midtown streets to speak out against their landlord and his lenders

Santa delivers sacks of coal to Madison Realty Capital, Rafael Toledano's lenders

Amid claims of being a rent-stabilized tenant, Raphael Toledano faces eviction from his home

Performance Space New York unveils fall season

[Image via Instagram]

The fall season at Performance Space New York is titled the Posthuman Series.

Here's what to expect, in part, at the former PS 122 on First Avenue at Ninth Street starting later next month:

For the next three months you are invited to join artists in exploring worlds that extend beyond human perspective, disrupting traditional conceptions of humanity. Rather than positioning human consciousness as the primary source and content of all art making, the contributions to the Posthuman Series often blur distinction between ‘the human’ and its other: namely nature, technology, animals, and gods.

In light of dramatic technological and scientific developments such as artificial intelligence and genetic engineering, the idea of an autonomous human being with agency over the world is rapidly becoming obsolete. Are you really more in charge of your communication than the algorithms and language programs in your smartphone? Is the artificial organ that keeps you alive not a part of your body?

The season begins on Sept. 27 with Annie Dorsen and "The Slow Room." This link takes you to the full schedule and more details about the Posthuman Series.

Sen. Hoylman speaks out against use of Monsanto's weed killer Roundup in New York

[Photo on 10th Street from Aug. 1 by Steven]

Here's some local reaction to a San Francisco jury’s decision last Friday to settle against Monsanto, saying the company’s popular glyphosate-based weed killer Roundup gave a man cancer.

The jury ordered Monsanto — now owned by Bayer — to pay $289 million in damages to a school groundskeeper who got terminal cancer after using Roundup, one of the world's most popular weed killers. (A reported 4,000 other people are looking to sue the weed and seed maker for similar allegations, per Fox News.)

Our local state senator, Brad Hoylman, issued this statement yesterday:

"Justice has partially been served in California, but there is no respite from the harms of glyphosate until we see an outright ban. New York deserves better. That is why I sponsor legislation in the state senate to fully ban this harmful chemical and properly study its effects. The Senate should act on this vital piece of legislation come January to protect the health and safety of New Yorkers."

As I noted at the beginning of the month, several residents were angry after spotting flyers in and around Tompkins Square Park offering "notice of pesticide application."

Park workers were going to spray using Monsanto's controversial Roundup Promax. According to readers who had contacted the Parks Department, officials responded that they had cancelled this application, and would not use it in the future in Tompkins Square Park.

While weed killer with glyphosate isn't used in Tompkins Square Park, published reports have shown that it is applied in other Parks and green areas in the five boroughs.

Sen. Hoylman carries two bills in the state legislature that would both ban the use of glyphosate outright (S126) and put a moratorium on the sale and distribution of the chemical until its effects are properly studied (S127).

In 2015, the IARC, the World Health Organization’s cancer agency, stated that glyphosate was "probably carcinogenic to humans." However, in May 2016, Glyphosate was given a clean bill of health by the UN's joint meeting on pesticide residues.

Monsanto said it will appeal last week's decision, and stated that it stands by studies that suggest Roundup does not cause cancer.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Tompkins Square Parkgoers irate after finding notices for use of controversial weed killer

Back to the blackout of 2003

Today (and tonight!) marks the 15th anniversary of the great Northeastern blackout of 2003, an outage that affected 50 million people in parts of the United States and Canada. (Read more about the NYC anniversary at Gothamist and Quartz.)

Below is a video my old friend GammaBlog published on the fifth anniversary in 2008.

On the muggy evening of Aug. 14, 2003, GammaBlog took his compact VHS camera out on the streets of the East Village, shooting footage in Tompkins Square Park and St. Mark's Place, among other (darkened) streets.

Here's more about the 21-minute video...

Much of the tape consists of a dark blurry mess as the camera searches for something to focus on. But I did manage to extract some interesting video and audio. And though the walking footage may make those susceptible to motion-sickness nauseous, I think it does capture the spirit of the night. I combined this with recent interviews [2008] in Tompkins Square Park, where I asked people to tell me their 2003 Blackout stories.

Noted

EVG reader Jen Pace shared this photo from the 13th Street side of the Verizon building at Second Avenue... where the Verizon maintenance crew is re-engaged in a brown paint battle with taggers... the wall was painted over late last week. And the band played on.

Body found in the East River near the Williamsburg Bridge

Earlier this afternoon, police recovered the body of an unidentified man from the East River just north of the Williamsburg Bridge. The body was reportedly first spotted in the river near East Houston and the FDR.

An EVG reader shared these photos ...



Patch had this report:

The NYPD Harbor unit discovered the unresponsive victim at 1:25 p.m before police divers pulled the victim's body from the river near the Williamsburg Bridge, said officials.

Emergency responders pronounced the man dead on the scene. Police are unsure if the body was dumped in the river at the Lower East Side or if the body was carried by the current from elsewhere, a police spokeswoman said.

