First Look at the 12-Story Tower that Chased MOSCOT from its Old HQ on Delancey
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For four years, a twelve-story tower has been promised for the northeast corner of Orchard and Delancey Streets. The project is no closer to reality, but there are rudimentary renderings available that showcase the newcomer.
Helm Equities (aka David Escava) purchased 118 Orchard Street (aka 86 Delancey) in 2012 for $4.8 million. This transaction was the proverbial nail in the coffin that forced MOSCOT across to its new home south of the border. (It had been there since 1936.) The developer subsequently filed preliminary paperwork with the Department of Buildings in September 2014 to construct a twelve-story mixed-use tower on this larger parcel. It’s languished ever since.
At a height of 120 feet, the high rise is composed of 29,437 square-feet of floor area with twenty-four units. Floors three through eight will carry three apartments each, with duplexes rounding out floors nine through twelve. The ground-level retail space is 5,769 square-feet, and zoned for “use group 6,” which includes a restaurant.
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Photo: SWA Architecture
The architect of record is SWA Architecture.
As of now, though, the project is still stalled. Plans for the development remain in an agency purgatory with “disapproved” status.
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Photo: SWA Architecture
In the ensuing years, however, you would have no idea that anything was happening here. The WALLPLAY creative agency has been redecorating the corner for since August 2013 with various art shows, and music-related happenings (e.g. album release for The 1979). Now the corner box is sheathed in blue paint.
Eventually all the businesses in this one-story box will fade, though. To that end, as of last week, shoppers of alligator shoes have one less place to look. After more than a decade at 118 Orchard Street, Michele Olivieri is closing this shop. And with it, another old time vendor vacates the block.
However, the shoe store consolidated operations with the eight-year-old outpost around the corner at 88 Delancey. Meaning, the business is now down to one location. At one point, Michele Olivieri maintained a presence on either side of Delancey Street. The arrival of Shop in August 2008 resulted in the move to 86 Delancey.
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