Nine-Story Condo Building on East 1st Street Rising Fast After Years of Dormancy

The pre-war tenement at 118 East 1st Street was razed almost six years ago already. It took this long, but the residential replacement is finally making some serious progress.

The project parcel largely remained dormant until late last year, when the steel superstructure began its ascent. It now stands at roughly eight stories, almost at the top.

As reported, new development will rise nine stories, and sport seven condos divided over 12,500 square-feet of space. There is also a small retail space on the ground floor.

Freyer Architects is behind the design.

Long before demolition, 118 East First Street was once home to Gary Ray’s performance space, Darinka, in the storefront beneath the stairs. It opened back in 1983, and joined Danceteria, The Peppermint Lounge, and 8 B.C. as the hot spots for the alternative performance set during the 1980s. Their house band, Brooklyn-based They Might Be Giants, often played alongside regular performance artist (and local Broome Street fireman), Steve Buscemi.

Feb. 2015