200 Years of NYC History Demolished on the Bowery for an 8-Story Condo-Hotel
This image has been archived or removed.
Consecutive weeks of brick-by-brick demolition resulted in the loss of three of the oldest buildings on the Bowery. There is now a huge gap of open air on the block, soon to be plugged with an unneeded condo-hotel development.
The takedown of 138-142 Bowery was implemented at all costs, and ultimately resulted in a stop-work order last month for hazardous conditions at the project site (i.e. unstable scaffolding supports). Another cessation from the Department of Buildings followed a few weeks later (February 22) for disobeying the first order. Nevertheless, the area hasn’t slowed much of late, and as of now, the buildings are gone.
The elimination of 138-142 Bowery from the neighborhood effectively destroys invaluable area history. Indeed, number 140 dated back to the 1790s and was originally owned by men associated with the butchering trade. It was later a shoe store and millinery (“Callahan the Hatter”), among other functions. As a testament to its perseverence, the architecture persevered for more than two centuries; until 2011, when the owner lopped off the trademark dormers to nullify any possibility of landmarking.
This image has been archived or removed.
Callahan the Hatter at 140 Bowery (1932), Photo: MOCNY
These three structures were sold to Emmut Properties as part of the five-property, $47 million portfolio back in December (total assemblage is 134-142 Bowery). Plans for the eight-story development are still in play, though remain “disapproved” by the Department of Buildings. And to that end, the developers wish to “preserve the look and feel of the Bowery.” Seriously.
As previously reported, the 44,000 square-foot replacement will be divvied up between commercial hotel (30,825 square-feet) and residential use (13,859). That equates to 46 hotel rooms and 21 upper crust apartments. A retail tenant and rooftop “recreation area” are also included in the pending plans. Timeline for completion is apparently next year, though that seems unlikely.
This image has been archived or removed.
Recent Stories
Help Support Gem Spa on St. Mark’s Place Tomorrow
A perfect storm of misfortune has plagued the Gem Spa these last few months, causing a precipitous loss in business. From landlord issues to the temporary ban on cigarette sales and the loss of Zoltar, it’s hitting the bottom line. Fear of forever closure is palpable at 131 Second Avenue. The plight of the East […]
With Champ Depot Out, Bowery Corner Gains Another Gallery
For more than a decade, the Champ Depot restaurant supply company occupied 176 Bowery. Now, its former home is completely empty and fetching for a new deep-pocketed tenant. There is a torrent of listings on Craigslist fishing for suitors (“last corner retail in Nolita”), yet one was already found to occupy the second floor. It’s […]
‘Partybus Bake Shop’ Parks itself on Essex Street
A different kind of party bus is rolling into the Lower East Side this fall. One ostensibly without the drunken mess. It’s Partybus Bake Shop, an artisanal bakery opening in the former Chinese seafood wholesaler at 31 Essex Street. Upon debut next month, expect a “rotating seasonal menu [of] classics including breads, pies, and cookies […]
Scaffolding Finally Deposed from the DL
It’s trading one eyesore for another. The longstanding scaffolding attached to the facade of The DL on Delancey Street is finally gone. Workers deposed the iron appendages earlier this week. You’ll recall that in July 2016, a chunk of exterior dislodged from 95 Delancey and tumbled to the sidewalk below. The structural collapse resulted in […]
COLORS Restaurant Announces Return to Stanton Street 2 Years After it Closed Down
Two years after COLORS restaurant shuttered, news comes down the pike of its revival. COLORS moved from NoHo to 176 Stanton Street in the winter of 2017, but didn’t quite make a dent. It closed within months of opening. Now, a report that it’ll return sometime next month. The announcement arrived yesterday, on the eighteenth […]
