Showing posts with label tech hub. Show all posts
Showing posts with label tech hub. Show all posts

Thursday, December 15, 2022

The Zero Irving food hall is now OPEN

Photo courtesy of @GramercyLocal 

Everyone's favorite new food hall debuted yesterday on the ground floor of Zero Irving, the recently erected 21-floor building at 124 E. 14th St. between Third Avenue and Fourth Avenue. 

Most of the 13 vendors were up and running (a few weren't ready just yet, such as the bottle shop Top Hops Beer). 

You can go to the UrbanSpace website for a list of the vendors, six of whom are reportedly first-time entrepreneurs or start-up companies... not to mention EV vets Wafles & Dinges and Bobwhite Counter. (Bobwhite doesn't appear on the website, though their name is on the entrance and they have arguably the most high-profile space inside.)

The Zero Irving food hall is open Monday-Friday from 6:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., with Saturday hours of 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. The space has WiFi and outdoor seating in the rear of the complex. (So you're not sitting on 14th Street.)

This link has more background on Zero Irving.

Monday, December 12, 2022

A look at the new food hall coming to Zero Irving

Photos by Stacie Joy

As we noted on Nov. 30, coming soon signage is up for the food hall inside Zero Irving (formerly the Union Square Tech Training Center, 14 @ Irving and tech hub) at 124 E. 14th St. 

Per previous reports, there are 13 vendors, including some familiar EV names — Wafles & Dinges and Bobwhite Counter — coming to this 10,000-square-foot space that includes an outdoor patio. 

At least 25% of the food hall — via Urbanspace — is reserved for use by first-time entrepreneurs or start-up companies operating for less than four years. 

Here's a look inside the space between Third Avenue and Fourth Avenue at Irving Place ...
The Urbandspace site lists an "expected opening" of December 2022. 

This link has more background on Zero Irving.

Wednesday, November 30, 2022

Wafles & Dinges and Bobwhite Counter among the vendors at the incoming Zero Irving food hall

Coming soon signage is up now for the food hall coming to Zero Irving (formerly the Union Square Tech Training Center, 14 @ Irving and tech hub) at 124 E. 14th St. (Thanks to Pinch for the photo!)

There are 13 vendors listed, including some familiar EV names — Wafles & Dinges and Bobwhite Counter.

As previously noted, at least 25% of the food hall — via Urbanspace — is reserved for use by first-time entrepreneurs or start-up companies operating for less than four years.

The vendors occupy 10,000 square feet on the ground level with an outdoor patio. The Urbanspace website lists a December 2022 opening.

The 21-floor Zero Irvingdeveloped jointly by the city's Economic Development Corp. and RAL Development Services, will feature 14 floors of market-rate office space as well as a technology training center, co-working and event spaces on the seven floors beneath.

Long contested by local preservationists and community groups, the new building sits on the former site of a P.C. Richard & Son on city-owned property here at Irving Place.

Foundation work started here in August 2019. 

Monday, September 12, 2022

A full reveal at Zero Irving on 14th Street

As you may have noticed, Zero Irving (formerly the Union Square Tech Training Center, 14 @ Irving and tech hub) on 14th Street is now completely free of scaffolding, a sidewalk bridge, etc. ... providing the final view of the completed 21-story building...
The building, developed jointly by the city's Economic Development Corp. and RAL Development Services, will feature 14 floors of market-rate office space as well as a technology training center, co-working and event spaces on the seven floors beneath.

Zero Irving has reportedly signed several full-floor deals recently, including data analytics software company Sigma Computing Inc. on the ninth floor and B2B payments platform Melio on the 15th and 16th floors. And most recently: Laurel Road, a digital banking platform and brand of KeyBank, leased space for offices on the 11th floor. 

Urbanspace will operate a food hall on the ground level...
A refresher on what to expect with that via the Urbanspace website:
Thirteen vendors will occupy the 10,000-square-foot venue with an outdoor patio. Urbanspace is curating a dynamic lineup of chefs, food entrepreneurs, and exciting new restaurant concepts. The result will be more than a market: it will be a fertile ground for the food community, a place where ideas are shared and creativity and individuality shine. At least 25% of the Food Hall will be reserved for use by first-time entrepreneurs or start-up companies operating for less than four years.
No word on an opening date.

Long contested by local preservationists and community groups, the new building sits on the former site of a P.C. Richard & Son on city-owned property.

Foundation work started here in August 2019.

