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Manhattan Radiation Oncology
47 Essex St (corner of Grand St.)
New York, NY 10002
212-228-5980
Isaiah Friedman, M.D., a board certified
radiation oncologist, earned his M.D. at the
University of Pennsylvania School of
Medicine, where he was awarded a merit
scholarship as a Gamble Scholar. He
completed his training in Radiation
Oncology at the Mount Sinai Medical
Center in NYC, where he also served as
Chief Resident.
NYC's First Cyberknife Treatment Center
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Brain Prostate Liver Spine Head & Neck Breast
Lung Pancreas Kidney Stomach Gynecologic
Lymphoma Bladder Esophageal Skin
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October 2014
letter !"#$ &'( )*+&#",
Up until very recently, many street-smart Lower
East Siders did not believe anything was actually
going to happen on the former SPURA
redevelopment parcels along Delancey Street.
After walking past those parking lots for four
decades, they remained skeptical, even as urban
renewal plans were winding their way through
the city bureaucracy. But today, six months from
groundbreaking for the big residential and retail
project, even the most ardent doubters concede
the development, known as Essex Crossing, is a
reality. Recently, we got the chance to sit down
with two key members of the development team
to talk about what we can all expect to happen
when winter turns into spring next year. The
interview addressing topics such as the
building designs, their vision for a food-centric
Market Line and possible efforts to save a
scarred synagogue on a neighboring parcel is
this months cover story. Also in this issue, a look
at renovation plans at the Henry Street
Settlement, Mission Chinese Foods move to
East Broadway and a talk with Division Streets
very own BMX hot shot, Tyrone Williams. We
hope you enjoy the October magazine.
Remember to check us out online every day at
thelodownny.com.
in this issue
!"#$% '("%)
Q&A with the Essex Crossing developers
*$+ ,%%-#./ 0
Rickys Halloween stores, Ludlow Hotel, Evolu-
tion Enrichment Center
!./$12.%34$.( 5%$2 6#$1(0
Nightmare New York, Lower East Side Pickle
Day, Miranda July at the New Museum
*$-789"%8""2 *$+0
Katzs Deli sells air rights, pedestrian killed on
South Street, Orchard Street redesign
:8$ ;"<=-1$
Mission Chinese relocates to East Broadway
Briefs: Battle for former Shalom Chai space,
Dirty French debuts, champagne & fried
chicken
,%(0 >.(?8
A tribute to Rebecca Lepkoff
@) ;6'
BMX freestyle rider and bike shop owner
Tyrone Williams
*$+0 4$.( 5%$
A $20 million facelift for Henry Street
Settlement
;6' '-2$+.)0
Evan Forschs cartoon
6
14
20
12
Ed Litvak
16
18
22
24
26
28
On the cover: An overhead view of the
Essex Crossing site
*
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Gourmet Pizza
F ind us on
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(212) 226-3777
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| D||\Y
Ed Litvak
Editor-in-Chief
Traven Rice
Publisher/Arts Editor
Jennifer Strom
Associate Editor/Food Editor
Kim Sillen
Art Director
Alex M. Smith
Contributing Photographer
David Klein
Proofreader
Evan Forsch
Cartoonist
Advertising inquiries:
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Story tips: tips@thelodownny.com
Contact us: 646-861-1805
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4 October 2014 The Lo-Down | TheLoDownNY.com 5
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Home Pickling Contest
Live Music
Face Painting
Performance Art
Photobooth
Paint Out
Balloon Pickles
Stupid Pet Tricks
Animal Adoptions
Cat Bingo
Pickle Day PUN-OFF sponsored by
-
interview took place. The real designs for
Essex Crossing were nowhere to be seen.
Bendit knows the project will be judged, to a
large degree, by how it looks-whether those
nine buildings scheduled to be completed by
the year 2022 are well received, both on the
Lower East Side and by the outside world. So
there's a lot of pressure on the design team to
get it right.
ln March of next year, shovels are
expected to be in the ground for the f irst phase
of the project, covering sites 1, 2, 5 and 6. The
f irst phase includes 556 apartments, half of
them affordable, as well as a new Essex Street
Market, a full-service grocery store, a multi-
screen movie theater, a bowling alley, an annex
of the Andy Warhol Museum and a park on
Broome Street.
ln a wide-ranging interview, Bendit and
Henderson, who works for L+M Devel-
opment, weighed in on several aspects of the
big development project. Here are some
highlights.


First of all, the question everyone wants
to know: W|at's t|e t|me||ne fo| ma||ng t|e
des|gns o0o||c?
