More conversation about a Special Retail District for the East Village

Plans to adopt a proposal for a Special Retail District, which would limit the size and location of chain stores in the East Village, continue to move forward.

Tomorrow night, CB3's Economic Development Committee will discuss the following item: "Special district update and start framework for boundaries and restrictions."

The proposal for a East Village Special Retail District dates back nearly two-plus years.

As previously noted, a special district is an overlay used as a tool to supplement and modify the underlying zoning in order to respond to distinctive neighborhoods with particular issues and goals.

You can read more about special districts in this Q&A on the CB3 website here. In 2015, the East Village Community Coalition issued a report on "Recommendations for Formula Retail Zoning in the East Village."

The Committee meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. (this is the second item on the agenda), at the Lee, 133 Pitt St. at Houston. The meeting is open to the public, and you can sign up to speak for (or against) the proposal.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Public forum set to discuss special business district in the East Village

Report: New owner for 531-533 E. 12th St., the onetime home of the East 12th Party Crew

[EVG file photo]

The seven-story rental building at 531-533 E. 12th St. between Avenue A and Avenue B reportedly has a new owner.

According to The Real Deal, Michael Shah's Delshah Capital paid $25.2 million for the 11-year-old building.

The seller, Zelman Properties, paid $16.6 million for the place in 2012. It had been expected to fetch in the mid-to-high $30 million range.

No. 531-533 has 26 residential units, many of them with outdoor space. According to Streeteasy, monthly rents range between $2,900 to $7,500.

As you may recall, Shah was entangled in a legal battle with Raphael "I will bury you" Toledano over the ownership of 97 Second Ave. (Read how that turned out here.)

And as you also may recall, No. 531-533 received some attention in 2009 for being home to NYU's Delta Phi House/East 12th Party Crew:

531 East 12th Party Crew (Apt 1E)
Description:
There are lots of places to party in New York, but few can match the insanity of 531 East 12th Street. If you are tired of going out to bars, come to an apartment with a massive common room filled with multiple pong and flip cup tables.

1st signs for the future tech hub arrive on 14th Street; more details emerge about 14th @ Irving

Renderings for the incoming Union Square Tech Training Center now adorn the former P.C. Richard & Son property on 14th Street at Irving Place, site of the mayor's so-called tech hub.



The renderings here show that the 21-story building — "a community and collaborative work and event center" — is going by 14th @ Irving, a name that was first introduced in December 2016 though not always mentioned in more recent news accounts on the project.





The 14th @ Irving website has details on what to expect here, like the Food Hall:

The Food Hall will enhance the street life and activate the mid-block area on 14th Street between 3rd and 4th avenues. Food and other vendors will provide amenities to the local community and the building tenants. 25% of all booths will be reserved for first time, local entrepreneurs and new businesses. The event space within the building will also provide catering opportunities to help support these new businesses while the digital skills training center will provide access to training to both vendors and employees.

As previously reported, 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 hub, initially announced in early 2017, passed through the city’s Uniform Land Use Review Process (ULURP) earlier this year, capped off by a unanimous City Council vote in August. A rezoning was required to build the the 21-story structure, 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. (You can read more about what transpired in the links below.)

The 14th @ Irving website states that construction will start in the first quarter of 2019, with the building opening in the fourth quarter of 2020. To date, there aren't any permits filed for the address at the DOB website.


[Image via Davis Brody Bond]

Previously on EV Grieve:
Behold Civic Hall, the high-tech future of Union Square — and NYC

Speaking out against a 'Silicon Alley' in this neighborhood

P.C. Richard puts up the moving signs on 14th Street; more Tech Hub debate to come

Preservationists: City schedules next public hearing on tech hub without any public notice

City Council's lone public hearing on the 14th Street tech hub is tomorrow

City Council unanimously approves tech hub; some disappointment in lack of zoning protections

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

1st signs of the 14th Street SBS lane

Back on Thursday, the city began to mark the westbound Select Bus Service (SBS) lane on 14th Street between First Avenue and Second Avenue. (Thanks to KT and Pinch for the tip on Thursday!)

