If they do what they did on the north side of the street this new curbing on East Houston Street will widen the sidewalk by about 18 inches, to where the cut line in the street paving is. Though it looks like I am in for some noise during this process, at least they seem to be putting the finishing touches on the work that has been happening here forever. Or at least so I hope.
Update Tuesday:
My hope for a wider sidewalk at Norfolk Street was crushed. A new stone curb replaces the ugly but utilitarian metal, but the width remains the same.
Scaffolding going up on a corner storefront long unoccupied. Known as the crazy landlord building in the neighborhood, because of the for rent signs posted by “crazy landlord.” Who knows what it means.
No, not Olympic sized pools for the pedestrian island. They are filling up with giant spaghetti. I’m thinking data cables of some sort. Lots of data. Maybe my Netflix stream will improve.
The digging never ends on East Houston Street.
I just noticed this. The fire escape exits on the west side of this building at the corner of East Houston Street and Avenue B are shuttered. This is a sure sign that the apartments there have been emptied.
The building exterior is fairly famous for the giant NORM tag and Chico’s murals.
The east side, facing Avenue B is not blocked. I’m not sure if those apartments are still occupied. The Liquor store at the base has been closed since 2009 when “Mom,” the proprietor, died.
This building must be the major cell tower for the neighborhood.
The building has some finely wrought terracotta decorations.
These guys are not going to stop until every square inch of East Houston Street has been dug, paved and re-dug again several times. This go round involves Con-Ed. I’m not sure if these are gas lines or electrical conduits.
There’s not much to see at ground level anymore. Hopefully someone has captured the demolition from above, as a record of the building techniques of the 1820′s.
The replacement of the water mains and drains along East Houston Street continues. Outside my apartment window looks like a patchwork quilt of tar. They keep digging in the same spots and either filling it with sand and tarring over it, or placing those damn noisy steel plates. From what I have seen they are also replacing the gas and electrical infrastructure as well. It is expected to continue for another five years.
