Report: International Center of Photography Confirmed for Essex Crossing Facility
No more posturing.
Looks like Essex Crossing finally chose its “cultural facility” for Site 1. The International Center of Photography, headquartered on the Bowery for barely two years, reportedly signed a deal for a pair of commercial condo units in the base of the fourteen-story residential building at 242 Broome Street.
According to the Commercial Observer, the ICP contract doesn’t actually specify the square-footage of the space. However, Essex Crossing previously pledged to set aside 15,000 square-feet for a yet-to-be-named cultural facility in the adjoining box-building (i.e. next to Hotel Chantelle).
And thus ends the search for a museum tenant. Indeed, ever since the Warhol Museum backed out of the project in 2015, the developers allegedly experienced difficulty finding a suitable replacement.
That the 43-year-old nonprofit institution purchased space here is not a shock. Rumors of its involvement in the billion-dollar project date back nearly two years, yet for facility at Site 6. Top brass had let that tidbit leak durinf a community meeting in January 2016. Around that time, word also surfaced that ICP was planning to sell its spot at 250 Bowery in favor of Essex Crossing.
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