Report: Lack of gas stations downtown a concern

As we first reported last week, the BP station on East Houston and Lafayette is closing on April 14 to make way for a 7-story boutique office building.

With this closure, there will be just one gas station in the city below 14th Street — a Mobil on Eighth Avenue near East 13th Street. (There is also a BP on East 23rd Street at the FDR.)

Now as DNAinfo's Allegra Hobbs reports, community groups are concerned about the lack of options in the case of another disaster such as Sandy.

“We learned from that gas shortage that occurred in Superstorm Sandy how important this resource is to a community, and now we find ourselves with no gas stations anywhere near,” said Damaris Reyes, executive director of Good Old Lower East Side and chair of emergency preparedness group LES Ready.

“This does not do well for thinking about a balanced community with all of the resources that are necessary to help it be functional and resilient in a time of need,” she said.

You may recall the vehicles lined up for gas in the days that followed Sandy in November 2012 before the last two stations in the East Village closed ... and there were also lines of pedestrians filling up gas cans for generators at the now-closed Mobil on East Houston and Avenue C...

[EVG photo from November 2012]

...when there was gas anyway...

[EVG photo of the 2nd Avenue BP from November 2012]

Heading to another borough or New Jersey would be a very real possibility, per DNAinfo.

“Having to cross a bridge or go through a tunnel to get gas is not the best way to prepare for an emergency,” said Trever Holland, president of the Two Bridges Tower Tenant Association. “If there are no gas stations to go to, it becomes extremely problematic as to how you’re going to get gas for generators.”

Previously on EV Grieve:
How much longer will the East Village have gas stations?

Have you seen the glass tower in the works for Lafayette and East Houston?

Filling up: the status of 2 former East Village gas stations

Report: Boutique office building on East Houston and Lafayette at BP site a go

BP station on East Houston and Lafayette closes April 14

Confessional space for rent on East 6th Street

[Photo via Vinny & O]

A follow-up to the news from last week that Confessional has closed at 308 E. Sixth St. The bar-restautrant with a a Latin-Influenced tapas menu was said to be relocating to an undisclosed location from here between First Avenue and Second Avenue.

Meanwhile, the space is now on the rental market. The listing for the 1,400-square-foot space offers the following details:

Full kitchen in great condition 6-burner stovetop, oven, hood, dishwashing station.
Full Basement with Walk-in Fridge, Ice machine, and food storage
2AM Liquor License
Upside Potential by Opening More Hours - Has been operating only 4 days a week opening after 6pm
Business for Sale: $125,000 with Partnership offered but not necessary.
Rent $8,500 including RE Tax

Confessional opened in June 2014.

It's raining men and chimneys

Photo (and headline) by Grant Shaffer

Report: Coyote Ugly is now a global brand worth $80 million

Fox Business checks in with a story about Coyote Ugly, the 23-year-old bar on First Avenue between East 10th Street and East 11th Street that spawned a global empire.

Liliana "Lil" Lovell, Coyote Ugly CEO and founder, said that she opened the First Avenue location in 1993 with $70,000. Today, there are 20 Coyote Ugly bars worldwide (she owns 11 of them). Last December, her company opened up its fifth location in Russia. In May, a Coyote Ugly debuts in Wales ... and the company has plans to set up bar in Montreal by August, per Fox.

Lovell said that the company is worth $80 million today.

“I was like wow, who would have thought this little dive bar in the East Village would take off?"

This open-air home could use a home on Avenue B

EVG reader Katie spotted this earlier today on Avenue B at East Houston Street... looks nice from the outside, though, TBH, it is a bit of a fixer-upper upon closer inspection...



Still, it's located in an up-and-coming area with a thriving pancake scene.

A Day of Remembrance

[Photo by EVG correspondent Steven]

On Saturday afternoon, local elected officials along with community members and families of victims came together to mark the one-year anniversary of the deadly East Village gas explosion. (The event was billed the East Village Explosion Day of Remembrance.)

