Much Of Upper East Side Block May Be Demolished, Plans Show

UPPER EAST SIDE, NY — Say goodbye to the east side of Second Avenue above East 60th Street, because much of it may soon be torn down: a developer has filed plans with the city to demolish seven low-rise buildings that have lined the block for more than a century.

One holdout tenant, however, could complicate those plans.

Documents filed on Thursday call for the demolition of 1140-1152 Second Ave., spanning from the northeast corner of 60th Street up toward the corner of 61st. (Three buildings on the north side of the block are spared.)

All seven of the four-story buildings were built in 1910, just north of the Queensboro Bridge off-ramp.

The listed owner on the plans is Sean J. Lavin, who appears to be affiliated with the firms Townhouse Property Group and Lavin Development, which is also constructing a luxury apartment building on East 82nd Street.

It is unclear what the future holds for the Second Avenue site, which is currently home to the famed Subway Inn bar as well as Ruby & Jack's Doggy Shack and The Pleasure Chest, an "adult entertainment" store.

A source familiar with the development told Patch that most of the block's residential tenants have been relocated in recent months. The Subway Inn, too, has agreed to move into the vacant retail space a few doors uptown next door to Next2U Market, according to the source — marking the second time that the dive bar has moved to a new storefront.

But one rent-stabilized tenant who lives in the building one door up from the Subway Inn has no intention of relocating, according to the source — likely complicating the developer's plans.

"As of about three weeks ago, he wasn’t going anywhere," the source told Patch. "Unless they make him some kind of offer that he absolutely can't refuse."

Lavin, the developer, could not be reached for comment about his plans for the site. Records show he has owned most of the buildings for several years — with the exception of the northernmost building at 1152 Second Ave., which he bought in June for $6 million, city records show.

Since last year, a sign on that building advertised that it was for sale. A woman who answered the phone Monday at the phone number listed on the sign said she could not comment on the building demolitions, since they were being handled by the new owner.

Have an Upper East Side news tip? Email reporter Nick Garber at nick.garber@patch.com.

Know someone who'd like Upper East Side news in their inbox? Invite them to subscribe to Patch.