Any idea what’s going on in the empty lot on the northeast corner of Varick and Canal? Since Monday, construction has been going on at a fast pace. The temporary structures are different than those constructed for Talking Transition for last fall’s election. I actually went by the site yesterday and asked some of the workers, but they wouldn’t say. —P.

The Department of Buildings permit showed that a temporary structure is being built at 76 Varick, which is Trinity Real Estate property, for an event called All Clear (Aug. 20-25). But I hit roadblocks everywhere I asked: I emailed Trinity Real Estate, called Community Board 2 (which said that because it’s private land, the event doesn’t have to get community approval) and the architect (which didn’t want to talk about it), and so on. Finally, I called Trinity Real Estate, thinking I was calling the Hudson Square BID, and I was told that the event is called Night Court, that it involves tennis, and it’s for the public. So here’s an educated guess: It’s a promotional exhibition for the U.S. Open, which starts Aug. 25, the day Night Court ends. There’s no mention of the event on the U.S. Open website, so maybe it’s a surprise. I did try calling the U.S.T.A. but the operator didn’t answer and there was no point in leaving a voicemail.

Obviously, if you know otherwise (or can confirm it), we’re all ears: 917-209-6473, tribecacitizen@gmail.com.

UPDATE: “Talked with one of the construction guys and they said it was ‘something for Nike,'” emails a reader. “So probably a Nike Tennis event. The stage they’re building is about the size of a court so could be an actual tennis court. Rockefeller Center does something similar each year and sets up a court and has various famous players play on it, so perhaps it’ll be something like that? But Nike involved for sure.”

UPDATE #2: “I went by last week and they told me they are building a tennis court for events during the US Open,” emails W.

Got a question? Email it to tribecacitizen@gmail.com or call/text 917-209-6473.

Previous Nosy Neighbor posts:
• Is the Odeon lowering its bar?
• What’s that on top of the New Museum?
• What’s that new building next to 30 Park Place?
• Why are there strollers left overnight at Tribeca Pediatrics?
• Is that a new ferry terminal?
• Is Peace & Love going to reopen?
• Is this rooftop addition legal?
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• What’s moving into 415 Broadway?
• What’s happening at Greenwich and Chambers?
• Is 37 Warren’s sidewalk shed ever coming down?
• When will 87 Leonard be done?
• What are those panels on the sanitation garage?
• How many fake restaurants are on Seamless?
• Is a 60-story hotel going up on W. Broadway?
• Why are the BMCC trailers still there?
• Didn’t Bread Tribeca have plans to reopen?
• When is the Arman building getting its Arman?
• Why is 15 Warren painted that way?
• Where do Laughing Man’s profits go?
• Are dogs allowed at outdoor restaurant tables?
• When will FiOS come to Tribeca?
• What’s up with 60 Hudson?
• Will the W. Broadway construction ever end?
• What’s happening at 87 Leonard?
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