The Brant Foundation's 6th Street outpost looks close to completion (at least on the outside)

The gut renovations started back in April 2016 at the former Con Edison substation and Walter de Maria studio that Peter Brant is converting into an exhibition space.

The renovated circa-1920 building, which will reportedly serve as an extension of the Greenwich, Conn.-based Brant Foundation Art Study Center, is looking closer to being ready for art.

Here's a (pre-snow) look around the building's exterior, starting with the Sixth Street side here between Avenue A and First Avenue...









... and here's a rear view of the building from Seventh Street...





Peter Brant's daughter Allison Brant oversees her father's contemporary art collection. This feature on her in the April 2017 issue of Town & Country reported that the Brant Foundation's EV outpost will open this spring.

Per the article:

Allison will also run this second space, which is in the East Village and will primarily be used to showcase the foundation's permanent collection. "So many artists my father collects have a connection to that neighborhood," she says.

Brant bought the building for $27 million in August 2014.

Previously on EV Grieve:
About that "giant-robot laboratory" on East Sixth Street

RIP Walter De Maria

What is your East Village dream home?

Walter De Maria's 'giant-robot laboratory' going for $25 million; inside is amazing as you'd expect

Here's what Peter Brant wants to do with his new exhibition space on East 6th Street

When the world's top collectors of Dom Pérignon rosé came to the East Village for dinner

Reader report: 421 E. 6th St. will house Peter M. Brant's personal art collection

Peter Brant's East 6th Street Outreach Tour 2015 continues

Peter Brant meets the neighbors

A few more details about the incoming Moxy East Village on 11th Street

[Photo from March 10]

We received a news release yesterday from the Lightstone Group about Moxy East Village, their 285-key hotel going up at 112-120 E. 11th St. in partnership with Marriott.

The news was primarily about "the close of $91 million in financing with Bank of the Ozarks for the company's third Moxy hotel in New York City."

There were other details about the hotel between Third Avenue and Fourth Avenue that may (or may not!) be of interest.

To the release, via the EVG inbox:

Moxy East Village will be located south of Union Square in the East Village, across from Webster Hall. In a nod to Moxy's vibrant, ever-transforming neighborhood, the hotel's design concept is based on urban archeology that references the city's past, present and future. Conceived as a vertical timeline, each floor reveals a different layer in Lower Manhattan's history, creating a sense of discovery for guests.

The micro-room, macro-amenity hotel will feature smartly designed bedrooms, technology savvy amenities, community based social programming, rooftop fitness, co-working spaces, and six new eating and drinking establishments for guests and locals.

So, to recap: each floor will be designed after "a different layer in Lower Manhattan's history" and there will be "six new eating and drinking establishments for guests and locals."

Previously on EV Grieve:
An updated look at that Moxy hotel for 11th Street

The former Sunshine Cinema will be demolished in 2 months

[Photo from last month via @michaelkbusch]

The Commercial Observer has a Q&A with Gregory Kraut, a managing partner at K Property Group, the newish owners of 143 E. Houston St. — the former Sunshine Cinema.

Kraut offers a few details on why the property was of interest ... and when they plan on tearing down the structure built in 1898.

Here's part of the interview with a passage on the Sunshine:

Why did you want the Sunshine Cinema building?

Because we saw where retail is going. We saw what was happening on Orchard Street where they have Equinox, CVS and T.J. Maxx, and Whole Foods was on the other side so we’re right there. We’re like, Are you kidding? This is a great location. We’re putting up a spec 63,000-square-foot office building that’s going to be nine stories. Roger Ferris is our architect. He is awesome.

So no theater there.

No theater. Zero. We’re demolishing it in two months.

You don’t feel bad?

No, not at all. First of all they were trying for years to make money and they couldn’t. The area has changed, and quite frankly, the business model didn’t, and so we gave them options to renew. They had several opportunities to buy the building.

East End Capital and K Property Group bought the building for $31.5 million last spring. They filed demolition permits to take down the three-level structure here between Eldridge and Forsyth back in November.

The new building permits — a 9-story boutique office complex with a retail component — haven't been posted just yet at the DOB.