Monday, July 25, 2022

The fullest full reveal to date at Zero Irving on 14th Street

Workers recently removed the sidewalk bridge from outside the 21-story Zero Irving (formerly the Union Square Tech Training Center, 14 @ Irving and tech hub) on 14th Street...
... providing a near-complete look at the building, developed jointly by the city's Economic Development Corp. and RAL Development Services ... which will feature 14 floors of market-rate office space as well as a technology training center, co-working and event spaces on the seven floors beneath. Urbanspace will operate a food hall on the ground level.

Per the Zero Irving website:
Zero Irving is more than a trophy-class office building, it’s an ecosystem ideally engineered to foster growth, flexibility, productivity, and the evolution of new ideas in Manhattan’s ultimate live/work neighborhood.

Zero Irving has reportedly signed several full-floor deals recently, including data analytics software company Sigma Computing Inc. on the ninth floor and B2B payments platform Melio on the 15th and 16th floors. And most recently: Laurel Road, a digital banking platform and brand of KeyBank, leased space for offices on the 11th floor. 

Long contested by local preservationists and community groups, the new building sits on the former site of a P.C. Richard & Son on city-owned property.

Foundation work started here in August 2019.

Tuesday, December 28, 2021

ICYMI: Zero Irving signs up first tenant

An announcement from earlier this month... Melio, a "B2B payments platform for small businesses," is the first tenant for Zero Irving (formerly the Union Square Tech Training Center, 14 @ Irving and tech hub) on 14th Street. 

According to various published reports and a news release, Melio leased 25,000 square feet of office space across the 15th and 16th floors for use as its global HQ. The company, said to be valued at $4 billion, is relocating here from a WeWorks property on West 18th Street.

The building, developed jointly by the city's Economic Development Corp. and RAL Development Services, will feature 14 floors of market-rate office space as well as "a technology training center and incubator, co-working spaces and state-of-the-art event space ... on the seven floors beneath," per the Zero Irving websiteUrbanspace will operate a food hall on the ground level.

Long contested by local preservationists and community groups, the new building sits on the former site of a P.C. Richard & Son on city-owned property.

Wednesday, August 11, 2021

Craft beer specialists Top Hops on tap for Zero Irving food hall

Urbanspace signed a lease last August to operate a food hall on the ground level of Zero Irving (formerly the Union Square Tech Training Center, 14 @ Irving and tech hub) on 14th Street. 

And now we know at least one of the incoming vendors. The owners of Top Hops Beer Shop were expected to be on this month's CB3-SLA docket (Aug. 16) to operate a bar-restaurant inside the 21-story building at 124 E. 14th St. at Irving Place. 

According to the questionnaire on file at the CB3 website, this location will feature 18 tables to accommodate 97 guests and an 18-seat bar. Top Hops is also applying for a backyard garden space here. The food items on the sample menu include various sandwiches, burgers and dinner platters (bratwurst!).

Top Hops currently operates outposts in Essex Market and Urbanspace at 570 Lex. Their flagship shop/bar at 94 Orchard St. closed in March after nine years on the block below Delancey.

Here's more about the Zero Irving food hall via the official news release last summer:
Urbanspace will be a unique amenity for Zero Irving's tenants, users of the building’s event space, and the surrounding neighborhood. Urbanspace plans an innovative mixed online/offline platform that stays true to its exceptional, immersive food hall experience while providing enhanced online ordering with delivery and pickup options for building tenants and the local community. 

Urbanspace also plans a catering option offered to both building tenants and users of Zero Irving's event and conference center...
The building, developed jointly by the city’s Economic Development Corp. and RAL Development Services, will feature 14 floors of market-rate office space as well as "a technology training center and incubator, co-working spaces and state-of-the-art event space ... on the seven floors beneath," per the Zero Irving website

Long contested by local preservationists and community groups, the new building sits on the former site of a P.C. Richard & Son on city-owned property.

Zero Irving is expected to be completed by the end of the year.

Monday, April 26, 2021

Glass acts: Zero Irving gets its rooftop Sky Lounge

Here's our first look at 124 E. 14th St., aka Zero Irving (and formerly the Union Square Tech Training Center and 14 @ Irving ... and tech hub) since the start of the year.

EVG regular Pinch pointed out that the 21-story building is all glassed up these days. And it looks like that tenant-only rooftop Sky Lounge is coming together. 

Here's what the latest Zero Irving e-newsletter has to say: "Bulkhead permanent roofing installation for the roofing membrane work is ongoing. Layout for drilling for connections and installation of perforated steel panels is ongoing."

