Workers are now demolishing the last 2 East Village gas stations

Demolition work has started at the former BP station on Second Avenue at East First Street.





The Deal Deal reported back in the fall that a new development with 50,000 square feet of condominiums and 7,000 square feet of retail is on the way. However, permits for a new building are not on file yet with the Department of Buildings.

BP closed in early July.

And there's no word on what became of the little tree in the original Exxon-branded planter.

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Meanwhile, over at East Houston and Avenue C, EVG reader Magic Brian notes that demolition crews arrived late last week at the site of the former Mobil, which was the neighborhood's last gas station.







There are plans in the works for a 10-floor building (featuring 0 affordable units) with ground floor retail here.

Previously on EV Grieve:
RUMOR: Gas station going, boutique hotel coming on Second Avenue? (31 comments)

BP station on 2nd Avenue closes this month

The 2nd Avenue BP station has closed

Report: 50,000 square feet of condos coming to the former 2nd Avenue BP station

Permits filed to demolish former 2nd Avenue BP station

You have a little longer to get gas on Avenue C

Plans filed for new 9-story building at site of Mobil station on East Houston and Avenue C

New residential building for former Mobil station lot will be 10 floors with 0 zero affordable units

Updates on 3 recent quick-serve food closures

[Photo from November]

Paper went up in the windows at Oaxaca Taqueria in late November. A note on the door pointed to renovations for the taco shop at 125 E. Seventh St. between Avenue A and First Avenue.

More recently, a notice appeared, showing that the owners were behind on rent…



The space has also been on the market.

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In late November, the city temporarily closed Puddin', the small shop at 102 St. Mark's Place that sells pudding, pudding-filled cakes and Frozen Puddin' Pops, for lacking some kind of paperwork…



Puddin' remains closed, without any explanation about it on their website or social media properties.

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TakeMeHome Rotisserie Chicken opened Nov. 23 at 151 Avenue A between East Ninth Street and East 10th Street. Then during the week of Dec. 8, the quick-service restaurant mysteriously closed without any note/explanation/etc.



But! A help wanted sign recently appeared… and this past weekend we noticed that they were open once again… and now with a phonograph inside…

Coffee and breakfast will live here

Dave on 7th is keeping a watchful eye on 178 E. Seventh St., where Korzo Haus recently left… all we know so far is that it will be a coffee shop with some breakfast foods to go here just west of Avenue B…

The sign on the door for the post office reads "This is where C&B/Coffee and Breakfast LLC Lives."

Previously on EV Grieve:
Something new for the old fortress of East 7th Street

Checkers opens TODAY; 1st look at the specials

The Checkers Watch® comes to an end today with the Grand Opening here on First Avenue between East 13th Street and East 14th Street.

And here is a look at just two of their specials…



… Checkers is also serving… smiles.



Previously on EV Grieve:
Checkers headed to 1st Avenue

From couches to beds on 3rd Avenue

In other exciting retail news … there's a new tenant for the former Jennifer Convertibles space at 111 Third Ave. near East 14th St. …

Signage is up now for Sleepy's … which, despite the grand opening signage...



… isn't actually open yet. As you can see — no beds!

A festive Urban Etiquette Sign for the holidays

Spotted on Avenue A via Shawn Chittle…

Please close the door behind you. (Safer for all)

(and call the landlord to remind him)

Love the decorations. Thanks.

Bonus points for the fine use of parentheses…

Week in Grieview

[Photo on 1st Avenue yesterday by Derek Berg]

Tire swing kills man in Tompkins Square Park (Tuesday … Wednesday … Thursday)

8-story retail-residential building coming to the former Peter Stuyvesant Post Office (Friday)

7-Eleven finally moves its noisy AC units on Avenue A (Thursday)

Out and About in the East Village 2014 recap (Wednesday)

277 E. 7th St. condos rebranded Seven East Village, and will feature a bike-sharing program (Tuesday … Thursday)

Is an Avenue A entrance for the L train in our future? (Thursday)

East Village represented on this list of the city's worst landlords (Tuesday)

More about the first show at Walter De Maria's former home-studio on East Sixth Street (Monday)