This work is happening ahead of the L-train closure that officially starts now on April 27.

As the MTA and DOT announced last week, this SBS service launches on Sunday, April 21 "to allow for customers to sample and become acclimated to new travel options."

"With DOT crews now putting down new street markings for bus lanes and bike lanes, we are deeply committed to having our streets ready for the tunnel closure next April," DOT Commissioner Polly Trottenberg said in a statement issued last week. "From a ‘bus bridge’ over the Williamsburg Bridge to the 14th Street Busway, from more Citi Bikes to expanded pedestrian space for displaced train commuters, we and our MTA partners are up for this enormous challenge."

The SBS route was originally set to start on Jan. 6. Officials haven't offered a reason why the start date was pushed back to April 21.

Here are more details, per the MTA news release in July announcing the new SBS service:

The M14 SBS will supplement existing M14A and M14D local bus service on 14th Street, making five stops in each direction between First and Tenth Avenues ... Just before the L train tunnel reconstruction project begins, the M14 SBS route will be extended east to the planned Stuyvesant Cove ferry terminal on the East River to accommodate ferry customers from Brooklyn. Once M14 SBS is implemented, combined with the existing 14th Street local bus service and daily high-occupancy vehicle restrictions on most of 14th Street from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m., crosstown buses will be scheduled no more than two minutes apart during peak hours.

And and a few more photos from Saturday ... heading west on 14th Street (already identifying one potential SBS lane issue in front of the USPS retail storefront) ...







The L tunnel reconstruction website has more background and FAQs.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Nightmare scenario for residents who learn that 14th Street and Avenue A will be the main staging area for the L-train reconstruction

Prepping for the new protected bike lanes on 12th and 13th streets

Bike lane line work continues on 12th Street

Pawsitive news: School for the Dogs relocates to larger space on 7th Street

School for the Dogs is up and running in a new East Village location — 92 E. Seventh St. just east of First Avenue.

The dog training center — now with more space as well as a small retail operation — moved here from Second Street near Avenue A.

This recent Instagram post shows how they've grown since the business started in co-owner Annie Grossman's Third Avenue apartment in 2012...

View this post on Instagram

Big news: WE ARE MOVING! On Nov. 1 we will be opening in a new space at 92 E. 7th St., steps from 1st Ave. in Manhattan. It’s double the size of our current studio and has a yard, a spacious shop, a private consultation room, and more features which we are sure will please both our human and canine clients. We can’t wait to show it off to everyone! Thanks, especially, to everyone who funded the Kiva loan that helped make this move possible. (NB: We will be operating our current E. 2nd St. space as an annex for certain services and events for the next few months.) #schoolforthedogs #Sftd #eastvillage #eastvillagedogs #eastvillagelives #lesdogs #manhattandogs #nycdogs #nydogs #nycpuppies #dogschool #dogtrainingnyc #dogtraining #ccpdt #kpactp #eastseventhstreet #nyc #manhattan #nycsmallbusiness #kivaloan #kiva #smallbusiness #femaleownedbusiness

A post shared by School For The Dogs (@schoolforthedogs) on Oct 22, 2018 at 12:31pm PDT

No. 92 was previously home to the Revolver Salon.

Uluh Tea House debuts on 2nd Avenue

Uluh Tea House made its soft opening last Tuesday at 152 Second Ave. between Ninth Street and 10th Street... here's a look at part of their menu, featuring a variety of teas (more than 30) and entrees (they also have desserts and pastries) ...







You can find more details and photos at Uluh's Instagram feed.

Uluh joins the Pure Green-PlantMade combo in the newish retail spaces at No. 152.

H/T Steven!

Previously on EV Grieve:
On 2nd Avenue, signage arrives for Uluh Tea House (and they're hiring)

Dunkin' done on 1st Avenue at 13th Street

The former Dunkin' (Donuts) outpost on First Avenue between 12th Street and 13th Street has been gutted... and the space is now for rent... (thanks dwg for the tip and photos!)

This outpost closed back on Oct. 21. There's still a Dunkin' just a few blocks to the north...