Roofing membrane!
A February article in Fortune included Zero Irving in a piece on "what the COVID-safe skyscraper will look like." Per the article:
The building is equipped with state-of-the-art touchless technology that will allow tenants to enter the building using an app on their phones. The app will open the building’s electric revolving doors, get tenants through security turnstiles automatically, and arrive at their floor through elevators equipped with destination dispatch — all without touching a thing.
Zero Irving is expected to open later this year.

And some of the background on the project...

The building, developed jointly by the city’s Economic Development Corp. and RAL Development Services, will feature 14 floors of market-rate office space as well as "a technology training center and incubator, co-working spaces and state-of-the-art event space ... on the seven floors beneath," per the Zero Irving announcement issued last October. Food-hall specialists Urban­Space officially signed the lease for 10,000 square feet on the ground level late last summer.

The new building — long contested by local preservationists and community groups (see links below) — sits on the former site of a P.C. Richard & Son on city-owned property.

Tuesday, January 5, 2021

2021 development watch: 124 E. 14th St.

Here's a start of January 2021 look at 124 E. 14th St., aka Zero Irving (and formerly the Union Square Tech Training Center and 14 @ Irving ... and tech hub) ...
It's a development to watch in 2021 as the building moves closer to occupancy

Work has moved quickly here (in the grand scheme of things). Workers topped out here back in the fall... roughly when the leasing began.

The latest Zero Irving e-newsletter states the rooftop scaffolding has been removed. Also!
Bathroom tile installation has begun on the 14th floor and will continue moving up the building as available. The painter will be priming walls on the 11th and 12th floors. Lobby framing and rough-in work has commenced and will continue throughout this period.
The 21-story building, developed jointly by the city’s Economic Development Corp. and RAL Development Services, will feature 14 floors of market-rate office space as well as "a technology training center and incubator, co-working spaces and state-of-the-art event space ... on the seven floors beneath," per the Zero Irving announcement issued last October. Food-hall specialists Urban­Space officially signed the lease for 10,000 square feet on the ground level late last summer.

And if you want to hear more, reps from RAL will be providing an overview tomorrow evening to CB3's Economic Development Committee. The item provides this: "status update on construction and upcoming leasing opportunities." (Zoom meeting info is at the CB3 website.)

The new building — long contested by local preservationists and community groups (see links below) — sits on the former site of a P.C. Richard & Son on city-owned property.

Previously on EV Grieve:
• Behold Civic Hall, the high-tech future of Union Square — and NYC

• Speaking out against a 'Silicon Alley' in this neighborhood

• City Council unanimously approves tech hub; some disappointment in lack of zoning protections 

• The conversation continues on the now-approved tech hub for 14th Street

• P.C. Richard is gone on 14th Street; preservationists want answers about tech-hub commitments

Monday, November 30, 2020

Report: City drops plan for hotel special permit requirement south of Union Square

The de Blasio Administration has reportedly withdrawn its proposal to require special permits for new hotels in the area south of Union Square.

As The Real Deal reported on Nov. 20, "the city quietly withdrew an application to establish a 25-block area where any new hotel construction requires a special permit. The decision came at the urging of the City Council."

The City Planning Commission had approved the application prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. 
The Hotel Special Permit plan was seen by elected officials as a way to provide protections for the surrounding neighborhood as a component of passing the upzoning for the tech hub (now Zero Irving pictured above on Saturday) on 14th Street at Irving Place back in 2018.

Critics of the plan had argued that the requirement of a special permit for hotels from Third Avenue to University Place would have little to no effect on the potential development that the tech hub might expedite.

Andrew Berman, executive director of Village Preservation, which led the opposition to the plan, released this statement last week:
"Though presented as such, this plan would never have provided any meaningful protections to the area of Greenwich Village and the East Village south of Union Square, where historic and residential buildings are being destroyed to make way for soulless high-rises. Now that this deeply unpopular plan has been shelved, we urge Mayor de Blasio and Councilmember Carlina Rivera to truly address the need to protect this neighborhood, its history, and its character."
According to The Real Deal,  despite the withdrawal of this particular plan, the city remains committed to studying whether such a mandate would work citywide.

Previously on EV Grieve:

Saturday, October 24, 2020

So long to the tower crane at the tech hub

That's all for the tower crane that has been part of our 14th Street skyline this past year... workers are now removing the structure at 124 E. 14th St., aka Zero Irving (and formerly the Union Square Tech Training Center and 14 @ Irving ... and tech hub 4ever!) 

