FIST BUMP!!! — Kristopher on Valentine No. 53

That rent "is too damn high" for something decent to move in, alas. :-( — KP on A Subway Sandwich Shop Appears to Have Closed

http://www.sinvin.com/listing/137-hudson-street/ Full Building Retail Condominium For Sale Or Lease Size Ground: 1,500 SF (concrete floors) Basement: 1,500 SF (concrete floors) Common Charges: $4,428 PA Real Estate Taxes: $40,165 PA Rent $18,750/month Price $3,900,000 — James on A Subway Sandwich Shop Appears to Have Closed

I do not know what caused the delay, but here is the story from almost a year ago. https://commercialobserver.com/2016/02/frenchmen-find-spot-in-soho-for-their-first-u-s-wine-bistro/ Soho’s Lafayette Street will be home to a new French restaurant and wine bar, Commercial Observer has learned. Troquet will open in 1,100 square feet through a 10-year lease at 161 Lafayette Street between Howard and Grand Streets. The asking rent was $16,000 per month, according to Bertwood Realty, which brokered the deal. Le Troquet is the brainchild of three childhood friends from France: Thomas Olmedo, who started a transportation company in France, Clément Méry, who dwells in Asia working as an executive in the hospitality industry, and a silent partner. The owners of French restaurant Parigot are retiring and will clear out of the 161 Lafayette Street space after 10 years to make way for Le Troquet. The new eatery will open early this summer and will showcase “wine events with winemakers from around the world,” said Bertwood Realty’s Bertrand de Soultrait, who along with Abe Bichoupan brokered the deal for the tenant and the landlord, 161 Lafayette Realty, LLC. “We approached the owners of Parigot,” Mr. Bichoupan said in prepared remarks, “not knowing they were thinking about retiring, but recognizing that they had had a great run in the neighborhood [and noting] perhaps it was time for something fresh and new there. Our supposition was correct and we were able to negotiate a deal in less than 30 days that worked for all parties.” — James on Seen & Heard: Parigot Restaurant Has Closed

It was a joy to meet you tonight, Jane. I love reading your articles about your life in TriBeCa! Thank you. Stay well and blessed - Happy New Year ! — Elaine Springer on The Recollections of Jane Freeman (Part 3)

I think the 10 year period probably means their lease was up .. and I am sure landlord was looking to at least 2x - 3x it. Another vacant space added to our landscape. — Rohin on Seen & Heard: Parigot Restaurant Has Closed

Wait! Why did Parigot close?? :( I wish I had known, I would gone to have a drink. — sal on Seen & Heard: Parigot Restaurant Has Closed

Thank You for that, and to all who commented on the article, I appreciate everyone who I have greeted coming through those doors. My job keeps me grounded and humble, that's my balance about life just being myself. Love Ya Eric for this is a great look, this is a first for me. — Harrison Rogers on Valentine No. 53

White St off West Broadway- Batard — James on Where in Tribeca…?

Very interesting plans, indeed. Hope the money and ideas come together. You might want to consider the effects of ice floes on the lower levels of Pier 26. Only a decade or two ago ice routinely covered much of the embayment in winter and could again -- in future -- potentially cause tidal ice damage to the more fragile structures envisioned for Pier 26. — JD Stevenson on First Look: Pier 26

https://www.nycgovparks.org/trees/street-tree-planting/request Request a Street Tree If you are a property owner, you can have a tree planted on your street for free! Submit a Service Request through our tree service request system or by calling 311. After making your request, you will receive an identification number to track its status. * All requests are handled on a first-come, first-served basis. Not all requests can be satisfied immediately and some may take longer than a year. * Each location you request is surveyed in person by a Parks Forester to make sure there are no conflicts with the surrounding infrastructure, and that the site is a suitable one for a tree to grow and thrive. If a site is found to be appropriate for a new tree, we will add it to a list to be planted during our next available planting season. * View the street tree planting guidelines [PDF]. * Requests can be made for existing empty tree beds as well as paved sidewalk locations. * You can make a tree species suggestion along with your request; however, the Parks Forester in charge of the planting will make the final species determination. Their primary objective is to select a tree that will grow safely and provide the greatest possible level of benefits to a neighborhood. * Trees are only planted during our two planting seasons: Spring (March 1 to May 31) and Fall (October 1 to December 31). * Parks does not plant on private property. https://www.nycgovparks.org/services/forestry/request/submit — James on Let’s Take Back Our Trees!

