Schiti no more

On Thursday night, as Eden pointed out on Twitter, the "Schitibank" signage was removed from outside Gem Spa on the corner of Second Avenue and St. Mark's Place.

The satirical advertisements for Schitibank arrived in September ahead of the Cash Mob for the shop, which has been struggling financially this past year. (The signage was only expected to be up through September. One piece of it remains behind.)

As you know, "Schitibank" was a play on Citibank, who was rumored to be interested in buying out the lease. (Citi has denied they had any interest in the storefront.) You can read more about the art installation that Tommy Noonan and Doug Cameron of the design firm DCX Accelerator created at Jeremiah's Vanishing New York.

Meanwhile, the shop, now run by owner Ray Patel's daughter Parul, is working toward profitability again. The financial turnaround has been aided by the sale of Gem Spa-branded hats and t-shirts.

And now, hoodies are available...


[Photo by Steven]

Previously on EV Grieve:
• At the Gem Spa Cash Mob (Sept. 16)

• Gem Spa is now a 'Schitibank' (Sept. 12)

• Get your Gem Spa t-shirts or photos of Madonna — at Gem Spa! (Aug. 16)

• Will you buy a Gem Spa T-shirt? (June 28)

• "Gem Spa is open!" (June 18)

• What is happening at Gem Spa? (June 11)

• A visit to Gem Spa (May 10)

8th Street sunrise

Thank you to @RealPKeys for sharing the sunrise shot from Eighth Street and Avenue B today...

Police looking for suspect accused of taking $6,300 in jewelry from the Cure Thrift Shop

Via the EVG inbox..

The New York City Police Department is asking for the public's assistance identifying the male depicted in the attached photos wanted for questioning in connection to a grand larceny that occurred within the confines of the 9th Precinct. The following was reported to police:

On Thursday, November 14, 2019 at approximately 1400 hours, a unidentified individual did enter the Cure Thrift Shop located at 111 E. 12th St. and removed jewelry from over the counter as store clerk was helping other customers. The individual then fled the store on foot with property valued at approximately $6,375. There were no injuries reported as a result of this incident.

The individual is described as a male, Black, with a medium build and last seen wearing a red and blue jacket, dark-colored pants, dark-colored hat, tan boots and wearing eyeglasses.

Anyone with information that could help in the investigation is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477). You may also submit tips online. All calls are strictly confidential.

My friend Edgar

The NYC-based Lunachicks are playing their first shows in 15 years — April 11-12 at Webster Hall on 11th Street. (Tickets went on sale today. That first show is already sold out.)

The band — led by Theo Kogan — formed in 1988, recording six albums between 1990 and 1999. The video here is for "Edgar" from their 1995 release "Jerk of All Trades."

Falling tree in Tompkins Square Park

A tree (was this the crabapple?) has fallen in Tompkins Square Park at the chess tables near the Avenue A and Seventh Street entrance... EVG regular Daniel shares these photos...



No word on any injuries.

Updated 11/23

Another view of the tree via Vinny & O...

EVG Etc.: More bus passengers on 14th Street; another food hall downtown

[Ageloff Towers on 3rd and A on Wednesday afternoon]

• At the NYCHA town hall in the East Village (Fox 5) ... Thanksgiving without gas for cooking for some residents in LES NYCHA properties (Patch)

• Speeds and ridership increasing on the 14th Street Busway; camera enforcement arriving (amNY)

• The Market Line food hall opens today in Essex Crossing (Crain's)

• Local developer-landlord Michael Shah, who has been arrested twice over alleged domestic incidents with his girlfriend, claims that "the DA’s office has shown gender bias that only women and not men can be victims of domestic violence, even in the face of copious evidence." (The Real Deal)

• More about Giovanni Destefano, who died after a mugging on Fifth Street (Daily News ... previously on EVG)

• A stabbing at the East Broadway F stop (The Lo-Down)

• A chilly morning in Tompkins Square Park with red-tailed hawks Amelia and Christo (Laura Goggin Photography)

• Sietsema likes that Japanese omelet rice at the just-opened Aoi Kitchen on Sixth Street (Eater ... first on EVG)

• The French classics at Brasserie Saint Marc on Second Avenue (Frenchly ... previously on EVG)

• That Noah Baumbach residency continues (Metrograph)

• A retrospective featuring the work of French composer Luc Ferrari (Anthology Film Archives)

• Study: Starbucks’ open bathroom policy may be hurting foot traffic (Yahoo! Finance)

• Details on the long-awaited SoHo and NoHo planning study (Gothamist)

• The footwear of the Ramones (Flaming Pablum)

🙄 Poll: Bloomberg most popular of last three New York City mayors (The Post)

... and EVG reader Sylvia G. spotted these giveaways last night on Sixth Street between Avenue C and Avenue D...



