Gov. Cuomo condemns suspect who left anti-gay graffiti on Avenue A; another message found on Norfolk Street

A follow-up to the earlier post about the anti-gay message spray-painted on the gate of the empty storefront at 11 Avenue A...

The graffiti at 11 Avenue A, which is now under investigation by the @NYPDHateCrimes Task Force, has been cleaned. If you’ve got any information about it or it’s perpetrator, there’s a reward—up to $2500! ☎️ 1-800-577-TIPS or DM @NYPDTips. #YourCityYourCall pic.twitter.com/fFwZD4uTKX

— NYPD 9th Precinct (@NYPD9Pct) August 10, 2019

Earlier today, Gov. Cuomo condemned the hate crime...

In New York we have zero tolerance for this sort of vile and cowardly act of hate. I'm directing the State Police Hate Crimes Unit to assist the NYPD with its investigation to ensure those responsible are held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.https://t.co/W9DQYXTKfc

— Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) August 10, 2019

Unfortunately, Avenue A wasn't the only place to receive a hateful message ... this is on the east side of Norfolk Street just north of Delancy (h/t @madaecnerwal) ...

Big crane steels the spotlight on 1st Avenue

Large crane action to note today... this work is happening over at 75 First Ave. between Fourth Street and Fifth Street, where an 8-floor, 22-unit condoplex is in the works next door to the Rite Aid.



Workers are putting steel beams in place...



After nearly 14 months of inactivity here, worked picked up again this spring. As such, the completion date on the plywood rendering has been adjusted to summer 2020.



This slowly-developing development broke ground in September 2016.

Police still searching for suspect in attempted sexual assault in Stuy Town on June 29

[Avenue A and 11th Street]

The NYPD continues their search for a suspect who attacked a woman on the Stuy Town oval early on June 29.

You can read Town & Village's coverage of the attempted sexual assault here.

This attack is the pinned tweet now @NYPDTips...

📺Today, Crime Stoppers is highlighting an attempted RAPE in the @NYPD13Pct. On 6/29 at 5AM, the subject shown choked and assaulted a victim in the vicinity of #StuyvesantOval while attempting to sexually assault them. Know something? 📲#800577TIPS or 💻 https://t.co/MoYB90aDa9. pic.twitter.com/hrDMRjYqmH

— NYPD Crime Stoppers (@NYPDTips) July 26, 2019

The Perv Busters, part of the Guardian Angels, have also distributed flyers about the suspect...


Anyone with information that could help in the investigation is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477). You may also submit tips online. There's a reward up to $2,500 for info on this suspect.

Previously on EV Grieve:
NYPD looking for suspect in an attempted sexual assault in Stuy Town

Spray-painted message on Avenue A being treated as a hate crime by the NYPD; police ID suspect

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Find an update here

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The NYPD is searching for a suspect who spray-painted "Kill the gay away" early Thursday morning on the gate at 11 Avenue A, an empty building between First Street and Second Street. The police have classified this as a hate crime.

🚨WANTED🚨for a Criminal Mischief (Hate Crime) in the vicinity of 11 Avenue A #eastvillage #manhattan @NYPD9Pct On 08/08/19 @ 2:40 AM 💰Reward up to $2500👓Seen him? Know who he is?☎️Call 1-800-577-TIPS or DM us!📞Calls are CONFIDENTIAL! #yourcityyourcall pic.twitter.com/OmnfuEvaM7

— NYPD Crime Stoppers (@NYPDTips) August 10, 2019

Police described the suspect as white, around 5 feet 6 with curly blond hair. He was wearing a green shirt and carrying a yellow messenger bag.

Anyone with information that could help in the investigation is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477). You may also submit tips online. There's a reward up to $2,500 for info on this suspect.

And the message is still on the gate as of this morning...

Here are 2 free shows happening tomorrow (Sunday!)