Comparison Data From: Retail Q3 2016 MARKETBEAT by Cushman & Wakefield AVAILABILITY RATE BY SUBMARKET 29.3% Fifth Avenue (42nd-49th Streets) 23.4% Meatpacking 22.4% Herald Square/West 34th Street 22.2% Times Square 21.6% SoHo 21.2% Madison Avenue 15.9% Fifth Avenue (49th-60th Streets) 13.1% Third Avenue 11.3% Upper Westside 10.2% Lower Manhattan 9.6% Flatiron http://www.cushmanwakefield.com/~/media/marketbeat/2016/10/Manhattan_Americas_MarketBeat_Retail_Q32016.pdf — James on Best of New Tribeca: The Winners

Based on the empty storefront survey and online data on retail goods and services locations from sources like citymaps.com, I would estimate 15-20% retail vacancy in Tribeca, which is probably less than Soho and Meatpacking, but more than Lower Manhattain, Upper West Side, and Flatiron. — James on Best of New Tribeca: The Winners

Or old and low income people? Or orange people? — Jim Smithers on Let’s Take Back Our Trees!

Nope, and there's no way I'm walking around counting them. — Erik Torkells on Best of New Tribeca: The Winners

I highly recommend Buddha Bodai for vegetarian Chinese fare! http://www.buddhavegetarian.com — Marcus on Where to Order Chinese Food in Tribeca

I'm all for more cafés, but why do so many take on that sort of rough-hewn unfinished design? Looks so uncomfortable, functional, and unwelcoming. Those "chairs" in particular look like the main motivation was to achieve maximum turn-over. No lingering and people-watching then! I hope the coffee is good, at least. — Marcus on Seen & Heard: Wider Checkout Lanes at Best Market

What about more trees for TriBeCa? I seem to recall the city used to have a program where you could request a tree planted in front of your property. Not sure if that sill exists. Some of the streets are sadly un-green. Or perhaps TriBeCans like it that way? — Marcus on Let’s Take Back Our Trees!

I've been to Gunbae. I think the blogger has it right. The food is good but you'll pay a little more. I still prefer the places in K Town. They are much more authentic. But this place is good in a pinch--with Karaoke downstairs. — Janet on In the News: When Castle Clinton Was an Island

About Target, agreed. Target's clearly filling a previously unmet need of the local market. About the number of empty storefronts, you are spot on. Erik do you have an empty-storefront-to-total-strorefronts stat? — Manhattanmommie on Best of New Tribeca: The Winners

This is a comment on the first article, because comments have been closed. Jane, the dog was Woofer, Norman Kanter's dog. He was indeed scary looking with those feral eyes, but essentially harmless. Your article are terrific and I'm printing them for posterity! — RAPRPR on The Recollections of Jane Freeman (Part 3)

Wonderful recollections. Knew her slightly from the naib. Loved the picture of her reclining on the roof of my building next to the detritus of my gazebo. Don't know whether it blew away, but I got tired of having to clean everything every day. We had wonderful time up there during a massive blackout in the--'70s. Lasted for days, as I remember. — RAPRPR on The Recollections of Jane Freeman (Part 3)

Maybe we should just ban orange peels? — Jim Smithers on Let’s Take Back Our Trees!

I was initially very against the Target, but I find myself shopping for stuff there relatively frequently. I was most concerned about increased foot traffic, but have not seen any real difference. I mostly by things like Quaker Oatmeal and cleaning supplies there. To be honest, it is taking more business from Amazon than from any local mom and pop - at least for my family. And as for the 125 empty storefronts - how many total storefronts are there in tribeca. I think the vacancy rate relative to other neighborhoods or cities would be a more telling statistic than the number of vacancies. — resident on Best of New Tribeca: The Winners

It's not just 'rents are high'. That is a factor and I have seen many good retailers close shop due to high increases in renewals, but the other factor is that traditional brick and mortar stores are losing more and more business to the internet every year. Quick example. How many holiday presents did you buy on the internet this year? 20 years ago this didn't exist. I know a lot of retailers don't get the foot traffic they used to and this has nothing to do with rent. If you look at the new storefronts, more and more are food, yoga, and other experience based. The idea of just being a place to shop for simple goods is not as easy as it used to be. — Josh on Best of New Tribeca: The Winners