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

[EVG file photo]

The long-empty lot at East 14th Street and Avenue C has new owners.

The Real Deal is reporting that Brooklyn's Rabsky Group scrapped plans for its first Manhattan project here, selling the property to Opal Holdings, a real-estate investment firm led by Shaya and Shulamit Prager, for $23 million. No word just yet what they have planned for the site.

Rabsky reportedly paid $15 million for the property in 2014. The one-level structure that was demolished here in early 2015 previously housed R&S Strauss auto parts store, which closed in April 2009.

There were approved permits for a 14-story building totaling 63,932 square feet, with 8,064 square feet for retail ... and 21,991 square feet for a community facility.

Not much has happened here since the demolition of the former Strauss store. As many commenters have pointed out in the past, this corner was about 5-6 feet under water during Sandy.

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

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

Nearly a year has passed since we've done a post about 644 E. 14th St., where a mixed-use retail-residential complex has the go at the corner of Avenue C.

As you can see, there hasn't been much — or any — progress on this plot of land that previously housed the single-level R&S Strauss auto parts store, which closed in April 2009.







Anyway, a look at the DOB files show some amended documents as of September 2015 ... with a slightly different-sized building. Previously, permits showed a 15-story mixed-use retail-residential complex totaling 61,789 square feet. DOB permits showed 8,578 square feet of commercial space on the ground floor... and 18,937 square feet for a community facility.

The amended permits show a 14-story building totaling 63,932 square feet, with 8,064 square feet for retail ... and 21,991 square feet for a community facility. The Schedule A still shows 50 apartments.

The prolific Karl Fischer is the architect of record. (His other EV work includes The Robyn on East Third Street and The Nathaniel on East 12th Street.)

No sign of renderings yet for No. 644. But we did spot some sexy diagrams at the DOB for the address...




[Click to go big]

The diagrams do indicate balconies for the units, which are on floors 6 through 14. The documents also note "flood gate storage" on the first floor. Not sure exactly what that is, but it sounds like a good idea. This corner was about 3-6 feet under water during Sandy.

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 now waiting for the Karl Fischer-designed 15-story retail-residential complex

Crews have demolished the one-level structure at 644 E. 14th St. at Avenue C.



Coming soon, as previously reported: a 15-story mixed-use retail-residential complex here on the southwest corner.

The Karl Fischer-designed building will total 61,789 square feet. DOB permits show 8,578 square feet of commercial space on the ground floor. The remainder of the first five stories will host a community facility, which will span 18,937 square feet, and 50 apartments will sit above.

Per the signs not he plywood, the work will be completed by summer 2015. Hurry! Unless they mean the demo...



The previous tenant here was the 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

Plywood arrives ahead of demolition at 14th and C; 15-story retail-residential building on the way

Workers yesterday erected a plywood fence around 644 E. 14th St. at Avenue C, site of the former R&S Strauss auto parts store.

All the paperwork is in place to demolish the one-level structure … and build a 15-story mixed-use retail-residential complex here on the southwest corner.

Per our last post on this: The Karl Fischer-designed building will total 61,789 square feet. DOB permits show 8,578 square feet of commercial space on the ground floor. The remainder of the first five stories will host a community facility, which will span 18,937 square feet, and 50 apartments will sit above, some even with views of the Con Ed power plant.

Thanks to ‏@KellerPeacenow9 for the photo!

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

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

[EVG file photo]

The city last week signed off on the necessary permits for the Rabsky Group to build a 15-story mixed-use retail-residential complex on the southwest corner of East 14th Street and Avenue C. (New York Yimby first reported on the approval last Friday.)

The demo permits to take down the former R&S Strauss auto parts store, which closed in April 2009, were filed last June.

What can you expect here some day?

A Karl Fischer-designed building, which will total 61,789 square feet. DOB permits show 8,578 square feet of commercial space on the ground floor. The remainder of the first five stories will host a community facility, which will span 18,937 square feet, and 50 apartments will sit above.


