78thand2nd

Fire On 80th and First Ave

This just in via the inbox: There's apparently a fire in a building near the corner of 80th and First Ave.  NYPD has 80th blocked off at Second Ave.  

If anyone has any info, please hit the comments.

WTF: Man Stabs Woman To Death On UES

Police say a man with blood on his clothing confessed to fatally stabbing a woman he knew in her Upper East Side apartment building, Tuesday morning.

According to ABClocal:

"Police responded to a call of a disorderly person inside the lobby of a tony apartment building at 1025 Fifth Avenue sometime after 7 a.m.Tuesday morning.

When they got there, they found a disheveled, intoxicated man with blood on his clothing.

NYPD took the man to a nearby hospital and helped him get cleaned up and say while there, the ma suddenly confessed to police that he killed a woman.

Detectives responded to her apartment on East 104th Street, off Fifth Avenue, and found the woman, in her 30s, stabbed multiple times.

She was pronounced dead at the scene. Charges against the man are pending."

New Dev, Businesses Set For 79th and Third Ave.

Real estate guru and UES blogger Andrew Fine recently checked-in on the building project set for the southeast corner of 79th and Third Avenue.  Businesses have been closing in the five existing buildings since Dec. 2007, and now it looks like plans are moving forward with new development. According to Fine:

"Demolition has officially commenced starting today. Here is what I was able to ascertain about the site. It's zoned for residential with a height limit of 210 feet (21 stories). Cetra/Ruddy has been hired as architect for the site (good choice). And, according to a representative for Skyline Developers, the building will not be a glass curtain number- phew! However, in this climate that is all that is certain. No decision has been made as to whether the new building will be a rental, condo, or some sort of hybrid. The owner has been "going back and forth" on that one. The earliest construction would begin would be later in 2009."

This corner has also been under the fine watch of 78thand2nd commenter "ruta Fox," who pointed out a new cafe and bar yesterday:

"Corrado cafe is going in at 79th and Third. Northwest side of the street, Vitamin Shoppe 
has vacated."

"Also, new bar that looks good went in called Stanton. Corner of 79th and Second, southeast corner."
Posted by: ruta Fox | January 05, 2009 at 06:55 PM

Fire On 82nd and First Ave.

Tipster Suzanne writes in with news from 82nd and First: "Sometime this morning there was a huge fire on 82nd and 1st near CVS.  It burnt old Christmas trees, the sidewalk trees, two cars and a mattress.  I dont know how the doorman didnt notice it before it got out of hand, or maybe he did.  Either way, its NUTS!  I dont think anyone was injured."

Anyone have further info or pics?  Please hit the comments!  

Happy New Year: UES Thieves Busted

Angel Gonzalez, 27, and Jose Perez, 27, started off the new year by getting arrested,according to the NY Post.The two douches where spotted by an alert witness who saw them climbing a fire escape, just after burglarizing a few UES apartments.  

According to the Post:

"Two Upper East Side thieves were caught red-handed with $70,000 in jewelry and electronic equipment, cops said today.

Angel Gonzalez, 27, and Jose Perez, 27, were both decked out in matching black outfits - in broad daylight - as they climbed a fire escape at 162 E. 90th St. on Tuesday, authorities said.

Perez and Gonzalez were immediately spotted by a witness, who quickly called 911, cops said.
The two allegedly broke into a second-floor apartment.

Perez stuffed laptops and a DVD player inside a brown Gucci bag, sources said. He also allegedly swiped a flat-screen TV, rings and gold bracelets.

Cops surrounded the building and captured Perez in the first-floor vestibule. Gonzalez was grabbed on the roof."