Pastel Spa & Nails closes on 2nd Avenue; murals outside tanned over

Pastel Spa & Nails shut down after the business day on Sunday... management here on Second Avenue and 12th Street left a note thanking its customers ...



No word what was behind this departure. (And another EV spa closure.) There are approved permits on file with the DOB for interior renovations, though they don't mention anything about the next tenant (or offer clues such as "eating and drinking establishment").

Meanwhile, a worker painted over the murals on the 12th Street side yesterday, as this photo via EVG reader Charlie Chen shows...


[Photo by Charlie Chen]



Back in September, six artists painted murals on this space — dubbed the #212wall.

Report: CB3 OKs proposal for Union Square tech hub; calls for zoning protections

[Photo via GVSHP]

News out of the Community Board 3 meeting on Tuesday night: The full Board approved a land use application to create the tech hub on 14th Street. In doing so, CB3 also included an amendment in their resolution calling for zoning protection, per published reports:

“Consistent with previous board support for rezoning the Third and Fourth Avenue corridor, including the December 2017 board resolution, CB3 urges the city to commence the process of rezoning this area as well as incentivize affordable housing and exclude certain use groups such as hotels and big box stores.”

According to GlobeSt.com, more than 200 people turned out for the meeting at P.S. 20 on Essex to discuss the proposed 21-floor building that would rise on the current site of the now-former PC Richard complex on 14th Street at Irving Place.

As previously reported, the new building would house a digital skills training center, flex-office space for startups, market rate office space and a food hall. (You can read the city's official release on the project from 2017 here.) City officials say the hub itself would create 600 jobs.

CB3’s vote Tuesday night was the first step in the city’s Uniform Land Use Review Procedure. Next stops for the application: Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer's office and the City Planning Commission ... before a vote by the New York City Council later this year.

Following the meeting, the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation, who has led the efforts behind a rezoning of the area to enforce some height restrictions and affordable housing requirements, issued a statement:

"This sends an important message to Mayor de Blasio and developers that we do not want the East Village and Greenwich Village transformed into Silicon Alley or Midtown South. A Tech Hub on 14th Street which provides training and services to New Yorkers and small start-ups can be a valuable addition to our city; but it must be accompanied by zoning protections for the surrounding residential neighborhood which ensures that tech and other development doesn't push out longtime residents and businesses, or fundamentally change the character of these neighborhoods.

What we are proposing is a win-win – the Tech Hub proceeds on 14th Street, and the Mayor lives up to his rhetoric about preserving and promoting affordable housing by advancing this rezoning for the surrounding area that would prevent out of scale development and encourage affordable housing development and preservation. So far he has adamantly refused, only supporting the zoning changes for the Tech Hub, which is to be developed by his campaign donors. We hope he will now listen."

You can read a lot more via coverage at The Lo-Down ... Patch ... and GlobeSt.com.

Updated noon:

Here's a news release from RAL Development Services, one of the partners in the project, via the EVG inbox:

On Tuesday evening, Community Board 3 voted unanimously in favor of a resolution supporting site specific rezoning and a special permit to allow the development of the proposed tech training center at 124 East 14th Street, the former P.C. Richard site, by RAL Companies to proceed.

Community Board approval of the 124 East 14th Street development was not conditioned upon any broader rezoning being enacted. The final text of the Community Board resolution requested the City to consider a broader rezoning in the area, but did not connect that process to the approval of 124 East 14th Street.

“We’re thrilled to receive the Community Board’s unanimous support for our proposal, which is designed to fit within the City’s broader plan to expand and diversify the tech workforce,” said Josh Wein, Financial Director of RAL Companies. “We look forward to proceeding through the ULURP process and are thankful for the opportunity to develop this exciting project with its full community benefit intact.”

124 East 14th Street will be a training and education center for all New Yorkers regardless of race, gender, age, or immigration status. It will establish a new model for inclusive community and economic impact, one that embraces and interacts with its local community, and supports emerging and existing local entrepreneurs and industries, in the heart of New York City at Union Square. The 240,000 gross square foot, multi-level project will include a Public Food Hall, Civic Hall — a communal and collaborative workspace for social change-, an Event Space, a Digital Skills Training Center, Step Up Office Space, and Modern Class-A Office Space.

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

Bowling for condos

While on the topic of possible zoning protections for the neighborhoods surrounding the proposed Union Square Tech Hub ... here's a look at the 22-floor retail-residential complex developed by William Macklowe Company and Goldman Sachs on University Place between 12th Street and 13th Street ... formerly known for 76 years as Bowlmor Lanes.

Earlier last month, Curbed reported that 75 percent of the building’s 52 apartments here at 21 E. 12th St. (21E12!) have sold, including the $17.5 million penthouse.

The building is expected to be complete this summer. Most recently, workers installed the façade — featuring precast panels of light colored cast stone and punched casement windows.