"A year after the East Village explosion, all that remains is three empty lots as a constant reminder of an avoidable tragic event that took the lives of two young men, rendered dozens of residents homeless, temporarily displaced hundreds of others from their homes and interrupted the livelihood of small business owners for weeks and in some cases months," City Councilmember Rosie Mendez said in a prepared statement.


[Rosie Mendez]

The speakers offered their condolences to the families of the victims, Moises Ismael Locón Yac and Nicholas Figueroa, thanked the first responders and vowed to take steps to make sure that tragedies like this don't happen again.

"One year ago, we lost two innocent individuals due to greed and poor safety oversight. This tragedy is a reminder that the pursuit of profits over people too often jeopardizes the safety of all New Yorkers," said Assemblymember Deborah J. Glick. "While the City has made efforts since the explosion to bring those responsible to justice, there is still much to do in order to ensure that this type of tragedy cannot occur again."


[Deborah J. Glick]

As for future safety issues, City Council has introduced legislation aimed at preventing another disaster. Mendez is the lead sponsor of Intro. 1093, which requires gas providers to notify the Department of Buildings within 24 hours of issuing a gas service shut off. This bill and eight others were introduced in the City Council on Feb. 24 to hold individuals and agencies accountable.

"As a community, we join the families of East Harlem in their sorrow," Mendez said. "We can never forget the tragedies that were avoidable and we vow to work to ensure that no one else has to suffer and endure what the families and our communities have."


[Mildred Guy, who lived at 119 2nd Ave. for 45 years]


[1st responders representing Engine 33/Tower Ladder 9 and FDNY Engine 28, Ladder 11]



Media coverage from the Day of Remembrance included:

• ABC 7

• CBS 2

• Daily News

• DNAinfo

• Fox 5

• NBC New York

• Newsday

• New York Post

• PIX 11

All photos by Stacie Joy unless noted

Brazen Fox owners looking to open a bar-restaurant across the street

There's an application on file with CB3 for a new liquor license at 104 Third Ave. on the southwest corner of 13th Street.

According to paperwork (PDF) at the CB3 website and in the window of the empty storefront...





... the applicants are Declan Rainsford and Rory Dolan, who are partners in several establishments in White Plains as well as the two-level Brazen Fox directly across 13th Street.

The questionnaire with more information about the proposed bar-restaurant hasn't been posted just yet. However, the notification in the window shows that the two are seeking a full liquor license and a sidewalk cafe.

The empty storefront was home until last June to Gothic Cabinet Craft shop. The family-owned custom wood furniture shop had been on this corner since 1969.

It will be interesting to see the response to a new liquor license in a saturated area in a storefront that previously wasn't licensed.

The CB3 SLA committee meeting is April 18 at 6:30 p.m. in the CB3 office, 59 E. Fourth St. between Second Avenue and the Bowery.

East Village Tobacco & Variety Shop is closing after 6 months on East 9th Street

[Photo Friday by Steven]

After less than 6 months in business, the East Village Tobacco & Variety Shop is closing this week here at 350 E. Ninth St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue. As the sign shows, there is a going-out-of-business sale.

The store sells some standard deli fare (sodas, water, cigarettes, etc.) and a few seemingly random items such as children's clothing and perfume.

The space was previously home to A.K. Shoe Repair, which closed last August. The proprietor said that he was no longer able to sustain the business after his landlord raised the rent from $2k to $4.5k a month.

H/T William Klayer

[Updated] Milling about East Second Street tonight

In case your driving or parking plans were to take you to East Second Street between Avenue A and First Avenue tonight...



The street is scheduled for roadway milling, as the plentiful signage along the block shows... (some signs pointed to milling action on Friday evening, but I didn't see any)...

Despite all the signs, someone should tell the pigeons about the milling and temporary displacement of the buffet...



