Second Avenue explosion victim sells vacant lot for $6M

When the Second Avenue gas explosion tore through three East Village buildings in March 2015, George Pasternak lost his property at 123 Second Avenue, which housed the famed Pommes Frites and a deli, by no fault of his own. And when the city demolished what remained, he was charged $350,000. But this past March, he listed the vacant lot for $9.7 million, and now 6sqft has uncovered property records that show he’s made the sale for $6 million, significantly less than the asking price.

View of the vacant lot from the Compass listing

The explosion occurred after Pasternak’s neighbor Maria Hrynenko (who owned the other two destroyed buildings) rigged the gas lines. Two people were killed in the blast, and Hrynenko and four contractors were ultimately charged with manslaughter and negligent homicide. When the listing went up in March, the Post reported that the site could accommodate 10,000 buildable square feet for condos and retail.

The actual listing said:

Vacant lot (25’ x 100’) for rental or condo development with commercial overlay offered for sale. 1031 exchange opportunity, in prime East Village location (2nd Ave and 7th Street), and currently zoned C1-5/R7A. FAR ranges from 3.45-4.6 subject to the DOB approval of proposed/planned build out, to be filed by potential purchaser post closing. Building sketch for illustration purposes only.

The new owner purchased the site under the LLC “123 Second Ave, Corp.,” but based on the deed he is Ezra Jason Wibowo.

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