HENDERSON: We have made a |ot of
progress |n gett|ng our p|ans together,
tak|ng the conceptua| des|gn and putt|ng |t
to pen and penc|| and gett|ng a|| the deta||s
together for the f |rst m||||on square feet. It
seems ||ke |t's go|ng at breakneck speed.
We're gett|ng to a po|nt |n the des|gn where
we're a|| gett|ng pretty comfortab|e w|th the
des|gns as a team. Our hope |s that we can
unve|| a|| four of the s|tes, probab|y together,
somet|me |n November or December.
Many new projects on the Lower East
Side, and elsewhere in New York City, have
been lambasted for looking too much like
suburban shopping malls. Members of a
community task force advising the architects
have urged them to be mindful of the
neighborhood's legacy-and to create build-
ings that feel like they belong on the Lower
East Side. Bendit acknowledged the concerns
but also pointed out that the site-positioned
between low-slung tenements and mid-
century towers south of Delancey Street-
poses signif icant urban planning challenges.
BENDIT: Des|gn, and a ref |ect|on of
des|gn on the past and the h|story of the
ne|ghborhood, |s a|| subject|ve. One of the
th|ngs we ||ke about our arch|tectura| team
|s that they're very creat|ve. They're
|nterpret|ng the h|story of th|s area |n a way
that we be||eve w||| be an enhancement.
We th|nk [the des|gn |s] very contextua|. It's
d|fferent, but not w||d|y d|fferent, and |t's
somewhat rem|n|scent of the h|story of th|s
ne|ghborhood. If you |ook around, there are
sma|| bu||d|ngs- four-, f |ve-, s|x-story
bu||d|ngs a|ong Lud|ow Street and Orchard
Street-and then you go to the south and
the east and you have these ta|| bu||d|ngs
that were bu||t |n the '50s and '60s, wh|ch
were not exact|y representat|ve of the
h|story of th|s ne|ghborhood. So what
we're try|ng to do |s to k|nd of draw the
connect|on between what was bu||t 30, 40,
50, 60 years ago and what was bu||t 80, 90,
100 years ago, and do someth|ng that's
contextua|, that f |ts we|| and st|tches
together the var|ous ne|ghborhoods to the
north of De|ancey Street (and to the south
of De|ancey|. So |t's a b|t of a cha||enge.
Community activists wanted more than
one architectural f irm involved on the Seward
Park site as a way of making sure each building
had its own identity. As a result, four f irms were
brought on board: SHoP Architects, Beyer
Blinder Belle, Handel Architects and Market
ventures. Henderson said the team is building
from the sentiments expressed by locals.
HENDERSON: !hey d|dn't want Battery
Park C|ty. Th|s |s the Lower East S|de. I
By Ed Litvak
C
harlie Bendit is accustomed to
thinking big. As co-chief executive
of f icer of Taconic lnvestment Partners, he's
overseen numerous large-scale development
projects, including the transformation of the
old Port Authority Building in Chelsea, a
3-million-square-foot facility that was sold to
Google four years ago for $1.9 billion. But
Bendit hopes Taconic's new endeavor, Essex
Crossing on the Lower East Side, will be his
crowning achievement- a project that will
reshape downtown New York City for genera-
tions to come.
Last month, we sat down with Bendit and
lsaac Henderson, the project manager, to
discuss plans for the nearly 2-million-square-
foot complex set to break ground six months
from now. A year ago, the city announced that
Taconic, L+M Development Partners and BFC
Partners had won the coveted contract to
build Essex Crossing on the former Seward
Park urban renewal site. The historic deal was
made possible in 2012, after the community
ended four decades of acrimony by
compromising on a mixed-income housing
and retail plan for nine parcels alongside the
Williamsburg Bridge.
Familiar conceptual drawings were scat-
tered about the conference room at L+M's
Park Avenue South headquarters, where the
Essex Crossing Developers Talk Building Design, Construction Issues
6 October 2014 The Lo-Down | TheLoDownNY.com 7
Tno intorsootion o Essox and Oolanooy stroots is tno gatoway to Essox Crossing.
Pondorings oourtosy o BFC Partnors, Taoonio nvostmont Partnors, L+M Oovolopmont Partnors, SHoP Aronitoots, Boyor Blindor Bollo
Elaborating on the concept behind the
Market Line, Bendit said it's being envisioned
as one of Essex Crossing's main attractions.
BENDIT: Food |s a b|g part of enterta|n-
ment today, so our theme |s a|| about food.
