Week in Grieview

[1st Avenue at 2nd Street via @rts_nyc]

Stories posted on EVG this past week included...

The Source Unltd Print and Copy Shop celebrating 36 years on 9th Street (Thursday)

Extell's new development at 524 E. 14th St. launches lottery for 50 affordable units (Friday)

The vintage photobooth from the HiFi needs a new East Village home (Monday)

The Athenian NYC, now serving Mediterranean fare on 10th Street (Monday)

Former TGI Friday's space on Union Square now a $31 million development site (Friday)

Report: Handsome Dick Manitoba arrested for domestic violence (Thursday)

Veselka among the first food vendors to anchor the Market Line at Essex Crossing (Wednesday)

Today in East Village tsunami warnings (Tuesday)

165 Avenue B is for rent — again (Tuesday)

Activity at the long-vacant 535 E. 12th St. (Friday)

A new playground is coming to P.S. 19 (Wednesday)

Report: Tech Hub receives CB3 committee support (Friday)

1st residents moving into Steiner East Village (Monday)

Once again, the rent is past due at the long-empty DF Mavens space (Thursday)


[2nd Avenue and St. Mark's yesterday via Derek Berg]

Last days for Ricky's on 3rd Avenue (Thursday)

DöKham will sell Tibetan treasures on 1st Avenue (Monday)

Popup Florist popping up on 7th Street (Tuesday)

1st sign of activity at the former Cafe Orlin space on St. Mark's Place (Wednesday)

Lumos Kitchen bringing the baijiu to 2nd Avenue (Monday)

USA Body Work out of business on 6th Street (Monday)

The holidays live on at the Astor Place Kmart (Wednesday)

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Noted

EVG reader Carl Bentsen shares this photo... showing that someone used a branch to smash the back window of this Lexus on Third Street between Avenue A and Avenue B... the branch has been at the Miracle Garden down the street...

Christmas trees catch fire in Tompkins Square Park

[Photo by Steven the other day]

You may have noticed that pile of Christmas trees in Tompkins Square Park ... in the MulchFest pen waiting to be mulched...

Anyway, this morning around 7:30, EVG reader Rajani Tewari noticed that the trees had caught fire...



No word on how the fire started — whether it was intentional or accidental...

Exercise studio plans to open 15 NYC locations; 276 Bowery is 1st

The Post yesterday had a story about FitHouse, a new exercise studio with plans to open 15 NYC locations... the first of which will be at 276 Bowery just south of Houston...

Per the Post:

As part of its fast-paced expansion, FitHouse will use so-called shotgun leases — extremely flexible arrangements that allow the landlord or the studio to cancel with a 60- or 90-day notice.

FitHouse is said to offer unlimited yoga, dance, high-intensity interval training, pilates and barre classes for $99 a month. Not sure what kind of commitment they'll make gymgoers agree to ...

276 Bowery has been a temp space for events/exhibits of late. Sunrise Rainbow Kitchen Supply moved out last summer after four years.

Happy landmark anniversary to the Louis N. Jaffee Art Theatre

[EVG photo from November]

The theater that houses City Cinemas Village East on Second Avenue at 12th Street became an official New York City landmark on Feb. 9, 1993.

On the occasion of the anniversary yesterday, Off the Grid — the blog of the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation — took a look at the theater's history ...

In the first few decades of the Twentieth Century, this stretch of Second Avenue was referred to as the Jewish Rialto because of the many Yiddish language theaters and businesses connected to Jewish entertainment. In 1925 the developer Louis N. Jaffe hired the theater architect Harrison Wiseman to create the stunning theater at 189 Second Avenue to be devoted to the work of Maurice Schwartz, a Yiddish-speaking actor of such renown that he was often referred to simply as “Mr. Second Avenue.”

And now some random (and dark and rather grainy) photos of the theater's crown jewel — the main auditorium that was restored a few years back...







"The Shape of Water" is currently playing in the big room.

Sinkhole alert outside the Cooper Station Post Office

An EVG reader shared this photo from the Cooper Station Post Office on Fourth Avenue at 11th Street... Not sure how long this has been this way... regardless, something to keep an eye on if the line happens to go out the door...