The five-screen Sunshine Cinema closed on Jan. 21 after a 17-year run.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Discarded theater seats and goodbyes at the Sunshine Cinema

The 9-story boutique office building coming to the former Sunshine Cinema space

A celebratory ad on the purchase of 139 E. Houston St., current home of the Sunshine Cinema

Wednesday's parting shot

One last Tompkins Square Park snow pic from today... via Derek Berg.

Hanging out, doing stuff

Photos in Tompkins Square Park today by Derek Berg....





It was a tough day for snowmen heads.

Noted

@evgrieve little kid just stole all the heads from the snowmen. pic.twitter.com/Zj8v6WfxDp

— EdenBrower (@edenbrower) March 21, 2018

And where was the @NYPDTWEETTOWER during all this?????

In like a lion, out like a lion

Photo outside St. Mark's Church in-the-Bowery by Lola Sāenz.

Up in arms over this loss of limbs

When Goggla arrived in Tompkins Square Park today, this under-construction snow person/creature/thing had arms but not a face...



... an hour later, it had lost its arms but gained a face...



To be continued?

And no sign of any of these yet. But it's early.

March 21

[Photo by Bobby Williams]

A few photos from today's — pick your hashtag! — #WinterStormToby #SnowDay #4Easter #Noreaster4 etc. ...


[Photo by Peter Brownscombe]


[Photo by PB]


[Reader-submitted photo of the New York Marble Cemetery]


[Reader-submitted photo of 7th and A]


[Photo in Tompkins Square Park by Derek Berg]

The Marshal takes possession of the Subway (sandwich shop) on 1st Avenue

[Subway photos by Steven]

The Subway (sandwich shop) on First Avenue between Sixth Street and Seventh Street remains closed... this after the Marshal came calling late last week, putting the storefront in the legal possession of the landlord...



If this shutter remains permanent, then this marks the seventh Subway sandwich shop to close in the immediate area in the past five-plus years, joining the one on the Bowery … East 14th Street … First Avenue … Second Avenue… Third Avenue ... and Fourth Avenue.

Subway fans still have the locations at 250 E. Houston St. and 223 Avenue B to choose from, among several others close by.

The Subway at 108 First Ave. opened in February 2012, taking over the space that previously housed Intervideo Electronics, that kinda weird and cool computer repair shop-plasma TV installers-DVD rental place...


[Photo from 2011]

Previously on EV Grieve:
The 75-cent coffee at Subway

13 months later, Grand Opening officially ends at the First Avenue Subway

Eighth Subway sandwich shop opens in the East Village

Kinda weird and cool computer repair shop-plasma TV installers-DVD rental place closing on First Avenue

Bookstore coming to the former St. Mark's Bookshop on 3rd Street

Work continues at 136 E. Third St. between Avenue A and First Avenue... an EVG reader who lives nearby reports that workers removed the paper covering the front windows on Monday... revealing the makings of a bookstore...



A worker at the scene confirmed this. So the next item of business will be to find out who the new tenant is, and what kind of books the shop will carry.

After 38 years at four locations, St. Mark's Bookshop closed here on Third Street in February 2016. Among other things, the long-struggling store reportedly owned some $70,000 in back rent to the NYCHA.

This incoming shop will be the second bookstore to open in the neighborhood since the New Year, joining Codex on the Bowery and Bleecker.

Updated 7 a.m.

The first commenter included a link to a DOB document ... showing that the tenant is Karma, the gallery-bookseller that currently has space on Second Street between Avenue A and Avenue B. This space will likely be for their art book/publishing arm.

H/T Katie Mac!

EV Grieve Etc.

A few items to note from recent days/weeks...


Photo Thursday by Steven

The Quick Repair and Electronics shop — specializing in cracked smartphone screens — is now open (as of March 16) at 151 Avenue A between Ninth Street and 10th Street... in the former TakeMeHome Rotisserie Chicken space.

---




The former Community 54 space on Avenue B between 11th Street and 12th Street is for rent. The listing at Steve Croman's 9300 Realty isn't online just yet.

Not sure exactly when the boutique closed. (It looked shuttered a few times late last summer, then the place was back open.) Community 54 opened in July 2014.

