Here are more details on East Village Homes, the affordable housing set for 2nd Street

[Pre-construction look at 302 E. 2nd St.]

As we first reported this past Friday, a 14-story affordable housing complex is in the works for the long-vacant, city-owned parcel on Second Street between Avenue C and Avenue D.

On Friday morning, various officials kicked off the construction phase during a ground-breaking ceremony. Asian Americans for Equality is developing the long-empty lot after the Department of Housing Preservation and Development selected the organization in 2017.

Officials also released more information about the project — called East Village Homes — at 302 E. Second St., which will feature 45 affordable apartments and a ground-floor community facility.

From the news release:

Leroy Street Studio designed the building, which includes sustainable elements and meets Enterprise Green Communities Criteria. The project includes 13 studios, 19 one-bedroom units, 12 two-bedroom units and one apartment for an on-site super.

The building’s facade features a layered system of stucco panels that play off of an array of metal panels with custom-perforated designs. Integrated active design principles include bike storage, easily-accessible outdoor green space and visible stairs and circulation pathways.

Building amenities include a shared roof terrace, a meeting space off of the main lobby and a laundry facility. The project features a resilient design with no basement, water-conserving plumbing fixtures and high-efficiency lighting fixtures.

[Via Leroy Street Studio]



Here's a detail via Patch that wasn't included in the press materials:

Eight apartments will be for formerly homeless people under Section 8 for incomes up to 20 percent of area median income, seven apartments at 47 percent of AMI, 14 apartments at 77 percent of AMI and 15 apartments at 120 percent of AMI — which ranges from annual incomes less than $15,000 to about $90,000 for a single person. It will also have a 1,000-square-foot community facility, roof terrace, and green space.

In addition, officials announced that there's a second phase of the East Village Homes project, which is creating 10 additional affordable rental apartments on a separate site at 276 E. Third St. just east of Avenue C...


[276 E. 3rd St.]

On second thought, there is a garage at the Economakis Dream Mansion

Just on Tuesday, we had given up on the gossip about a new garage at the former 15-unit tenement on East Third Street. However! A well-placed tipster says it's all true, possibly.

First, some paperwork from the DOB to install a new curb cut. (Notice it is in audit to revoke — which means??)

Per the tipster:

"The garage is already built. I haven't seen behind the plywood since the structural work was done so I don't know what it looks like exactly. There is a vandal and graffitti resistant (maybe tactical nuclear-strike proof) garage door which does not roll on a track like a typical door, but rises in one piece vertically through the floor above and stops behind the windows of the floor above."

Two other items of business:

1) Per a commenter: "If you look on the DOB website at job #110412232, Schedule A, it has a proposed 'community facility' where the storefronts are. Isn't this supposed to be a single family mansion?"

2) Predicting a move-in date...

Previously on EV Grieve:
And Economakis gets the whole building for his dream mansion

The 47 E. 3rd St. protest in video

At the 47 E. 3rd St. protest

Work more prominent now at the Economakis Mansion

It just occurred to us that we haven't checked in on the Economakis Dream Mansion on East Third Street since last May... On Jan. 5, Curbed made a return visit, noting a new cornice and new windows ... Still, hasn't really seemed like much is happening... until now... Workers recently put up construction netting and a sidewalk shed...

A look at the DOB permits issued a few weeks back don't reveal too much... However, there is the permit approved on Jan. 11 ... according to the DOB, workers will be installing a new curb cut. The DOB originally disapproved the curb cut, as Curbed noted on Jan. 5 ... Now it seems to be OK. As Curbed noted: "Maybe the old storefronts are being eyed for a private garage?"

Previously on EV Grieve:
And Economakis gets the whole building for his dream mansion

The 47 E. 3rd St. protest in video

At the 47 E. 3rd St. protest

Conspiracies: Where are all the fliers?

