Joie de Vivre Hotel at 50 Bowery Tops Out at 22 Stories
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They’ve reached the top.
That controversial new hotel at 50 Bowery – the first New York branch of the Joie de Vivre brand – was just capped at the end of last week. The final few floors were tacked onto the building in the month since our last progress report. Requisite American flag is planted on the highest point.
The superstructure now sits at roughly twenty-two stories, dwarfing pretty much everything in sight. It’s also visible from street level within an eight-block radius. The glass encasement is not too far behind, already affixed to much of the east-facing exposure.
This Joie de Vivre flagship hotel at 50 Bowery is almost seven years in the making, forged by the hand of owner Alex Chu and Peter Poon Architects. The brand resides in the stable of properties owned by Commune Hotels & Resorts. Expect a debut in 2016.
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It’s worth reiterating the contentious history surrounding this parcel of the Bowery. Both developers and preservationists had previously tussled over architectural remains found at 50 Bowery. The latter believed the historic colonial-era Bull’s Head Tavern was beneath the project site; contractors also uncovered a cache of artifacts – bottles, plates, and oyster shells – that apparently date back over 150 years. However, there was still debate as to whether the tavern that George Washington frequented existed on this spot. It’s a moot point, either way, but there are allegedly plans to incorporate some of the artifacts into some sort of display upon completion (oh, goody).
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The future hotel at 50 Bowery
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