---



The incoming Hunan Slurp Shop on First Avenue between Sixth Street and Seventh Street is hiring...



The restaurant's menu is now online here.

---



Bring it Back has opened its first shop (this happened in late February) ... on Avenue C near 10th Street...



You can read more about the brand here.

The address was briefly Michelle Alteration & Boutique, which just opened late last summer.

---


[Photo last Thursday by Steven]

Still House, which sells jewelry and home goods, is now open in their new storefront at 307 E. Ninth St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue ... they relocated from 117 Seventh St. between Avenue A and First Avenue.

---



An EVG reader said that Resobox, a gallery, workshop (with a variety of classes) that celebrates Japanese culture, also has a cafe in the space here on Third Street between First Avenue and Second Avenue. They serve a variety of coffee and teas.

This spot was previously the Edge, the bar that closed in September 2016 after 29 years in business.

Equinox

Equinox

Equally the seasons compose the year,

Sun lifts its head above the horizon fair,

Winter quietly slips as Spring draws near,

Flowers split the soil their beauty everywhere,

Color holds the eyes interpretation,

Reluctant winds still tug at life ascending,

Standing bright Springs growing affirmation,

Light warming breaths hope reverberating,

New life coming in pulsing abundance,

A migration of birds, singing, nesting,

Folk coming from far and near, attendance,

Bands happy, Jazz Day, Dance Day, Rocking,

Soon lighter clothes we will be wearing,

Iced drinks sipping, hot coffee drinking.

•

peter radley

Goodbye Sudan

[Photo from Saturday]

Sudan, the world's last surviving male northern white rhino, died last night after months of poor health, according to published reports.

Per the BBC: Sudan, who was 45, lived at the Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya. He was put to sleep on Monday after age-related complications worsened significantly.

Sudan is one of the three rhinos currently memorialized on Astor Place. Last Thursday, Australian artists Gillie and Marc Schattner unveiled their 17-foot bronze sculpture "The Last Three."

The Schattners recreated the world's last three northern white rhinos – Sudan, Najin, and Fatu – "to inspire, educate and mobilize the global community to raise their voices and affect real change against illegal rhino poaching trade."

The artists are hoping to collect 1 million messages worldwide to "put them toward a petition for approaching governments about eliminating the demand for rhino horns through education."

The sculpture will remain here through May. You can read more about the project here.

A post shared by Astor Place NYC (@astorplacenyc) on Mar 20, 2018 at 1:56pm PDT

Sudan, the last male Northern White Rhino has died. We have tears in our eyes and emptiness in our in hearts as we read this news. It was our greatest joy to spend a wonderful week with him at Ol Pejeta Conservancy last year and we will treasure that time for the rest of our lives. In the last 24 hours Sudan was suffering a great deal from an infection in his leg and unable to stand. The veterinary team from the Dvůr Králové Zoo, Ol Pejeta and Kenya Wildlife Service made the decision to euthanize him. Meeting Sudan changed our lives. It became plainly obvious to us that the extinction of his species in our lifetime was a crime beyond all comprehension and we could not just stand by and watch. How could we, as an intelligent, evolved, and presumably empathetic species let this happen? Moreover, cause this to happen. Poor gentle Sudan spent his entire life fighting. Fighting to stay alive in Sudan where he was captured. Fighting to stay healthy in the Czech Republic zoo, fighting against poachers once he was brought back to Kenya, fighting against an infection in his leg which sadly was his last fight. Unfortunately, Sudan’s death leaves just two female northern white rhinos on the planet; his daughter Najin and her daughter Fatu, who remain at Ol Pejeta. We say goodbye to Sudan, the last man standing on earth and we ask you to commemorate his life if you are in New York by laying flowers at the sculpture site (Astor Place) and at Sudan’s feet or making a donation by visiting www.goodbyerhinos.org SUDAN 1973 - 2018 #GoodbyeSudan #GoodbyeRhinos #RIPSudan

A post shared by 💛GILLIE AND MARC💛 (@gillieandmarcart) on Mar 19, 2018 at 11:26pm PDT

Police searching for suspect in weekend attacks on Avenue B

The #NYPD would like your help identifying this man who is #wanted in connection to a Robbery. On March 17 at 12:23AM along Ave B he struck a woman with an unknown object & threw her to the ground removing her property. 📞📞#800577TIPS if you have info #EastVillage #NYC pic.twitter.com/ODTpP6Kx2H

— NYPD 9th Precinct (@NYPD9Pct) March 19, 2018

The 9th Precinct is searching for a suspect behind two attacks this past weekend on Avenue B.

