Scaffolding Arrives at Mars Bar; Demolition Imminent

The scaffolding is up, and the wrecking ball is ever-closer to arriving at the corner of Second Avenue and East First Street.  Plywood and ironwork arrived yesterday, virtually sealing the entire property from the rest of the neighborhood. What’s more, the Mars Bar signage is no longer visible. No sign just yet of the debris chute.  Anyway, hope you snapped those photos while you could, because it ain’t coming back.

We knew this day would come, but it’s hard to bear nonetheless.  Soon 9 and 11-17 Second Avenue will both be razed in favor of a slick 12-story apartment building.  Of the roughly sixty total units, twelve are reportedly slated for affordable housing; nine of said units are earmarked for returning families and three are up for grabs (lottery).

What this means for the rest of us?  Construction headaches for at least the next two years and the resultant gentrification.

Bonus Mars Bar shot from October 2006: