Greenwich Village…East 9th Street Renamed in Honor of Playwright Terrence McNally. The corner of East 9th Street and University Place was recently renamed Terrence McNally Way in honor of the celebrated playwright and screenwriter, and four-time Tony Award winner who lived on 9th Street for many years.
In case you missed it, it was an opportunity to see Lin-Manuel Miranda and performances by Broadway celebrities Jonathan Groff, Francis Jui, Donna Murphy and Brian Stokes Mitchell. And from Ragtime the musical, stars Caissie Levy and Brandon Uranowitz, who will reprise their roles at Lincoln Center in September, gave us a preview performance of “Our Children”. Terrence McNally wrote the book for Ragtime the musical (based on the 1975 novel by E.L. Doctorow).
The unveiling of the new street sign was an exciting Friday morning Broadway event — free for lucky neighbors. New York City Council Members Carlina Rivera (District 2)and Erik Bottcher (District 3) were credited with getting the renaming accomplished in City Council.
NoLita and Elizabeth Street Garden. As reported in The Villager (June 27, 2025) “After more than a decade of community-led resistance, Elizabeth Street Garden has been spared from demolition under a new agreement that expands affordable housing development elsewhere in the Lower Manhattan District.” The Elizabeth Street Garden (211 Elizabeth Street) will remain a publicly accessible community place from 8 am to 8 pm daily. Mayor Adams and Council Member Christopher Marte (District 1) announced the agreement that preserved the Garden and expanded affordable housing at other nearby sites in Lower Manhattan.
Effort to Repurpose Homeless Shelter at 27 West 11th Street to Affordable Housing. In January we reported on a Community Board 2 meeting regarding the plan for a 90-bed shelter at 27 West 11th Street, formerly the Larchmont Hotel. The shelter is scheduled to arrive in the spring of 2026.
At the January meeting, some neighbors expressed that they understood the need to house the homeless as a step toward potential jobs and moving up. Others felt that in an otherwise residential block, the small six-story building was not suitable for a high- density plan that allowed for limited common space for tenants and would require food to be prepared off site and delivered daily to 11th Street.
Is the #27 W. 11th Location Better Suited for Affordable Housing Development? In recent days a flyer was circulated by a group promoting the location as better suited as an opportunity to expand affordable housing — a pressing need to help more New York working people to live closer to their jobs and in safe, developed neighborhoods.
We understand that Mayor Adams is aware of the mission to repurpose this project to affordable housing as he continues to look for ways to tackle the City’s affordable housing crisis.
8 Million New Yorkers Versus 3 Million Rats. That’s the title of a YouTube video describing a Rat Contraception Pilot Program that may be promising to reduce the number of rats in the City. Also encouraging is that in 2023 the Mayor named a Director of Rodent Mitigation, Kathleen Corradi, nicknamed “Rat Czar” who develops and implements strategies to reduce rats across the five boroughs. The City is actively addressing its rat program with new legislation and initiatives. We could even contact the Rat Czar to organize a Rat Walk to learn more about addressing conditions that support rats.
We Hope We’re Winning. Ever optimistic…we believe we’re making some progress in fighting rats on 11th Street. In our May newsletter/blog, we addressed the issue of the uptick in the rat infestation in our area and particularly our block. We were seeing bold rats scurrying around at all hours of the day. Planters and tree wells were dug up with rat burrows. Since then, we’ve since been in touch with the majority of neighbors or their property representatives. Most have boosted their pest control service. In some cases CO2 treatment to euthanize rats has been used. Summer planting has been delayed in tree wells with many rat burrows. We are working on various treatments bait, traps and lining planters or spaces with hardware wire as appropriate for specific areas.
A Community Effort. Thank you to neighbors who are assisting and cooperating in what needs to be a community effort by increasing pest control services at most buildings. Rat activity can spike in fall and early winter months, and it’s a time when rats seek shelter indoors. All the more reason take serious steps NOW.
Tree Wells. To supplement residential pest control, the Block Association has retained a Pest Control Service to clear the tree wells that are infested with rats.
Special Mention to the Owners/Managers of the Greek Revival Townhouses Near University Place. In a cooperative and all-out effort to eradicate rats, owners where construction occurred or is ongoing have retained the same pest control service and stepped up programs that involve frequent visits to monitor progress and adjust procedures and materials as needed.
Here’s how Managing Agents and residents can help:
Eliminate food, water and shelter sources and seal any entry points
Keep your sidewalks and property clean —hose sidewalks; pick up debris!
Keep outdoor areas and basements free of clutter
Keep trash in covered containers
Trim trees and shrubs back from outside walls
Strong, pungent smells such as ammonia, vinegar can deter rats
Retain a Pest Control Service — increase visits as needed
Progress on Construction Sites’ Impact. For neighbors facing 11th Street who are at home much of the time — or working at home — or home with an illness, it’s been a long couple of years of noise and inconvenience with construction work in every direction.
The restoration of three important Greek Revival Townhouses has been underway. On the plus side, it’s fortuitous that the restorations have been concurrent and not consecutive.
Con Ed replaced gas lines in the block and area first laid in the 1800’s;
The vault under the sidewalk along the side of 43 Fifth Avenue is being repaired after which the sidewalk surrounding #43 will be replaced.
In early 2021, Village Preservation (formerly GVSHP), learned that 64-66 University Place, previously sold, would be demolished and replaced. That demolition seemed to be the beginning of the rat problems. (Neighbors reminded us that they miss excellent specialty market, Agata and Valentina, previously at 64-66 University)
Thank you neighbors for your patience and forbearance. Here is some good news:
The townhouses are nearing completion on the outside so we should soon have our sidewalk and streets clear. Note the beautiful iron railings that have recently been installed at these townhouses.
Neighbors at 43 Fifth report that the vault project is moving along well. The hope is that apart of the project will be done in September. Sidewalk replacement will follow and may take about 6 weeks. In working with the Block Association, 43 Fifth has beefed up their pest management service. #41 is also a good neighbor regarding keeping their street and area clean and uncluttered.
Con Ed recently closed up some nuisance open holes in the street that gathered water and trash. Someday we hope to report that the pavement will be milled and repaved. Hope springs eternal.
Use the 311 Call Center…the Squeaky Wheel Gets the Oil. Since the most noted and loudest problems are most likely to receive attention, please use the 311 call center to call attention to the need for city services. Multiple calls are needed to initiate action to fix a problem.
As an example, two Con Ed pits in the block surrounded by wood barriers were left open for a time. Water and garbage collected in the pits. Our concerns were rats, and mosquitoes and flies breeding there. We encouraged neighbors to call to get the pits covered (finally covered just before July 4). We are also making calls regarding the Bishop’s Crook Light nearest University. The light has been be out for more than a year. We need many neighbors to help us bring such issues to the attention of the City. So please, be a good neighbor and check out NYC 311. It’s set up to assist us with concerns about our neighborhoods and the quality of life. Don’t hesitate to call. It helps get the job done.