CitizenM and the Bowery Bottleneck
On the Bowery, between East Houston and Delancey Street, is a traffic problem that refuses to go away. It’s the perfect cocktail of construction and roadwork to create a 24/7 disaster situation.
Much of the blame can be pinned on the CitizenM hotel development at the northeast corner of Delancey. This decade-running project first seized a northbound driving lane last year. At the time, management promised a short stay of twenty weeks … yet it’s still ongoing, even after the crane was deposed and removed from the scene months ago. This stubborn staging area in the hotel “plaza” remains, snarling traffic in the process.
In its weekly email blast to neighbors, CitizenM continues to push back the date at which the 3,400 square-foot “plaza” area will be returned to the community (and frankly, motorists). Con Edison is apparently upgrading its infrastructure here, with additional street work happening simultaneously. And based on the latest, plaza utilities work will continue for a “further few weeks.” In other words, open ended.
The plaza, directly outside the hotel property, has been active this week with sewer connection completion, water excavation and data installation. Con Ed will return to site on the night of Tuesday, November 21 to energize the building. Work will start around 11pm and be complete by 7am the following day. The work involves cable pulling and internal connections in the building, so there will be no breaking and excavation. Plaza utilities work will continue for a further few weeks, during normal working hours.
Couple this with water main work on the west side of the Bowery, East Houston Reconstruction, and staging for the Ace Hotel, this disastrous four-block stretch is the textbook definition of a bottleneck. The Bowery is reduced to a two-lane thoroughfare here, causing jams all the way up to Houston.
Recent Stories
Gigs to See on the Downtown Music Circuit the Month of August
The downtown music scene is approaching pre-pandemic levels, thanks in large part to increased bookings at many bars, restaurants and nightclubs. August looks more promising than any schedule in the past 16 months. Here are some highlights of upcoming shows this month, along with photographs from a few of the more active venues in July. […]
The Double-Decker Dining Shed on East 4th Street that Almost Happened
The dining shed as we know it is moving on up. Literally. Outside the Izakaya NYC on East 4th Street, workers were spotted assembling a double-decker dining shed on Friday morning. Complete with stairs, second floor, and astroturf. With the mezzanine at eye level with the first-floor apartments. By the evening, word was out and […]
Nolita Sommelier Charged with Setting Fire to Downtown Dining Structures
Photo: Forsythia Fire Department brass last week announced charges against a celebrated sommelier for setting fire to downtown dining structures. Caleb Ganzer, sommelier and partner at wine bar La Compagnie des Vins Surnaturels on Centre Street, was arrested and charged with two counts of felony for three instances of arson, including two at outdoor dining […]
Exit through the Ludlow Street Food Court
Exit through the food court. Indeed, the vacant Ludlow Street lot made famous by Banksy over a decade ago is now a mini food court. Under the radar, too. The first day of operations at 159 Ludlow was apparently Friday, including two food trucks, produce vendors, and picnic table seating. One of the vendors is […]
Stringer Punts on East Side Coastal Resilience Contract
For advocates of East River Park, a brief reprieve. City Comptroller, and former mayoral candidate Scott Stringer did not sign the $1.2 billion construction contract with IPC Resiliency Partners that would kickstart city funding for the East Side Coastal Resilience project. It apparently boils down to missing info and the review period having elapsed. “As […]