Spice on Fourth Avenue closes (Thursday)

At the 23rd annual tree lighting in Tompkins Square Park (Sunday)

The cat cafe is now open on the LES (Tuesday)

The Salvation Army's former East Village Residence has been demolished (Monday)

Veniero's turns 120 (Thursday)

Lake Extell on East 14th Street (Monday)

More details on Bruno Pizza, opening early next year on East 13th Street (Tuesday)

A new wine shop for Third Avenue (Friday)

The DF Mavens storefront finally — REVEALED (Thursday)

428 E. 10th St. now available for multiple uses (Tuesday)

Spot Dessert Shoppe shaping up on St. Mark's Place (Monday)

The bone broth is popular at Brodo/Hearth (Thursday)

RIP Officers Wenjian Liu and Rafael Ramos

Two members of the NYPD were shot and killed during an ambush on a Bed-Stuy street yesterday afternoon.

The officers, Wenjian Liu and Rafael Ramos, were in their squad car when the gunman, identified as Ismaaiyl Brinsley, shot them at point-blank range.

This message appeared overnight on Avenue C at East Seventh Street.



Brinsley, a Baltimore resident, later killed himself in a subway station.

Some last-minute holiday decorating tips courtesy of Citi Bike

@melchp spotted this over at the Toyota Children's Learning Garden on East 11th Street near Avenue B. If you decide to decorate with a Citi Bike, then remember to dock it every 45 minutes (30 minutes for non-members!) to avoid late fees.

Puppy love

Tompkins Square Park this afternoon via Zach Mack…

Reminders: The New York Cares 26th annual Coat Drive continues

As we cut-n-paste a few weeks ago… via NY1:

With greater urgency this year, New York Cares is launching its 26th Annual Coat Drive.

The agency says it has received requests for 100,000 coats for men, women, and children.

Typically it collects 80,000.

Through December 31, donations of gently used, freshly laundered coats will be collected at hundreds of locations throughout the five boroughs including all NYPD precincts, New York Penn Station, Atlantic Avenue – Barclays Center, and Grand Central Terminal.

You may search for a drop-off location here. Around here you can take coats to the 9th Precinct at 321 E. Fifth St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue ... or the Police Service Area 4 at 130 Avenue C at East Eighth Street.

An EVG commenter told us that the coat drive is well short of its goal….

Gem Spa has a new awning

On Thursday, workers arrived to install a new awning outside EVG favorite Gem Spa on Second Avenue and St. Mark's Place…





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And on Friday! Derek Berg picked up the action…



… the work was disruptive to a few people just trying to earn a living…



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Today!



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And a look back …




[Image via]

Holiday celebration today at La Plaza

On the southwest corner of Avenue C and East Ninth Street… aka the North Pole

Report: Mobster allegedly sells bag of guns outside an East Village Starbucks

Fiore “Philly” Caruso, 59, who the Post describes as a reputed Gambino associate, was indicted yesterday for allegedly selling undercover cops guns and cocaine.

And a local angle:

Before his latest arrest, Caruso unwittingly made a sale to cops Nov. 13, outside an East Village Starbucks, where he traded a bag with six guns and ammo with an undercover agent for $13,000 cash, authorities said.

The Post article doesn't mention which Starbucks location. First Avenue and East Third Street? First Avenue and East 13th Street? Second Avenue and East Ninth Street? Astor Place? (though that would really be Midtown South)...

Which location do you think is best for allegedly selling a bag of guns to undercover cops? I'm going with Second Avenue.

'Tis the season to toss out the tree before Christmas

EVG readers spotted these today… Daniel Root found the above on East Seventh Street between Second Avenue and Cooper Square … and Allen Semanco saw this one below on St. Mark's Place and First Avenue…



Makes sense. SantaCon is over, so might as well toss the ol' Christmas tree…

'Calvary' charge

A Christmas song that I'm not sick of yet. U.K. singer-songwriter Jona Lewie with "Stop the Calvary" from 1980.

Noted

The camel is here for the live nativity at St. Brigid-St. Emeric on Avenue B at East Eighth Street.

