The Salvation Army's East Village Residence closed here at the Bowery and East Third Street in August 2008. (Find some history of the space here.)
And all was quiet for a few years. Until Jan. 11, 2011, when Lois Weiss at the Post reported that the France-based Louzon Group had bought the building and were planning on opening a new hotel here. Across the way from the Bowery Hotel. And two blocks from the then-Cooper Square Hotel (now the Standard East Village). Not to mention the rebranded Whitehouse Hotel and Hostel across the street. And close enough to the 569 hotels planned for the Lower East Side.
Remember the first rendering?
Then! The next rendering! Keep in mind: This is not a joke.
And yes — that's a Jumbotron up there.
As you'll recall, the reaction was... brutal? My favorite comment, via the EV Grieve Facebook page, came from Luc Sante:
It would be cheaper and more useful just to blow up the building and leave a 30-foot crater.
Anyway! Two years later, there's no sign of this hotel. (Which is a very good thing...) There's nothing on file for the property with the DOB. No demolition permits in the works. Nothing.
Did the Louzon Group changed its mind? They paid $7.6 million for the property. Anyone know what's going on with the space? Let us know via the EV Grieve email.
Previously on EV Grieve:
Reactions to new Bowery hotel: 'It would be cheaper and more useful just to blow up the building and leave a 30-foot crater'
Why do the French hate us?
This building should cement the architect's reputation in NYC for designing chain hotels that stick out.
ReplyDeleteFuck new hotels in the East Village and the rich assholes that want to stay there. Turn this building back into a Salvation Army shelter so people that really need the space have a place to go. There are other fire hydrants in the city for the well-off and fortunate to go piss on at their leisure.
ReplyDeleteFunny, with your post yesterday about the Death Star I started wondering what was happening with The Zit Building. Fingers crossed that the plans to build it have been popped.
ReplyDeleteThe building looks like it has an archtuctural infection.
ReplyDeleteThe pigeons would looove roosting and pooping on all of those red sores.
ReplyDeleteAt least the poor people have been moved along and they won't bother us while we try to eat and drink and get in and out of cabs.
ReplyDeleteMaybe 7-11 will expand...
ReplyDeleteLego nightmare. Ghostbusters, keep walking. Sometimes evil is needed to fight the greater evil.
ReplyDeleteDo you think this blog ridiculed them into scrapping the idea? I really REALLY hope so!
ReplyDelete