New Condo-Hotel on the Bowery Ascends Halfway to 8 Stories
Now that the centuries-old Federal-style houses are a footnote in the pages of local history, the next chapter is foisted upon us.
It’s been a few months since our last progress report on the status of the historically significant 138-142 Bowery development site. In that time, activity has been swift. The forthcoming condo-hotel has already ascended four stories, half its projected height.
As previously reported, Emmut Properties shelled out $45.25 million for the long-vacant stretch of former lighting stores comprising 134-142 Bowery in October 2014.
The 44,655 square-foot newcomer will be divvied up between commercial hotel (30,825 square-feet) and residential use (13,830 square-feet). That equates to 46 “Class B” hotel rooms and 27 upper crust apartments. Commercial retail (with mezzanine) and rooftop “recreation area” are also included in the plans. Timeline for completion is December 2017, if the project site signage is to be believed.
The Bowery project site with icicles, March 2017
Of the new history-erasing development, owner-developer Emmut Properties notes that “this building site has a great deal of history, and we want to do everything possible to preserve the look and feel of the Bowery.”
Preserving the look and feel doesn’t mean demolishing such character contributions. Invaluable area history was destroyed here. Indeed, number 140 dated back to the 1790s and was originally owned by men associated with the butchering trade. It was later a shoe store and millinery (“Callahan the Hatter”), among other functions. As a testament to its perseverence, the architecture survived for more than two centuries; until 2011, when the prior owner lopped off the trademark dormers to nullify any possibility of landmarking. That paved the way for the eventual sale to Emmut Properties.
The new 138 Bowery, Photo: Emmut Properties
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