Per PIX 11:

The first victim was attacked Saturday around 12:23 a.m. in a residential building near East 13th Street and Avenue B, according to police.

The man followed the woman, 22, into the building, then threw her on the ground and repeatedly punched her, police said.

He fled with her purse, according to police.

The second victim was attacked that night, around 2:10 a.m., near East Houston and Avenue B, police said.

The man approached the 31-year-old woman in a residential building and demanded money, according to police. When she refused, police said he struck her over her left eye, causing a small laceration.

According to reports, he then grabbed her bag, which contained $40 and credit cards, and fled east on Second Street.

Town & Village's recap of the attacks mention that the suspect is described as Hispanic and about 5-10. He was last seen wearing a black jacket, dark-blue sweat pants, white sneakers and a white cap.

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.

EastVille Comedy Club space for rent on 4th Street

[Photo yesterday by Derek Berg]

For rent signs have arrived at the EastVille Comedy Club on Fourth Street between Second Avenue and the Bowery.

A Facebook post from last month hinted that the club will move to Brooklyn...


Last October, EastVille looked at moving from Fourth Street into part of the former Chase space at 20 Avenue A and Second Street. However, CB3 denied the application, citing, among other reasons, that this address was never licensed before ... and that it exists in a saturated zone.

A diner for the former Empire Biscuit space on Avenue A?

Workers removed the paper that was covering the front windows at 198 Avenue A yesterday (thanks to Lola Sāenz for the photos!) ...

A tipster told us earlier that a diner was coming to what was previously Empire Biscuit here between 12th Street and 13th Street. (That diner rumor has not been confirmed.)

In any event, something is coming to the space... as renovations continue inside.



The storefront hasn't been in use since Empire Biscuit started peelin' potatoes in January 2016.

Soup's on tonight at Ciao for Now

[Image via @ciaofornowny]

As noted last week, Ciao for Now at 523 E. 12th St. between Avenue A and Avenue B is offering a soup service — to stay or to go — on Tuesday evenings from 5-10.

Per their Instagram feed last night:

We will be open from 5-10 pm serving not just soups but also our ginger green tea as well as cookies, some wine and beer. We will be serving Grass Fed Beef Stew. Very Veggie (GF,V) and Red Lentil in Coconut Milk Curry (GF,V)

The family-owned cafe shut down its dining room after 17 years at the end of January. However, ownership was continuing on with their catering business as well as using the space for community events... and now with souper Tuesday.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Ciao For Now is closing after 17 years on 12th Street; will continue with catering business

24 2nd Ave. getting its limestone exoskeleton

Over at 24 Second Ave. (aka 32 E. First St.), workers have been adding the stone-colored frames to the façade of the 10-story condoplex that replaced the East Village's second-to-last gas station.

Here's a look at the limestone exoskeleton in-progress on the First Street side...



As previously noted, the building will house 31 condos, with homes ranging from $1.125 million (a whopping 484 square feet!) to $10.5 million (the penthouse).

And here's part of the lengthy description of the penthouse via Douglas Elliman:

A light-filled four bedroom, five bathroom Duplex Penthouse positioned on the top 2 floors of 32 East 1st Street, Where Chrystie Meets Bond [ed note: ??????], with brushed solid white oak wood floors throughout, 2 terraces with 2 outdoor kitchens features 10' ceilings and expansive triple-pane windows with 360-degree views of the downtown and midtown skylines.

A direct private elevator opens to a private corridor on the 10th floor, adjacent to a stairwell leading to an expansive 1,591 SF private terrace spanning the entire 11th floor of the building fully equipped with an outdoor kitchen and Wolf grilling station, a dining area and three lounge spaces and is finished with travertine floors and planters integrated with lights & speakers, creating a space ideal for indoor/outdoor living and entertaining.

