Tuesday, June 1, 2010

East Village apartments more expensive than 2 Cooper Square

Yesterday, The Wall Street Journal noted that a three-bedroom apartment in 2 Cooper Square was going for $20,000 a month, which would make these the most most expensive apartments in the neighborhood....

Well, that's not true... just around the way at 6 E. First St. is a new-to-the-market penthouse for $25,000 a month... and here's the adjective-laden listing...

Enjoy the ultimate indoor/outdoor lifestyle from this spectacular 3700SF triplex penthouse loft perched atop a former steel and concrete warehouse located at the crossroads of Soho, Noho, and the burgeoning Bowery district. Connected by a custom cantilevered steel staircase, each level of this amazing home offers something unique and unforgettable. On the first floor, you'll find a massive Living/Dining area bathed in southern light with 11-foot beamed ceilings, exposed brick walls, a wood-burning fireplace, and light from a 50-foot expanse of oversized windows. This fantastic room features an enormous state-of-the-art chef's kitchen with a six-burner Viking range, Subzero refrigerator, built-in Miele espresso/cappuccino maker, and a 50-bottle temperature controlled wine refrigerator. There is a generous-sized Bedroom with en-suite bathroom, and a tasteful powder room for guests. Ascend the stairs to the dramatic sun-blasted second level -- a grand-scaled entertaining space with 13' ceilings, polished concrete floors, custom walnut wet bar, full bathroom + direct access to an incredible wrap terrace ideal for sunbathing, stargazing and dining al fresco. Tucked away at the end of the hallway you'll find the serene Master Bedroom suite replete with fireplace, separate office, large walk-in-closets, and a fabulous sky-lit bathroom with steam shower, oversized jetted soaking tub, bidet, and gorgeous teak and limestone double vanity. Further up the cantilevered staircase is the sun-drenched top level, a breathtaking room with four exposures, spa-quality bathroom, and direct access to yet another phenomenal terrace with unobstructed 360 degree views. Additionally, the residence offers multi-zoned central air-conditioning, radiant heated floors, a separate laundry room and custom lighting on dimmers throughout. Not to mention, there is the prime location in the heart of the vibrant Bowery District, just steps from the city's hottest new restaurants, bars, boutiques and Whole Foods market. Come home to 6 East 1st Street, the ultimate Downtown oasis!


And here are the photos...







Anyway, as for 2 Cooper Square... still no sign of rent details at the 2 Coop site...

Epic urban etiquette sign: "BIRD feeding IS ILLEGAL"



On St. Mark's Place near First Avenue.

Third store opens today in Extra Place

There's some kind of high-end looking furniture-wood shop opening in the corner space tonight at Extra Place...






Meanwhile, seems like a good time to take a quick inventory of Extra Place...

Starting in 1978 (photo via Forgotten New York)...



OK, anyway, as it was first reported back in the spring of 2008, the Avalon Bowery team aspired to turn the cul-de-sac into "a slice of the Left Bank, a pedestrian mall lined with interesting boutiques and cafés."

With the new furniture shop, there are now three storefronts in business... Bespoke Chocolates...



...and Montana Knox ...

Looks as there are 4-5 retail spaces available...




...it feels a little lonely back here...



...not quite yet what the Avalon Bowery folks envisioned with their rendering a few years back...



Previously on EV Grieve:
Extra Place now officially a Dead End

Meanwhile, Extra Place continues to maintain its proud heritage

Perhaps he just saw Extra Place for the first time in 15 years or so?

The Chocolate Wars (well, not at all, but we needed something that sounds CONTROVERSIAL)

Giving Extra Place the warm, comfortable feel of suburbia

Looking at Extra Place

The Mercury Lounge turns colors

The Mercury Lounge on Houston has a new look...

Before!



Now!




And so far, it looks as if the Shastone Monuments signage will remain...



By the way, as Curbed reported, the building that houses the Mercury Lounge was sold earlier this year... though the Mercury has a lease through 2018...

Previously on EV Grieve:
Some faded ad glory reappears above the Mercury Lounge

The Mercury Lounge survived John Mayer, it can survive this

[Top photo via Curbed]

Something Sweet for Third Avenue and NYU

The former Atlantic News on Third Avenue and NYU is becoming....



...something called Just Sweet Dessert House....



According to their Web site:

With an Asian-theme menu choice, our inspiration comes from a balanced fusion of contemporary and traditional culture. Our menu selections are inspired from Hong Kong, China, Taiwan, Thailand, Japan, and Korea.

We strive to introduce unique selections of desserts into the local marketplace. Our featured desserts include Taiwanese Shaved Ice, Chinese Tong Sui, Crepes, frozen drinks, and seasonal specials.

Opposition to South Brooklyn Pizza's liquor license

South Brooklyn Pizza opened in April at 122 First Ave. between Seventh Street and St. Mark's Place... they go before the SLA today for a liquor license... and as this sign shows on First Avenue, there's opposition...



I haven't tried this pizza yet... A reader passed along his or her experience:

A guy who works very hard selling a $4 slice in a neighborhood that buys $1 slices and $2 Falafel complains to another worker about how hard he works to sell the pizza and it isn't even his place. While the cheese is good (although a little too subtle), and the crust thin and crisp, the flavor is underwhelming. The first-class ingredients could use a little kick-up. I don't plan to spend $4 there again.