No signs just yet about when the resurfacing will take place.

-----

And unrelated ... but while we are on this block... The TLC Tea House opened back on March 18...


[Photo from March 19]

They serve coffee, tea, sandwiches ... catering, in particular, to the various drivers (cabs, car services) who take a break on this block...

Updated 3/29

EVG reader Gacjon shared photos of the milling action last evening...

Shinbashi Restaurant arrives on 1st Avenue

The sign is up for Shinbashi, a new Japanese restaurant at 85 First Ave. between East Fifth Street and East Sixth Street.

We don't know too much about this business. They were on the CB3 SLA docket for a beer-wine license last September, though it was not heard before the committee. (The questionnaire for the applicant has very little information aside from proposed hours and seating — 18 tables with 72 seats.)

And it appears as if the proprietors added in the sushi lettering from the hardware store after the fact on the sign....



The address was previously home to the wine shop Tinto Fino, which closed in May 2013.

Week in Grieview

[The skateboard phone on St. Mark's Place via Derek Berg]

Stories posted on EVG this past week included...

"Concrete blowout" at Broadway condo project damages neighboring building (Wednesday)

BP station on East Houston and Lafayette closes April 14 (Tuesday)

Out and About with Brother Rasheim (Wednesday)

Lavagna is helping an East Village resident in his fight against cancer (Thursday)

Comptroller Scott Stringer looking at city's decision to lift deed at the former Rivington House (Wednesday)

Construction watch: 500 E. 14th St. (plus, Extell construction site still keeping residents up at night) (Thursday)

319 E. Sixth St. is for sale; conversion to single-family residence a possibility (Monday)

Confessional closes on East Sixth Street ahead of a relocation (Monday)

An enchanted yarn garden on St. Mark's Place (Thursday)

Fake cops rob man on Third Avenue (Wednesday)

Bluestone Lane Coffee opens next week at 51 Astor Place (Friday)

Report: An interest in keeping the Associated on East 14th Street (Tuesday)

The morning bread dump in Tompkins Square Park (Monday, 32 comments)

The former Contrada space remains on the market, though now with less key money (Tuesday)

Top Nails is moving next door on Avenue A (Monday)

Tribeca Pediatrics opening an outpost on First Avenue (Friday)

LinkNYC privacy concerns (Thursday)

The First Avenue Ricky's is now empty (Monday)

Media coverage of Mayor de Blasio's affordable housing plan getting the OK from City Council (Wednesday)

Report: M9 stop on Avenue C gets light after seven years in the dark (Tuesday)

Space at 249 E. Houston is for rent, and an update on the proposed 13-floor building on the block (Monday)

A quick trip to St. Mark's Place circa 1978 (Friday)

Former Bollywood rental shop becoming a hair salon on East Sixth Street (Thursday)

Laundromat-replacing laundromat closing on East 10th Street (Wednesday)

... and, this past week, this David Bowie stencil arrived outside the F stop on Second Avenue... courtesy of @zimad_art...





Previously

Mystery ball mysteriously arrives in Washington Square Park

That ball that was spotted outside Webster Hall on Thursday...


[Photo by Nora Gala]

...was seen in Washington Square Park yesterday, as our blogging friend Roger_Paw pointed out...



Perhaps it rolled there?

Noted

[Photo by Steven]

Spotted on St. Mark's Place at First Avenue on the side of Foot Gear Plus...

A memorial on 2nd Avenue

[Photo by Lola Sáenz]

There was a memorial tonight for Moises Ismael Locón Yac and Nicholas Figueroa, the two victims of the Second Avenue explosion on this date last year...


[LS]


[Photo by EVG reader Daniel]


[Photo by EVG reader Daniel]

March 26, 2015 — March 26, 2016

Today is the one-year anniversary of the deadly Second Avenue gas explosion.

And there are several articles marking the one-year point. NY1 talks with Mildred Guy, who lived at 119 Second Ave. for 45 years.

