Construction watch: 211 E. 13th St., aka The Jefferson

[October 2012, via EVG reader Katja]

Hey, let's pay a visit to the North West East Village, where work continues on the Jefferson, the new condo building at 211 E. 13th St. (AKA the former Mystery Lot).

EV Grieve Former Mystery Lot Correspondent/Current Jefferson Watcher Katja passes along photos of how the place is shaping up...





Eventually:



According to Streeteasy, 12 units are currently in contract here. There are 83 units in total at The Jefferson, named for the theater that once sat on the site.

Previously on EV Grieve:
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

The Jefferson reveals what '21st Century living in the heart of Olde New York' costs

What 331 E. Houston St. will look like one day

[July 2013]

Spotted some more information about the future of 331 E. Houston St. over at The Lo-Down this afternoon. (The Lo-Down was first to report on the sale of this long Mystery Lotish land in the summer of 2012.)

Preliminary construction for the 13-story building here at Ridge Street is underway.

And here's what it will look like...


[Via the Commercial Observer]

Per the Commercial Observer:

The owners are working with the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development to ensure that their project meets all requirements for the city’s affordable housing program ... Upon completion, 80 percent of the units will be rented at market rate, while the other 20 percent will be based on New York City area incomes.

Read the rest of the piece here.

Previously on EV Grieve:
An L-Shaped footprint ready to make its impression on East Houston Street

An abandoned car in an empty lot that will soon yield a 13-floor residential building

The Jefferson shows off its open glass

A quick monthly check-in over at The Jefferson on East 13th Street... where there's a lot more brick and glass exposed..





Per Streeteasy, eight of the units are now in contract ... including a two-bedroom penthouse with roof terrace ($2.85 million asking price). Remaining homes range in price from $1.9 million to $2.2 million here at the former Mystery Lot.

Previously.

Residential, retail and an additional floor for 212 E. 14th St.

Work continues at 212 E. 14th St. near Third Avenue... in a building nestled between the "21st Century living in the heart of Olde New York" that is The Jefferson.

Anyway, there's plywood and a sign up now that provides a few more details on what's next here... namely residential and retail...





In early June, the DOB approved the following:

VERTICAL ENLARGEMENT, GUT DEMOLITION & CONSTRUCTION OF NEW INTERIOR , TO CONVERT AN EXISTING 5-STORY BUILDING WITH 4 APARTMENTS ABOVE A RETAIL FLOOR , TO A 6-STORY BUILDING WITH 10 APARTMENTS ABOVE THE RETAIL FLOOR. REMOVE INTERIOR NON-BEARING PARTITIONS THROUGHOUT THE BUILDING, INSTALL NEW PARTITIONS AS PER PLANS FILED HEREWITH.

And we looked inside the space the other day... not much of anything left...



There is an active retail listing for the space ... most recently the Super Saving Store, which closed in June 2011. Don't expect any super savings here in the future either. Or anything like another previous tenant — Irving Klaw's Movie Star News, home of celebrity stills and Hollywood pin-ups through the years... here's an ad for the shop during its time at 212...


[Vintage Sleaze]

Head over to Jeremiah's Vanishing New York for more on Movie Star News and another former neighbor – the Jefferson Theatre.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Before it was the Mystery Lot

Meanwhile, at the Jefferson...

At the site of the former Mystery Lot. Where million condos are at the ready.



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

The Jefferson reveals what '21st Century living in the heart of Olde New York' costs

About the 'Northwest East Village'

[Rendering on East 13th Street in the Northwest East Village]

The real estate section of the Times had a piece yesterday on the Jefferson, the incoming condoplex that replaced the Mystery Lot along East Thirteen Street near Third Avenue... in particular, the Times explores the Jefferson's claim that the building is in the "Northwest East Village."

With the new name, the team building the Jefferson may be trying to freshen the image of the area, which is lined with aged brick tenements and has been more gentrification-proof than other East Village enclaves.

Or, like other marketing tactics, the renaming could serve no more serious purpose than to draw attention to the building.

“We were being a little funny, because we know it’s never going to catch on,” said Michael Barry, the president of the Ironstate Development Company in Hoboken, N.J., which is working with SK Development and CB Developers on the project.

Anyway, everybody knows that this is Midtown South.

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

The Jefferson reveals what '21st Century living in the heart of Olde New York' costs

Condos at The Jefferson released into the wild

Back on April 23, The Jefferson — the luxury condos that rose up from the former Mystery Lot on East 13th Street — unveiled its pricing and floor plans.

And yesterday, five of those units arrived on Streeteasy... including a 582-square-foot studio ($850,000) and a pièce de résistance, the 1,300-square-foot penthouse ($2,895 million).

And a smidgen of the marketing copy:

There is no more charming, lively and exciting neighborhood in Manhattan than the East Village. It is alive with history, culture and creativity — but living here can be a challenge. Most residential buildings are over 100 years old and built to a scale unsuited to contemporary lifestyles. Many find the compromise worth it. But the Jefferson provides perfect answer, with no compromise required.

Not sure if The Jeff has sold any units... however, at least two scalies are now squatting on the roof garden...



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

The Jefferson reveals what '21st Century living in the heart of Olde New York' costs

Laying some bricks at the Jefferson

Over in the North West East Village, workers have just started laying the bricks on the Jefferson, the new condo building at 211 E. 13th St. (AKA the former Mystery Lot). Looks like this now...



...and some day soon...