One of the |nterest|ng th|ngs about the
ne|ghborhood |s |t's a mu|t|-ethn|c ne|gh-
borhood that has deep h|story and deep
roots |n many d|fferent nat|ona||t|es, and
we'd ||ke to draw that out and ce|ebrate
that through what we create down be|ow
|n the Market L|ne.
While the developers are building the
newly expanded Essex Street Market, they
will hand the 30,000-square-foot space over
to the city, which will continue to operate it.
Bendit and Henderson explained how the
two entities-the Essex Street Market and
the Market Line -will co-exist as separately
managed facilities.
BENDIT: The Essex Street Market |s |n
the 100-percent [pr|me] |ocat|on. It |s at the
gateway to the who|e comp|ex. So I th|nk
the Essex Street Market w||| be the pr|mary
benef |c|ary of what e|se we are ab|e to
create a|ong Broome Street and a|ong
De|ancey Street.We th|nk that they are
go|ng to end up be|ng the draw and we
hope the space that |s created there w||| be
a [magnet] for peop|e who w||| then want to
cont|nue on through the exper|ence from
Essex Street down to C||nton Street.
HENDERSON: We v|ew a thr|v|ng,
rev|ta||zed Essex Street Market as the most
|mportant component to our reta|| be|ng
successfu|. Why are peop|e go|ng to come
down here? It starts w|th the Essex Street
Market, th|s dynam|c pub||c market that
has been there for 100 years |n th|s new,
rev|ta||zed beaut|fu| space...If they're not
successfu|, we are not successfu|, so we
want to make sure [the two ent|t|es] are
comp|ementary, that they bu||d off one
another.
ln addition to the food-centric offerings
along Delancey Street and a 60,000-square-
foot movie theater, the developers are also
betting that the Andy Warhol Museum annex
on Ludlow Street will draw visitors from across
the city. There's another potential attraction
that is not part of the Essex Crossing plan but
which the developers enthusiastically en-
dorsed. lt's the Lowline, a proposed sub-
terranean park envisioned in an abandoned
trolley station under Delancey Street.
BENDIT: If you see what the H|gh L|ne
has done for the far west s|de, we th|nk the
Low||ne has the same opportun|ty to create
someth|ng very spec|a| for th|s area, the
|mpact of wh|ch |t's hard to even forecast.
Who knew? No one wou|d have pred|cted
the |mpact |t has had on that who|e area
and what a draw |t wou|d be for tour|sts
from a|| over the wor|d who go down to
West Che|sea and the Meatpack|ng D|str|ct
that m|ght have gone there, but now, for
certa|n, they're go|ng there to see what the
H|gh L|ne |s a|| about.
8 October 2014
th|nk there's a des|re that our arch|tecture
d|st|ngu|shes |tse|f. Each s|te |s des|gned
on |ts own. We have reta|ned an arch|tect
(SHoP| to be a master p|anner of the s|te to
make sure there |s cont|nu|ty, [but] we rea||y
do th|nk the s|tes shou|d stand on the|r
own, w|th connect|v|ty to the Lower East
S|de, w|th connect|v|ty to each other. What's
exc|t|ng about th|s |s that we have four
d|fferent arch|tects and four d|fferent sty|es.
It g|ves us the opportun|ty to put together a
d|verse pa|ette of mater|a|s. So you're not
go|ng to see four br|ck bu||d|ngs. You're not
go|ng to see four meta| bu||d|ngs. It w||| be
a d|verse group of sty|es, but taken as a
who|e, I th|nk |t's someth|ng peop|e shou|d
be rea||y exc|ted about.
Before construction can begin, four
buildings in the urban renewal area must be
demolished: the former Essex Street Market
building on the south side of Delancey Street,
two tenements at 400 Grand Street and the
old 1937 f irehouse on Broome Street. There's
no timetable yet for demolition. The city has
told several families living in one of the Grand
Street tenements that they must move out by
the end of this month. Meanwhile, the de-
velopers are in talks with the Metropolitan
Transit Authority about creating a subway exit
directly into the new Essex Street Market
building. Bendit said they hope it can happen,
both for the sake of the historic market but
also the Market Line, an adjoining retail
corridor extending on a lower level all the way
to Clinton Street.
BENDIT: We have a v|s|on. [It's a
quest|on as to] whether the MTA buys |nto
that v|s|on or whether they have the|r own
|deas. We have the Essex Street Market
that's r|ght there. We have the Market L|ne,
wh|ch beg|ns r|ght at that bu||d|ng.