Per the church's website: "Living Nativity for Children … Show only at 4 pm; Show & Mass at 8 pm."

A quick update!

@evgrieve screenshot of the camel NOT having it going into church @7BHorseshoeBar pic.twitter.com/2iqj3PR89x

— Theo Stockman (@TheStockmanO) December 19, 2014

EV Grieve Etc.: Mourning Edition

[East 7th Street the other day via Derek Berg]

Ideas to #SaveNYC (Jeremiah's Vanishing New York)

A visit to the Halal Guys on East 14th Street (The New York Times)

East Village Terroir closing Jan. 31 (Eater)

A look at Dee Dee Ramone's work at the Hotel Chelsea (The Daily Beast)

Former Chase branch on Delancey hosting another art show (BoweryBoogie)

Here's what's coming to La Mama (La Mama, PDF)

What does gentrification really mean? (The Washington Post)

Manel Armengol's pictures of New York City in the late 1970s (Flaming Pablum)

Christo and Dora hanging out in Tompkins Squirrel Square Park (Gog in NYC)

There's a $50 million lawsuit in connection with a plan to build a 47-story tower on the site of the former Pathmark pharmacy on Cherry Street (The Lo-Down)

Q-and-A with the new CitiBike chief (New York)

WNYC broadcaster Oscar Brand celebrates his 69th continuous year on the air (The Villager)

Should libraries become more like coffee shops? (The Telegraph UK)

The women of "Twin Peaks" get the Sailor Jerry look (Dangerous Minds)

... and with some new competition next door, Ray recently unveiled a new slicer for some expanded menu items...


[Photo by Peter Brownscombe]

...and someone sent me this...

Make millions on this East 7th Street townhouse

The circa-1860s townhouse at 189 E. 7th St., on one of our favorite blocks here between Avenue B and Avenue C, returns to the market.

RE/MAX Midtown has the listing, though you need to register on their site to browse the properties. So here's the thumbnail description via Streeteasy:

This townhouse is the lowest price townhouse in East Village and requires TLC. Renovated townhouses in East Village sell between $5.5- $7.0 million dollars so there is an opportunity to make millions on this property. Currently owner occupied and will be delivered vacant.

The asking price is $3.75 million.

The rendering shows the potential... of turning it into something looking very Upper East Side-ish...

The asking price was $3.2 million in 2008. It looks as if it sold in 2011 for $3.3 million, per Streeteasy. Apparently the seller didn't see the potential to make millions off the home. Apparently the home never sold in 2011.

Top image via Streeteasy

More info about the new development replacing the post office everyone hated

[Photo from October by EVG reader Mr. Baggs]

Here are more details about the 8-story retail-residential building coming to the former Peter Stuyvesant Post Office on East 14th Street near Avenue A.

As we noted Wednesday, the building will be 96,000 square feet, with 8,655 square feet designated for the retail space. Plans also show a total of 114 apartments.

According to New York Yimby, landlord Benenson Capital Partners, which has owned the through-block site since 1983, the development "would be made up of a north and south building, fronting on East 14th and East 13th Streets, respectively. The latter would rise to eight stories and the former to seven, with between five and ten apartments per building per floor."

Plus!

"The residential lobby would be located on the ground floor of the 13th Street building, while the nearly 9,000 square feet of retail space would sit in the north building, fronting on busy East 14th Street."

No word yet on timing for the new building(s). Demolition permits were ordered in October to bring down the post office and the former Stuyvesant Stationery shop next door.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Today in rants: the Peter Stuyvesant Post Office

Meanwhile, at everyone's favorite local post office branch...

UPDATED: Did you hear the rumor about the Peter Stuyvesant Post Office branch closing?

Report: Closure of the Peter Stuyvesant Post Office is pretty much a done deal

First sign of more development on East 14th Street?

Asbestos abatement to begin at former Peter Stuyvesant Post Office

Davey drill arrives ahead of rumored development at former East 14th Street post office

Former Peter Stuyvesant Post Office slated to be demolished

The former Peter Stuyvesant Post Office will yield to an 8-story residential building

More about The East Luxe, Ben Shaoul's new 20-unit rental on 2nd Avenue

Just last Friday we pointed out that Ben Shaoul's new rental building at 31-33 Second Ave. had a fancy name to go with the 1970s-student-housing architecture — The East Luxe.