The project's superstructure contractor started removing the tower crane earlier this week. The full dismantling is happening today (Saturday!).

Expect a full day of activity (bring a picnic!) with partial lane closures on 14th Street. Here's a look at the activity as of 8:35 a.m. ...
Workers recently reached the top of the 21-23 story building here at Irving Place.

And the usual summation...

Zero Irving, developed jointly by the city’s Economic Development Corp. and RAL Development Services, will feature 14 floors of market-rate office space as well as "a technology training center and incubator, co-working spaces and state-of-the-art event space ... on the seven floors beneath," per the Zero Irving announcement issued last October. Food-hall specialists Urban­Space officially signed the lease for 10,000 square feet on the ground level last month.

The new building — long contested by local preservationists and community groups — sits on the former site of a P.C. Richard & Son on city-owned property.

Monday, October 5, 2020

Tech hub tops out on 14th Street

Workers have officially reached the top at Zero Irving (and formerly the Union Square Tech Training Center and 14 @ Irving ... and tech hub) at 124 E. 14th St. at Irving Place... the American flag is now flying above...

The 21-23-story building, developed jointly by the city’s Economic Development Corp. and RAL Development Services, will feature 14 floors of market-rate office space as well as "a technology training center and incubator, co-working spaces and state-of-the-art event space ... on the seven floors beneath," per the Zero Irving announcement issued last October.

Food-hall specialists Urban­Space officially signed the lease for 10,000 square feet on the ground level last month.

The new building — long contested by local preservationists and community groups (see links below) — sits on the former site of a P.C. Richard & Son on city-owned property.

Tuesday, September 15, 2020

Reaching the top at Zero Irving (aka tech hub)



Here's what is turning out to be a monthly look at 124 E. 14th St., aka Zero Irving (and formerly the Union Square Tech Training Center and 14 @ Irving ... and tech hub for life!) ... workers are apparently up to the tippy top here at Irving Place...






The latest Zero Irving e-newsletter (14th @ Irving Construction Update #36, and, by the way, #2 is already a collector's item) states the following updates:

Superstructure Concrete
The project’s superstructure contractor will be completing the 23rd floor slab the week of 9/7. They will continue to place stairs at the top of house, in addition to mechanical pads, curbs and the buildings parapets. Upon completion of this miscellaneous concrete the contractor will begin demobilization. This will include cocoon removal, removal of shoring and decking material and other demobilization tasks.

Cellar
The project’s electrical contractor is finishing installation of Switchgear Room equipment and feeder conduits in coordination with Con Ed’s site visits. End line boxes will be completed, along with overhead conduits throughout the cellar. Con Ed is anticipated to complete their pulls and tie-ins to switch gear room. The project is expecting permanent power by October 2020.

General Site
The project’s mechanical, electrical, plumbing and fire protection contractors continue work on site to install sleeves and layout embeds and all other materials being placed into the deck on the 23rd floor. 
The newsletter makes mention of the 23rd floor. The official press release about the project lists this as a 21-floor building. Other news stories mention 21 floors too. The work permit lists 22 floors. Perhaps this 23rd floor mentioned is bulkhead-related. 

The 21-23-story building, developed jointly by the city’s Economic Development Corp. and RAL Development Services, will feature 14 floors of market-rate office space as well as "a technology training center and incubator, co-working spaces and state-of-the-art event space ... on the seven floors beneath," per the Zero Irving announcement issued last October. Food-hall specialists Urban­Space officially signed the lease for 10,000 square feet on the ground level last month.

The new building — long contested by local preservationists and community groups (see links below) — sits on the former site of a P.C. Richard & Son on city-owned property.

Previously on EV Grieve:
• Behold Civic Hall, the high-tech future of Union Square — and NYC

• Speaking out against a 'Silicon Alley' in this neighborhood

• City Council unanimously approves tech hub; some disappointment in lack of zoning protections 

• The conversation continues on the now-approved tech hub for 14th Street

• P.C. Richard is gone on 14th Street; preservationists want answers about tech-hub commitments


Monday, August 10, 2020

Zero Irving getting closer to the top; first sign of the glassy exterior



Workers have reached the 18th floor here at Zero Irving (aka tech hub) on 14th Street. When completed, the building at Irving Place will feature 21 floors...



Also! The first section of the large glass curtain wall on the north-facing front is now in place...