[Meet the Meetles]

The Meetles are bringing their playlist of classic rock and Motown covers to Tompkins Square Park tomorrow (Sunday) afternoon from 2 to 6. The band's annual concert in the Park was postponed last month when it was like 100000 degrees out.

The band, featuring East Village residents Eric Paulin and Naomi Paulin, will also be celebrating the 50th anniversary of Woodstock.

Per their invite: "Bring your kids and pets! Sing along and dance! We hope to see you there!"

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And at the Green Oasis Community Garden, a group of students who train with vocal coach Judy Hages will be performing a variety of songs from 3-6 p.m. The garden is on Eighth Street between Avenue C and Avenue D.

It's all gone somewhere beyond

In memory of David Berman — the singer-songwriter behind Silver Jews and, more recently, Purple Mountains — who died this week. He was 52. A cause of death has not been revealed. His death was ruled a suicide, according to published reports.

The top video is "Darkness and Cold" from the recently released new album by Purple Mountains. The clip below is for "Random Rules" with the Silver Jews from 1998...



East Village-based writer Sarah Larson penned this tribute to the singer-songwriter titled "David Berman Made Us Feel Less Alone."

The Mountain Goats will be at the East River tomorrow; more SummerStage on tap

SummerStage takes a break from Central Park tomorrow (Saturday!) for a performance by the Mountain Goats at the East River Park Amphitheater.

The indie vets are currently touring in support of their latest album (No. 17!!!) "In League With Dragons," released in April.

The free show is scheduled from 7-9 p.m. More details at this link.

There are two other performances set for the Amphitheater this weekend:

• Elisa Monte Dance
Friday, Aug. 9, 7 p.m.

• Eddie Palmieri, Baby Power, DJ Sonni
Sunday, Aug. 11, 6 p.m.

Given the city's stormproofing demolition plans for East River Park, these are likely the last shows here until at least 2024.

Niconeco Zakkaya, seller of Japanese stationery and gifts, opening a shop on 10th Street

[Photos by Steven]

Niconeco Zakkaya, an online shop (since 2015) that sells original Japanese stationery and other handcrafted items, is opening a storefront here this month at 263 E. 10th St. between Avenue A and First Avenue...



The owner, Siming, had this to say about the business: "Before I arrived in the U.S., I had been living in Tokyo for the past decade. I missed a lot of things about Japan since moving to New York City, especially Japanese zakka and stationery. Zakka (雑貨) refers to everything and anything that improves your home, life, and appearance."

Here's a sampling of the shop's wares via Instagram...

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by niconeco zakkaya (@niconeco_zakkaya) on Jul 1, 2019 at 6:54am PDT

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by niconeco zakkaya (@niconeco_zakkaya) on Jul 8, 2019 at 7:45am PDT

Jennifer's Way Bakery was a previous tenant here for four-plus years.

Skinny Buddha pops up with vegan fare on 1st Street

Skinny Buddha, a vegan food business with outposts in Scarsdale and Mt. Cisco, has opened a pop-up cafe at 45 E. First St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue.

Through October, you can find menu items such as açaí bowls, smoothies, burgers and veggie bowls here.

The space had been the coffee bar Cocoa Grinder for a few months. The business never took off, in part because their opening coincided with the (now concluded) months-long water-main work on the block... not to mention the ongoing condoplex construction on the corner of Second Avenue blocked off half of the street for a few years.

A new era for 'closed for renovations' signage

Perhaps the owners of Boilermaker have seen enough of those "closed for renovations" signs on local businesses... that never actually reopen after said renovations. (Here ... and here ... and here, to name a few.)

So when the bar on First Street at First Avenue closed for renovations after service on Sunday, they wanted potential patrons to know they were returning...

Polytima Designs is closing on 9th Street

EVG regulars Vinny & O bring word of a store closing at Polytima Designs, a small boutique at 442 E. Ninth St. just west of Avenue A...



Eleni, the owner here, opened the shop in 2011. She previously sold her jewelry designs to department stores, per Manhattan Sideways.