Wou|dn't |t be great |f you cou|d have
access from the p|atform r|ght where the
fare contro| |s [|ocated] to get.|nto the
Market L|ne? The MTA.moves at the|r
own pace. Gett|ng [the MTA] to s|gn on to
a p|an that works for everybody, you know,
they have the|r own t|metab|e.
Photos, above: 1. 400-402 Grand Street 2. The
former Broome Street frehouse 3. A portion of parcel
2 at Norfolk and Broome streets 4. Shuttered
businesses on Delancey Street where new Essex
Street Market will rise.
While Henderson said the developers are
100-percent supportive" of the proposal, he
noted that there are at least a few hurdles to
cross, and, ultimately, it's not their call whether
the Lowline gets built.
HENDERSON: What makes th|ngs
d|ff |cu|t |s that we don't contro| the Low||ne
space and nor does the Low||ne contro| the
Low||ne space. It's someth|ng they're
work|ng to try to make happen and we're
support|ve of |t but there's on|y so much we
can do. At the end of the day, |t's the MTA's
space. They have to be on board, and,
second, I th|nk the current adm|n|strat|on
has to be somewhat support|ve of |t.
We're we|| aware of the|r p|ans. and wou|d
|ove the Low||ne to happen and to connect
to our project but we're not the project
managers and we're not the ones who are
go|ng to make |t happen.
There's another adjacent property that
could ultimately become part of Essex
Crossing: a 163-year-old synagogue located
at 60 Norfolk St. At one point, the rabbi at Beth
Hamedrash Hagadol asked the Landmarks
Preservation Commission for permission to
demolish the building, which has been a city
landmark since 1967. Bendit conf irmed that
conversations have taken place with the rabbi
about acquiring the dilapidated building. Talks
were held in the past with the owner of a
nearby property, 75 Essex St., but, in that
case, the two sides are reportedly far apart on
a purchase price. At the moment, he's saying
little about the status of negotiations.
BENDIT: We have had d|scuss|ons w|th
the owner of 75 Essex and we have had
d|scuss|ons w|th the rabb| who contro|s the
synagogue. If we cou|d come to reasonab|e
terms w|th those peop|e, I th|nk we wou|d ||ke
to cont|nue to benef |t from what |t |s we are
creat|ng a|ong De|ancey and Essex Street
and Broome Street.
Throughout the neighborhood, real estate
brokers have been touting Essex Crossing and
pricing property for sale to take full advantage of
the high-prof ile project. But Bendit doesn't think
it's possible to tie rising real estate prices directly
to the Seward Park development.
BENDIT: I'm not sure that what |s go|ng
on |n the Lower East S|de |s any d|fferent
than what's go|ng on |n the rest of the c|ty.
New York C|ty |s a fantast|c p|ace. Peop|e
want to ||ve here. Peop|e want to work
here. Peop|e want to come and v|s|t here.
As |ong as th|s c|ty cont|nues to be that
k|nd of center of attent|on from peop|e
who want to ||ve, work and p|ay here then
va|ues are go|ng to cont|nue to r|se.
There's a |ot of h|story on the Lower East
S|de. Peop|e want to come and see where
some of the|r ancestors came to the U.S.
and where they put down the|r roots and
where they grew from.[But] |t |s d|fcu|t
to rea||y s|ng|e out the Lower East S|de as
a p|ace that's see|ng more dramat|c
change than other p|aces.
Finally, Bendit said he remains
enthusiastic about Essex Crossing and
optimistic about collaborating with the local
community.
BENDIT: We are as exc|ted about be|ng
a part of th|s commun|ty as we were [a
year ago, when De|ancey Street Assoc|ates
won the Seward Park project]. One of the
great th|ngs that we have exper|enced |s
the opportun|ty to work w|th the
commun|ty. It was a|ways specu|at|ve
about how that was go|ng to work. To
Isaac's cred|t and the team that we have
put together to support him, we have found
that it has been a very good collaboration. Wed
like to see that continue. Theres been an open
dialogue. Theres been feedback. Theres been
give and take on thoughts and ideas and we
hope that will continue as this project evolves.