The city medical examiner will determine the cause of death, and the investigation into the case is continuing.

Report: Canadian investor buys 62-64 3rd Ave.

Investor Ari Zagdanski’s Kinsmen Property Group is the new owner of 62 and 64 Third Ave.

As the Commercial Observer reported yesterday, Zagdanski paid $23 million for the two four-floor buildings, which were owned by Jakobson Properties.

Per the Observer:

Zagdanski doesn’t have any immediate plans to redevelop the residential buildings, but said he was drawn to the neighborhood because of its new developments including the nearby Moxy Hotel.

“It’s a long-term play. Eventually, it will probably be developed into something,” [broker Itan] Rahmani said. “This is a corner that never really trades.”

No. 62 is currently vacant. There hasn't been much activity (except for the Brunch Theatre Company pop up) at the former home of the New York Central Art Supply, which closed in September 2016.

The Steinberg family, who operated the art supply store for three generations, cited "poor business conditions" as the primary reason behind the closure.

According to public records, the building sold for $9.3 million to an LLC in 2016 with an address of 62 Third Ave. However, a work permit from last year for a sidewalk bridge listed Jakobson Properties as the owner.

No. 64 on the southwest corner is a residential building with the Ainsworth as the retail tenant.

No. 64 was, a few years ago, prime ad space for the aspiring blockbusters of the day...

Did you hear the one about the comedy club opening tonight on 4th Street?

[Image via Instagram]

The New York Comedy Club is making its East Village debut tonight at 85 E. Fourth St. between Second Avenue and the Bowery.

This is the second location for the New York Comedy Club, which opened in 1989 on 24th Street between Second Avenue and Third Avenue.

Here's what Amy Hawthorne, the club's director of operations, told me via email back in May:

"We're very excited about being part of such a vibrant neighborhood full of all kinds of other arts and performance venues.

"We'll be renovating the space to be more in keeping with the look and character of our original Gramercy location — darker room, brick wall background for the stage, and an audio system custom designed for the space by our co-owner, Scott Lindner, who is also a professional audio engineer."

Lindner and Emilio Savone bought the New York Comedy Club in 2014 after years of working in entertainment marketing and live comedy production.

You can find the East Village schedule here.

They are taking over the former home of the EastVille Comedy Club, which departed for Brooklyn in April.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Funny business: Comedy club replacing comedy club on 4th Street

More bubble tea for the Bubble Tea District (aka St. Mark's Place)

[Photos by Steven]

Signage arrived yesterday at 19-23 St. Mark's Place for Mi Tea...



This will be the fourth U.S. outpost for the Hangzhou, China-based chain with 1,000 locations worldwide. Their speciality: Himalayan pink salted cheese tea drinks.

And they'll have plenty of competition on this block between Second Avenue and Third Avenue. Other nearby options include Nohohon Matcha NYC, Spot Dessert Bar, Kung Fu Tea and CoCo Fresh Tea & Juice.

This storefront was previously Kulture, the tattoo-piercings-jewelry-smoke shop, which moved east several storefronts to the upper level of No. 31 in January.

Kulture arrived here in in 2011. Previously, the space was the short-lived St. Mark's Cafe, Red Mango, Quizno's and, until June 2008, the CBGB shop...

Chinese restaurant coming to this 3rd Avenue storefront

Renovations continue behind the plywood at 50 Third Ave. between 10th Street and 11th Street.

This space, previously the Renew & Relax Spa, is being converted into a restaurant. There's a Community Board 3 notice out front for a new beer-wine license for the place. (This item is not on the August CB3-SLA agenda. Perhaps it will be on for September.)



In an email, one of the applicants, Becky Lin, offered a few details — described the new venture as a "non-traditional Chinese restaurant specializing in noodles, (southern China) appetizers and desserts, etc."

Lin said they are still finalizing the name of the restaurant, which will likely have a fall opening.

Bingbox Snow Cream is moving away from 2nd Avenue

The Bingbox Snow Cream shop at 125 Second Ave. between Seventh Street and St. Mark's Place is now closed.

A sign on the gate explains that they are moving — location TBD...



Bingbox, which opened in April 2016, serves Korean shaved ice and other desserts. Bingbox recently opened an outpost in Dallas.

Updated: Reward for this turtle, last seen in the 6BC Botanical Garden

An East Village couple's pet turtle went missing yesterday in the 6BC Botanical Garden on Sixth Street between Avenue B and Avenue C.

Per an Instagram post:

We lost our little turtle yesterday. We were in the 6BC garden, and she disappeared under foliage and we looked at every inch of the garden since yesterday. Thinking she may have wandered out the gate.

Hopefully someone will find her and return her to us. Thank you in advance for your kindness.

There's a $100 for anyone who finds the turtle.

Updated 8:07 p.m.

Per the comments, the turtle has been found!