[EVG file photo]

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

Week in Grieview

[Avenue B last evening by Fallopia Tuba]

First Avenue Pierogi and Deli is closing (Monday)

The Alphabet City-Tompkins Square Slow Zone arrives in August (Tuesday)

1st look at the Women of the Lower East Side Film Fest from MoRUS this summer (Friday)

Thoughts on the East Village today from a former resident (Tuesday, 50 comments)

City of Saints Coffee Roasters is now open on East 10th Street (Saturday)

Icon Realty's "frat house" is attracting attention (Tuesday)

Adinah's Farm is closing on Avenue C (Wednesday)

Out and About with Tim Floyd Young (Wednesday)

A visit to the Olympic Restaurant, closing soon (Thursday)

Duane Reade coming to Avenue D (Monday)

An actual barber shop opens on East Sixth Street (Monday)

Abraço Espresso opens Abraçolina on East Seventh Street (Tuesday)

Demo permits filed for former R&S Strauss store on East 14th Street (Friday)

State seizes Mobil station on Avenue C and Houston (Friday)

Royal Tailor Shop ready for action on East 11th Street (Wednesday)

St. John’s School of Risk Management arrives at the Death Star (Friday)

Eleventh and Third brands itself (Wednesday)

It is now the summer (Saturday)

Xi’an Famous Foods reopens today (Friday)

Not much left of the Sunburnt Cow (Thursday)

Retail space housing the Smith and M2M is for sale (Thursday)

Happy Father's Day Joe Strummer (Sunday)

The Copper Still takes over for Ryan's on Second Avenue (Thursday)

Demolition permits filed to make way for 15-floor building on East 14th Street and Avenue C

[EVG photo from June 9]

Last week we noted that workers were giving last rites to the former R&S Strauss auto parts store on the southeast corner of East 14th Street and Avenue C.

And yesterday the demolition permit was filed with the city to knock down the one-level building.

Coming soonish. A Karl Fischer-designed retail-residential complex featuring 8,578 square feet of commercial space, 18,937 square feet for community space ... and 50 apartments above it all, so to speak.

R&S Strauss closed in the spring of 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

Week in Grieview

[Avenue D]

RIP Hayne Suthon, owner of Lucky Cheng's (Wednesday)

Gabay's Outlet is on the move (Thursday)

Bank branches bank branches EVERYWHERE (Monday)

Those damn hippies on St. Mark's Place in 1968 (Friday)

Ex-cop leaves gun behind after barfing at the Phoenix (Friday)

Ryan's Irish Pub making way for the Copper Still (Thursday)

Launderette has closed on Second Avenue (Wednesday)

Gut renovating 324 E. Fourth St. (Monday)

Bugs closed for now on East 12th Street (Monday)

Hey, Funkiberry opened (Friday)

R&S Strauss prepped for demo on East 14th Street (Tuesday)

Out and About with Anthony Rocco (Wednesday)

Honoring poet Frank O'Hara (Tuesday)

More $1 pizza (Monday)

What's up with those bright lights on the Bowery? (Tuesday)

Love for the Stage Restaurant (Monday)

Purple Rain on Avenue A (Monday)

Video of a fistfight on St. Mark's Place (Sunday)

347 Bowery ready for the wrecking ball (Monday)

4th Avenue water tank gets some STIK figures (Thursday)

Moving day for this piano (Thursday)

… and we really enjoyed J and the 9s yesterday in Tompkins Square Park …


[Photo by Cheryl Pyle via Facebook]

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

More than five years after closing, it looks as if the R&S Strauss auto parts store is finally being prepped for demolition on the southeast corner of East 14th Street and Avenue C.



On Friday, a reader said that the DEP was there to disconnect some of the utilities. However, despite this action, as well as baiting for rodents, there aren't any demo permits on file with the city just yet.



As for what's next, there are plans waiting for approval to build a 15-story, mixed-use retail-residential complex.



