Petition campaign launched to stop luxury housing at Meltzer Tower

Friends of Meltzer have launched a petition campaign to help stop the city's plan to lease the park space at Max Meltzer Tower to private developers... among other things, the new development would wipe out the park at the senior citizen development at 94 E. First St. near First Avenue ...

Per the petition:

The proposed NYCHA infill plan will create luxury housing on existing properties throughout New York City intended for residents with limited incomes, depriving them of much needed air, light, space, and recreational facilities. In the case of Meltzer Tower, a residence for low-income seniors, NYCHA is planning to destroy a local park adjacent to the building containing a stand of over two-dozen fully mature trees.

Find the petition here.

There's also a Facebook group called Friends of Meltzer with more details.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Outrage over proposal to turn the green space at the Meltzer Tower into private development (35 comments)

The Jefferson sales gallery now open on East 14th Street

Last Monday, The Jefferson — the luxury condos that rose up from the former Mystery Lot on East 13th Street — unveiled its pricing and floor plans, as BuzzBuzz Home first noted.

And the "sales gallery" is also open on East 14th Street ... where we assume retail will eventually take over once the condos, priced from $850,000 to $2.49 million, are sold. Oh, and the gallery is "by appointment only."



Previously on EV Grieve:
City approves new building for Mystery Lot

The last days of the Mystery Lot

Before it was the Mystery Lot

The Mystery Lot developers using famous dead comedians to sell condos at The Jefferson

Do Do is missing

EVG reader Seth shares this:

Anyone who's walked regularly down Broome between Eldridge and Forsyth probably knows "Do Do" — the temple cat at the Guan Gong Temple, 294 Broome. He's often sitting stoically with his quiet Buddha-nature by the door, observing passersby. Sadly, he's missing, and the temple congregants have put a few signs up around the neighborhood. Hopefully neighbors can keep an eye out around the neighborhood and park and if they see him (hopefully alive) grab him and bring him back to the temple. He's a bit of a neighborhood fixture.

David Peel sessions in Tompkins Square Park today

Here's David Peel and company in Tompkins Square Park today... not sure what what they were up to (practice?) ... sorry that we missed them...





Photos by Bobby Williams.

C'mon, C'mon

EVG regular Stephen Popkin shares these photos from earlier this evening... where Cheap Trick is ready to play the John Varvatos store on the Bowery... where the band is celebrating the 35th anniversary of "At Budokan" ...



Live stream is here.

Updated:

[Updated] Fire reported on Seventh Street and Avenue C

[@KristiAdamsNY]


[@madamelolo]


[@madamelolo]


[Looking south on Avenue C via EVG reader Noah]

Reports of smoke are coming in from all over the neighborhood... fire reported on Seventh Street and Avenue C... more to come... no word just yet of injuries or the extent of the damage...

FDNY taking care of business on 7th Street vine.co/v/bx6ggW5jOhq
— Kevin Barnett (@kevinbarnett) April 28, 2013

Huge fire on 7th street vine.co/v/bx66uXTBlmj
— Madame Lolo (@madamelolo) April 28, 2013

Updated 3:33 p.m.

#FDNY o/s at #Manhattan *75-0439* 230 E 7th St off Ave C. Fire in a 5 story multiple dwelling twitter.com/NYCFireWire/st…
— NYC Fire Wire (@NYCFireWire) April 28, 2013

Updated 3:34 p.m.


[@gaminette]

Updated 3:42

MAN ALL HANDS 230 E 7 STREET, MULTIPLE DWELLING FIRE ON THE ROOF,
— FDNY (@FDNY) April 28, 2013

Updated 4:11



The above photo is from the height of the fire via @tdouglassinger

-----

Looking at the fire from Tompkins Square Park... via EVG Facebook friend Lauren Berkery...



St. Mark's Place between First Avenue and Second Avenue...


[Via @erikakaz]

...and Brooklyn...