Previously on EV Grieve:
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

The Jefferson reveals what '21st Century living in the heart of Olde New York' costs

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

The last interesting empty lot in the East Village

Now that The Mystery Lot on East 13th Street is officially A Luxury Lot... we're nearly out of abandoned lots that are rather mysterious around here... save for this lot... the one off Houston/East Second Street between Avenue B and Avenue C...







This lot still holds some surprises, such as hosting the occasional crucified bear ... We don't know much about the lot (making it all the more mysterious!) ... just that the owner isn't interested in selling off the parcel... Still, enjoy it while you can.

Photos by Bobby Williams

Previously on EV Grieve:
A look at the dwindling number of East Village lots

The Jefferson reveals what '21st Century living in the heart of Olde New York' costs

And yesterday, 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. (We spotted the listings at Curbed.)

The Jefferson's marketing campaign asks, "Can you afford not to buy?" Unfortunately, the units turn out to be more than $300. The listings include a 536-square-foot studio for $850,000 up to a two-bedroom penthouse with a rooftop terrace for $2.49 million. In between, one-bedrooms range from $1.11 and $1.54 million.

Anyway, go look at the units... come back and comment... Or just comment.

And the view from East 13th Street...



...and the roof...



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

[Updated] What is that atop the Jefferson?

We were walking east on East 13th Street Friday afternoon (oh, how was your weekend?) and we spotted this atop The Jefferson, the incoming condo ...



That.



What the hell is that?



Don't recall seeing that in the renderings.

Shared building amenities include a rooftop terrace with party facilities and a BBQ. Maybe it's a party facility? DJ Booth? Portal to the 18th century?

Guesses as to what this is... are welcome in the comments.

Updated 10:20

Curbed quickly cleared up the mystery, looking at some zoning diagrams and noting that this is an "allowable rooftop obstruction" for an elevator machine room. That's boring!

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

Reaching the top at The Jefferson

Workers reached the top of the incoming Jefferson yesterday ... the new 8-floor condo on East 13th Street... at the site of the former Mystery Lot...



"That's one small step for [a] man, one giant leap for a tasteful oasis of state-of-the-art living in an enclave of 18th and 19th Century charm."

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

Retail space for The Jefferson is also moving on up

The Jefferson's retail space on East 14th Street near Third Avenue is shaping up, as you can see now that the scaffolding and stuff has come down...



There are two spaces available, as we've pointed out previously here ...



Here's the official retail listing...

In the renderings, the two available storefronts are called "Dapper Drake" and "Karmic Koala."

Also, a different broker has the listing for the currently-empty 212 E. 14th St. space, former home of the Super Saving Store, which closed in June 2011. (It was no Dapper Drake, but...)

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

Meanwhile, at the former Mystery Lot...

Work atop The Jefferson continued until 10 last night. You have to put in a lot of hours to create a "tasteful oasis of state-of-the-art living in an enclave of 18th and 19th Century charm."

Photo by Nick Solares.

Richard Hell's New York (Mystery Lot shout-out!)

Richard Hell continues to do some press in advance of the release of his memoir, "I Dreamed I Was a Very Clean Tramp," on Tuesday.

Today, the Post features the longtime East Village resident in its weekly My New York feature... You can read it here.

And he was a Mystery Lot fan!

10. Vacant lot, north side of 13th Street, between Second and Third avenues (now a construction site)

“Whenever I would have to walk across town, I’d try to wrap myself down 13th Street. The lot was all overgrown. And when you were walking down 13th, the buildings that were still standing on 14th Street gave it this kind of broken-toothy kind of edge to it. A friend of mine wanted to make a movie with me — and my first idea was to do something in that lot. I put on a bunch of wounded-person makeup and staggered out from behind one of the 14th Street buildings. I have the footage, somewhere.”

Aside from the interviews that we've already mentioned (The New York Times last Sunday, the Observer), there have also been Hell Q-and-As in New York magazine... Esquire ... Spin has some book excerpts here.

Previously.

The Jefferson is moving on up

EVG Facebook friend Nick Solares shared the above photo from yesterday showing how quickly the newly christened development called The Jefferson is rising at the former Mystery Lot off East 14th Street and Third Avenue ... (Find more of his photos here.)

Meanwhile, Nick shared these two photos from the former enclave of 18th and 19th century charm Mystery Lot...





Previously.

Looking at the retail component of recent East Village developments

There are currently three major upscale housing developments in progress in the East Village ... each of which will have a retail component:

• 21 Jupiter

A 4,300-square-foot TB Bank branch has inked a deal here at Second Avenue and East First Street. And there are those Mars bar comeback rumors too.

• The Jefferson



There are two retail spaces available here on East 14th Street at the former Mystery Lot...

• 84 Third Ave.

As far as we know, there aren't any deals in place yet for 84 Third Ave., the 12 story retail-residential combo coming to the corner of East 12th Street.

There you have all that.

So let's take a look back at three recent developments to see how the retail component fared...

• 2 Cooper Square



The retail space remains empty... and on the market since the apartments hit the market in 2009...

• 52 E. 4th Street



The retail portion of the 15 stories of condo on the Bowery and East Fourth Street sat empty, save a few odd pop-up shops (remember Bowery Bazaar in 2009?)... until plans for a 7-Eleven were eventually unveiled ... the convenience store opened on Dec. 23, 2011.

• The Copper Building



The retail space here on Avenue B and East 13th Street remained vacant for several years until the East Side 99¢ shop moved in last October.

So, the three high-end developments have yielded a 7-Eleven and a 99-cent shop (which relocated from around the corner). Residents are willing to pay big money to live here, but retailers aren't as interested to follow suit... What's going on here?