#East Village residents rattled by constant construction

An East Village corner has turned into a never-ending construction site, with noise that is rattling residents and equipment blocking traffic and already-struggling businesses.

The work stems from water main breaks at the corner of East 7th Street and First Avenue that happened more than six months ago. Temporary repairs were made at the time. The city Department of Environmental Protection started work on a permanent fix last month.

The clanging of loose metal roadway plates that cover repair-related holes are driving residents crazy, and there are reports about construction equipment left all over the block, crews that seem to take their time, and waste oozing from a portable toilet.

“It is a big pain in the ass, I am pissed off,” said Esam Alreyashi, owner of the E7 Deli and Cafe, whose basement flooded after the December water main break. “There’s noise every day, and you can’t find parking for four blocks.”

The co-manager of Saifee Hardware & Garden on the corner of East 7th Street said the construction prevented the store from obtaining city permits to build an outdoor plant display to help boost business.

“We have been suffering because of the pandemic, the sales are not there,” Frank Buebla said. “When they are working and they close the road, it’s worse.”

A spokesman for Councilwoman Carlina Rivera said the office was trying to push DEP to do a better job cleaning the site and securing the plates.

DEP said it would seek to expand the work hours beyond 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. to finish the job faster.

“The ongoing upgrades to the critical infrastructure that serves the East Village must be carried out in a way that respects the residents and businesses in the area and we have directed our contractors to take several steps to ensure that this happens,” said DEP spokesman Edward Timbers. “Inspectors will be following up with regular visits.”