... it was not immediately clear if the "it works" sign referred to the microwave or penis-shaped Trump bottle opener...

No parking signs remain after garbage trucks leave 10th Street

For the first time last night in more than 14 months, there weren't any garbage trucks parked on 10th Street between First Avenue and Second Avenue.

As reported here yesterday morning, the Department of Sanitation (DSNY) is temporarily relocating the trucks to Pier 42 along the East River for the next three months. It's not immediately clear where they will park after those 90 days.

In September 2018, the DSNY started using this section of 10th Street to park up to seven garbage trucks from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m., including on Sundays. The DSNY no longer had use of their garage on 30th Street, and the solution was to relocate their fleet to residential blocks.

This move sparked numerous complaints from residents and merchants alike who called out the problems with the smell, noise and negative impact on business.

Meanwhile, the "Authorized Vehicles Only" signs remain up along this corridor, reserving parking for DSNY vehicles...



As of now, no one is parking here... but the open spaces did attract a few idling motorists.

H/T Steven!

Previously on EV Grieve:
• Questions and concerns as the sanitation department begins using 10th Street to park garbage trucks

• More trash talk about those garbage trucks parked on 10th Street

• Local elected officials continue to press city for alternatives to parking garbage trucks on 10th Street; muggings now a concern

• A waste of space: 10th Street still waiting for the garbage trucks to move on

• Garbage truck parking situation on 10th Street still stinks, residents say

• Waste land: Local elected officials tell the city to move the garbage trucks from 10th Street

• State pols introduce legislation to ban garbage trucks from parking overnight on city streets, like on 10th Street

Openings: The Dip on St. Mark's Place; Jell & Chill on 7th Street

Two new quick-serve concepts to note...

• The Dip, 58 St. Mark's Place between First Avenue and Second Avenue

The Dip is now serving a variety of sandwiches, including, as you may have guessed, a French dip (shaved beef, horseradish, gruyere and cherry peppers on garlic bread).

Have a look...

View this post on Instagram

What makes our French dip sandwich so special? Our beef is cured overnight, slow roasted all day, sliced thin, then cooked in a delicious jus. It’s served on garlic bread with melted gruyere to warm you up this winter! Grab one at The Dip. We’re located at 58 St Marks Pl in East Village between 1st and 2nd ave.! #thedipnyc #frenchdip #sandwiches #sandwich #sandwichshop #beef #aujus #beefaujus #gruyere #cheese #meltedcheese #soup #eastvillage #nyc #newyork #newyorkcity #newyorkeats #newyorkrestaurants #eastvillageeats #eastvillagerestaurants

A post shared by The Dip (@thedipnyc) on Nov 18, 2019 at 8:06pm PST

You can find their menu here.

Hours: Monday through Thursday, 2 p.m. to midnight, with a 1 a.m. close on Friday and Saturday.

Previous coverage here.

---



• Jell & Chill, 110 E. Seventh St. between Avenue A and First Avenue

The shop is now serving traditional handcrafted Bīng Fěn Ice Jelly, a Sichuanese cold dessert jelly. You can find their Instagram account here.


[Photo by Derek Berg]

Previous coverage here.

Thursday's parting shot

Chadwick Boseman views from Third Avenue...

Get an early start on Christmas this Thanksgiving

The tree stand has arrived outside the Bueno East Mart on Avenue A and Third Street — one week out from Thanksgiving and possibly the earliest that we can recall live trees go on sale.

And this is an actual stand and not a backdrop for a Netflix series.

Grant Shaffer's NY See

Here's the latest NY See panel, East Village-based illustrator Grant Shaffer's observational sketch diary of things that he sees and hears around the neighborhood as well as other parts of the city (like today!)

NY See is going on hiatus for the holidays... with a return in early 2020!

The city is removing the garbage trucks that were parking overnight on 10th Street

[EVG file photo]

The Department of Sanitation (DSNY) is moving its fleet of garbage trucks away from 10th Street between First Avenue and Second Avenue.

DSNY officials said that the trucks will temporarily relocate to Pier 42 along the East River starting today for the next three months.

