Bank on Banksy: Ludlow Street Lot Made Famous by Artist Lists for $2.49M
A vacant lot on Ludlow Street made famous by Banksy in 2013 just listed on the market for $2.49 million.
Owner of record is Hesky Haim of Continental Worsteds, who originally purchased the property in 2007 for $1.5 million.
B6 Real Estate Partners is the exclusive broker for 159 Ludlow, pitching it as a “stellar opportunity to develop a boutique townhouse or mixed-use” building in “one of Manhattan’s most sought after neighborhoods surrounded by excellent retail, dining and social options.”
And the brokers are banking hard on the eight-year-old connection to Banksy, who transformed the space into an attraction that condemned the US role in the Iraq War. The piece included a mural and painted jalopy.
March 2019
In the latter years of its vacancy, though, the owners did welcome other high-profile installations, such as the “shovel graveyard” and Sebastian ErraZuriz’s projection of NASA footage onsite. (Artist Adrian Wilson also used the rear facade for a series of timely murals.) All likely an attempt to bring attention to the parcel for a potential sale.
The wild lot was tamed with fresh pavement in late-2018 in anticipation of a potential food truck operation by Schaller & Weber. Those plans ultimately fizzled, largely due to vehement community opposition.
Rendering by DXA Studio
Always in the background, though, was a proposal to construct a unique two-story development on the site. It was to be a retail and events space designed by DXA Studio. However, those plans never materialized, and work permits were disapproved by Department of Buildings simply.
In more recent months, the popular restaurant next door – Ohk-Dog – has brought renewed attention to the spot, and 159 Ludlow was itself re-paved and cleaned up. Now we know why…
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