New York Yimby had some details in late April about this Karl Fischer-designed building, which will total 61,789 square feet. DOB permits show 8,578 square feet of commercial space on the ground floor. The remainder of the first five stories will host a community facility, which will span 18,937 square feet, and 50 apartments will sit above — some even with views of the Con Ed plant.

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

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

[EVG file photo]

The large development that everyone has been waiting for (or not) is finally coming to the southeast corner of East 14th Street and Avenue C... where the R&S Strauss auto parts store here closed in the spring of 2009.

Last June, Billy Gray reported at the Commercial Observer that Avison Young was exclusively marketing 644 E. 14th St. "And a near-absence of height restrictions has brokers dangling the possibility of a tower on a site with 65,689 square feet of development rights."

As New York Yimby pointed out yesterday, the developers have filed permits for the space ... and none other than Karl Fischer is the architect of record. To NYY for some project details:

Permits indicate that 644 East 14th Street will total 61,789 square feet, including 8,578 square feet of commercial space on the ground floor. The remainder of the first five stories will host a ‘community facility,’ which will span 18,937 square feet, and apartments will sit above; the structure will stand 15 stories tall, with 34,274 square feet of residential space divided between 50 units. At only 120 feet to its roof, ceilings heights will apparently be crypt-like.

No word just yet if there will be an extra charge for units with Con Ed plant views.

So, doing a little math ... there will be 150 residential units one block to the west with the additions of the two 7-floor buildings at No. 500 and N0. 524.

In total that is 200 new residences from Avenue A east to Avenue C. Perhaps it's time for another L stop ... or at least a grocery store?

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.

Development back in play for East 14th Street and Avenue C

[February 2012]

Looks as if there is renewed interest in the southwest corner of East 14th Street and Avenue C.

The R&S Strauss auto parts store here closed in the spring of 2009. And nothing has happened with the building since then (save the addition of more graffiti...)

Billy Gray reported at the Commercial Observer yesterday that Avison Young is now exclusively marketing 644 E. 14th St. "And a near-absence of height restrictions has brokers dangling the possibility of a tower on a site with 65,689 square feet of development rights," he noted.

As we previously reported in January:

According to the Massey Knakal Web site, the building was sold in January 2009 for $12.3 million. As the site noted: "The lot measures 114’9” x 88’and has a total buildable square footage of approximately 36,125 sq. ft. for residential use or 68,262 sq. ft. for a community facility, which will likely be the ultimate use of the property."

Turns out the buyer was Arun Bhatia, who currently has plans in place for a dorm at the former 35 Cooper Square. And the developer filed plans for a new 11-story building here on Dec. 23, 2009, per DOB records. The City disapproved the plans later in 2010.

These plans called for a 65,399-square-foot building. In an email to the Observer, Neil Helman of Avison Young's capital markets group said that the location "on two wide streets with virtually no restrictions on height limitations is also highly advantageous, enabling a tower to be erected, which would take advantage of the great East River views."

He expected a price to be the mid-$20 million range.

Is this a tough sell? The space is bounded by the Con Ed plant, which is prone to releasing steam pressure in the middle of the night and scaring the heck out of people.



... and Campos Plaza to the south... Security cameras, funded in part by City Councilmember Rosie Mendez's office, were installed here in March 2012 after an uptick in violence reportedly left residents living in fear.


Or is this really the beginning of a new era along here. As Jeremiah Moss wrote about R&S back in May 2008, this corner represents "an opening for the overall Meatpacking effect that is rippling up and down this main artery to reach deep into the East Village. The site has 'flagship opportunity' written all over it."

Is an 11-story building in Avenue C and East 14th Street's future?

Our Mystery Building Tour continues... on Wednesday, we looked at the activity happening at the long dormant 6 Avenue B ... today, we turn our attention to the corner of Avenue C and East 14th Street...