LPC OKs 3-story addition to 827-831 Broadway

[Courtesy of DXA studio]

In their third appearance before the Landmarks Preservation Committee (LPC), the owners of 827-831 Broadway received the OK yesterday for a glass addition atop the twin cast-iron buildings here between 12th Street and 13th Street.

Last November, the LPC voted to landmark the circa-1866 buildings where artists Willem and Elaine de Kooning and Paul Jenkins, among others, lived and worked. The Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation campaigned for more than 18 months to help spare these buildings from demolition.

The LPC then rejected plans for a rooftop addition designed by DXA studio in January (too overwhelming) and April.

Here's some of Curbed's coverage from yesterday:

The third try finally seemed to pay off for the architecture firm with the Commission unanimously praising the efforts of the architects. The glass addition has now been reduced to three stories and has a 36-foot setback from the street level, making it a lot less visible from the street level than in previous iterations.

“It’s a marvel to take all that information and create something that is sensitive and elegant,” said Meenakshi Srinivasan, the chair of the Landmarks Commission, shortly before the Commission voted to approve the structure.

The LPC didn't have much to say about a seven-floor addition on an adjacent property at 47 E. 12th St. that's also part of the overall development. That addition will proceed for use as office space.

Reps for DXA studio issued a news release with more details on the project...

The 3 story addition will be composed of slumped, reflective glazing that’s curved form references the organic and spontaneous qualities of the art work of de Kooning and his contemporaries. “We felt the reflective nature of the glass could serve to capture the kinetic quality of the surroundings, broadcasting back color, textures, and movement, helping us see the world around us in a different way,” said Partner Jordan Rogove. “The reflection also turns the lens back on New York City, a place forever changed by the immense contributions of the New York School painters making it the capital of the art world for the first time.”

The original 4 story Italianate warehouse building that the addition sits atop will be fully restored. A new historical wood storefront will be installed at 831, and 827’s existing wood storefront will be restored. The addition’s slumped glazing is arranged in the same rhythm as the original building, balancing two sympathetic facades built of the material and technologies of their respective times.

As previously reported, Quality Capital and Caerus Group bought the parcel in 2015 for $60 million.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Report: 14-story building planned for 827 Broadway

An appeal to landmark these buildings on Broadway

There's a proposed addition for the recently landmarked 827-831 Broadway

Report: LPC rejects glassy addition for landmarked 827-831 Broadway

And Economakis gets the whole building for his dream mansion

The New York Post reports:

Eight holdout tenants who fought for five years to keep their millionaire landlord from turning their Lower East Side tenement into a mansion for himself agreed to be bought out yesterday.

The last rent-stabilized tenants of 47 E. Third St. said they gave in because they weren't confident they would beat real-estate baron Alistair Economakis in the Manhattan Supreme Court trial scheduled to begin yesterday.

Economakis, the son of a Greek shipping magnate, bought the six-story building for $900,000 in 2003 and said he needed it as a home for himself, his wife and two children.

He reached deals with seven of the 15 tenants but the others fought until yesterday.

The tenants will each receive $75,000 under the settlement, except for one elderly resident, who will get $175,000.

Here is the Web site for Alistair Economakis -- The Other Side of the Story: 47 East 3rd Street

Previously on EV Grieve.

Construction watch: 302 E. 2nd St.

The 14-story affordable housing complex recently topped off at 302 E. Second St. between Avenue C and Avenue D.

As previously reported, the project — called East Village Homes — will feature 45 affordable apartments and a ground-floor community facility on this long-vacant, city-owned parcel.

Some particulars via a Patch report from the fall of 2019:

Eight apartments will be for formerly homeless people under Section 8 for incomes up to 20 percent of area median income, seven apartments at 47 percent of AMI, 14 apartments at 77 percent of AMI and 15 apartments at 120 percent of AMI — which ranges from annual incomes less than $15,000 to about $90,000 for a single person.

A second phase of the East Village Homes project is expected to create 10 additional affordable rental apartments on a separate site at 276 E. Third St. Construction has yet to commence there between Avenue C and Avenue D.