In other recent news here, food-hall specialists Urban­Space officially signed the lease for 10,000 square feet on the ground level.

Per the Post on Friday:

The new Urbanspace, the fifth in Manhattan, will differ from the others in having interactive online ordering in addition to traditional "curated" food stands. It is set to open in the first or second quarter of 2021.

And of arriving in what will likely be a difficult food-retail environment? "We have the ideal business model to help the New York culinary world recover," Urbanspace founder and president Eldon Scott told the Post without offering specifics.

The building, developed jointly by the city’s Economic Development Corp. and RAL Development Services, will feature 14 floors of market-rate office space as well as "a technology training center and incubator, co-working spaces and state-of-the-art event space ... on the seven floors beneath," per the Zero Irving announcement issued last October.

The new building — long contested by local preservationists and community groups (see links below) — sits on the former site of a P.C. Richard & Son on city-owned property.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Behold Civic Hall, the high-tech future of Union Square — and NYC

Speaking out against a 'Silicon Alley' in this neighborhood

City Council unanimously approves tech hub; some disappointment in lack of zoning protections

The conversation continues on the now-approved tech hub for 14th Street

P.C. Richard is gone on 14th Street; preservationists want answers about tech-hub commitments

Monday, June 15, 2020

Tech hub nears halfway mark



Here's another in our periodic looks at the high-profile Zero Irving (aka tech hub) on 14th Street at Irving Place.

Construction here was deemed essential, and work restarting on the site in early May.

According to the 14th @ Irving Construction e-newsletter out this past Friday, work is up to the 10th level of what will be a 21-floor building.

And if you want some super specifics:

The project’s superstructure contractor will complete wall systems cycle for forms on Level 9 (supporting level 10), strip forms on deck below, install rebar in wall forms and close walls starting from East to West. It is anticipated that the East walls will be poured on Wednesday 6/17 and West on Thursday 6/18.

And!

The project’s mechanical, electrical, plumbing and fire protection contractors continue work on site to install sleeves and layout embeds and all other materials being placed into the deck. Stairs and fire standpipes will continue to jump with the building progress, staying (2) floors behind working deck. Plumbing Rough-in work is ongoing on the 2nd and 3rd floors. Fuel oil and storm risers will be installed up through 8th floor. Water risers and duct risers are expected to be up to the 5th floor by 6/26.



The building, developed jointly by the city’s Economic Development Corp. and RAL Development Services, will feature 14 floors of market-rate office space as well as "a technology training center and incubator, co-working spaces, state-of-the-art event space, and street level food hall on the seven floors beneath," per the Zero Irving announcement issued last October.



The new building sits on the former site of a P.C. Richard & Son.

Previously on EV Grieve:
P.C. Richard is gone on 14th Street; preservationists want answers about tech-hub commitments

Monday, May 11, 2020

Partial Stop Work Order at the tech hub after worker rescued from scaffolding collapse



In late April, the Department of Buildings deemed that the Zero Irving (tech hub!) development was an essential construction project here on 14th Street at Irving Place.

Construction started up again on May 1, per the 14th at Irving Construction website, which outlined the COVID-19 measurements put in place, including screening each worker entering the job site for fever via a third-party practitioner.

Meanwhile, there was a non-virus-related safety breach at the site with reports of a scaffolding collapse this past Friday afternoon. Here's the alert via the Citizen app...



The incident happened in the back of the building, and wasn't visible from 14th Street. The FDNY reported that "scaffolding gave way with a worker on."

Instagram user @Bubbahtweet posted photos of the incident on Friday afternoon...



There's also a clip of the man seen being pulled to safety by his co-workers...


Subsequently, there's now a partial stop work order for the address, 124 E. 14th St. Per the ALL-CAP Style of the DOB: "INADEQUATE SAFETY MEASURES FOR DOKA INSTALLATION. STOP ALL USE/INSTALLATION OF DOKA SYSTEM PROVIDE SAFETY MEASURES."

The 21-floor building, developed jointly by the city’s Economic Development Corp. and RAL Development Services, will feature 14 floors of market-rate office space as well as "a technology training center and incubator, co-working spaces, state-of-the-art event space, and street level food hall on the seven floors beneath," per the Zero Irving announcement issued last October.

The new building sits on the former site of a P.C. Richard & Son.

Previously on EV Grieve:
P.C. Richard is gone on 14th Street; preservationists want answers about tech-hub commitments

Monday, March 2, 2020

Heavy lifting at the future tech hub



Activity has picked up at the construction site of the future tech hub (aka Zero Irving) on 14th Street between Third Avenue and Fourth Avenue.

