55 Delancey Gutted for Renovation

Over Labor Day weekend, 55 Delancey was boxed in a conspicuous plywood sidewalk shed.  This after being out of commission for a year plus.  Save for a brief art installation called A New Currency, the former home of Lichtenstein’s fell into disrepair and became a classic case of abandonment and a magnet for vandalism. Busted windows, smeared graffiti, and random ad bills all laid claim to the property.

Now the space is almost completely gutted.  Last Friday, we peeked behind the wide-open doors and saw a pile of destruction on the floor – splintered wood and twisted metal, a mangled mess.  According to DOB permits filed on August 27, building owners are putting in a “new storefront.”  However, the jury is still out on the future tenant.  At least for now.