Psychic sees clearly now on 2nd Avenue

Photo (and headline!) late this afternoon by Derek Berg...

'Tomorrow' never dies

Late last month the Damned announced the upcoming release of their first album in 10 years — Evil Spirits, out on April 13. The band recorded it out at Atomic Sound Studios in Brooklyn with David Bowie collaborator/producer Tony Visconti

The above sci-fi themed video is for the first single, "Standing On The Edge Of Tomorrow."

Report: Tech Hub receives CB3 committee support

On Wednesday night, CB3's Economic Development Committee and Land Use, Zoning, Public & Private Housing Committee voted in favor of creating a "workforce development and digital skills training center" at the P.C. Richard site on 14th Street at Irving Place.

As the Lo-Down reported, committee members "rejected calls to require zoning protections in the area as a condition of approval."

The full CB3 board vote will take place on Feb. 27. Expect more debate between now and then — and especially during that meeting.

Here's a quick recap from the Lo-Down:

Project supporters believe the center would bring desperately needed (free and low-cost) career training services to low-income youth on the Lower East Side. Critics, however, are worried that the glossy commercial complex would be a catalyst for rampant over-development in the blocks to the south of 14th Street. While Community Board 3 has already endorsed a protective zoning proposal for the Third and Fourth Avenue corridors, preservation activists want CB3 to go a step further — withholding support for the tech center unless the city agrees to a rezoning.

Read their full article here.

Patch had a reporter at the meeting as well. Find that article here.

The mayor's project requires several zoning changes, and faces many hurdles before getting the final OK. The full CB3 board, the Manhattan borough president and the City Planning Commission will still weigh in before the issue comes before City Council for a vote later this year.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Behold Civic Hall, the high-tech future of Union Square — and NYC

Speaking out against a 'Silicon Alley' in this neighborhood

P.C. Richard puts up the moving signs on 14th Street; more Tech Hub debate to come

Extell's new development at 524 E. 14th St. launches lottery for 50 affordable units

[Rendering of 524 E. 14th St. looking to the west via Extell]

Extell Development announced yesterday that the application process for 50 middle-income units at 524 E. 14th St. is now underway. (H/T 6sqft!)

This is the smaller of the two retail-residential buildings that Extell constructed between Avenue A and Avenue B. No. 500 at the corner of Avenue A is the larger of the two developments, and will be home to the small-format Target store.

As for the housing at No. 524, Curbed breaks it down here:

There are a total of 50 affordable apartments up for grabs at the rental with apartments being offered in studio through two-bedroom variants. Rents start at $1,114 for a studio, which is definitely a bit on the pricier side for affordable units, but this is the East Village after all. Rents on one-bedrooms start at $1,196, and two-bedrooms start at $2,733, from the information we have so far.

The affordable rentals are being offered in two groups: people making 70 percent of the area median income and 130 percent of the area median income, which translates to anywhere between $40,080 to $124,020 depending on various family sizes.

For an additional fee, residents will also have access to amenities like a fitness center, a children’s play room, an indoor pool, a residents lounge, and a steam room.

Speaking of the pool! Here it is (complete with apparitions) ...


[Rendering by McGinley Design]

Nice, but it's no Blarney Cove Cove.

Anyway, qualifying residents can apply for the middle-income units until April 11, 2018. You can find the application and other details here (PDF).



To date, Extell hasn't released any leasing information for the other residential units.

Previously on EV Grieve:
New 7-floor buildings for East 14th Street include 150 residential units

Target offers details about its flexible-format store opening summer 2018 on 14th and A

The disappearing storefronts of East 14th Street

Activity at the long-vacant 535 E. 12th St.

[Photo from Sunday]

An EVG reader yesterday reported that a crew with a Davey Drill was outside the city-owned 535 E. 12th St. between Avenue A and Avenue B.



This is the second city-owned building within a block now that has shown signs of development life. Earlier this week, workers were spotted taking core samples outside the vacant building at 204 Avenue A between 12th Street and 13th Street.

Last week at 535 E. 12th St., someone posted two eviction notices on the front door...



... telling the residents in Apartment 7 and Apartment 8 that they owe a few thousand dollars...





As far as anyone can recall, no one has lived in this building (save for some squatters) in nearly 10 years.

The NYC Housing Preservation and Development owns both 204 Avenue A and 535 E. 12th St. There's nothing official just yet about what's going to happen to these buildings.

Here's an EVG commenter from Tuesday's post on No. 204:

Here's the story about this building and another section 8 building 535 E 12th street which also had drilling for soil samples this week. Both 204 Ave A and 535 E 12th will be demolished presumably later this year for new housing. The residents of 535 which were displaced due to severe structural problems will move into the new (I believe 7 story building on A, they will be able to purchase these apartments for a very very low cost. A new somewhat market rate building will be built at 535 12th, it will be 6 stories tall. The same company which remodels the former squat on 13th Street btw A and B will be devoting these 2 buildings.

Former TGI Friday's space on Union Square now a $31 million development site

[Photo by Daniel from January]

The TGI Friday's at 34 Union Square East and 16th Street shut down at the end of 2017, as we noted here.

For sale signs via Eastern Consolidated were up right away though we never saw the listing... which is now live here:

... a development site that offers a ±26,000-square-foot zoning floor area for a mixed-use building on the last remaining corner development site on Union Square Park. The property is currently improved with a vacant, ±6,500 square foot, two-story commercial building. With ±19,500 square feet of unused development rights, the property offers 26-feet of frontage on Union Square East and 125-feet of frontage on 16th Street.

And an aerial photo looking at Union Square via Eastern Consolidated ... to see how the site stacks up against its neighbors... just imagine another ±19,500 square feet on top...



Dennis Riese, the chairman of the board and CEO of The Riese Organization, reportedly bought this building for $15.3 million at the end of 2009. The TGI Friday's opened in June 2010.

Thursday's parting shot

First Avenue between Sixth Street and Seventh Street today via Derek Berg...

Noted

An EVG reader shared this photo from earlier today on Second Street at Avenue A... the reader wasn't sure how long the sign has been here, but thought it kept in the spirit of recent dog-poop urban etiquette signage (here and here) around the neighborhood...

Updated: Bomb squad out on 3rd Avenue and 13th Street

EVG reader Sheila Meyer shares these photos from Third Avenue and 13th Street ... where the NYPD has blocked off the west intersection of 13th Street... the Bomb Squad is on the scene...



No word just yet what is happening here...

Updated 3:56

From the scene: "It was nothing! An empty suitcase someone put out for garbage."

And thanks to the reader in the comments who left the link to this 9th Precinct tweet...

3RD Ave from East 11th to 14TH Streets were closed briefly while we investigated a suspicious package. Happy to report all is clear and the streets are back open. #IfYouSeeSomethingSaySomething #NYPD pic.twitter.com/K2D68c80ab

— NYPD 9th Precinct (@NYPD9Pct) February 8, 2018

[Updated] Report: Handsome Dick Manitoba arrested for domestic violence

According to the Confidential column at the Daily News, Handsome Dick Manitoba was arrested last week for allegedly assaulting Zoe Hansen, his former domestic partner.

The two are owners of Manitoba's on Avenue B and reportedly still share access to the same East Village apartment.

Per the News:

According to the police report, obtained by the Daily News, Hansen was “crying, with tears streaming down her face and her body shaking,” when officers arrived. She told the cops, “He bit me. He bit my nose. He grabbed my neck and applied pressure.”

An NYPD spokesperson confirmed to Billboard that Manitoba was arrested at 10:15 a.m. last Friday.

An NYPD rep told Variety that he was charged with third-degree assault, criminal mischief and attempted strangulation. Manitoba, who was the lead singer of the Dictators, is due back in Manhattan Criminal Court on March 26.

Updated 2/13

According to Page Six, Hansen allegedly smashed a window at Manitoba's on Sunday night. Manitoba's lawyer Frank Rothman told Richard Johnson at Page Six that Hansen came to the bar for money. When the bartender refused, "she picked up a bottle of wine and smashed the window," Rothman said.

Manitoba, who denies the previous assault claims, filed a police report at the 9th Precinct yesterday, Page Six reported.

The Source Unltd Print and Copy Shop celebrating 36 years on 9th Street

[Manhattan Sideways. Photograph by Peter Nicholson]

The Source Unltd Print and Copy Shop is celebrating its 36th year of business in the same East Village location over at 331 E. Ninth St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue.

