There has been some grumbling over the fact that the city may give the pavilion at the north end of Union Square Park over to a private entity to run a restaurant in and around it. We’ll see how that turns out, but in the meantime, some renderings have been revealed.
From Crain’s New York Business:
The P.C. Richard & Son store near Union Square is going the way of the cathode ray television set and VCRs.
The city’s Economic Development Corp. has announced a request for proposals to redevelop a city-owned site at 124 E. 14th St. that for the past 19 years has been home to a two-level building occupied by the electronics and appliance store.
The EDC is encouraging developers to pitch projects that include new office space for booming industries in the neighborhood, such as technology and creative businesses. According to the city’s guidelines, the development could provide fledgling companies with the space to get started and also a location for young but established firms to transition from incubator and co-working spaces that have sprouted around the city into their own digs.
Proposals may also include residential space, although a spokesman for the city said the EDC’s goal is an office-focused development. Current zoning on the site, however, would seem to encourage a residential component. About 140,000 square feet of housing can be built at the address versus about 93,00 square feet of commercial space. A project could be a blend of the two.
Midtown South has become the city’s hottest office market, with space in the vicinity of Union Square especially popular for its access to transit, shopping, restaurants and tony residential neighborhoods.
“The current site of the PC Richard store will serve as a new tech hub in Union Square, capitalizing on the academic and transit advantages offered by the neighborhood and its proximity to the Flatiron district,” said Maria Torres-Springer, president of the EDC, in a statement. “This is just one example of how we are finding creative uses for the assets we have in a city where space is harder and harder to come by.”
Bids for the property are due by February, the spokesman said, which is the same month that P.C. Richard’s lease is set to expire.
Japonica will leave its location as Bowlmor Lanes preps for demolition. It will move just one block south to 90 University Place.
No one is sure why, but Ramen Setagaya has changed its name to Takumi Ramen. Same menu.
Next week (December 19 to December 23), Superstructure and concrete work will continue at 2nd and 3rd floor levels. Sidewalk sheds will continue being erected around the perimeter of the site. The roof protection at USC Condo courtyard will be finished this week.
The following week (December 26 to December 30), we will continue superstructure concrete and slabs on 2nd and 3rd floor levels.
This weekend the site will be closed on Saturday, December 17th.
Looking ahead to the upcoming holidays, the New School construction site will be closed on Saturdays, December 24 and December 31st, also on Mondays, December 26th and January 2nd.
No sooner did the Giant Bagel Shop and its associated pizza shop close than the pizza shop got retiled and reopened as Little Italy Pizza. That was quick.
Our students have moved into the dormitory which is on the top eight floors with its own entrance. The first day of classes was August 26th and a new semester is now underway. It is anticipated that the academic portion of the building (first eight floors) will be completed in time for this year’s second semester. We will keep you posted. Some of you can see our green roof which is also an exciting addition.
Next week (September 9 to September 13), material and equipment deliveries and installation work will continue on the academic floors inside the building.
The following week (September 16 to September 20), material and equipment deliveries and installation work will continue on academic floors.