Tree down at St. Mark's Church-in-the-Bowery

Workers today had to remove the last of the majestic willows from St. Mark's Church-in-the-Bowery… along the eastern edge of the property at Second Avenue between East 10th Street and East 11th Street… EVG reader Daniel, who shared these photos, said that the tree was diseased (there was yellow tape around it for the past week or so) …











We're curious how old the tree was… here's a photo circa 1905 via the New York Cemetery Project…

Meet the Snickers Bar Squirrel of Tompkins Squirrel Park

EVG contributor Derek Berg noticed this critter putting away some Halloween leftovers in Tompkins Square Park yesterday…



… anyway, Pizza Rat seems so September 2015…

The Barrel has closed on Stuyvesant Street

The Barrel, the tapas bar at 10 Stuyvesant Street adjacent to East Ninth Street, has closed.

EVG reader Christopher Pelham passes along this photo from last night… The sign on the door says, "We have loved getting to know you and serving you these past years! … We will miss all of you."

We didn't hear any reason for this closing. The Barrel stopped its weekday lunch service back in September. There isn't any mention of the closure on The Barrel's social media properties.

As we recall, the owners of Panya next door opened The Barrel five-plus years ago, taking over part of the former Around the Clock space. That 20-year-old diner closed in January 2009.

Avenue A L train entrance closer to a reality … some day

[Those 1st Avenue L train entrances]

An observant EVG reader spotted the following in the 237-page PDF of the 2015–2019 Capital Plan that the MTA board approved last week…



So there's budgeted $$$ for a second set of entrances for the L stop at First Avenue. A news release via the MTA from last December suggested the following scenario:

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.

According to Sen. Brad Hoylman's office, use of the station at East 14th Street and First Avenue has increased by 30 percent from 2007-2012. (Seems like 300 percent.)

And the L train only promises to get more crowded with the arrival of the 150 residential units in the two new 7-floor buildings on East 14th Street between Avenue A and Avenue B that Extell is developing. (Not to mention the residential building replacing the former Peter Stuyvesant Post Office.)

In February 2014, Holyman asked Extell Development to "contribute toward the construction of a second entrance to the 1st Avenue L train subway station." (You may read his letter to Extell here.) Not sure how that ask went.

Regardless, the money is in the MTA budget to make this new L train entrance/exit dream happen.

The Extell developments are expected to be complete in early 2017. No word on a timeline from the MTA on when any of this L train entrance work might happen. (Given that the 2015-2019 Capital Program finally got the OK so close to 2016…)

Previously on EV Grieve:
A Davey Drill and a dream

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

179 E. 3rd St. is for sale

The 6-story walkup building between Avenue A and Avenue B is now on a market.

Here's part of the pitch via Cushman & Wakefield:

Of the 32 residential units, 19 are fair market, 11 are rent stabilized and 2 are rent controlled. As 40% of the units are stabilized and achieve an average of only $985 per month, or just 30% of market, prospective ownership can unlock significant value over time through deregulation. Further upside can be achieved immediately in the fair market units through the creation of coveted amenities for residents including, but not limited to, an expansive roof deck that already benefits from impressive views, the installation of a laundry facility/service, a security system, automated doorman and an updated lobby.

There is also substantial value in the property’s retail component that features approximately 1,360 square feet of ground floor space. The building currently hosts three separate retail units, two of which are occupied by renowned Crandall Guitars and Studio 26 Gallery with leases that expire in 2018 (with a 5 year renewal option) and 2017 (with a 2 year renewal option), respectively. The last unit is owner occupied and will be delivered vacant upon sale. As the landscape of the East Village has transformed into one of the most desirable residential and commercial locations in the city, future ownership has the ability to capitalize on the favorable growth of the neighborhood in the near term.

Located in the heart of the East Village, 179 East 3rd Street benefits from a wide array of the city’s best shopping, dining and nightlife options. The neighborhood has experienced rapid transformation in recent years that has attracted a younger population drawn to the area’s new developments. The most exciting new project coming to the area is Essex Crossing, a 1.9 million square foot mixed-use project located just 3 streets south of the subject property.

Price: $26.5 million

Image via Cushman & Wakefield

Report: Demo permits filed to raze southeast corner of 4th Avenue and 10th Street

[EVG file photo]

Demolition permits are now on file to take down the long-empty, single-level building at 71 Fourth Ave. and the four-story, turn-of-the-century townhouse next door at 82 E. 10th St., DNAinfo reports.


[82 E. 10th St. via Google]

Stewart Osborne, a partner in the LLC that bought the properties for development, told DNAinfo's Lisha Arino that they are still in the "planning process," and haven't decided on what to build here.

As New York Yimby first reported back in July, the owners filed plans for a 10-story, eight-unit building on the site with ground-floor retail. The DOB disapproved the first round of plans in September.

And, as previously noted, this is one of the renderings that has been attached to the corner…



The lot hit the market in June 2013 for $24 million.

The previous tenants of No. 71, including the Green East deli and St. Marx Music (and previously the Atlas Barber School), were cleared out in early 2007.

Previously on EV Grieve:
The 'tremendous retail potential' of East 10th Street and 4th Avenue

10 stories of condos in the works for the long-vacant corner of 4th Avenue and East 10th Street

SantaCon 2015 set for Dec. 12 in NYC, says SantaCon

SantaCon organizers tweeted out the date last evening... and per the SC website...



To date, at least one local bar has gone on the record as ready to welcome the Santas...

Southern California-based Pressed Juicery opens 1st NYC storefront on Lafayette Street

Billed as "California's leading cold-pressed juicery chain," the aptly named Pressed Juicery opened its doors at 329 Lafayette St. between East Houston and Bleecker Street yesterday… although the products are available at some Equinox locations around the city, this is Pressed Juicery's first dedicated storefront.

You can find their juice selection here.

Noted

EVG contributor Derek Berg spotted this new living room ensemble at Whole Foods Market® Bowery ...



The sign asks for people to "treat this furniture as you would your own" this holiday season. How will this turn out???

Christo in front of the Christodora

Photo in Tompkins Square Park yesterday by Grant Shaffer.