For five years the massive stalled block-through development on Orchard Street just south of Houston Street has been the Lower East Side's biggest eyesore, but that all changed last summer when the rotting concrete hulk added ... a colorful new mural! We figured that would be the only progress on the Orchard Street Hell Building for the next five years, but maybe that's not the case. The Lo-Down chatted with LES broker/kingpin Sion Misrahi, who's in charge of leasing the ill-fated hotel tower's retail space, and he says developer Morris Platt now wants the building to be 100-percent residential. And he would've gotten away with it, too, if it wasn't for that meddling DOB!
The Lo-Down writes:
According to Misrahi, a DOB commissioner signed off on the proposal recently — but then “someone else at the Buildings Department” said it was a no-go. Misrahi said Platt isn’t about to proceed with “a $60 million project” until the situation is sorted out. “What if he finishes the building and then the DOB comes in and says you’ve got to tear off the top two floors,” Misrahi asked.Oh, what sweet justice that would bring to long-suffering Lower East Siders tired of the Orchard Street construction war zone. Misrahi also claims there's interest in the retail space from clothing stores and a bakery, so maybe if Platt can't get the green light from the DOB he'll carry through on those strip mall threats.
· Misrahi: New Plan For 180 Orchard Tangled in DOB Red Tape [The Lo-Down]
· Orchard Street Hell Building coverage [Curbed]
Loading comments...