[Via @NgawangChoney]

Week in Grieview

[Third Avenue and St. Mark's Place yesterday, by Bobby Williams]

Permits filed to demolish Mary Help of Christians (Thursday)

'Return PS 64 to the community' (Tuesday)

Fire at Mono+Mono (Sunday)

Fire at 224 Avenue B (Monday)

Proposed dorm for 35 Cooper Square now taller (Wednesday)

Call for an East Village 'slow zone' (Monday)

Bryan Alejandro Scott's East Village (Wednesday)

Cooper Union will starting charging tuition (Tuesday)

Max Fish is likely moving to Brooklyn (Wednesday)

Heart 'N Soul has closed for now (Thursday)

Revisiting the Electric Circus, thanks to 'Mad Men' (Wednesday)

Please ID that high-piched screening noise (Tuesday)

Looking at the menu for Pride and Joy BBQ, opening soon on First Avenue (Friday)

The last interesting lot in the East Village (Thursday)

Nino's is returning (Monday)

Remembering Johnny Thunders (Tuesday)

Please mind the Street Safety Managers (Friday)

Homecoming, a community art show (Tuesday)

About the 'incompetent contractors' at Croxley Ales (Monday)


[Thursday night, by Bobby Williams]

Today is the last day for Veselka Bowery

On Thursday, a tipster told us that he overheard waitstaff at Veselka Bowery say they were closing after this weekend. However, we never received confirmation from management.

Now, though, the restaurant at Avalon Bowery Place has updated its Facebook account with this message:

Veselka Bowery wants to thank all of our old friends — and the new friends we made along the way — as we close our doors today at 4PM for the last time.

There were great times and great food. Thank you for your unending support and thanks to the East Village community for being the best little town in the country's biggest city.

We're sorry to close, but it's not goodbye if we see you in our original Veselka :: Beceлкa location, where the doors never close. Keep in touch!

The restaurant opened in November 2011.

Previously.

More later...

Soft opening at Maiden Lane on Avenue B

Maiden Lane is in soft-opening mode now on Avenue B at East 10th Street... Shawn Chittle took a quick look inside...







The cafe is awaiting its beer-wine license at the former Life Cafe space. The partners in this new venture are East Village residents Nialls Fallon and Gareth Maccubbin. This is what Fallon told us about leasing this space last fall:

"We decided on the space for two reasons, the first being we didn't want to see the 7-Eleven-Starbucks scenario you mentioned happen there. Second, we wanted to be in an iconic space that carried on some form of community identity and East Village-ness. I am excited to create something new and make sure that the corner remains owned and operated by locals."

Previously on EV Grieve:
Maiden Lane hopes to open by the end of the week for lunch service

Maiden Lane coming to East 10th Street and Avenue B

Here's what's coming to the former Life Cafe space

After 30 years, Life Cafe closes — 'until further notice' — in the East Village

[Updated] Oh, the Hyatt Union Square is open

Five-plus years in the making!

And I swear it didn't look open yesterday... Last we heard they were opening May 1. But they are now accepting reservations! And I saw people bringing luggage in and all that kind of hotel stuff here on Fourth Avenue and East 13th Street...





Updated:

Apologies — We were wrong. The restaurant with the crazy bed frame installation won't be open for a few more weeks... They are currently just serving coffee.

Checked out a room online... rates start at $459.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Through the years with the sunlight-blocking Hyatt Union Square, opening Nov. 15

(Shh! Zoltar is working again)

Be gentle.

And I took a Vine of him TALKING LOUDLY this morning right here.

East 10th Street, 10:20 a.m., April 28

Photo by Shawn Chittle.

Prepping for Cheap Trick on the Bowery

This morning around 9, the first truck rolled up to the John Varvatos store on the Bowery... to start preparing for tonight's Cheap Trick show ... where the band is celebrating the 35th anniversary of "At Budokan."

This area promises to get a lot more active as the day progresses... the NYPD already posted No Parking signs... so move that cart.



Deluxe boxset tickets were going for $500 tonight.

Monkey business

Oh, c'mon.

Photo in Tompkins Square Park today via Bobby Williams.

Noted

East Ninth Street and First Avenue this afternoon... via EVG regular William Klayer...

Anyone?

And another shot via Janko Puls ...

[Updated] Looking at the Astor Place Citi Bikes docking station

... that arrived Tuesday... Via an EV Grieve Vine...





I recommend muting this... and don't stare at it for too long... ... I removed the Vine ... and replaced it with photos...

Citi Bike docking station magically arrives overnight on E. 2nd. St.

Ah! @BennyPack reports that a Citi Bikes docking station was there waiting this morning on the southeast corner of Avenue C and Second Street. Anyone else wake up to a docking station in front of their building or street?

Noted

EVG reader Galwegian notes that someone is not impressed with one of those dumb surveys that you've been seeing around the last month or so ... this one on Avenue B near East Second Street...