The move came nearly a month after Sen. Brad Hoylman and Assemblymember Deborah J. Glick introduced legislation to ban overnight garbage truck parking for residential streets citywide.

"We are so thankful that DSNY has relocated the trucks to a more appropriate location and grateful for the help of our local elected officials ... for making this happen," 10th Street resident Michelle Lang told me in an email. "While we just learned that this is a temporary fix, we hope that the trucks will not return to residential streets in the city."

In a statement issued last night, Hoylman called this "the sweet smell of success!" He continued: "Hopefully, life will resume to normal for the residents and small businesses along East 10th Street who’ve been dealing with this stinky situation for over a year."

As I first reported on Sept. 18, 2018, the DSNY started using this section of 10th Street to park up to seven garbage trucks from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m., including on Sundays. The DSNY no longer had use of their garage on 30th Street, and the solution was to relocate their fleet to residential blocks.

City officials had promised to look into this parking practice, but nothing ever happened. In September 2018, shortly after the trucks arrived, Mayor de Blasio promised to "relieve the immediate pressure" on 10th Street. "Do we want garbage trucks parking on residential streets? Of course not," said de Blasio, as CBS 2 reported on Sept. 26, 2018.

Despite meetings and direct pleas from residents of 10th Street and local elected officials, the city never took any action to relocate the trucks. With the city's inaction, officials turned to state legislation to get something done.

And why park here? The Theater for the New City complex at 155 First Ave. near 10th Street was previously used by DSNY for storage, and they still maintain space in the facility for crews.

Previously on EV Grieve:
• Questions and concerns as the sanitation department begins using 10th Street to park garbage trucks

• More trash talk about those garbage trucks parked on 10th Street

• Local elected officials continue to press city for alternatives to parking garbage trucks on 10th Street; muggings now a concern

• A waste of space: 10th Street still waiting for the garbage trucks to move on

• Garbage truck parking situation on 10th Street still stinks, residents say

• Waste land: Local elected officials tell the city to move the garbage trucks from 10th Street

• State pols introduce legislation to ban garbage trucks from parking overnight on city streets, like on 10th Street

Taking stock of the neighborhood's disappearing single-story buildings

Several years back, Adam Friedberg was crossing Third Avenue and Ninth Street and noticed how strange the block looked — with Cooper Union's 15-story Student Residence Hall towering over the neighboring single-level buildings.

What started as visual stimulus for Friedberg, a photographer and 30-year-resident of the East Village, became a project about six months later as he set out to take photos of every single-story building in the neighborhood.

Starting tonight, Friedberg's work can be seen in a new exhibit titled "Single-Story Project" at the Center for Architecture.

Here's more about the project:

He noticed how quickly these most humble structures were disappearing, a reflection of the rapid development and gentrification of the neighborhood. He completed the project this past fall, and over the course of the documentation many of the buildings have already disappeared or will soon be demolished.

In order to capture the buildings unobstructed, Friedberg mostly shot very early in the morning before cars and trucks obstructed the street-level views. In the process, he got to know many of the people who own or work in these buildings.

In so doing, he came to understand that not only were the buildings being sold, but an entire primarily working-class economy (workshops, garages, fast-food joints) and culture (storefront churches and community centers) was disappearing. Friedberg’s Single-Story Project forms an alternative geography of changing city and captures an urban erasure happening right before our eyes.

The exhibit, featuring 54 prints from his series, will be on display through Feb. 29. The Center for Architecture is at 536 LaGuardia Place between West Third Street and Bleecker Street. The opening is tonight from 6-8.

Gallery Hours (no admission fee):
Monday – Friday: 9 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Saturday: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.

The galleries will be closed from Nov. 27 at 5 p.m. through Dec. 1 in honor of Thanksgiving.

Also, if you're on Instagram, you can follow Friedberg here. All photos courtesy of Friedberg.

Is it Nov. 28 yet? Turkey time again at the Odessa with the $18.95 Thanksgiving Special

Thanksgiving Season is officially upon us as the Odessa management hung the familiar Thanksgiving Special signage yesterday morning here at 119 Avenue A between Seventh Street and St. Mark's Place...



As you can see, they are sticking to the formula — glass of wine, cup of cream of turkey soup, etc. — that has served them well all these years. And pricing for the Complete Dinner remains unchanged since 2014, when management bumped the meal from $15.95 to $18.95.

It is quite a good deal, and one that I have enjoyed on past Thanksgivings. God Bless us everyone. (Wrong holiday?)