Particular attention to detail is demonstrated in the kitchen located on the second floor of this duplex, opening to a dining room which leads out to a second private terrace with another fully equipped outdoor kitchen including Wolf grilling station, ice maker, refrigerator, and lounge and dining spaces.

The corner master bedroom boasts a walk-in closet and en-suite five fixture master bathroom, which acts as a sanctuary with beautifully appointed onyx walls and floors with radiant heat, perfectly accented by a brushed solid oak wood dual vanity topped with a Corian countertop and dual sinks, matched by a custom designed Antonio Lupi "Sartoriale" Cristalplant soaking tub; the space is completed with a separate glass enclosed rain-shower a wall mounted Duravit Washlet toilet and custom Italian fixtures by CEA Design.

The BP station with snack shop closed in July 2014. This was the second-to-last gas station in the East Village, joined later by the Mobil station on Avenue C and East Houston in September 2014.

Previously on EV Grieve:
The 2nd Avenue BP station has closed

Permits filed to demolish former 2nd Avenue BP station

More about the 10-story building taking the place of the former BP station at 24 2nd Ave.

Check out the new 10-story building for the former 2nd Avenue BP station

A ballerina for 2nd Avenue

2nd Avenue residential complex now complete with renderings on the plywood

Dora's Monday

The action, as seen in these photos by Steven, picks up in Tompkins Square Park in the late afternoon when Christo delivers Dora a dead rat.

With the lifeless critter slumped on the limb, Dora calls out for Christo and they mate...



Later, an annoying blue jay dive-bombs Dora...

The 9th Precinct's monthly Community Council Meeting is tomorrow (Tuesday!) night

The 9th Precinct's Community Council meetings take place on the third Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m. ... at the 9th Precinct, 321 E. Fifth St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue.

This is an opportunity for residents to address any concerns and ask 9th Precinct officials for their input on recent crime statistics.

Cocktail specialist looking to take over Double Wide on 12th Street

Cocktail specialist Greg Boehm is on tonight's CB3-SLA committee docket for a new liquor license for 503-505 E. 12th St. — the current home of Double Wide.

Boehm, the founder of Cocktail Kingdom, a manufacturer and distributor of professional barware, is a partner in the cocktail bar Mace on Ninth Street and Boilermaker on First Avenue.

According to the public documents on the CB3 website (PDF here), the unnamed bar-restaurant would have proposed hours of 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. Sunday through Wednesday; until 3 a.m. Thursday-Saturday. (The outdoors space in the back would be open from 5-9 p.m. daily.)

The sample menu on the questionnaire features small plates and "not so small plates," with items like oysters on the half shell, moles frites and a tuna baguette...



... a contrast to the current menu at Double Wide, which serves chicken-fried steak and Frito pie, among other things.

The questionnaire describes this as a sale of assets. If this all goes through, then this would mean the end of Double Wide, which opened here between Avenue A and Avenue B in late 2011.

Two previous bars in this space, Mundial and Totem, were especially problematic, according to nearby residents.

CB3's SLA committee meets tonight at 6:30 in the Public Hotel, 17th Floor, Sophia Room, 215 Chrystie St. between Houston and Stanton.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Another nightmare bar for 505 E. 12th St.?

Last night's CB3 recap: Residents 1, Bar Owners 0

Here comes the fear again: 505 E. 12th St. back on the market

Illegal work continues at former Mundial space on East 12th Street

Report: Kushner Co. filed false paperwork with the city over number of rent-regulated tenants

The Associated Press reported yesterday that Jared Kushner’s Kushner Cos. routinely filed false paperwork with the city declaring that it had zero rent-regulated tenants in buildings it owns when, in fact, they had hundreds.

A tenants' right watchdog group, Housing Rights Initiative, compiled the work-permit application documents and shared them with the AP.

In addition, the AP points out what has been previously covered in other outlets: In Kushner buildings across the city, records show frequent complaints about construction going on early in the morning or late at night against the rules, improper or illegal construction, and work without a permit.

Here's a passage about a tenant in 170-174 E. Second St.:

At a six-story walk-up in Manhattan’s East Village that was once home to the Beat poet Allen Ginsberg, the Kushner Cos. filed an application to begin construction in late 2013 that, again, listed zero rent-regulated tenants. Tax records a few months later showed seven rent-regulated units.