10 October 2014
Site Overview
1
2
3
4
5
6
9
8
10 Essex Crossing: Phase 1
Site 1: 242 Broome St. (Ludlow Street)
Architect: SHoP
Height: 14 stories
Total square feet: 136.542
Housing: 55 condo apartments (including 11
affordable)
Features: Bowling alley, gym
(Andy Warhol Museum in adjacent building)
Site 2: 80 Essex Street (Delancey Street)
Architect: SHoP, Handel Architects, Hugh A. Boyd
Height: 24 stories
Total square feet: 380,000
Housing: 195 rentals (including 98 affordable)
Features: New Essex Street Market, rooftop urban
farm
Site 5: 145 Clinton St. (Grand Street)
Architect: Beyer Blinder Belle
Height: 15 stories
Total square feet: 222,908
Housing: 206 rentals (including 102 affordable)
Features: 35,000 sq. ft. grocery store, park
Site 6: 175 Delancey St. (Attorney Street)
Architect: Dattner
Height: 14 stories
Total square feet: 138,707
Housing: 100 low-income apartments for seniors
Features: Grand Street Settlement community
facility Essex Crossing - Broome Street view
11
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12 October 2014 The Lo-Down | TheLoDownNY.com 13
new arrivals
LUDLOW HOTEL (180 Ludlow St., ludlow-
hotel.com): After years of financial difficulties and
construction delays, the Ludlow Hotel is finally
officially open for business. Offering 184 guest
rooms, a lobby bar and a restaurant, Dirty French,
the property from the operators of the Bowery
Hotel and the Mercer, raises the bar for luxury on
the Lower East Side. Owners Sean MacPherson,
Ira Drukier and Richard Born hope the Ludlow
becomes a celebrity hot spot, along the lines of
their other trendy downtown properties. The ho-
tels in-house reservation system showed nightly
prices for an early October weekend ranging from
$325 for a basic room all the way up to $1,950 for
the penthouse. The hotel has been in soft-open
mode since the summer.
edited by Ed Litvak
ARIELLE DE PINTO
DESIGNS (286 Grand
St., ariellepinto.com): The
Canadian jewelry designer
leased a 1,200-square-
foot space to serve as a
New York headquarters.
Working in Montreal since
2007, de Pinto is known
for her crocheted chain
and metal necklaces. The
Lower East Side location
is a studio, not a retail
outlet, but is available to
customers on a by-ap-
pointment basis.
COLFAX & BALE
(174 Ludlow St., shortdaysandlongnightscloth-
ing.com): The Lower East Side gains another
mens streetwear boutique with the opening
of Colfax & Bale in the former home of Dare-
devil Tattoo on Ludlow Street. The store offers
clothing, footwear and accessories, plus theres
a gallery space for art shows. A grand opening
was held in late September.
EVOLUTION ENRICHMENT CENTER
(30 Delancey St., evolutionenrichment.com): The
new day care center, preschool and enrichment
program is operating from a 15,000-square-foot
space in a high-rise building bordering Sara D.
Roosevelt Park. Evolution Enrichment, which
opened this
summer, of-
fers a variety
of classes
for children
ages 2 to
14, including
chess, martial
arts, rhythmic
gymnastics,
musical
theater, art, SAT prep, ballet, dance and Chinese
language. The center is awaiting permit approval
to operate the day care and preschool facilities.
The center offers tuition assistance. The partners
in the privately held business also run adult day
care centers in Manhattan.
RICKY'S NYC NYC (250 E. Houston St. and 104 Delancey St., rickysnyc.com): The ubiquitous New
York City chain is opening a Halloween supplies store in the one-story shopping strip connected to the
Red Square apartment complex. A spokesperson called it a test pop-up. If successful, it could morph
into a full-fledged Rickys location, selling a complete line of hair, body and bath products. The space was
formerly occupied by Blockbuster Video, which closed in 2012. Another Rickys Halloween store opened at
104 Delancey Street. Both locations are open Monday-Saturday 11 a.m.-7 p.m., Sundays 11 a.m.-6 p.m.
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14 October 2014 The Lo-Down | TheLoDownNY.com 15
Dead Centres 6(778 at
Abrons: Widely regarded as
one of the most extraordinary
works to come out of Ireland
last year, up-and-coming
experimental theater company
Dead Centre comes to Abrons
for its U.S. debut. Inspired by
a true story of an aunt and
three nieces who boarded
themselves into their home and
entered a suicide pact/hunger
strike that lasted 40 days, !"##$
is an investigation into why we
tell stories in the face of trag-
edy. 466 Grand St., Wednesday
through Saturday at 8 p.m.,
Sundays at 2 and 7 p.m., $20,
abronsartscenter.org.
9(:;)/&-. 9.< =*-> at Clemente Soto Velez: The re-
nowned haunted house team tackles a new theme, delving into New York
Citys legendary horror stories and urban legends, from Cropsey to gar-
goyles, alligators in the subways and new legends of the super rats created
by Hurricane Sandy. Note: this experience is designed for adults; its gory!