[S]he is still reminiscing about her old life but feeling optimistic about the future.

“I'm just grateful. I feel blessed,” she said.

While the blast and fire destroyed three buildings — 45 East Seventh St. (119 Second Ave.), 121 Second Ave. and 123 Second Ave., 15 units in total — several apartments next door at No. 125 also received substantial damage

Inside Edition, the syndicated newsmagazine, talks with several residents, including Bonnie Ramon, who lived at 125 Second Ave. She lost everything from the smoke and water damage, and eventually found a place to say in Brooklyn. She has returned, though.

"I grew up on the Lower East Side; the East Village is home to me," she said. "It’s hard not to come back."

Authorities have said that siphoned gas at 121 Second Ave. is to blame for the explosion, which killed Moises Ismael Locón Yac and Nicholas Figueroa, and injured two dozen other people. A 21-year-old student visiting from Berkeley during spring break lost an eye and fractured his larynx. Two firefighters also suffered serious injuries.

On Feb. 11, the DA charged No. 119 and 121 landlord Maria Hrynenko and her son, Michael Hrynenko Jr., with involuntary manslaughter ... as well as contractor Dilber Kukic and an unlicensed plumber, Athanasios Ioannidis. (A fifth person, Andrew Trombettas, faces charges for supplying his license to Ioannidis.) All pleaded not guilty.

Several weeks ago, George Pasternak, the landlord of 123 Second Ave., put his vacant plot of land up for sale, asking $9.7 million.

Today at 1, City Councilmember Rosie Mendez is holding a press conference to reflect on the tragedy and share legislative measures introduced to prevent future disasters, according to the announcement.

Nora Brooks, who lived on the top floor of No. 123, relocated to Portland, Ore., with her husband Matthew.

She told Inside Edition: "I really would like people to appreciate what Maria (Hrynenko) has taken from people; the lasting effect on the neighborhood and the lives of the people who live there."

I will post photos and a recap from the press conference on Monday morning.

Previously on EV Grieve:
[Updating] Explosion on 2nd Avenue and East 7th Street

How displaced residents are faring after the 2nd Avenue gas explosion

Living out of a suitcase 6 months after the 2nd Avenue explosion

Moving on — and feeling lucky — after the 2nd Avenue explosion

A family continues to feel the loss on 2nd Avenue

Updated: 2nd Ave. explosion — landlord, 3 others charged with 2nd degree manslaughter; showed 'a blatant and callous disregard for human life'

Former residents talk about landlord Maria Hrynenko: 'it was clear she wanted to get rid of anyone with a rent-regulated apartment'

Report: 123 2nd Ave. is for sale

Selling 123 Second Ave.

And read our interviews with longtime residents of 45 E. Seventh St. Mildred Guy and Diane McLean.

What about Bob?

Was browsing the Other Music website I saw that there's a Replacements LP box coming out next week showcasing the Minneapolis-based band's Sire years — Tim (1985), Pleased to Meet Me (1987), Don’t Tell A Soul (1989), and All Shook Down (1990).

The video above is from the Twin/Tone years... the video is from September 1981... and features a handful of songs from their debut release, Sorry Ma, Forgot to Take Out the Trash. (The Twin/Tone YouTube page has five other videos from this show.)

And Bob Stinson (RIP) was a great guitar player.

Good Friday on Avenue B

From the Church of Saint Brigid - Saint Emeric on Avenue B and East Eighth Street...the "Way of the Cross" procession for Good Friday...





More realistic this year... (Jesus and the Roman guards were not wearing tennis shoes, for instance, though I understand why you'd want to wear comfortable footwear for this.)