"All of a sudden, there was drilling, drilling. ... You heard the drilling in the middle of night," said one of the rent-regulated tenants, Mary Ann Siwek, 67, who lives on Social Security payments and odd jobs. "There were rats coming in from the abandoned building next door. The hallways were always filled with lumber and sawdust and plaster."

A knock on the door came a few weeks later, and an offer of at least $10,000 if she agreed to leave the building.

"I know it's pretty horrible, but we can help you get out," Siwek recalls the man saying. "We can offer you money."

Siwek turned down the cash and sued instead. She said she won a year's worth of free rent and a new refrigerator.

Read the full AP piece here.

For their part, Kushner Cos. told the AP in a statement that it outsources the work-permit preparation to third parties that are reviewed by independent counsel, and "if mistakes or violations are identified, corrective action is taken immediately." The statement added: "Kushner would never deny any tenant their due-process rights."

Kushner currently serves as an adviser to his father-in-law, President Trump.

Updated

Here's a statement from City Councilmember Carlina Rivera...

“As the representative of a district with one of the highest rates of Kushner-owned property in the city, I am outraged to see the Trump family’s continued alleged criminal abuse of working-class New Yorkers. These alleged false work permits may come from the biggest name in corrupt real estate in this city, but Kushner is certainly not the first to allegedly commit this kind of fraud. The lax enforcement by DOB and HPD of these illegal filings has allowed not only Kushner, but also names like Croman, Tolidano, and countless other bad actors to plague the residents of my district for decades with clear-faced harassment disguised as permitted construction.

I have fought alongside activists for hundreds of residents who have lost their lifelong homes to the Kushner family’s harassment, and the city must take action to punish those responsible. I look forward to participating in the Council’s investigation into Kushner Cos., and I expect to hear from city agencies as to why this abuse of power continued for so long.”

Updated 3/20

According to reports, AG Eric Schneiderman will meet with tenant representatives affected by the alleged tactics of Kushner Cos.

File photo of 170-174 E. 2nd St.

Previously on EV Grieve:
[Updated] Report: Jared Kushner buys $130 million portfolio of East Village rental buildings

Report: Jared Kushner paid $49 million for 7 more Ben Shaoul-owned properties in the East Village

More about Jared Kushner's East Village buying spree

Tenants claim: Kushner and Westminster want to destroy this building's beautiful garden

Reports outline how Kushner Companies is aggressively trying to empty 170-174 E. 2nd St.

Local politicos join residents of 2 Jared Kushner-owned buildings to speak out about poor living conditions, alleged harassment

Jared Kushner's residents at 118 E. 4th St. would like gas for cooking and some heat

Jared Kushner's East Village tenants wish he'd resolve issues closer to home

Positive vibes: Aum Shanti on the move to larger space on 14th Street

Aum Shanti, a bookshop specializing in spirituality and crystal gallery, will move to a larger space in April on 14th Street between Second Avenue and Third Avenue...



Just two storefronts away to the former Discount Cleaners... Perhaps Aum Shanti got a rent discount, as this space has been for lease for more than two years...



Aum Shanti opened as Aum Namaste, an offshoot of Namaste Bookshop, in December 2014.

Dim Sum Palace planned for 59 2nd Ave.

The owners of the two locations of Dim Sum Palace in Midtown are planning to open a similar establishment at 59 Second Ave. between Third Street and Fourth Street.

And they will be appearing before CB3's SLA committee tonight to apply for a new liquor license for this EV Dim Sum Palace.



The questionnaire on file at the CB3 website (PDF here) shows that the restaurant will open daily at 11 a.m. (Closing time is listed as 2 p.m., which is likely a mistake — unless they will open for just three hours a day.) The proposal calls for 15 tables seating 65 diners. The specs only reveal a service bar.

Until October 2015, the address was home to Allied Hardware, which was on a month-to-month lease with the building's owner until Icon Realty bought the property in early 2015.

The adjacent space (the former Alex Shoe Repair) is now Kona Coffee and Company, which opened this past November.