[File photo]
The longtime home-studio of the late Walter De Maria hit the market this past Feb. 19. By early April, the listing for the $25-million property was no longer available.
Now we hear from a tipster that The Brant Foundation is in contract to buy the building for use as an exhibition space.
Here's more about the Greenwich, Conn.-based Foundation via its website:
The Brant Foundation Art Study Center, designed by Richard Gluckman, has a mission to promote education and appreciation of contemporary art and design, by making works available to institutions and individuals for scholarly study and examination. The Brant Foundation Art Study Center presents long-term exhibitions curated primarily from the collection. The collection is remarkable in that scores of artists are represented in depth, including works from the earliest period of their practice through their most recent works. Currently, The Brant Foundation, Inc., established in 1996, lends works to more than a dozen exhibitions per year.
Paper magnate-publisher-art collector-wealthy person Peter Brant is the founder and president.
There's nothing yet in public records to indicate that the sale occurred. While still in rumor stage, perhaps this is comfort to people who feared the property would be Shaouled into condos or micro apartments for students.
The building was a Con Ed substation built in 1920. De Maria, who died last summer at age 77, bought it in 1980 to use as a home and studio.
Previously on EV Grieve:
About that "giant-robot laboratory" on East Sixth Street
RIP Walter De Maria
What is your East Village dream home?
Walter De Maria's 'giant-robot laboratory' going for $25 million; inside is amazing as you'd expect
Walter De Maria's home/studio on East 6th Street is now on the market for $25 million
19 comments:
This is terrible news for the neighborhood. Tourists from all around the world. Property values and rents will rise. More and more organized control. Thanks wealthy person Peter Brant. Gentrification all the way. You know nothing about our neighborhood. Back off.
This is fantastic news for the neighborhood and this building which would normally be demolished for cookie cutter "luxury condos" or some billion buys it as a pied a terre, screws up the facade with sheets of mirrored glass will now be a museum celebrating contemporary art. The Brant Foundation could not be a better match for this area and architect Peter Gluckman will honor this buildings architecture and preserve its presence on this block. This is a victory for the arts on the LES and one defeat to the slash and burn baby real-estate moguls raping our neighborhood.
Wait a minute, you are complaining about an art exhibition space and study center?! The arts are the foundation of this neighborhood. I'm not sure if YOU " understand" the east village.
While your saving this one building you are opening up the whole block for development. a museum in the middle of the block makes this block incredibly attractive to developers who the day after these plans are finalized will be looking to snatch up buildings drive out residents so that they can place an add for their newly developed lux residences that promotes their proximity to this museum.
"...makes this block incredibly attractive to developers."
All of our blocks are already incredibly attractive to developers. I say a museum on the block is a rare win when compared to the possibilities.
They could build my suggested 5-story SuperSlide into their exhibition concept.....
....bringing new meaning to the term 'slide show".
Wheeeeee......oh look, that's nice.....wheeeee......ooh, I like that one.......wheeeeee.....wow, nice perspective.....wheeeee.....
This is a good buyer for the building! Look no matter what the neighborhood is screwed at this point, just try to hold on to what you have as long as you can.
When they converted the (abandoned) sausage factory on East 6th street into The Ukrainian Museum, I had rats the size of cats in my vestibule for 6 months. But hey, it was for a good cause.
this has to fall into the category of "best possible outcome" no? The building isnt neccessarily worthy of landmark status so this is a nice way to ensure it's survival. pretty surprising and cool.
I'm confused, what would be a better use of this building? I'm not saying that I disagree, but it's not going to sit empty.
@DrBOP
The slide has been done already at the New Museum on the Bowery as part of a temp exhibition. The city and this neighborhood is changing and this is a major win especially considering the alternatives. Rents will continue to rise, businesses and tenants will continually forced out unless laws are changed. Vote, get informed and speak up to your local government reps, complaining about the preservation of a great looking building and its conversion into an art institution is a defeatist attitude.
Intriguing!
And I love your use of "Schaoul" as a verb.
You beggars make me laugh. I truly feel sorry for you poor people and you should be grateful someone, such as my self, is coming into this place and civilizing you animals.
Walter,
I didn't know that old building on 6th had been a sausage factory. When was it abandoned?
Bill the libertarian anarchist
I think in the early 70s. When I moved into my building in 1977, it had already been abandoned. The rats owned it. But I distinctly remember the new owners moving sausage making machinery out of it.
If I can't have it, I am fine with this outcome.
Also: did someone say sausage factory?!
How could anyone possibly think that turning it into a museum is a bad idea? Seriously?
We always called that place on 6th a hot dog factory and I remember it being open in the late 70's because little rivulets of blood would flow to the gutters from under the doors. Creepy.
De Maria Landmarked the building...cuz thats the type of uncivilized begger artist move this place attracted.
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