No sign of any teary farewell signage at this Dunkin' (see this post). This also marks the second national chain (see Papa John's) to close this fall along this section of First Avenue.

Sunday's parting shot

A view of Union Square today via EVG reader Jeanne Krier ...

Week in Grieview

[2nd Avenue at 7th Street yesterday via Derek Berg]

Stories posted on EVG this past week included...

Report: The reality of storm-proofing East River Park in 2020 (Monday)

A visit to Yoli Restaurant on 3rd Street (Friday)

Only 178 shopping days left until the L-train shutdown (Wednesday) ... A look at the new L-train renderings along 14th Street (Wednesday)

Halloween night on Avenue B (Thursday)

SSHH — 'a multi-purpose mutant space' — debuts on 6th Street (Wednesday)

At the Tompkins Square Park Halloween Dog Parade — East River amphitheater edition (Monday)

November events at the Tompkins Square Library (Friday)

Revisiting A & C Kitchen on Avenue C (Thursday)

This week's NYC See panel (Friday)

Workers remove artifacts from the vacant 14 2nd Ave., fueling speculation of new development (Monday)

Taberna 97 returns for service Thursday-Saturday on St. Mark's Place (Thursday)

These two buildings are now wrapped and apparently prepped for demolition (Tuesday)

Tompkins Square Park playground reconstruction 1 month in (Thursday)

1st sign of First Lamb Shabu on 14th Street (Tuesday)

Mahalo New York Bakery is closing on 9th Street; space will be for custom orders (Monday)

DOT puts down the green paint on the new 13th Street bike lane (except for one mysterious spot) (Thursday)

Burkelman is now open on the Bowery (Tuesday)

Here is your new Violet awning on 5th Street (Monday)

Alphabet Pizza and Deli setting up shop at 20 Avenue A (Monday)

Long-vacant 115 Avenue C getting some attention (Wednesday)

On Avenue D, Rite Aid completes the 1-block move to its new (former) home (Friday)

Sammy's Halal is now open (Monday)

Spinners adding pizza to its spin chicken and Texas BBQ arsenal (Monday)

188 2nd Ave. is for rent (Tuesday)


[Fall at St. Mark's Church in-the-Bowery]

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'Feast' your eyes on this tomorrow (Monday!) night

Via the EVG inbox...

Producers Alex Randrup and Conrad Kluck curate and host the latest monthly show from FEAST: A Performance Series, tomorrow night at 7 at UNDER St. Marks Theatre, 94 St. Mark's Place between Avenue A and First Avenue.

FEAST3: NOVEMBER presents brand-new performance experiments from comedian Amy Buchwald, performance artist Christopher Augustin, and drag queen Mz Asa Metric — plus snacks provided by the hosts.

Tickets are $12 online, and $15 at the door.

Celebrating the dead at Campos Community Garden

The sixth annual weekend celebration of Día de los Muertos — Day of the Dead — concludes today at the Campos Community Garden on 12th Street between Avenue B and Avenue C.

EVG contributor Stacie Joy shared this photo of the altar, where people can bring an item in memory of a loved one...



Today's activities include an Aztec dance performance by Cetiliztli Nauhcampa at 3 p.m. Garden volunteers will also be serving free Mexican sweet bread and hot chocolate.

A reminder to Turn Back Time

Here's the Pyramid Club on Avenue A with a reminder about the end of Daylight Saving Time...

View this post on Instagram

Daylight Savings Ends tonight! #turnbacktime one hour, so we have one extra hour to dance! Cher with your friends! #cher #daylightsavings

A post shared by The Pyramid Club NYC (@thepyramidclub) on Nov 3, 2018 at 6:34am PDT

Today in photos of a lot of luggage on 13th Street

Ah EVG reader spotted this load of luggage on 13th Street between Avenue A and Avenue B this afternoon... unattended for a moment, though someone did emerge from a building who seemed to be in charge of it...

