A reader pointed out that the gas station at the northwest corner of 116th Street and FDB/8th Avenue had a lot of activity on the site and we pulled up the following job description from the DOB permit: APPLICATION FILED TO RENOVATE EXISTING ONE STORY BUILDING, RELOCATE & INSTALL SANITARY FIXTURES. REMOVE PARTITIONS, CEILINGS, FINISHES. CONSTRUCT PARTITIONS, INSTALL CEILINGS, FLOOR FINISHES,CONSTRUCT PLATFORM, BAR, WOODWORK. INSTALL R19 CEILING INSULATION AND INSULATED FENESTRATION.NO CHANGE IN USE, EGRESS, OCCUPANCY UNDER THIS APPLICAT
There's usually a mention if a restaurant will be taking over if that was the case so the "no change in use" kind of hinted at nothing interesting really happening. On the other hand, there is the line that says they are installing a bar and woodwork (?). The lower photo shows the popular downtown gas station-to-bar-outdoor space conversion that's known as B Bar. Could something similar be coming along? Anyone with inside info? Facade photo by Ulysses. B Bar photo courtesy Alex Lopez. Check out the B Bar website to see more photos of what a gas station-restaurant conversion looks like: www.BBarandGrill.com
Wow -- suffice to say the use suggested by Uly's photo would be more than a slight improvement...
ReplyDeleteThought that was a proposed rendering there for a second!
ReplyDeleteIsn't this where the fella sets up his food stand every day? Great sausages! Hope he doesn't lose his spot :(
I did some more digging -- see below for the descriptions of all current BIS jobs. Note in particular the latest one filed on 8/16 -- it appears Ulysses was spot on with his above speculation about change in use...
ReplyDeleteFrom DOB Job No: 120444297 (Filed 8/16/2010)
CONSTRUCT ONE STORY HORIZONTAL ADDITION WITH CELLAR, INCLUDING KITCHEN AND ACCESSORY STORAGE PER PLANS HEREWITH SUBMITTED.BAR,TOILETS AND UTILITY ROOMS FILED UNDER DOB #120412384. INSTALL EXIT DOORS, CONSTRUCT FENCE ENCLOSURE, OBTAIN FENCE PERMIT.ESTABLISH EATING & DRINKING ESTABLISHMENT ON 1ST FL.WITH ACCESSORY OUTDOOR DINING.OBTAIN AMENDED COFO
Job No: 120444322 (8/13/2010)
APPLICATION FILED TO INSTALL MECHANICAL EQUIPMENT AND VENTING PER MECHANICAL PLANS HEREWITH SUBMITTED, AND TO INSTALL PLUMBING FIXTURES PER SANITARY PLANS HEREWITH SUBMITTED. NO CHANGE IN USE, EGRESS, OCCUPANCY UNDER THIS APPLICATION
Job No: 120444313 (8/13/2010)
APPLICATION FILED TO RENOVATE EXISTING ONE STORY BUILDING,TO CONSTRUCT ONE STORY AND CELLAR ADDITION, TO INSTALL DUNNAGE ON ROOF PER PLANS HEREWITH SUBMITTED. NOTE: LESS THAN 50 CU.YDS CONC. REQUIRED FOR CONSTRUCTION. NO CHANGE IN USE, EGRESS, OCCUPANCY UNDER THIS APPLICATION
Job No: 120437982 (8/13/2010)
INSTALL NEW FIRE ALARM SYSTEM TO PROVIDE COVERAGE ON 1ST AND CELLAR FLOORS IN FOOD AND/OR DRINKING ESTABLISHMENT PER PLANS HEREWITH SUBMITTED. NO CHANGE IN USE, EGRESS, OCCUPANCY UNDER THIS APPLICATION
Job No: 120444304 (8/13/2010)
APPLICATION FILED TO RENOVATE EXISTING ONE STORY BUILDING, REMOVE AND REPLACE FLOOR AND REPAIR CRACKING, PER STRUCTURAL PLANS-LESS THAN 60 CU YDS CONCRETE. THIS APPLICATION FILED IN CONJUNCTION WITH DOB APPLICATION # 120412384. NO CHANGE IN USE, EGRESS, OCCUPANCY UNDER THIS APPLICATION
Job No: 120412384 (7/14/2010)
APPLICATION FILED TO RENOVATE EXISTING ONE STORY BUILDING,RELOCATE & INSTALL SANITARY FIXTURES.REMOVE PARTITIONS,CEILINGS,FINISHES.CONSTRUCT PARTITIONS,INSTALL CEILINGS,FLOOR FINISHES,CONSTRUCT PLATFORM,BAR,WOODWORK.INSTALL R19 CEILING INSULATION AND INSULATED FENESTRATION.NO CHANGE IN USE, EGRESS, OCCUPANCY UNDER THIS APPLICAT
Nice find fellas. More good news for this corridor then and certainly another feather in the cap for Harlem. Can only be a good thing for local sales.
ReplyDeleteA couple more things to note:
ReplyDeleteThe owner of the property appears to have remained the same as before, but he has formed a corporation called "2153-9 LLC".
The status of the latest DOB application (filed on 8/16) shows the following:
"Development Challenge Process is pending Zoning Approval. For any issues, please contact the relevant borough office."
Below are a few links I've collected that contain relevant information on the "Development Challenge Process."
ReplyDeleteI can't imagine something like this would run into trouble, but I think the bottom line is that we should all try to get involved in the relevant CB10 meetings to the extent possible -- just to help make sure good development projects are not unreasonably beset with roadblocks.
DCP FAQ:
http://home.nyc.gov/html/dob/downloads/pdf/development_challenge_process_faq.pdf
DCP Guide:
http://www.nyc.gov/html/dob/downloads/pdf/development_challenge_process_guide.pdf
Link to pending application for 2153-9:
http://a810-bisweb.nyc.gov/bisweb/JobsByTypeBoroDateServlet?mycomm=y&des=1&requestid=0&alljobtype=A1&allcommbd=110
None of y'all are queasy about having food service where there were fuel tanks and oil and whatever else?
ReplyDeleteSM - that's a strange way to look at things. If we disclosed the history of all of our favorite food locations and what used to exist before it, I think it's safe to say, no one would be eating out. Doesn't stop progress though.
ReplyDeleteSanou's Mum: They most likely won't be planting a backyard garden for vegetables... I'd be more concerned about the pesticides and who knows what else that gets sprayed directly on a lot of our food.
ReplyDeleteAt any rate, I'd imagine any potential environmental or safety concerns would have to be addressed as part of the process to get approval for change in use.
I would love to see FDB, ACP and Lenox utilized for more outdoor dining. Where else in the city do you have these wonderful, wide side-walks? On the UES you can barely fit a stroller.
ReplyDeleteYeah, sure you guys are right. But you wouldn't catch me living over a dry cleaning place, either.
ReplyDeleteAs for the environmental/safety concerns being addressed as part of the process . . tell that the the people who worked at Ground Zero
I don't really disagree with your sentiment, SM. But to the extent they are paving over the ground and gutting the existing structure, I don't think the end result will be meaningfully "dirtier" than any other Manhattan food service establishment. Toxins in our environment and our food are a real issue -- but this isn't a potential source I'd be concerned with.
ReplyDeleteA related point, however: Are there any "dry cleaning" places in Manhattan that actually do the dry cleaning on-premises? I thought these days it all got trucked out to some industrial warehouse in the suburbs...
@CBR—in my mind (a happy place filled with unicorns and rainbows) all dry cleaning gets trucked up to the Bronx or out to Queens. But who knows what goes on in the bowels of buildings. . . sometimes when you walk past a dry cleaning place there is that distinct smell of solvent coming through the exhaust.
ReplyDeleteIt's OK, the guy cooking sausages is on 117th (also, couldn't leave this hanging on 13 comments...superstitious reasons).
ReplyDelete