Children under 10 are not admitted and parents are strongly cautioned
about bringing children under 16. Through Saturday, Nov. 2, 107 Suffolk St.,
ticket prices range from $20 for students to $60 for VIP entry (see website
for details), nightmarenyc.com.
calendar
Visit our CALENDAR online at
www.thelodownny.com/calendar
for more details and
to add your own events.
OCTOBER
12th
Annual
Open-
house
NewYork
Weekend:
Americas
largest
architecture and design event offers free tours of some of
the citys most intriguing spaces that you might not ordi-
narily be able to access. Highlights in the neighborhood
include tours of the Henry Street Settlements historic
headquarters, the Eldridge Street Synagogue and highly
designed private residences curated by &'()*"+* ,)-".'
magazine. Also Sunday, Oct. 12, free, but some sites
require reservations, ohny.org.
3-.&)?-.1 *2 @&A() at Dixon Place: Back by popular
demand, the Moving Men series features seven dancers
who find themselves in an absurd, yet strangely familiar
universe. Choreographed to an original score by Daniel
Kazemi, this piece draws inspiration from slapstick
comedy, children's stories, game shows and existential
drama. Each evening begins with new works in progress
by a diverse roster of contemporary choreographers.
Friday and Saturday through Oct. 18, 161
Chrystie St., 7:30 p.m., $16/advance, $20/
door, dixonplace.org.
BCC ,;(1 @&1 3*/. D7*+ D1 at the Museum at Eldridge Street:
Czech Televisions second
documentary film on
artist Mark Podwal offers
a portrait of the creative
process behind his recent
Terezin Ghetto Museum ex-
hibition of 42 archival pigment
prints of acrylic, gouache and colored
pencil works on paper. Filmed in Prague,
Terezin, Auschwitz, Krakow and in New
York at the Eldridge Street Synagogue,
the documentary includes interviews with leading personalities discussing Podwals
art. 12 Eldridge St., 7 p.m., free, eldridgestreet.org.
Fri.
3
Tues.
7
Wed.
15
Sat.
11
Edited by Traven Rice
Sat.
4
what to do in
Lower
East
Side
Pickle
Day:
Lower East Side Pickle Day: The annual fun-filled day of
pickle mania returns, including more than 20 picklers, over
30 local food and fashion vendors, games, DJs and live
music, plus face-painting and a kids costume contest. The
festival is part of the DayLife neighborhood event series
hosted by the Lower East Side Business Improvement
District. Orchard Street, from Delancey to East Houston,
noon to 5 p.m., free, lowereastsideny.com.
Sun.
19
24th Annual Tompkins Square Park
Halloween Dog Parade: Dress up the
pooch and enter to win over $4,000
worth of prizes, including an iPad Mini
for Best in Show, in this all-out event
that has come to rival the official Village
Halloween parade. Grateful Greyhounds,
Bide-A-Wee, Friends of Animal Rescue and the Mayor's
Alliance for New York City Animals will also be on hand
with canines that need loving homes.Tompkins Square
Park, noon to 3 p.m., free, tompkinssquaredogrun.com.
Sat.
25
Tues.
21
CMJ Music Marathon 2014:
CMJ Music Marathon 2014: This below-the-radar festival
is 34 years in. Each fall, thousands of artists, music fans
and industry insiders descend on the city for live shows,
exclusive parties, conference events, seminars and mix-
ers, all in the hopes of being discovered and discover-
ing new music. Many LES venues are participating; see
individual websites for specific show schedules and cover
charges. Through Oct. 25, cmj.com/marathon.
Thurs.
9
Prolifc artist and flmmaker Miranda July describes
and demonstrates her new text-messaging service,
Somebody. The service, an iOS application available
for free download, continues Julys longstanding
exploration of ways to humanize interactions with
technology. She describes the operation of the ap-
plication in the following way: When you send your
friend a message through Somebody, it goes not to
your friend, but to the Somebody user nearest your
friend. This person (probably a stranger) delivers
the message verbally, acting as your stand-in. The
New Museum is acting as a hotspot for Somebody
as part of a distributed launch that also includes the
Los Angeles County Museum of Art; Yerba Buena
Center for the Arts, San Francisco; Portland Insti-
tute of Contemporary Art; the Walker Art Center,
Minneapolis; and Museo Jumex, Mexico City. 235
Bowery, 7 p.m., $10, newmuseum.org.
