Many changes in the East Village happen overnight. But some take forever. Rumor has it now that NYU has acquired either the property or the rights to build on the property that has been a vacant lot for over a decade.
The lot is adjacent to the Standard Hotel on The Bowery facing Cooper Square. This empty lot occupies the corner of East 6th Street and The Bowery. It has remained empty since the previous building was torn down due to the foundation becoming structurally unsound. Tenants moved and the late 19th century tenement building was demolished.
The rumor mill has it that NYU will put up another dormitory, which will be a welcome change from the unsightly empty lot where rats have been living the good life for years and years. Of course we are not yet sure where the rats will go, but hopefully they can find an affordable space in the neighborhood....which is getting to be tougher than finding a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow.
99 Second Avenue continues to remain empty despite the fact that Brick Lane Restaurant was supposed to open up a new restaurant in this space. A legal notice had appeared briefly on the door some months back that suggested Brick Lane was behind in the rent payments. Hopefully this space will soon find Brick Lane building a new establishment or another renter coming in to take it over.
101 Second Avenue also remains empty after the closing of the gemlike restaurant, JLOB (Jack's Luxury Oyster Bar). This amazing little place closed after many years of success. Rumor has it that the rent just started to get away from them and it was no longer viable to continue the business.
Blue Ribbon Fried Chicken has a newly installed sign on the north west corner of Second Avenue and 1st Street, right across from the old Mars Bar location. Speaking of which, that building has gone up in record time and sidewalks are being installed.
The East Village keeps changing. That is one thing you can be sure of....it will continue to change.
