Despite not having any tenants, Related Cos. will start construction of a swanky new boutique office building on East Houston and Lafayette in the next few months, Crain's reports.
The development has been in the discussion phase for several years now.
Per Crain's:
Developers typically need to find an anchor tenant in order to establish a source of income that will help to finance the construction of the development. But like other boutique-office developers, Related discovered that it would have to take a risk and construct the building without a tenant in hand because small-sized office tenants do not make decisions on their office space years in advance. Instead they sign leases closer to when they are ready to make a move.
The 7-story terra-cotta and limestone building — designed by Cookfox Architects — will have 30,000 square feet of retail and 53,000 square feet of office space. As Crain's noted, "300 Lafayette will have abundant outdoor space, with a roof deck and expansive terraces on each floor."
And here is a rendering...
[Rendering by Cookfox via Crain's]
The building is expected to be finished in 2018.
Meantime, this means the BP station on the lot will be closing soonish. So the BP on East 23rd Street at Avenue C/the FDR will be the closest place around here if you need gas. (Gas for your vehicle. Because someone will make a joke.)
Previously on EV Grieve:
How much longer will the East Village have gas stations?
Have you seen the glass tower in the works for Lafayette and East Houston?
Filling up: the status of 2 former East Village gas stations