The Essex Street Market building on the south side of Delancey Street; April 2014.
The developers of Essex Crossing have now filed pre-demolition documents for the old Essex Street Market building on the south side of Delancey Street. The site is one of nine former urban renewal parcels included in the nearly 2 million square foot residential and commercial project.
Previously, Delancey Street Associates, the development consortium, filed initial paperwork to tear down the former firehouse on Broome Street as well as 400-402 Grand St., twin tenement buildings. In the past, they have pointed out that demolition is still several months in the future; the city won’t officially transfer the property to the developers for some time. The first phase of the project, set to begin next year, is focused on development of sites 1, 2 and 5 (see map).
As we reported in the last several days, demolition is scheduled to begin this week on the vacant building on the south side of Delancey Street that once housed a portion of the Essex Street Market. The 1940 structure will be replaced by a 24-story residential and commercial tower as part of the big Essex Crossing project. We stopped by to snap some fresh images of the building, a part of Lower East Side history.
Seventy-five years ago, Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia built the market to get the neighborhood’s pushcarts off the street. In 1995, the Essex Street Market was consolidated into a single building on the northeast corner of Essex and Delancey streets. That facility will remain open until the new building – including a gleaming new market space – is ready for occupancy in the year 2018. Jade Fountain Liquors and Olympic Diner were forced to close due to the looming development.
The developers responsible for the Essex Crossing project have nearly completed demolition of the former Essex Street Market building on the south side of Delancey Street. Now they’re making preparations to take down another structure within the six acre development site. In the past day, crews started to put up fencing around the old fire house bordering Broome, Clinton and Suffolk streets. Demolition is expected to begin later this month.
The fire house sits on site 5 of Essex Crossing, which will one day be home to a 15-story residential and commercial building, as well as a 15,000 sq. ft. park and a possible public school. A spokesperson for Delancey Street Associates, the development consortium, tells us the city has approved full sidewalk closure around the northern half of the site during demolition and construction. Two tenements at 400-402 Grand St., on the southern portion of the block, will be demolished at a later date.
The Essex Street Market is a Lower East Side staple when it comes to fresh food and prepared goods. Meet the vendors in this profile series and swing by the market all month long during May to celebrate 75 years of Essex Street Market. Meet Essex Farm, a grocery store inside the market that offers […]
I was a lawyer and got laid-off in 2009. I came to the Market for some coffee and chocolate, saw the empty stall, and in a split second it clicked a bakery specializing in homemade Greek comfort food!
I’d say my recipes are a mix of the traditional. The spinach pie is inspired by my grandmother, but the spin I put on it is cleaner, lighter, and more modern.
When someone tastes my food I want them to feel joy, and seeing that makes me very happy.
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