"We're planning a series of events to celebrate sticking around for so long," proprietor Santo Mollica told me in an email. (More on those events later.)

Meanwhile, the shop that Mollica runs with his wife Margaret was the subject of a recent feature on Manhattan Sideways:

Though Santo is always adapting his shop and adding new items, he says that “it’s really about the people, not the things.” The East Village veterans mentor retailers who are new on the street, and they have built relationships with customers from all walks of life. They have also been running a food drive in their store for over twenty years. “Sometimes people come in and give, other times they take,” says Santo.

When we asked the couple, in early 2018, if they ever thought about retirement, even their dog Curtis looked amused. “Retirement? I don’t know what that means,” Margaret replied. Smiling, Santo added ... “We work for ourselves. We love it. And we have to keep it up to survive. The neighborhood is always evolving, but we can’t think of a place we’d rather be.”

The Source is also one of the businesses on this block taking part in the "shopping crawl" today from 4-7. (More details about that event here.)


[Manhattan Sideways. Photograph by Peter Nicholson]

Photos reprinted with permission

Previously on EV Grieve:
Honors for one of the most unique shops in the East Village

Another opportunity to talk about the L-train shutdown

[EVG file photo]

Via the EVG inbox...

Please attend the CB3 Feb. 13 Transportation Committee meeting regarding the coming L Train shutdown in April 2019. MTA and DOT representatives will present the latest plans and answer your questions.

The Transportation Committee will vote on a resolution to send your concerns to the MTA and DOT and ask for plans to address these concerns.

We need your help identify possible impacts and problems that need to be addressed.

Tuesday, Feb. 13 at 6:30 p.m.
Grace Church School, 46 Cooper Square (at 6th Street/the Bowery)

The shutdown of the L — between Bedford Avenue and Eighth Avenue to repair the Sandy-damaged Canarsie Tunnel — is expected to last 15 months with a start date of April 2019.

Last days for Ricky's on 3rd Avenue

As noted back on Jan. 16, the Ricky's location on Third Avenue between 13th Street and 14th Street is closing. In case you missed the signs in the window, Sunday is the last day.

Ricky’s NYC president, Michael Long, told the Commercial Observer last fall that the chain is closing "underperforming stores" and that the company is now profitable. Apparently the East Village isn't so profitable: The Ricky's on First Avenue between Sixth Street and Seventh Street closed without any notice in March 2016.

Still, there's a Ricky's set to open on Broadway near 12th Street.

The mini chain (there are 18 locations) selling accessories, cosmetics and novelties started as Ricky Love in 1989.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Ricky's is closing on 3rd Avenue

The Ricky's on 1st Avenue has apparently closed

Once again, the rent is past due at the long-empty DF Mavens space

[Photos yesterday by Steven]

There's another notice "Demanding Payment of Rent" taped to the front door of the long-empty DF Mavens storefront on Second Avenue and St. Mark's Place....



The owners of the vegan ice cream shop owe the January and February rent ($25k plus change) and some taxes for a $54,111.85 total.

DFM closed in January 2016 after two years in business on this northwest corner.

The storefront has sat empty these past two years without even a for rent sign in sight.

The holidays live on at the Astor Place Kmart

Kmart on Astor Place may be in a state of flux, downsizing from three floors to two... but it looks as if they won't be giving up on offering early opportunities to prep for the holidays.

Goggla spotted this St. Patrick's Day (St. Partick's" per the sign) display, complete with red plastic cups, Corona, green bow ties and other things that you'll find lying on the street come March 18.

Midday snow photo break

[Click to go big]

Photo in Tompkins Square Park today by Allen Semanco...

Reminders: CB3 committees to hear more about the Union Square tech hub tonight

[Rendering via RAL Development]

As noted back on Jan. 25, CB3's Joint Economic Development Committee and Land Use, Zoning, Public & Private Housing Committee will hear more about the Mayor's proposed 20-story tech hub on 14th Street during its meeting tonight. (It takes place at 6:30 at the Henry Street Settlement, Youth Services Gymnasium, 301 Henry St.)