Miranda July
at the New Museum:
16 October 2014 The Lo-Down | TheLoDownNY.com 17
transportation
real estate
retail
Last September, the New York Economic Development Corp., which runs the Essex Street
Market, declined to renew the permit for Three Brothers Clothing, which was a xture there
for 20 years. The owner, Carmen Salvador, took the city to court, arguing that market management
was in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act and state laws. A state Supreme Court judge last
month denied a preliminary injunction, which would have allowed Salvador to operate her business
while the case was decided. She was instructed to clear her stall by Sept. 19. Salvadors attorney, Maia
Goodell of Manhattan Legal Services, said her client is weighing her options before deciding whether to
continue the case. Last November, Salvador said she suered from several medical conditions, includ-
ing respiratory and thyroid problems and hypertension. While she contended that market manage-
ment knew about absences related to the illnesses, city ocials argued they were not properly notied
and did not approve the absences. The judge ruled that Salvador did not provide enough evidence to
warrant a preliminary injunction.
editedby EdLitvak
The NYPDs Seventh Precinct is stepping up patrols in East River Park after two robberies
that took place minutes apart on Aug. 21. The rst incident happened around midnight when a
group of four suspects, at least one with a gun, approached a man and woman and stole the womans
purse. A short time later, the suspects swiped a watch from an 18-year-old man. Police say the sus-
pects used a credit card from the female victim at a nearby McDonalds. At the September meeting
of the precincts community council, Captain
Joseph Simonetti said ocers are enforc-
ing the parks midnight curfew. About 20
arrests were made in a one-month period.
Simonetti said hes urging the Parks Depart-
ment to install security cameras in East River
Park. Hes also calling for better lighting on
Delancey Street, alongside the Williamsburg
Bridge and leading to FDR Drive. The sus-
pects in the August robberies are still on the
loose. There are two men and two women in
the crew; witnesses have said theyre in their
late teens or early 20s. If you know anything
about these crimes, call Crimestoppers at
800-577-TIPS.
crime
The Lower East Side Business Improvement District in September unveiled its master plan
for Orchard Street. The blueprint, designed by local architectural rm Pilot Projects, is meant to im-
prove safety, trac flow and aesthetics on the historic retail strip from Canal Street to East Houston
Street. At a meeting of Community Board 3s transportation committee, some members cautioned
against any redesign that might diminish Orchard Streets distinctive character and expressed concern
about a proposed pedestrian plaza on Broome Street. The plan is meant to address several issues, in-
cluding: a lack of continuity from one block to the next, insucient bike parking, congestion from truck
loading and unloading and excessive trac caused by motorists using Orchard as a route to the Wil-
liamsburg Bridge. While some funding is secured, the plan will be implemented in phases, as money for
streetscape improvement becomes available. It designates locations for plantings, bike racks, seating
and other amenities. The proposal creates designated loading zones and clusters pedestrian-friendly
areas at street corners by establishing curb cuts. Although some parking spots will be eliminated to cre-
ate the loading areas, the plan actually calls for a net gain of 27 spaces. The CB3 panel approved the plan
with the understanding that the BID would return with specic proposals in the future.
transportation
An 82-year-old woman, Shu Fan Huang, died
from injuries suered after she was struck
by a car on South Street near Rutgers Slip
in late August. According to police, she and two
other women were walking against a trac signal
when the driver of a Volvo heading north hit them.
The victims were all taken to Bellevue Hospital.
The other victims, both in their 60s, suered seri-
ous injuries but made full recoveries. City Council
member Margaret Chin said the tragic accident
was a sad reminder of the need for swift action
to review the signals, signage and other elements
[in the area] in order to make them safer for all pe-
destrians to cross, regardless of their age or level
of mobility.The Department of Transportation or-
dered a safety review. Local residents have voiced
concern about safety issues as more pedestrians
cross South Street to access a new recreational
area alongside the East River. Huang lived at 201
Madison St., just two blocks from the scene of the
accident.
Rendering of Orchard Street design by Pilot Projects
neighborhood news
Katzs Deli has sold the air rights to its
building at 205 E. Houston St., but co-
owner Jake Dell said the 126-year-old res-
taurant is staying put for years to come.
While he would not disclose the buyer or just
what will happen with the unused develop-
ment rights, Dell told The Lo-Down, the most
important thing is that the future of Katzs is
secure. In a statement, he added, no devel-
oper can ever come in and knock us down to
put in a high-rise. At no point will anyone value
the corner of Houston and Ludlow for any-
thing other than Katzs Delicatessen. Asked
whether a developer could build on top of the
deli or whether the air rights would be shifted
to an adjacent property, Dell said he couldnt
elaborate, saying only that Katzs would oper-
ate continuously and would not be closed for
a single day. During the summer, three prop-
erties on Orchard Street, on the same city
block as Katzs, were sold to an entity controlled by a mysterious corporation. Meanwhile, a longtime
restaurant in one of those buildings, Bereket, shuttered, fueling rumors that a large development deal
is in the works.