Previously on EV Grieve:
• Odessa breaks out the Thanksgiving Special signage

• It now seems like Thanksgiving with the Thanksgiving Special at the Odessa

• Odessa unveils Thanksgiving Special; complete dinner still $18.95

• Thanksgiving at Odessa

• Still the best Thanksgiving deal around

• 1 idea for a last-minute Thanksgiving meal

• A tradition almost as traditional as Thanksgiving itself

Flashback to 2009…

The Ben's Deli t-shirt

In case you've been admiring those Ben's Deli t-shirts that the staff (like Uncle above) has been wearing on Avenue B...

EVG contributor Stacie Joy notes that local designer and entrepreneur Freaky Frige (below) designs and makes the t-shirts (also caps, hoodies and bags). He will make anyone a Ben's Deli shirt, sizes XS through 3XL. You can contact him through Instagram for a quote and where and how to pick up the merchandise.



Ben's, which served as a key location for the Netflix series "Russian Doll," is at 32 Avenue B between Second Street and Third Street.

A 'build-to-suit' opportunity for the long-dormant development site at 14th and C

[Photo from Sunday]

The southwest corner of 14th Street at Avenue C — 644 E. 14th St. — is currently an inactive development site. But there's a new listing for the property that is positioning the corner as a "unique build-to-suit opportunity" ...



According to the listing at Lee & Associates, the site "can be developed as a residential/commercial mixed use building" that's "ideal for schools, health care/medical, not-for-profits, retail." No word on the price.

The 10-story rendering with the listing looks more on the office side of things.

There hasn't been any construction activity at this site since the end of 2017. However, there has been some behind-the-scenes wrangling. This past May, PincusCo examined city records to find that several developers have spent hundreds of thousands of dollars to lobby the city for NYCHA air rights. (The new listing notes that "additional FAR" is available.)

According to the PincusCo investigation, Madison Realty Capital hired one of the city’s most active government lobbying firms, Capalino+Company, to approach the NYCHA about the air rights at Campos Plaza II adjacent to this property.

In other recent news about this parcel... in late January, the Commercial Observer reported that Second Avenue Deli owner Jeremy Lebewohl filed a $10 million lawsuit alleging that his five-story residential building at 642 E. 14th St. sustained damages by the foundation work next door at No. 644. No word on the status of that suit.

As for the currently stalled new development, here's what was in the works in September 2016: A 15-floor building with 50 residential units with 8,064 square feet of retail space and 21,575 square feet of community facility space." Those plans never materialized, of course.


[2016-era rendering of the development]

This corner property last housed the single-level R&S Strauss auto parts store, which closed in April 2009.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Development back in play for East 14th Street and Avenue C

More details on the sale of 644 E. 14th St.

Here comes a 15-story retail-residential complex for East 14th Street and Avenue C

Prepping the former R&S Strauss auto parts store for demolition on East 14th Street and Avenue C

City OKs 15-story mixed-use retail-residential building on 14th and C

14th and C now waiting for the Karl Fischer-designed 15-story retail-residential complex

14th and C still waiting for its Karl Fischer-designed retail-residential complex

Report: New owners for the empty lot at 14th Street and Avenue C

Financing comes together for the office building planned for the gateway of the East Village

[Photo from yesterday]

All has been quiet on the northeast corner of Third Avenue and St. Mark's Place since workers cleared the lot in late summer of the assemblage of buildings that housed Korilla BBQ, the Continental and McDonald's, among other businesses.

For the foreseeable future, the RIP ST. MARKS message, which arrived over the summer on the west-facing wall of 5 St. Mark's Place, will continue to greet passersby.

As you likely know, a 10-floor office building with ground-floor retail is in the works here. The total size of this new building has yet to be officially determined. Real Estate Equities Corporation (REEC) wants to transfer the air rights from the landmarked Hamilton-Holly House at 4 St. Mark's Place to add more square footage, a move that has plenty of critics.

In June, the Landmarks Preservation Commission voted to support the plan, and has issued a report to the City Planning Commission to allow the proposal under a specific zoning resolution.

The City Planning Commission will likely sign off on the project next as part of the city’s Uniform Land Use Review Procedure. City Council will have the final say on the Morris Adjimi-designed building. Those meeting dates have not yet been made public. (This Zoning Application Portal provides a project status. The most recent activity by the developer: filing the Land Use application on Oct. 3.)