Mayor de Blasio is proposing to turning the city-owned P.C. Richard site on 14th Street at Irving Place into a "workforce development and digital skills training center," among other things.

Here's more about the proposed 240,000 square-foot facility via Crain's:

Civic Hall, a nonprofit that promotes collaboration to solve civic problems with technology, would operate six floors of the building. Half the space would be used for co-working and meetings for the city’s philanthropy, business and tech sectors. The other half is slated to be occupied by five organizations offering tech training. General Assembly, for example, hosts intense coding courses. Per Scholas, a national nonprofit, offers its free tech training to underserved populations that, on average, make less than $20,000 per year before enrolling in and roughly double that income after graduating.

To make this happen, the site/area needs to be upzoned. This zoning change is of particular concern to some area residents and preservationists, who have stressed that the fabric of the neighborhood could be lost with a rash of new developments south of Union Square along Broadway, University Place and Fourth Avenue. (The Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation has been leading the efforts behind a rezoning of the area to enforce some height restrictions and affordable housing requirements. The group makes their case here.)

On Jan. 29, the Economic Development Corporation, the city agency overseeing the hub's development, presented the proposal to the Planning Commission, the first step in the city’s Uniform Land Use Review Procedure (ULURP), as Curbed reported.

The tech-hub project will eventually need Planning Commission and City Council approval. The public-review process is expected to take about around seven months. Crain's lays out here why the hub faces "a thorny approval process."

Previously on EV Grieve:
Behold Civic Hall, the high-tech future of Union Square — and NYC

Speaking out against a 'Silicon Alley' in this neighborhood

P.C. Richard puts up the moving signs on 14th Street; more Tech Hub debate to come

Veselka among the first food vendors to anchor the Market Line at Essex Crossing

[Rendering by SHoP Architects]

The developers of Essex Crossing yesterday announced some of the food vendors that will help anchor the Market Line, a 150,000-square-foot retail destination. Several familiar names will be part of the first phase of the market, including outposts of Ippudo and Veselka.

Here's Eater with more:

Anchored among three buildings underground near Essex and Delancey streets, with window access that looks up to the sidewalk level, the Market Line at development Essex Crossing will unfurl with a three-phase rollout.

By fall, it will house more than 40 food vendors picked to complement the city landmark, the 70-plus year old Essex Street Market — with Shopsins, Saxelby Cheesemongers, and Luis Meat Kitchen among vendors making the trek to the new complex, slated to open in conjunction with the phase-one Market Line purveyors.

And you can head to The Lo-Down for more on the other vendors.

As previously reported, the Market Line will stretch over three city blocks. An estimated two-thirds of the retail spaces will be devoted to food. Per The New York Times: "The market’s developers are already comparing it to world-class establishments like the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul; Boqueria in Barcelona, Spain; and Borough Market in London."


[Click for the big view]

This will be Veselka's second attempt at opening an outpost away from the mothership on Second Avenue and Ninth Street. Velselka Bowery closed in 2013 after a 17-month at Avalon Bowery Place.

1st sign of activity at the former Cafe Orlin space on St. Mark's Place

People have been asking about the former Cafe Orlin space on St. Mark's Place. There hasn't been much activity — outside the "no trespassing" notices since the Cafe closed last fall.

One item to note: The recent arrival of a work permit (note the helpful arrow above).

Per the ALL-CAP stylings of the DOB: APPLICATION FILED FOR MINOR INTERIOR CONSTRUCTION WORK AND INSTALLATION OF BANQUETTES WITH PLUMBING WORK AS PER PLAN. The estimated work cost is nearly $40,000.

Emporium Design is listed as the applicant of record. Their East Village interior-design résumé includes Boulton & Watt, Drexler's, the Blind Barber and Pourt.

Anyway, no word just yet on what's to come here between First Avenue and Second Avenue. Grub Street reported in September that the Cafe Orlin owner is also the building's landlord, "and a new restaurant will open in its place."

Cafe Orlin closed on Oct. 15 after 36 years at the address.

A new playground is coming to P.S. 19

[Photos by Steven]

Several readers pointed out that work started in late January on the playground behind P.S. 19 on First Avenue between 11th Street and 12th Street...