Lightning fast

Thanks to EVG reader Kevin Scheld for sharing these photos of the fast-moving storm that blew on through around 8 p.m. ... the top photo is from Fourth Street between First Avenue and Second Avenue looking toward the west ... while the shot below is looking toward Midtown...

Thursday's parting storm tweet

Big storm ⛈ coming this way. #eastvillage @evgrieve pic.twitter.com/4KsZZOzaED

— Evan Kapitansky (@evan_kapitansky) August 9, 2019

Grant Shaffer's NY See

Here's the latest NY See panel, East Village-based illustrator Grant Shaffer's observational sketch diary of things that he sees and hears around the neighborhood.

Time capsules: The Gap of St. Mark's Place

An anonymous commenter left the link to this YouTube clip on yesterday's post about the northwest corner of St. Mark's Place and Second Avenue being for rent.

From 1988 to 2001, the Gap was in that retail space.

A YouTuber named Steve Haskin created this video — "circa 1997" — on St. Mark's Place between Second Avenue and Third Avenue...conducting interviews with passersby about the Gap's arrival. (At this point, the store had been there for nine years already, so...)

In any event, the four-plus minute clip is an entertaining time capsule (#tbt!) ... and a document showing how much the block has changed these past 20-plus years...



Previously on EV Grieve:
When the Gap moved into the East Village

New 14th Street busway regulations go into effect on Monday

[Click on image to go big]

On Tuesday, a judge lifted a temporary injunction on the 14th Street busway... and the city is quickly putting the new bus- and truck-only route into effect starting on Monday (Aug. 12).

Here's a quickie overview via the DOT:

6 a.m. to 10 p.m.: Buses and trucks only between Ninth Avenue and Third Avenue. All other vehicles may make local trips, but must turn at the next available right.

10 p.m. to 6 a.m.: All vehicles may make through trips along the corridor.

In late June, right before the new busway was to launch on July 1, a coalition of block associations filed a last-minute lawsuit to block the project, arguing that the city failed to complete the proper environmental review for the work.

However, State Supreme Court Judge Eileen Rakower stated on Tuesday that the city "went to great lengths to describe the consideration that went into the analysis, considering pedestrian deaths, dangerous intersections and not just the speed of the bus that is going to traverse 14th Street." (Quote via Gothamist.)

The busway was to coincide with the arrival of the new M14 Select Bus Service, which launched July 1 featuring off-board fare payments and all-door boarding... all in an effort to speed up the notoriously sluggish M14 line during the L-train slowdown.

Analysis from Transportation Alternatives and Riders Alliance found that rush-hour M14 bus riders spent a combined 8,654 additional hours commuting over the last month than would have been the case under the city’s plan to transform 14th Street into a busway.

The Boilery up next for 58 3rd Ave.

[Photos by Steven]

Signage arrived this week for the new restaurant opening at 58 Third Ave. — say hello to The Boilery...



We don't know too much about this self-described "seafood & grill." The applicants, who also operate Meet Noodles a few storefronts away, were on this month's CB3 agenda for a beer-wine license for the space here between 10th Street and 11th Street. The hours are listed from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday-Thursday, with a midnight close on Friday and Saturday.

Perhaps the owners of The Boilery can bring stability to the address. This space has been three restaurants — Jin Kitchen and Bar, Shu Han Ju II and Mulan East — in the past four years.

Updated:

The Boilery has a second location on Amsterdam Avenue... find their website here. (Thanks Upper West Sider for the tip!)

Bowlmor Lanes-replacing condoplex cleared of construction equipment on University Place

EVG reader Doug shared these photos of the 22-floor retail-residential complex on University Place between 12th Street and 13th Street (space that was, in part, home for 76 years to Bowlmor Lanes).

Doug notes that all the construction barriers around the complex have been removed, perhaps signaling the end to the exterior work here...



We last checked in on the building in March 1, 2018. At the time the condoplex with the sandstone-colored façade, via William Macklowe Company and Goldman Sachs, was set to open in the summer of 2018.