Meanwhile, the financial elements are coming together for the project.

This press release — citing square footage even though it hasn't been determined — landed in our inbox last Friday:

Madison Realty Capital (MRC) has provided a $48 million senior loan for the funding of a $79.1 million financing package for the development of a mixed-use office project at 3 St. Mark’s Place ...

Hana Financial Group, a leading South Korean financial services company, provided Real Estate Equities Corporation (REEC), an experienced local developer with an additional $31.1 million of mezzanine financing to fully capitalize the project.

REEC’s development plans call for a 10-story, 68,224-square-foot modern boutique office building with eight floors of office space, a fitness center, roof deck, and 7,886 square feet of retail.

The property is well-located at the corner of St. Mark’s Place and 3rd Avenue in a section of Manhattan’s East Village that has seen significant growth in demand for quality office space from a mix of tech, finance, law, and family office tenants in recent years.

The site is adjacent to 51 Astor Place, a 400,000-square-foot office and retail asset developed by Minskoff Equities that is home to anchor tenants IBM Watson and St. John’s University, in addition to a strong retail roster that includes Shake Shack, Flywheel, Bluestone Lane and Orange Theory.

In reporting on this financing, The Real Deal noted:

The developers will be eyeing rents in the area of $150 per square foot. Such figures were once only seen in the most expensive locations in Midtown but now are commonplace for newly constructed office buildings in areas like the Meatpacking District, Soho and Greenwich Village.

[A rendering of 3 St. Mark's Place]

Madison Realty Capital, who provided the senior loan, is a familiar name for some EV residents. In the fall of 2015, they loaned $124 million to Rafael Toledano, a then 25 year old with no track record as a landlord so that he could buy a portfolio of 15 buildings, mostly in the East Village. He eventually defaulted on Madison's loan.

REEC picked up the 99-year leasehold for the properties here for nearly $150 million in November 2017. The corner assemblage is owned by the Gabay family.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Demolition permits filed for northeast corner of 3rd Avenue and St. Mark's Place

End is nearing for the businesses on the northeast corner of 3rd Avenue and St. Mark's Place

New building plans revealed for 3rd Avenue and St. Mark's Place

Concern over potential air-rights transfer for new office building on St. Mark's Place and 3rd Avenue

Developers of 3 St. Mark's Place are looking to increase the size of their proposed office building at 3rd Avenue to 10 floors with air-rights deal

The lobbyists behind the air-rights transfer and zoning variance for 3 St. Mark's Place

Final demolition phase for 1 St. Mark's Place; more questions about lobbyists attached to project

Report: LPC approves transfer of air rights across St. Mark's Place

Live at 1 St. Mark's Place this summer; views of 51 Astor Place are free

Koko Wings waiting to take flight on 1st Avenue

Renovations continue at 192 First Ave. between 11th Street and 12th Street.

As we pointed out back on Sept. 30, Koko Wings, specializing in Korean fried chicken, is opening its second NYC outpost here. (The other is on West 106th Street.)

That 106th Street locale got a nice writeup via Westside Rag upon opening in 2014:

The wings are marinated in either soy garlic or hot and spicy sauce, both of which were tasty. You can also order drumsticks or chicken strips in the same marinades. The Kimchi cole slaw had a nice kick, as expected. Other Korean dishes like mandu (dumplings) and pa-jeon (scallion pancakes with seafood) are also on the menu...

An opening day for the EV location hasn't been announced.

Despite good food and intentions, the previous tenant here, Chelsea Thai, closed after five months in business this past January.

Tuesday's parting crow shot

peter radley spotted this surprisingly calm crow today on 10th Street between Avenue A and Avenue B...

9th Precinct hosting a Build the Block meeting tomorrow (Wednesday) evening for Sector A

The 9th Precinct is hosting another Sector Safety Summit tomorrow (Nov. 20) night for East Village residents and business owners — this time for those who live in Sector A.

This Sector encompasses the east side of Avenue C from East 14th Street to Houston ... and Seventh Street from Avenue C to First Avenue back down to Houston...



The meeting starts at 6 p.m. (doors 5:30!) in the Village View Apartments, 175 E. Fourth St. between Avenue A and First Avenue.

As for these Sector meetings: "This is an avenue for you to voice your grievances or concerns with issues in and around the neighborhood."

This is part of the NYPD's initiative called the Neighborhood Coordination Officers (NCO) program. The 9th Precinct is split up into four sectors, with two officers assigned to each sector.