The project was announced more than a year ago to the school's community... here's more from a letter at the time (January 2017) from Principal Jacqueline Flanagan:

We are thrilled to announce that due to a generous grant from Council Member Rosie Mendez and the Trust for Public Land, the schoolyard at P.S. 19 will be getting a new playground. Starting this January, The Trust for Public Land and landscape architects will work with students, staff, parents and community members to design and build a new school and community playground on our schoolyard.

Established in 1972, The Trust for Public Land (TPL) is a nonprofit organization that is committed to bringing open space and recreational resources to communities underserved by parks. TPL’s NYC Playgrounds Program has created 66 new playgrounds in NYC over the past 20 years. In addition, TPL has led community design at another 123 schools participating in the former mayor’s Schoolyards to Playgrounds Initiative.

One of the unique features of TPL’s Playgrounds Program is that students, parents and community members design the new park. Previous playgrounds have included running tracks, basketball courts, artificial turf fields, trees, gardens, outdoor classrooms, game tables, water fountains, playground equipment and murals.

P.S. 15 (The Roberto Clemente School) on Fourth Street between Avenue C and Avenue D was the recipient of a new playground in 2016.

Here's a photo of the completed playground...


[Maddalena Polletta/The Trust for Public Land]

No word on when the new playground at P.S. 19 is expected to be complete.

This paper plate might just save you (from something)

Mystery surrounds this paper plate signage that Eden spotted (and shared on The Twitter) ... it's not immediately clear what might happen if one would remove the paper plate ... we would send a team to investigate, though Eden can't quite recall exactly where this is located (roughly Houston and First Avenue). Anyway, regardless of where you are, just leave any suspended paper plate as it is.

Now playing

The former Sunshine Cinema on East Houston looking as if it has been closed for a lot longer than 16 days...

Previously on EV Grieve:
Discarded theater seats and goodbyes at the Sunshine Cinema

The 9-story boutique office building coming to the former Sunshine Cinema space

Bank branches everywhere no more

[File photo of the former Citi branch on Avenue A]

Last week we noted that the Santander branch at Avenue A and Fourth Street is closing on April 27. At that time, Avenue A will be bank-branch free.

Apparently the days where you could count on a bank branch opening in every recently vacated retail space are coming to an end. (How far we've come from 2014!)

The Wall Street Journal (subscription required) today looks at the trend of banks cutting back as more customers move online.

To the article...

The number of branches in the U.S. shrank by more than 1,700 in the 12 months ended in June 2017, the biggest decline on record, according to a Wall Street Journal analysis of federal data.

Branch numbers fell again in the second half of 2017, according to related data submitted to bank regulators and reviewed by the Journal. That would add to the thousands of locations closed following the financial crisis, and is the longest stretch of closures since the Great Depression.

Many of the closings were in big cities and surrounding suburbs, where branches were consolidated largely because of falling foot traffic.

And!

Banks say they carefully consider which branches to close, examining deposit levels at each branch and commute time to the nearest location. “We continue to evolve and optimize our branch network to ensure that we’re operating as efficiently and effectively as possible,” a Capital One spokeswoman said.

For decades, banks needed to add new locations to grow, pushing the number of U.S. branches to a peak in 2009. But in the aftermath of the financial crisis, some started closing branches to save money — and then kept closing them to contend with low interest rates and higher regulatory costs.

Along the way, lenders realized they could maintain their deposit levels with fewer locations in a digital world where customers often prefer banks’ mobile apps and ATMs.

At this point we may need to retire the "bank branches everywhere" tag.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Capital One® departs 14th and 3rd (bank branch down!) for new Union Square home

Chase space on 2nd Avenue and St. Mark's Place is for rent

The East Village is down 2 Chase branches

Today in East Village tsunami warnings

This alert is making the rounds...



There are no tsunami warnings in effect at the current time. Again, there are no tsunami warnings in effect.



H/T Ali Rogers

Some reasons to shop on 9th Street Thursday

A handful of business owners on Ninth Street between First Avenue and Second Avenue have joined forces to host a "shopping crawl" on the block from 4-7 p.m. this Thursday to help inspire locals to shop local. The participating stores are offering a discount on selected items... the map below has the details...


[Click on image for a full view]