For more, we turn to the news release that arrived yesterday from the brokerage firm brokering the new building:

Completely renovated and redesigned, the 20-unit building offers one bedrooms through four bedroom apartments with slated occupancy for the beginning of 2015. The building, which offers units starting at $4,235 and your 2nd month of rent free, has an elevator and landscaped roof deck with views of the Empire State Building, Chrysler Building, and the Manhattan Bridge. Each unit is appointed with condo finishes offering washer and dryer units in each apartment, stainless steel appliances, granite countertops, and marble bathrooms.

"The East Luxe is a true gem in the East Village," says Khashy Eyn, Founder/CEO of Platinum Properties. "We are excited to represent this boutique luxury property, which is distinct from any rental building that is currently on the market."

Distinct from any rental building that is currently on the market maybe ... not unlike Ben Shaoul's Bloom 62, which lists similar amenities.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Ben Shaoul planning a 3-story addition at 31-33 Second Ave.

Bracing for 3 new floors at 31-33 Second Ave.

Checking in on the work in progress at 31-33 2nd Ave., where Ben Shaoul is adding 3 new floors

Ben Shaoul's bland new 2nd Avenue building is called The East Luxe

Wine store in the works for 50 3rd Ave.

Biomed Drugs & Surgical Supply Co. closed back in the spring at 50 Third Ave. near East 10th Street.

High rents did the 20-year-old store in, the cashier told Jeremiah Moss. And what might be next? The cashier figured "a chain, a restaurant or a bar — they're the only ones that can afford the rent."

Well, that's pretty close. We spotted a notice in the window the other day noting an application for Taste Wine LLC, an off-premises package store…



Also, for a little history of the address, Jeremiah pointed out that the location was once home to the wondrous Sig Klein's Fat Men's Shop.

The Checkers sign on 1st Avenue is looking so Checkers-ish

OK! Apologies for TWO Checkers-related posts in one week. But! We hadn't seen the Checkers signage for ourselves at 225 First Ave. between East 13th Street and East 14th Street … until yesterday afternoon.

Look how it gleams in the afternoon sun!

We actually don't know a thing about Checkers. According to the Checkers franchising website: "Checkers Drive-In Restaurants, Inc. burst onto the burger scene with their over-the-top flavors in 1986 in Mobile, Alabama."

And what do they serve?

"Burgers, Wings, Seasoned Fries and Shakes, if it's over-the-top flavor you're looking for you'll be sure to find it at a New York Area Checkers."



In April 2013, Crain's reported that Checkers was going to add another 22 restaurants in NYC by 2015.

So maybe we better get used to seeing them.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Checkers headed to 1st Avenue

Report: City not removing tire swings from Tompkins Square Park

The city isn't removing the tire swing that killed a man in Tompkins Square Park on Monday afternoon, the Post reports.

Harlem resident Aleim Perkins, 39, was playing with his 6-year-old niece in the playground off East Ninth Street and Avenue A. Witnesses have said he was aggressively pushing an empty tire swing when it struck him in the face.

"We do not plan to remove the swings at present. A close inspection yesterday found the swing to be in safe working order," a Parks Department spokesperson told the Post.

There are 53 tire swings in NYC parks. According to the spokesperson, this is the first time anyone has ever died from a tire swing injury in a city park.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Witness to a tragedy in Tompkins Square Park

Noise nightmare for neighbors comes to an end as 7-11 moves AC units to the roof on Avenue A

More than 15 months after 7-Eleven installed three noisy refrigeration units in an alleyway between 500 and 502 E. 11th St., workers arrived this morning to move them to the building's rooftop where they hopefully won't keep neighbors up all night.

Back in October, the Department of Environmental Protection ordered the Avenue A 7-Eleven to stop using the units, saying they violated the city's noise code. At the time, 7-Eleven reps said that they needed more time to sign a contract with a company to move the equipment. Landlord Westminster City Living claimed that 7-Eleven had refused to meet with them to discuss the ongoing issue.

