What’s Going On with the Burned-Out Building?

ByDon

Curbed reports: The curvy low-rise building at 61 Fifth Avenue, devastated by fire in 2006, has been marked for death ever since the structure—a former Scrafft’s luncheonette (see photo at top left circa 1940)—was sold to a developer in early 2008. An architect was quickly enlisted to draw up plans for a 10-story building with apartments and ground-floor retail, and it was made clear that the current 61 Fifth Avenue was too far gone to be preserved in any manner. Has the economy put a pause on those plans? Perhaps, but broker-blogger Andrew Fine reports that demolition permit was issued for the property in December, so the wrecking ball could come calling any day now.

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  • Entertainment in the Park

    ByDon

    The 2011 “Summer in the Square,” at Union Square, provides early morning fitness, family fun for kids and parents, and live music every Thursday until Aug. 11.  In the evening, live music is presented, beginning at 6 p.m., from a diverse mix of genres like latin, rock, jazz, and folk and a mix of local and touring bands. The exception was June 30, when three groups performed. One of them, “Million Dollar Quartet,” is based on the grand recording session where legends Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, and Jerry Lee Lewis were brought together.

  • Latest Construction Update: More of the Same

    ByDon

    From The New School:

    Next week (September 19 to September 23), Contractors will continue to excavate earth and rock, and load out material. Installation of bracing rakers and line drilling will progress as well. Concrete foundation walls around the perimeter of the site and slab on grade work will continue. Interior core foundation work and underground electrical and plumbing will proceed. Contractors will be removing the interior earth ramp. DOT approved street connections to underground utilities on Fifth Avenue will progress. A small cherry picker crane will arrive on site next week, and be stationed inside the Fifth Avenue fence. This crane will remain on site for approximately two months.

    The following week (September 26 to September 30 ), we will continue with concrete foundation walls and slabs, line drilling, rock excavation, loading out, interior core foundation work, street utility connections on Fifth Avenue, and underground electrical and plumbing.

    DEP continues to repair the water main along 13th Street. As part of this work, the DEP may periodically shut water service off. This work is out of our control.

    The site will be open on Saturday, September 17th. Work hours are between 9AM and 5PM as permitted by the City. To control noise levels, work activities will be limited to the placement of formwork, plumbing and electrical work, site utility connections, waterproofing and rebar for concrete placement, and the installation of walers and braces. There will be no rock excavation, rock chopping, or hauling on Saturday.

  • Philosophical Thai Food

    ByDon

    Check out Qi on the north side of 14th between 5th and 6th. It’s a Thai restaurant that comes with lots of philosophy about spiritual centeredness and such. You can eat, and you can enrich your spirit, or qi (pronounced “chee”). May be a little bit upscale for this block. We’ll see.