Papaya Dog back open

Meant to note that Papaya Dog on First Avenue and East 14th Street is back open after a brief bout with the DOH earlier this week. Violations included "Food Protection Certificate not held by supervisor of food operations," among other things you may not want to know about.

Doomed DOOMED

Officially at a loss now here outside Gem Spa.

Tonight in Tompkins Square Park

Filming the HBO series "The Newsroom."

Jeff?! Jeff! I love Jeff Daniels! Jeeeffffff! I love you! Shit, I lost my phone. I gotta pee. Oh shit...

C'mon, Get Happy

Captain Sensible backed by the Dolly Mixture with a cover of "Happy Talk" from 1982.

Workers spotted clearing out East Sixth Street synagogue awaiting condofication

Last we heard, there were still plans afoot to convert the Congregation Mezritch Synagogue at 415 E. Sixth St. into condos. The historic building in the new landmark district is in bad shape and the congregation has apparently dwindled.

Last month, CB3's Landmarks Subcommittee heard a proposal about the renovations, which include a penthouse addition and an elevator. Synagogue leaders reportedly signed a 99-year lease with East River Partners worth some $1.2 million.

The committee tabled the discussion for another meeting, as DNAinfo's Serena Solomon reported. (The proposal was set to go before the Landmarks Preservation Commission on April 9. We never heard what transpired at that meeting.)

There still aren't any permits on file with the city related to the latest project. Meanwhile, several readers have noted activity here between First Avenue and Avenue A... this afternoon, EVG reader Stephanie spotted workers removing items from the synagogue...



Yesterday, a resident complained to the city that: "ILLEGAL CONSTRUCTION RENOVATION BEING PERFORMED WITHOUT VALID PERMIT."

According to the DOB, when an inspector arrived for a second visit, "ACCESS DENIED BY MALE AT GROUND LEVEL ENTRANCE DOOR."



Previously on EV Grieve:
Play spot the potential penthouse atop the East Village synagogue

More details on plans for the former P.S. 64

[Bobby Williams]

As the photo from yesterday shows, workers continue to clear out the former P.S. 64 and CHARAS/El Bohio community center. Per the building permit on file with the city: "INTERIOR DEMOLITION OF NON LOAD BEARING PARTITIONS."

As you know, there are plans on file to convert the building into a 500-bed dorm called University House on East Ninth Street just east of Avenue B. Earlier in the month, developer Gregg Singer said that he already had a 15-year agreement for 200 of the beds with Cooper Union, as The Wall Street Journal first reported.

And Singer sat down with The Villager for a lengthy feature in this week's issue.

A few highlights of what Singer says will be a state-of-the-art facility:

The basement — formerly home to a 400-seat auditorium where F.D.R. once riled the masses, and where the Fringe Festival was staged — would now house a bike room, fitness center, TV lounge and game rooms outfitted with pool, ping-pong and foosball tables, along with Xbox and PlayStation consoles.

And how about the idea of bringing 500-students into a residential neighborhood?

“Manhattan has almost 2 million people. These kids are already coming to the East Village,” [Singer] said.

“They are putting three to four students in studios around here,” he noted. “This is a safe and managed environment. Isn’t that better than cramming them in all these brownstones?”

And!

“Unused as an elementary school since 1977, the century-old structure sat empty for the past 11 years,” reads an April 18 press release on the University House dorm. “The building occupies much of the city block, where its vacancy has inhibited local development and the growth of small businesses in the neighborhood.”

Councilmember Rosie Mendez is not pleased with the developments here.

Mendez said she met with Cooper President Bharucha to voice her displeasure.

“I told him I’m not happy with this dorm plan, the community is not happy,” she said. “There will be protests, and I will be joining in when that happens.”

Read the whole article here.

Meanwhile, as we noted Tuesday, the East Village Community Coalition started a petition campaign that reads:

COMMUNITY USE - NOT DORMITORY

Respect our community. Respect this community treasure: Old P.S. 64 located at 605 East 9th Street.

Old P.S. 64, a designated New York City landmark, has a long and valued history serving our community. This building could easily serve our community again. Dormitory use of this building does not serve our community. Cooper Union should not house students in old P.S. 64.

We ask that old P.S. 64 be returned to use for our community.

Find the petition here.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Will old PS 64 get a theater for nonprofit groups?

Rebranded P.S. 64 up for grabs: Please welcome University House at Tompkins Square Park to the neighborhood

Deed for 'community facility use only' at the former P.S. 64 now on the market

2 new sidewalk bridges arrive as city disapproves latest plan for P.S. 64