As previously noted, the constant grinding, clicking noise caused several tenants in 502 East 11th St. to abandon their bedrooms.


[Photo via the No 7-Eleven Blog]

The crane was originally scheduled to arrive last Thursday, but the company had to amend their plans the day before the lift.

Upon hearing that news last week, one resident wrote, "We are at our emotional ends — exhausted beyond belief. We were fantasizing about the use of our living room for a Christmas tree (instead of a cluttered bedroom), and now we will have to wait… until when?"

The wait appears to be over… as these photos by Brian Katz, one of the residents who has endured the noise, show…





Previously on EV Grieve:
3 new AC units at incoming 7-Eleven prompts Partial Stop Work Order

A WHOOSHING AC unit update: 'We are roundly being ignored by 7-Eleven and Westminster NYC'

Report: 7-Eleven's AC units have forced residents from their bedrooms on Avenue A & East 11th St.

Local pols blast 7-Eleven for blocking order to remove noisy refrigeration unit at 170 Avenue A

1 year later, 7-Eleven asks for more time to move noisy refrigeration units from residential windows

Shop local tonight

Via the EVG inbox...

Shop local in the East Village tonight. The East Village Independent Merchant Association (EVIMA) is hosting the East Village Holiday Shopping Night, with more than 20 participating local merchants providing promotions and discounts for shoppers from 6-9 pm. A complete list of all participating stores and their deals can be found here.

In addition, the East Village Community Coalition will be holding a community holiday party and teen gift drive for the Women’s Prison Association in their offices (143 Avenue B, in the Christodora House) tonight from 6-10. Suggested gifts include: gloves, scarves, beanies, clothing (including winter coats), movie gift cards, lotions and fragrances (most popular item for girls, sunglasses, earphones and headphones, jewelry, watches, wallets, handbags and messenger bags, backpacks, NY teams merchandise (Mets, Yankees, Nets, Knicks, Rangers, Giants, Jets).

Is an Avenue A entrance for the L train in our future?

[Photo from September by EVG reader stickmanpk]

Back in September, EVG reader stickmanpk spotted a crew with a Davey drill taking some soil samples on East 14th Street near Avenue A. At the time, we thought it was something to do with the new development in the works for the former Peter Stuyvesant Post Office across the street.

Later, though, we heard this was for the MTA... to explore a new Avenue A entrance for the L train.

Now, via a reader, here's an MTA press release dated last Thursday that discusses the possibility of a new entrance here.

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) is seeking federal funding toward approximately $300 million in infrastructure improvements for the Canarsie L Subway Line, which runs from Manhattan to the Canarsie section of Brooklyn through neighborhoods that have seen the largest increases in population in New York City.

Proposed infrastructure improvements include adding three power substations to allow for two additional trains per hour, a 10% increase in service, which could carry 2,200 additional customers per hour. Other elements include installing elevators at the 1 Av and Bedford Av stations to make them fully compliant with the federal Americans with Disabilities Act, and adding new street-level entrances at both stations to make it easier for customers to enter or exit the stations and alleviate platform crowding that can delay trains.

“More than 49,000 customers use the 1 Av and Bedford Av stations on an average weekday, and the stations experience overcrowding during peak periods. The area around the Bedford Av station has been rezoned to allow for almost 10,000 new residential units, and ridership is expected to continue to rise,” said New York City Transit President Carmen Bianco. “We have to increase capacity on the Canarsie Line and improve customer flow at stations to meet this increasing demand, and securing federal funding for a project of this magnitude will go a long way toward achieving that goal.”

At the 1 Av station, new fare control areas at Avenue A would double capacity – a 100% increase – up to the street from each platform. The Avenue A entrances would serve 60% of the station’s ridership, thus eliminating a 500-foot walk (from First Avenue to Avenue A) for 31,000 weekday customers entering or exiting the station.

Partial funding for the Canarsie improvements has been included in the MTA’s proposed 2015-2019 Capital Program, per the release.

According to the MTA, the L line first opened as a segment on June 30, 1924, a time when men also wore suspenders without irony.

Previously on EV Grieve:
A Davey Drill and a dream