It's like that: The completed Run-DMC mural on 12th and A

We've been documenting Eduardo Kobra's Run-DMC mural on 12th Street at Avenue A ... starting on Oct. 26 (then again last Sunday) ... here's the completed work...(A few people have wondered, with all the great Run-DMC songs, that the mural opts for "Walk This Way," an Aerosmith cover...)





Kobra also created the dual Michael Jackson mural on 11th Street at First Avenue back in the summer.

Today's rain leaves in Tompkins Square Park

Two Park scenes this morning... via Vinny & O above... and EVG below...

Grant Shaffer's NY See

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 and NYC...

Forget me not

Pink Mexico opened for RUBY™️ and Bass Drum of Death back on Monday night at the Bowery Ballroom (good show) ... the Brooklyn-based trio have a new record coming out in the New Year... until then, the video here is for "Forgetting Everything" from their 2016 release fool.

EVG Etc.: Expanding a 4th Street theater; touring the L-train construction zone on 14th Street

[Sad dolphin on 7th Street yesterday via Derek Berg]

Here are the plans to modernize and expand the Choicirciati Cultural Center on 4th Street (NY Yimby)

Father Pat on Ninth Street may officiate Whitey Bulger’s funeral (The Post)

MTA officials and local pols tour the hellish L-train construction zone on 14th Street (Town & Village ... previously)

NYC’s 2019 Michelin Bib Gourmands include quite a few in the East Village (Eater maps them here)

The NYPD is finally cracking down on the rogue private sanitation trucks (Streetsblog)

Char Sue on Essex is holding a Bowery Mission Donation Drive Sunday (Official site)

At the Anthology Film Archives, 2nd Street and 2nd Avenue: The U.S. theatrical premiere of F.J. Ossang's cyberpunk film noir "9 Fingers" (trailer below!) and the NYC laundromat documentary "The Washing Society" (Official site)



And you can still see the John Carpenter version of "The Fog" with Adrienne Barbeau and the mother-daughter duo of Janet Leigh and Jamie Lee Curtis, held over this weekend (Metrograph)

New book promo-ing: Mike D and Ad-Rock are quite charming on Fallon (The AV Club)

A little history about Lou Reed and Genya Ravan appearing on one another’s solo albums in 1978 (Dangerous Minds)

AND YES — BRING ON VALENTINE"S DAY!!!!!!

@evgrieve shit is over people. Get over it! pic.twitter.com/bPJrfjkwdR

— EdenBrower (@edenbrower) November 2, 2018

A visit to Yoli Restaurant on 3rd Street

Photos and text by Stacie Joy

I dropped by Yoli Restaurant on Third Street near Avenue C Tuesday morning to watch a steady stream of locals and folks who work in the area come by for late breakfast/early lunch.



People lined up the entire time I was there for Dominican-style food from manager Yolanda Garcia (seen below peeling yucca) and her coworkers.







The tiny space is open from 7 a.m. every day until 5 p.m. and serves up island staples like chicharos (a split-pea side dish), platanos maduros (yellow fried plantains), rabo guisado (oxtail stew) and house favorite arroz con pollo (chicken over rice).

Most of the folks I spoke to said they come by almost every day for the $5 lunch special (the catfish was mentioned by many as a must-try) and food “like momma used to make back in the Dominican Republic.”

I was also told that "no one leaves here hungry." The tiny shop has only a few seats but some people ate while standing outside, perched on a stoop nearby, or took their orders packed up for take out.













Yoli Restaurant: Comida Tipica Dominicana is located at 274 E. Third St. between Avenues C and D. Telephone 212.420.1075. Old-school style, no website or seamless, although delivery is available.

November at the Tompkins Square Library

Here's an ad for English classes at the Tompkins Square Library from 1920 ... found it in the NYPL Digital Collections here.

Anyway, 98 years later, the branch at 331 E. 10th St. between Avenue A and Avenue B continues to offer an array of free activities — classes, screenings, workshops and discussion groups. Find the full list of November activities for kids and adults here.

And starting on Dec. 1: it's their second annual East Village Arts Festival, featuring artwork from more than a dozen local artists on display, 30 public programs spanning two weeks, and a gallery walk highlighting neighborhood galleries. Details TK.