On Saturday, a crane crew was on hand to help load in heavy materials ...



... and later in the day via Pinch...



The 21-floor building, developed jointly by the city’s Economic Development Corp. and RAL Development Services, will feature 14 floors of market-rate office space as well as "a technology training center and incubator, co-working spaces, state-of-the-art event space, and street level food hall on the seven floors beneath," per the Zero Irving announcement issued last October.

The new building, on the former site of a P.C. Richard & Son, has a completion date for the spring of 2021, per the renderings onsite.

Previously on EV Grieve:
P.C. Richard is gone on 14th Street; preservationists want answers about tech-hub commitments

Monday, February 10, 2020

Another look at the incoming tech hub



Quick update on progress at the tech hub (aka Zero Irving) on 14th Street between Third Avenue and Fourth Avenue.

Late last week workers started on the deck for the third level of what will be a 21-floor building...



Workers also completed installation of the sidewalk bridge along 14th Street to move pedestrians inside the building footprint ...



One full lane of 14th Street has now been blocked off outside the site for construction work. In July 2018, during a televised hearing, the reps for the developer promised that all demolition and construction work would be done within the bounds of the property. That obviously isn't happening.

The building, developed jointly by the city’s Economic Development Corp. and RAL Development Services, will feature 14 floors of market-rate office space as well as "a technology training center and incubator, co-working spaces, state-of-the-art event space, and street level food hall on the seven floors beneath," per the Zero Irving announcement issued last October.

The project, championed by Mayor de Blasio and initially announced in early 2017, passed through the city’s Uniform Land Use Review Process earlier in 2018, capped off by a unanimous City Council vote — led by local Councilmember Carlina Rivera — in August 2018. A rezoning was required to build the the structure, which is larger than what current commercial zoning allows.

The approval came despite the pleas of some residents, activists, small-business owners and community groups who had long expressed concern that the rezoning necessary for the project would spur out-of-scale development on surrounding blocks.

The new building, on the former site of a P.C. Richard & Son, has a completion date for the spring of 2021, per the renderings onsite.

Previously on EV Grieve:
First sign of the tech hub — aka Zero Irving — above ground on 14th Street

Monday, February 3, 2020

First sign of the tech hub — aka Zero Irving — above ground on 14th Street



Foundation work started last August here on 14th Street at Irving Place ... at the future home of the recently rebranded tech hub.

As you can see, the structure — now known as Zero Irving — is rising above the street level ...



The building, developed jointly by the city’s Economic Development Corp. and RAL Development Services, will top out at 21 floors... featuring Civic Hall, which will offer digital skills for low-income residents, as well as market-rate retail, office space and a food hall.

RAL announced the rebranding back in October. In the news release, the developers describe this as being "in the epicenter of Midtown South."

"This is exactly what we said about this plan, and what we feared — it’s intended to transform our neighborhoods into Midtown South," Andrew Berman, executive director of Village Preservation, told Curbed in a statement back in October. "The zero in 'ZERO IRVING' represents what neighbors and the public got out of this deal, while those who donated generously to the Mayor reap 100 percent of the benefits."



In recent weeks, several EVG readers have noted that the active work site — which sees a steady stream of concrete trucks running in and out of the site — has encroached further onto 14th Street...





In July 2018, during a televised hearing, the reps for the developer promised that all demolition and construction work would be done within the bounds of the property.

The project, championed by Mayor de Blasio and initially announced in early 2017, passed through the city’s Uniform Land Use Review Process earlier in 2018, capped off by a unanimous City Council vote — led by local Councilmember Carlina Rivera — in August 2018. A rezoning was required to build the the structure, which is larger than what current commercial zoning allows.

The approval came despite the pleas of some residents, activists, small-business owners and community groups who had long expressed concern that the rezoning necessary for the project would spur out-of-scale development on surrounding blocks.

These concerns have not abated.

Back in the fall, the city released its plan to add a requirement that new hotels in Greenwich Village and the East Village south of Union Square must receive a special permit from the City Planning Commission and City Council in order to be built. Critics of the plan reportedly contend that this may instead speed up the development of office buildings in the neighborhood. The City Planning Commission is expected to sign off on the plan in the weeks ahead before it moves to City Council.

The new building, on the former site of a P.C. Richard & Son, has a completion date for the spring of 2021, per the renderings onsite.