Work Resumes at Orchard Street Hell Building

One of the longest running eyesores of recent memory on the Lower East Side is most certainly the Orchard Street Hell Building. As coined by Curbed to denote the hotel project at 180 Orchard, the building has certainly carried its fair share of drama. The saga is over eight years in the making, from demolition to construction to silence, and ultimately sale. Indeed, after years of posturing and failed plans, the troubled structure was finally purchased last spring to the tune of $46 million. It will become a branch of Hotel Indigo. There are now signs of life anew.

The other day a sidewalk dumpster landed outside 180 Orchard Street, signaling in no uncertain terms that work is underway on the future hotel project. When we ambled past yesterday, a small crew of laborers was jackhammering inside the building and hauling away the concrete refuse. Insides appear much more polished than we remember…

Backed by 185-Bowery-killing Brack Capital, this Hotel Indigo will offer 290 keys, and reportedly boast a restaurant, bar, fitness center and outdoor pool. Expected launch is sometime in 2013. We won’t hold our breath.