East Village: Counterculture, Luxury Condos

By SUSHIL CHEEMA
 
Long a haven for artists and eccentrics, the East Village is best known as a center for the offbeat. But as beloved hot spots like the punk-rock club CBGB have closed in recent years, the face of the neighborhood continues to change, particularly as new developments continue to pop up between the mom-and-pop stores and former tenement buildings.

Like the neighboring Lower East Side, the East Village became home to poor European immigrants in the early 20th century. Later, the area east of First Avenue—known as Alphabet City—was dubbed "Loisaida" by the Latino immigrants who settled there. By the 1980s, the neighborhood—the setting for the popular musical "Rent"—was attracting struggling artists and other creative types. It is also the New York home for the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club (on East Third Street between First and Second avenues.).

Early projects like the Christodora House, which had been a home to a charity for new immigrants when established in 1929 before converting to luxury condominiums in the late 1980s, met with resistance from locals who feared changes to the neighborhood's character and skyrocketing prices. Despite such protests, the neighborhood's location and bohemian charm have made it attractive for luxury developments. In 2008, the East Village was rezoned to curtail high-rises from popping up.

Among the most recent luxury developments is the A Building on East 13th Street between First Avenue and Avenue A. The eight-story condominium building, developed by the Ascend Group, has 84 units and features a pool, enclosed courtyard, doorman and fitness center. A 426-square-foot studio is available for $595,000.

The eight-story Village Green on East 11th Street between First and Second avenues, has a variety of environmentally friendly features as well as a spa and a fitness center. It launched sales on Earth Day in 2009 and there is currently only one unit left: a 1,205-square-foot penthouse with two bedrooms and two bathrooms and about 400 square feet of outdoor space. The unit, listed for $1.9 million, will have showings on Saturday and Sunday.

The Copper Building, a new eight-story mixed-use luxury condominium building, is at the corner of Avenue B and 13th Street. It features a copper-colored exterior, as well as a sun deck, private storage, a fitness center and a Zen-style garden. The 17-unit building is currently 89% sold. A studio is available for $545,000, and a two-bedroom for $1.15 million.

More developments are still rising in the East Village. Under construction is 123 Third Ave., a 19-story building with 47 units. Sales for the building, which has been under construction for about a year, started about six weeks ago. Located at the northeast corner of the East Village, just outside Union Square, the building describes itself as being in "Union Square East."

The neighborhood still has its share of crime, but, the biggest drawback, many residents say, is that loud crowds of young people flock to the neighborhood for its night life.

Some longtime locals worry that the new developments will continue to force them out. Kurt Cavanaugh, the managing director of the East Village Community Coalition, founded in 2004, says his group would like to see that developers ensure that there is housing for a range of incomes. "When [housing] is only for the super-rich, that doesn't make for a very diverse neighborhood," he says.

The median sales price in the East Village fell more than 6% in the third quarter from the same time in 2007, to $1.013 million. In the neighboring Lower East Side, the median sales price increased by nearly 17% in that period, jumping to $773,259.

Schools: The East Village's schools are in District 1 and include the East Side Community School, which has students in grades six through 12 and features small classes, a studio arts program and partnerships with the Nuyorican Poets Cafe, among others. Other public schools include the Earth School, which has students in prekindergarten through fifth grade, Bard High School Early College, Lower East Side Preparatory High School and the Henry Street School for International Studies. The East Village Community School, with about 190 students in prekindergarten through fifth grade, recently released a new CD, called "Songs From the East Village," featuring the school's ethnically diverse students and their families.

In 2009, 82.4% of District 1 students in the third through eighth grades received a proficient score on the math exam, and 71.3% of students received a proficient score on the English Language Arts exam. In 2006, the results were 58.1% for math and 50.1% for reading.

Private schools in the neighborhood include the Blue School, which was established by the founders of the alternative theater company Blue Man Group, as well as the all-boys La Salle Academy and co-educational St. Brigid School, both Catholic schools founded in the mid-19th century. New York University is close by, and the Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art, is at the neighborhood's western boundary.

Parks and Recreation: Tompkins Square Park sits at the heart of the East Village and features handball courts, playgrounds, chess tables, a dog park and a basketball court. It hosts a variety of events, including Wigstock, an outdoor drag festival, the Charlie Parker Jazz Festival and an annual Halloween Dog Parade.

The East River Park, with more than 57 acres, opened along the East River in 1939. It includes a promenade and views of the Manhattan and Brooklyn bridges. The East Village also has several well-maintained community gardens, some open to the public.

Entertainment: The iconic Nuyorican Poets Cafe hosts poetry slams, musicians, theater performances and literary events. The Bowery Poetry Club, has artist-, playwright- and choreographer-in-residence programs and is also currently hosting parts of the CMJ 2010 Music Marathon & Film Festival, which runs through Saturday. St. Mark's Church-in-the-Bowery, holds regular services for its Episcopalian congregation, but it also has several partnerships with arts groups. Another popular venue is the Anthology Film Archives, which focuses on experimental, avant-garde and independent films.

Dining: S'Mac offers a variety of macaroni-and-cheese dishes, while Momofuko Noodle Bar specializes in ramen. Also try Caracas Arepa Bar or one of the many Indian restaurants on the so-called Indian Row on East Sixth Street between First and Second avenues.

On Saturday, Fourth Arts Block, a nonprofit dedicated to promoting the East Fourth Street Cultural District between Second Avenue and the Bowery, is hosting East Village Eats, a tour of some of the area's restaurants.