Peter Poon’s 22-Story Hotel at 50-52 Bowery is Happening; Here’s the Proof
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Looking at the vacant dirt lot that is now 50-52 Bowery, it’s quite apparent that all hope is lost for an archaeological dig into the property’s past. To recap – local preservationists discovered basement remnants of what was believed to be the onetime home of the historic 18th century Bull’s Head Tavern. Unfortunately, the Landmarks Preservation Commission had no jurisdiction to force property owner Alex Chu to comply with a dig. And now, a green light from the Department of Buildings for his controversial 22-story hotel project – “Hotel Bowery.”
Yes, it took something like four years, but paperwork for the new sun-eclipsing hotel was finally approved by the DOB at the end of March. The two tax lots (#00018 and #00023) were combined to make way for the Peter Poon-designed tower, which will rise 227 feet into the Chinatown sky. Contrary to earlier permits which claimed 160 rooms, though, the latest info reveals that the lodge will boast 229 keys.
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But there is also a condo component to the plan. The permit indicates that 5,183 square-feet of the total is earmarked for residential use; 135,783 square-feet is for commercial use; and the remainder for a community facility of some sort. Zoning documents give us an idea of what this phallus will look like:
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Zoning diagram for 50 Bowery, Photo: DOB
The LMCCC indicates that a completion date is set for “early 2016.” Construction on the foundation should begin imminently.