Previously on EV Grieve:

• Here are more details on East Village Homes, the affordable housing set for 2nd Street 

Marshal chronicles

The storefronts at 44 E. First St. are now empty.

For starters, the plant store/boutique Green Fingers moved to Rivington Street several weeks ago...



Then late last week, the Marshal paid a visit to the former Wash House space next door…



However, the hyped laundro-bar had already closed last fall after just six-plus months in business.

Meanwhile, at 45 First Ave. near East Third Street …



The Marshal took possession of the Shin Modern Nail shop…



Next door, Puebla Mexican Food at 47 First Ave. recently lost its lease…. owner Irma Marin hopes to reopen in the Essex Street Market.

EV Grieve Etc: Mourning Edition

M8 rally tomorrow (Colonnade Row)

Last chance weekend at Etherea (Stupefaction)

Tenants at 47 E. Third St. have until Aug. 31 to vacate (The Villager)

The cons are on (Jeremiah's Vanishing NY)

Butts, billboards and Beyond (BoweryBoogie)

50/50 for Ruby's reopening (Grub Street)

Happy (sort of belated) birthday Cheetah Chrome (Punk Turns 30)

Signage alert: Sugar Mouse on 3rd Avenue

Signage for Sugar Mouse is now above the entrance at 47 Third Ave. ... at the NE corner of Third Avenue and 10th Street. 

This game-hall concept has been in the works for the past 18-plus months ... reps for ownership appeared before the CB3-SLA committee meeting in September 2022. 

The bar, offering pizza and snacks, will feature various table games (foosball, billiards, shuffleboard, etc.) Ownership also operates Sour Mouse on Delancey, billed as "the hottest underground social club in the LES." 

As we understand, Sugar Mouse is taking part of the retail space, which was made available when TD Bank downsized in early 2022. A previous listing for the corner storefront noted, "Join Game House/Entertainment Venue and Bar Sugar Mouse." 

No word on a Sugar Mouse opening date.

At the September 2022 CB3 meeting, several residents who live nearby spoke out with concerns about the business,  particularly the proposed late-night closing times. Block association reps wrote a letter and submitted a petition with more than 100 signatures from nearby residents in opposition to the application, per the minutes from the meeting. (At the same time, 61 people residing within two blocks of the location, including 28 residents who live above the premises at 101 E. 10th St., signed a petition in favor of the application.)

CB3 OK'd the application with several stipulations, including a 1 a.m. closing time and entrance on Third Avenue instead of 10th Street.

You'll now have until March 23 to visit Puebla Mexican Food on 1st Avenue

As we reported back on Monday, Puebla Mexican Food is shutting down at 47 First Ave. between East Second Street and East Third Street.

We were originally told that the family run restaurant was closing for good after Sunday. However, several readers (including Marty E.!) told us that owner Irma Marin will keep preparing favorites like chicken-mole burrito through March 23.

With a rent increase, Marin was unable to sign a new lease. When asked how high the new rent is, Marin simply pointed her thumb skyward.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Puebla Mexican Food is closing after 25 years on 1st Avenue (29 comments)

Galleria J. Antonio is closing on Avenue A

We were sorry to see the store closing sign up here the other day at 47 Avenue A between East Third Street and East Fourth Street… Galleria J. Antonio sells arts and crafts and custom jewelry and watches…

Here's some history of the store via The Villager (back in 2005 when some locals were ticked about the painting in the front window showing a woman's bare breast):

The galleria is a colorful crafts store with jewelry, pottery, handbags and even doggy costumes peppering the walls and display cases. An artists cooperative, the galleria was located on Christopher St. from 1979 to 1989. After a 15-year hiatus when the store’s founding artist and namesake, Jose Antonio, died of AIDS in 1989, the shop reopened in 2000 at its present location on Avenue A and E. Fourth St.

The for lease sign mentions no food… the Ave A Optical space a storefront away at No. 43 remains on the market as well…