Previously on EV Grieve:
Rumors!: Will PJ Hanley's be opening a pizza shop on First Avenue?

A Stop Work Order for the P.J. Hanley's pizza parlor on First Avenue

Table 12's sidewalk cafe debuts

Many thanks to EV Grieve reader Project Chow (@projectchow) for passing along word that Table 12's sidewalk cafe has debuted on 12th Street and Avenue A...





Per the CB3/SLA, The sidewalk cafe must shut down at 10 p.m.... and they can set up again at 8 a.m.

With this addition, though, part of Chico's Kool Bloo sign was painted over ... Project Chow has some before and afters too... (thanks to @chufucious)




Previously on EV Grieve:
New sidewalk cafe for Table 12

New Japanese restaurant paying homage to former tenant?

As I've faithfully reported, the former Cookout Grill on First Avenue at 13th Street is becoming a Japanese restaurant. Extensive renovations continue...



And, so far, good news: It looks as if the new owners are honoring the memories of the former tenant... Too often, heartless new owners have no respect for the storied history of an address... neutering a space without regard of what it meant to the people...




...and, yes, I'm making fun of myself here...

No more sidewalk shed for PS 122

First Avenue and Ninth Street... No more sidewalk shed for now anyway...






Previously on EV Grieve:
Meet PS 122's new steel tower

Monday, May 31, 2010

Avenue A, 9:48 p.m., Memorial Day

Memorial Day weekend in review



A man was struck by a bus in Chinatown...

-----

2 Cooper Square is charing upwards of $20,000 a month for rents... the most ever for the East Village...

----


Shrek was put on sale then thrown away on Avenue A...

-----



People discarded couches and fake fries...

-----



Someone overturned all the trash cans in Tompkins Square Park...

----



We went to Bike Noise 3 in Tompkins Square Park...

-----



We went to the Loisaida Festival on Avenue C....

-----



We went to the BP protest on Houston....

----



The new fence at the Cooper Square Hotel got tagged... and cleaned...

Updated 6/1: Bus hits pedestrian on Essex and Canal



From a reader:

Today at 11:48 AM Lucky Star hit an older Chinese man outside of my window at the corner of Essex/Canal. He will more than likely die from the injuries. Bystanders thought they were helping and started to drag the man from under the bus. I along with others got them to stop, but damage may have been done. I hope he lives. ... FDNY was on scene within 2 minutes of the accident and acted quickly to free the man and send him off to the hospital. From what I could see from afar, the injuries along with his accelerated age, it does not look promising.


Still waiting to hear more on this from the mainstream media... nothing yet... The reader who sent me the original information passed along another message...

The whole scene was cleaned up by the time I sent you the photo. All that remains is the sand the firemen spread to cover his blood. They did not remove his shoe from the middle of the street. It's a very sad reminder of what may have been this man's last few moments. The whole incident took place and disappeared within 40 minutes. These buses are dangerous and the drivers some times don't pay attention like they should. The man was in the middle of the crosswalk -- there's no way the driver didn't see him.


DNAinfo has more on the story. According to police, the man's injuries are no considered life-threatening.

Weekend of the discarded couch, and large, fake Pommes Frites

Being a holiday weekend and the end of the month... many people were moving in and out of apartments... which may be why I spotted 13 discarded couches in a few blocks... I started taking photos of each one, but you get the idea...




EV Grieve reader Deb these passed along these shots from the weekend from outside the Christodora House, where a discarded couch provided a rest for the weary...




Meanwhile! Project Chow (@projectchow) sent along this abandoned Pommes Frites sign on 12th Street and Avenue A...



And a few other discarded items from the weekend...



There goes the neighborhood for real: 2 Cooper Square will open with the highest rents ever in the East Village

Yowza. The Wall Street Journal checks in with a story about 2 Cooper Square ...



To the story:

Atlantic Development Group, which owns or manages 48 rental buildings in the city, plans to open next month 2 Cooper, at East Fourth Street near the Bowery. The 15-story, amenity-rich building is charging the highest rents ever in this rapidly gentrifying neighborhood, brokers say. Three-bedroom apartments run as high as $20,000 per month.

Atlantic's initial plans for 2 Cooper were much more modest. In 2004, the developer designed a building aimed at attracting New York University and Cooper Union students.

But Atlantic switched gears when it saw that the Bowery neighborhood was going upscale quickly. Two high-end hotels were built on the street, and a contemporary art museum opened its doors south of Houston. In recent months, Keith McNally and Daniel Boulud have launched restaurants on the Bowery.

Amenities added by 2 Cooper include a 15-seat private screening room and a 75-square foot walk-in refrigerator on the ground floor to hold tenants' food and flower deliveries.

"The neighborhood has become a destination but what's stopped people from moving there is a dearth of luxury properties," says Yuri Lobachevsky, a residential broker with Citi Habitats.

The building has signed leases for 21 of its 144 units, according to Atlantic. The majority have gone to people who already live downtown and were looking for an upgrade, says Richard Cantor, a principal at broker Cantor Pecorella.


Previously on EV Grieve:
2 Cooper Square looking for some "masculine, attractive, intelligent" Clive Owens types with kids — but, lordy, not kids who actually live with them!