From The Real Deal:
Extell Development is in talks to buy a Greenwich Village commercial property with substantial development rights from the Duell family, the latest of several deals between the two. Gary Barnett’s firm is looking to acquire 530 Sixth Avenue on the corner of West 14th Street in Greenwich Village, Crain’s reported, citing a source familiar with the deal. The site is currently home to a 17,000-square-foot commercial building housing a Moscot Eyewear store, but public records show it has nearly 127,000 square feet of residential air rights.
Extell and the Duells have struck a number of deals in the past two months. In December, Barnett’s company bought two apartment buildings at 116 Seventh Avenue and 204 West 17th Street in Chelsea from the Duells, paying $11 million. He also bought 502 Third Avenue, a rental and retail building in Murray Hill, from the family for $11 million around the same time. Barnett also seems to be the buyer in the $20 million purchase of a rental building at 27 Washington Square North in the Greenwich Village last month, according to Crain’s. At the time of the purchase, the buyer wasn’t known. [Crain’s] – Ariel Stulberg
Next week (August 8 to August 12), Contractors will continue to excavate earth and rock, and load out material. Installation of bracing rakers, line drilling, lagging and sheeting around the perimeter will progress as well. Concrete foundation walls will continue along the perimeter of the site. Interior core foundation work will proceed. The following week (August 15 to August 19 ), we will continue with concrete foundation walls, line drilling, rock excavation, loading out,and interior core foundation work & underground plumbing. DEP will continue to work on the water main along 13th Street. The site will be open on Saturday, August 6th. 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 and rebar for concrete placement, wood lagging, and installation of walers and braces. There will be no rock excavation, rock chopping, or hauling on Saturday.
Closed at the corner of 13th and 6th. Probably because for take out, the food was too pricey. Wonder what will fill that cursed space next.
If you’re curious about the plans for the New School’s new construction on our block, there will be a public presentation on February 17. Here’s how the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Presentation is billing it:
On Wednesday, February 17 at 6:30 pm The New School (TNS) will make a public presentation of its current plans for a new development at 65 Fifth Avenue, between 13th and 14th Streets. Having originally proposed a 300-350 ft. tall building rising straight up over the entire site which would have required several zoning variances, TNS is now proposing a much smaller, 16-story, 189 ft. tall (plus mechanicals) building which will set back above the 6th floor and which conforms to the existing zoning for the site. The presentation will be similar to that which was made to GVSHP, other community groups, and elected officials in December. The plans are not yet finalized at this time, but do contain significant details about TNS’ thinking and progress on the design.
The fact that the mass and height of the proposed building has been reduced significantly from prior proposals in a very positive development. However, GVSHP does have concerns about the metal and glass design currently being contemplated for the facade of the building. The public presentation to Community Board #2’s Institutions Committee will be an opportunity to learn more about TNS’ plans for the site, ask questions, and provide feedback about the project.
Attend the public presentation on Wednesday, February 17th at 6:30 pm at the St. Vincent’s Hospital cafeteria on 12th Street.
The New York Times has a fascinating article about the deli across from the co-op on 13th St., reviewing its history as a Schraftt’s restaurant and talking about the importance of its now destroyed architectural details. But what’s really interesting is the revelation of the first details of what’s going to be built there: a ten-story building with one triplex, three duplexes, and ground floor retail. “As for the apartment house, which is being designed for an owner who bought the site this year, the architect says plans are still in flux but she will probably produce “a contemporary interpretation of the Fifth Avenue apartment houses in the neighborhood” — the same goal of harmony that Schrafft’s sought 70 years ago.”
Last Friday, NYC Parks & Recreation, CYNTHIA-REEVES PROJECTS, and the Union Square Partnership officially cut the ribbon on LOTUS, the newest piece of temporary art in the Union Square Park Triangle. LOTUS was the creation of Seoul-based artist Jaehyo Lee. To create the piece, the artist meticulously carved, shaped, burned the individual wood elements attached to a steel armature that stretches 12 feet high. The artwork has certainly made an impression as passersby who can be seen at all times of day stopping to look and touch the new art in the triangle.