Curbed had reported in February 2018 that 75 percent of the building’s 52 apartments at 21 E. 12th St. (21E12!) were in contract, including the $17.5 million penthouse. The building's website now lists three availabilities.

The retail space in the base of the building is still on the market. Per the listing at Acadia:

The location provides unparalleled foot traffic and eyeballs from affluent professionals, millennial students, artists, and tourists. The building’s modern, glassy design and double-height facade will allow retailers to maximize their branding and visibility, and make a strong impression on the local population.

The retail component consists of approximately 13,000 sf, which is divisible into 3 or 4 stores. These stores sit at the base of 20 floors of residential units, providing immediate access to this upscale population. The retail spaces feature 17 ft ceilings, and striking glass storefronts.

And the rendering...



Preservationists and other residents remain concerned that these types of out-of-scale development will flourish in this area south of Union Square following the upzoning — with a minimum of zoning protections — that was approved for the tech hub on 14th Street.

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

Between the rain this afternoon in East River Park...

Report: New owner of the Boys' Club building on 10th Street and Avenue A — revealed!

Aaron Sosnick, an East Village resident and founder of the investment fund A.R.T. Advisors LLC, is the new owner of the Boys' Club of New York's Harriman Clubhouse, Crain's reported yesterday.

Last month, the Boys’ Club completed a deal to sell its East Village property on Avenue A and 10th Street. The buyer was only mentioned as "a wealthy, anonymous individual." The 7-story building was sold to 287 East 10th Street LLC c/o Denham Wolf Real Estate Services for $31.725 million. (The only rumor we heard was that the buyer lived in the neighbor.)

More from Crain's last month:

Paul Wolf, a real estate broker and adviser who specializes in working with nonprofits and who represented the foundation, said the buyer wanted to remain anonymous. Wolf said the buyer was planning to sell the property, potentially at a substantial loss, to a nonprofit that would maintain its civic use.

"The goal is to keep this as a community facility," said Wolf, who is co-president of the firm Denham Wolf. "The intent is to sell it to a nonprofit at a lower price than the purchase price."

And as for figuring out who the buyer was:

City records show that a limited liability company, 287 East 10th LLC, named for the address of the Boys’ Club building, purchased it. A woman named Carey Thorpe is listed as the authorized signatory for the LLC. Thorpe, according to public records, is the spouse of Benjamin Pierson, the chief operating officer and general counsel for Sosnick’s A.R.T. Advisors.

A.R.T. Advisors has $3.7 billion in assets under management, according to The Real Deal in January 2018. Sosnick’s name has been in the news here before for reportedly opposing Gregg Singer's plans to redevelop P.S. 64 on Ninth Street. (Sosnick owns two units in the Christodora House next door, as news reports have pointed out.)

Sosnick is also the principal trustee of La Vida Feliz Foundation, "and uses his foundation quietly to support philanthropy in the arts, education, human services and community projects."

The Boys' Club quietly began the sales process in June 2018, as I first reported. Stephen Tosh, executive director of the Boys' Club, said that the sale of the East Village building would allow the organization the opportunity to start new programs in other neighborhoods in need of its services. (To be clear, the Boys' Club decided to sell their building — they were not forced out. The building was pitched for educational purposes as well as residential conversion.)

For their part, community activists and parents said that a compelling need remains in the East Village and Lower East Side for the kind of activities that the Boys' Club offers.

The Boys' Club is expected to lease space here for another year.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Local elected officials urge Boys' Club officials to postpone sale of the Harriman Clubhouse

Boys' Club of New York selling East Village building; will remain open through June 2019

During noon rally today, local elected officials will seek postponement of Boys' Club building sale

[Updated] Exclusive: The Boys' Club of New York puts the Harriman Clubhouse on the sales market for $32 million

Boys' Club fast tracks sale of East Village clubhouse as final bids are due Oct. 30

RUMOR: The Boys' Club building on 10th and A has a new owner; will remain in use as a nonprofit