The R&S Strauss auto parts store here closed in the spring of 2009. And nothing has happened with the building since then (save the addition of more graffiti...)

According to the Massey Knakal Web site, the building was sold in January 2009 for $12.3 million. As the site noted: "The lot measures 114’9” x 88’and has a total buildable square footage of approximately 36,125 sq. ft. for residential use or 68,262 sq. ft. for a community facility, which will likely be the ultimate use of the property."

Turns out the buyer was Arun Bhatia, who currently has plans in place for a dorm at the former 35 Cooper Square. And the developer filed plans for a new 11-story building here on Dec. 23, 2009, per DOB records. The City disapproved the plans later in 2010. They are apparently still pending.

We've heard nothing of these plans the past two-plus years. And, perhaps, this isn't the best time to be building an 11-story residential building here. After all, this intersection suffered the worst flooding in the neighborhood the night of Superstorm Sandy.

[Photo by Jane Israelson Rubin via Facebook]

On that topic, we've asked several people who live nearby if they've seen anyone in this building following Sandy. No one has. So is there, say, 10 feet of water in the basement here?

Regardless, this is another corner ripe for development. As Jeremiah Moss wrote about R&S back in May 2008, this corner represents "an opening for the overall Meatpacking effect that is rippling up and down this main artery to reach deep into the East Village. The site has 'flagship opportunity' written all over it."

Some day, for sure.

Maximum security

Avenue C near 14th Street. At back of the old R&S Strauss store.

East 14th Street destined to become just like West 14th Street

As you know, we've been watching the R&S Strauss auto parts store on East 14th Street at Avenue C. Last May, the building was reportedly quietly put on the market for $13 million. And according to the Massey Knakal Web site, the building was sold in January for $12.3 million. As the site noted: "The lot measures 114’9” x 88’and has a total buildable square footage of approximately 36,125 sq. ft. for residential use or 68,262 sq. ft. for a community facility, which will likely be the ultimate use of the property."

We wrote the following on April 6:

News of a possible community facility is a relief for those among us thinking this sale could signal, as Jeremiah Moss wrote, "an opening for the overall Meatpacking effect that is rippling up and down this main artery to reach deep into the East Village."

Yeah, well: Stupid us for feeling any possible relief. According to the Times, the Arun Bhatia Development Organization -- who specialize in luxury condos and dorms -- bought the space. The Times article on the development of the eastern end of 14th Street concludes with the following on the former R.S. Strauss space:

The site, marketed for development, allows for stores and dozens of apartments, explained Joe Sitt, the Massey Knakal broker who handled the deal.



Yes, Mr. Sitt said, the nearby blocks, which hold mostly chain- and diner-variety eateries, have a way to go before they attract hip West 14th Street-style restaurants. But those typically follow new residences, and residents.



"It's not about 'Build it and they will come,'" he said. "It's 'Put a roof over their heads and they will dine.'"

Previously.

The R&S Strauss signs are gone

Last Monday we noted that R&S Strauss on 14th Street and Avenue C had been sold... And now, the signs have been removed...

R&S Strauss has closed: What's next for the corner of East 14th Street and Avenue C?

We've been keeping our eye on the R&S Strauss auto parts store on East 14th Street at Avenue C. Last May, the building was reportedly quietly put on the market for $13 million.

The store is now closed. The location has already been removed from the R&S Strauss Web site.




According to the Massey Knakal Web site, the building was sold in January for $12.3 million. As the site noted: "The lot measures 114’9” x 88’and has a total buildable square footage of approximately 36,125 sq. ft. for residential use or 68,262 sq. ft. for a community facility, which will likely be the ultimate use of the property." No word yet on who bought the space.

News of a possible community facility is a relief for those among us thinking this sale could signal "an opening for the overall Meatpacking effect that is rippling up and down this main artery to reach deep into the East Village."

Still, probably not a lot of room here for development with Stuy Town to the north, the ConEd plant to the east and the Pedro Albizu Campos Plaza to the south.