Photos by Michael Paul Photography

EV Grieve Etc.: Demolition concerns over the former Chase branch on 2nd Avenue

[Photo Wednesday at 51 Astor Place by Derek Berg]

Neighbors worry about what Icon might do to the former Chase branch on Second Avenue (The Villager... previously on EVG)

Best dive bars in NYC (Gothamist)

Parents remember their son, Colton Daniel Hudson, 23, who loved living in the East Village (The Villager)

A visit to Julie's Vintage on East Second Street (B+B)

Red-tailed hawk egg watch in Tompkins Square Park (Laura Goggin Photography)


[Christo on watch via Bobby Williams]

Check out the calendar of upcoming events in the Back Room at HiFi on Avenue A (HiFi)

Somehow the LES is getting another hotel (The Lo-Down)

Power-washing 190 Bowery (Curbed)

Broadway and East Fourth Street (Tower Records, the MLB Mancave) is empty again (Flaming Pablum)

Friends Seminary on East 16th Street accused of fraud to secure LPC approval for $67M renovation (DNAinfo)

Kimlau Square in Chinatown is ready for rehabilitation (BoweryBoogie)

A month-long celebration of Albert Camus (The New York Times)

NYC 2015 population increased to 8,550,405 (NY Yimby)

Cuomo: Make Julius' Bar a historic landmark (DNAinfo)

Hogs & Heifers now a vanilla box (Jeremiah's Vanishing New York)

... and at the 6 & B Community Garden Easter Sunday... via the EVG inbox ...

A quick trip to St. Mark's Place circa 1978

[Click photo to go big]

This photo has been making the rounds in recent weeks... and several readers have forwarded me a copy via the Dirty Old 1970's New York City page on Facebook.

The photo by Manel Armengol faces east on Saint Mark's Place at Third Avenue, circa 1978.

And a fairly half-assed attempt to make a now-then comparison...

Tribeca Pediatrics opening an outpost on 1st Avenue

An EVG reader (and parent) shares the news that Tribeca Pediatrics is opening an office at 205 First Ave. between East 12th Street and East 13th Street.

The storefront previously housed the Mecca of Hair.

As for Tribeca Pediatrics, there's no word yet on when they will apply for a beer-wine license — just to have something to pair with the Pentacel.

Bluestone Lane Coffee opens next week at 51 Astor Place

This, according to Twitter...

The new #AstorPlace coming so soon. Oh yeah, there's also a #BluestoneLane set to open next week there too... pic.twitter.com/4vCo4mSf33

— Bluestone Lane (@BluestoneLane) March 24, 2016

The cafe/coffee shop is on the Fourth Avenue side next to the front entrance/red rabbit of 51 Astor Place/the IBM Watson Building/Death Star ...


[EV Arrow file photo]

Bluestone also has a location across the street in the lobby of 770 Broadway.

And here's more about Bluestone Lane Coffee via their website:

Bluestone Lane offers a refined product proposition dedicated to producing the highest quality coffee and complimentary foods, delivered in an engaging way. We are focused on creating environments where customers are immersed in the experience and leave feeling like a local.

Bluestone Lane Coffee is influenced from the renowned coffee culture hub of Melbourne, Australia, where premium coffee is a way of life.

With Bluestone's opening, 51 Astor Place will have all its retail slots filled ... alongside Chopt, CVS and Flywheel Sports.

Previously on EV Grieve:
3 retail spaces available at 51 Astor Place (22 comments)

You can finally shop at 51 Astor Place!

3 new retail tenants for 51 Astor Place: Bluestone Lane Coffee, Chop’t and Flywheel Sports

Chopping soon signage up at the Death Star

Here's the Bluestone Lane Coffee signage at 51 Astor Place

Spin cycle: Flywheel Sports opening next month in 51 Astor Place

It was a nice day for a ride along Avenue A

Photo by Derek Berg

Ball of confusion

[Photo by Nora Gala]

Several readers noted the giant ball (looking slightly damaged) outside Webster Hall on East 11th Street near Fourth Avenue this morning... Majority opinion: Mini Death Star re-creation!

Apparently it was a loadout from a party...