Karl Fischer Plans 9-Story Building at Old Nevada Smiths Site

nevadaDaniel Maurer Workers did demo work at 74-84 Third
Avenue earlier this week.

Karl Fischer is coming to Third Avenue.

The controversial architect, whose work is becoming an increasingly familiar sight in the neighborhood, is seeking to build a nine-story building at the corner of Third Avenue and 12th Street, documents filed with the Department of Buildings reveal.

A disapproved filing for the new building from January shows that the architect hopes to build an 82,000 square-foot building at 74-84 Third Avenue, which will be Mr. Fischer’s largest by far in the East Village. The building will have a 327-square-foot community facility, as well as 42 parking spaces that will be both indoors and outdoors.

A Department of Buildings spokeswoman said the application was disapproved because it lacked documents regarding the building’s floor-to-area ratio, which is necessary to determine if it meets zoning regulations.

The more recent filing from February is listed as “in process” and refers to the disapproved plan, so it is unclear to what degree the project will proceed as described. The Local tried numerous times to reach a representative of Joy Construction Corp., which is listed as the owner of the building, but to no avail. Mr. Fischer did not respond to an email.

Previous works by Mr. Fischer have been met with criticism. He is building an eight-story, 33-unit building at 316 East Third Street, as well as a six-story building at 427 East 12th Street. His apartment building just south of Houston Street on the Bowery wasn’t met with favorable reviews, either.

Nevada Smiths had to move out of its previous location at the site of the new building in late November. Owner Patrick McCarthy left a message on the bar’s site on its last day that foreshadowed what appears likely for the site: “Our old home’s almost done now with developers poised to demolish most of the block and replace our place, and yours, with a new luxury apartment block,” he wrote.

The new home of Nevada Smiths (just down the street at 100 First Avenue) was unveiled earlier this week.