Bowlmor Lanes closed in July 2014.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Building that houses Bowlmor Lanes will convert to condos, like everywhere else around here

76-year-old Bowlmor Lanes closes for good today

Bowlmor says goodbye

Bowlmor Lanes replacement: 22-floor residential building

Major changes coming to University Place and East 13th Street

How about some more condos for University Place

Here's what's left of the block of University Place that once housed Bowlmor Lanes

Oh hi: The 23-floor Bowlmor Lanes-replacing luxury building


[July 2014]

Wednesday's parting shot

Helen the Accordion Lady, a familiar sight in warmer-weather months, out in Tompkins Square Park today... photo by Steven...

Filming today outside 7Bbbbbbbbbbbbbbb

Crews were out today filming scenes for "Russian Doll," an eight-episode Netflix series from Natasha Lyonne, Leslye Headland and Amy Poehler.

The comedy series follows Lyonne (pictured above) "on her journey as the guest of honor at a seemingly inescapable party one night in New York," per Hollywood Reporter.

Derek Berg caught this scene outside Vazac's/7B/Horseshoe Bar on Avenue B and Seventh Street...



...as Lyonne's stunt double...

Coming home to roost: Christo and Dora spotted building nest together

Early this morning, EVG reader Mark Cyr spotted Christo and Dora working on Dora's nest in Tompkins Square Park... in the top photo, Christo is giving a stick to Dora, who is deep in the nest, her head barely visible (to the left of his).

Per Mark, Christo set about bringing her sticks from various parts of the Park while she threaded the sticks together, building up the nest. "Dora seems to have a serious plan for this nest," Mark reported.

In the photo below, Christo is seen leaving the nest to find more sticks for Dora. She is mostly inside the nest, while working on new construction (there are permits on file for this)...



For now, this looks to put to rest any of the rumors circulating in the Park that Christo has abandoned Dora in favor of Not-Dora/Nora. (This still doesn't explain the Christo-Not-Dora/Nora quickie witnessed by many back on Monday, Dora's first day in the Park after her three-month wing rehab.)

As for Not-Dora/Nora, she was spotted hiding out on Avenue D. Mark said that she seems to like to perch on man-made structures, not trees.

"She is good at camouflage and kept turning her back to our cameras," Mark said. "We have not seen her in Tompkins Square Park since Monday, when Dora returned."

Updated 8 p.m.

Two more photos today via Steven...

The books of Felix Caro

On the south side of Seventh Street between First Avenue and Second Avenue ... you'll come across various boxes and crates of books...





They belonged to Felix Caro. A sign posted near the books explains that he was a musician, spiritualist, martial artist, intellectual... and that he lived at 72 E. Seventh St. for over 40 years. "Please treat his marvelous library respectfully. RIP."



Caro died last Dec. 17. He was 63.

Here then is EVGB on 14th Street

Extell's two new 7-story buildings on 14th Street between Avenue A and Avenue B have a name — EVGB.

That's short for "East Village's Greatest Building."

The EVGB branding, with a random "go big" tossed in, arrived on the two retail-residential developments — 500 E. 14th St. and 524 E. 14th St. — back on Monday, as these photos via an EVG (not EVGB!) reader show.

To date, only the corner space at No. 500 at Avenue A has been taken — that will be the small-format Target store.



Newmark Knight Frank has the retail listings... there's one 14,509 square-foot space adjacent to the incoming Target for rent. (Negotiable rate!) At No. 524 a few doors to the east, there are two retail spaces encompassing 14,331 square feet.


[Image via Extell]

EVGB's residential amenities include a fitness center, children’s play room, an indoor pool and steam room. The rentals have yet to hit the market. Soon though! The application process is underway for 50 middle-income units at No. 524.

Extell's EVGBs replaced a nearly block-long row of single-level structures that didn't have an acronym, businesses including Bargain Bazaar/Express, Petland, Rite Aid and the Blarney Cove.



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

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

Lovecraft has not been open lately on Avenue B

The bar-restaurant inspired by horror writer H. P. Lovecraft has not been open during announced business hours here of late at 50 Avenue B near Fourth Street.

One tipster reports seeing people remove liquor and other contents from the space two weeks ago. There isn't any message on their website or Facebook page about a closure. Their phone number, however, is no longer in service.

Lovecraft, which has a subterranean space for music and comedy, opened in August 2014. After some initial buzz about the place for its "great Lovecraftian atmosphere," I never heard too much more about it.

Some recent Yelp reviews are pretty condemning. Like: "We sit down and order our food, drinking, conversing, and having a grand old time. Then everything turned for the worst! We knew we messed up when the waitress dropped Key Food Louisiana hot sauce on our table." Their meal apparently included actual Eggo waffles with fried chicken.

Meanwhile, Johnny Favorite's, the pizzeria attached to the Lovecraft space around the corner, has been closed since last August. (Their Facebook page is still posting generic content as late as December.) The pizzeria's phone is out of service.



Johnny Favorite's opened in April 2015.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Enter into a Lovecraftian atmosphere at Lovecraft Bar on Avenue B

Poke N' Roll debuts on 9th Street

Poke N' Roll made its debut yesterday at 441 E. Ninth St. at Avenue A... they're in soft-opening mode this week, where you can preview their variety of poké bowls, bubble tea and fruit tea ...



You can find more info on them via Facebook here ... or Instagram here.

Thanks to Steven for the photos!

Previously on EV Grieve:
Poke N' Roll for 9th Street