NYPD/surveillance video.
18 October 2014 The Lo-Down | TheLoDownNY.com 19
Its one of the swiftest changeovers ever on the
Lower East Side. Just a few hours after Rosettes
owner Ron Castellano announced he was shutter-
ing his restaurant just eight months in, celebrated
chef Danny Bowien went public over Twitter with
photos of Rosettes front door, announcing his
plans to move his wildly popularbut currently
homelessrestaurant, Mission Chinese Food, into
Rosettes spot at 171 E. Broadway.
Less than a week after news of Mission Chi-
neses new home went public, the liquor licensing
subcommittee of Community Board 3 signed off
on his proposal to reopen on East Broadway with
a full bar permit, and plans were underway for the
big move. The new tenant isnt planning any big
changes to the interior of the 74-seat restaurant,
which is expected to open soon.
Bowien, who also operates Mission Cantina at
172 Orchard St., was driven from his much smaller
original location of Mission Chinese on Orchard
Street last year by rodents and a landlord dispute.
He told the CB3 committee that he does not ex-
pect crowds to be waiting on the street, as was the
case in the old location, because the East Broad-
way space is so much larger. He also noted that
169 Bar is right next door, so people waiting for a
table have a place to go.
The highly designed space has not been an
easy location in which to do business. Rosette at-
tempted to walk a fine line between catering to
locals and destination diners. Though the area
around East Broadway, Rutgers and Canal streets
has become a hot dining and nightlife spot in the
last couple of years, some restaurants continue to
struggle.
Nick Curtin, Rosettes chef whod come from
Nohos Acme, relocated to Copenhagen this fall.
The general manager, Lisa Limb, also made an exit
last month. The space formerly housed two other
Castellano ventures, LTO and Broadway East. As
LTO (an acronym for Limited Time Only), it hosted
guest chefs trying out new concepts with pop-up
dinners and other special events, including a Chi-
nese New Year banquet prepared by Bao Haus
chef Eddie Huang and other high-profile projects.
My partner has been having serious health is-
sues that need his full attention, Castellano told
the food blog Eater NY. On top of that, we got
an offer for the space thats too good to pass up.
Bowiens takeover ushers in a new era for
the space, which once upon a time was home
to Schildkraut Vegetarian Restaurant, a spot
frequented by Yiddish writers after they dropped
off their manuscripts at The Forward Building, just
one door away. It is laid out with a bar/lounge area
in the front and a large dining room to the rear, as
well as a subterranean-level private dining room
that houses a large banquet table. A wood-burning
oven inspired some of Curtins most interesting
vegetable dishes, and Bowiens postings on social
media since the news broke indicate he plans to
employ fire in creative ways, as well.
In accordance with an agreement with SPaCE,
the local block association, Mission Chinese will be
open from noon to midnight during the first part
of the week and noon to 1 a.m. Thursday through
Saturday. The restaurant will have a full bar. After
six months, Bowien and partner Andrew Yang will
be able to request a 2 a.m. closing from the com-
munity board. They agreed to close their windows
each night at 10 p.m.
Meanwhile, Castellano, an architect and co-
founder of the Hester Street Fair, is now floating
the idea of reopening Rosette in Detroit, where he
has been working on development projects. He
continues to restore the Jarmulowsky Bank Build-
ing, on Orchard Street, which is destined to be-
come a boutique hotel.
By Ed Litvak
LO-DINE T
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LO-DINE T
H
E
6 7"%"%8 9 72"%:"%8 *$;%3;+
by Jennifer Strom
(continued)
now open
Pig & Khao, Leah Cohens Asian fusion restau-
rant on Clinton Street, marks its second anniver-
sary this month. To celebrate, the team is throw-
ing a party in the style of an adult carnival, with
magic shows, clowns and tarot card readers,
along with DJs, popcorn and cotton candy. The
main attraction at the Oct. 5 event is unlimited
suckling pig lechon, side dishes and unlimited
draft beer. The fun kicks off at 3 p.m. and runs
until 10 p.m. Tickets are $40; find more info at
facebook.com/pigandkhao.
celebration
J:!+= K/ E!"=
K/ L";!+? I>* M #:!+=K/*#+,N<!"=
The ground-floor space above the Chloe 81 speak-
easy opened last month as a cocktail and oyster
bar set in a newly refurbished space. Hours are 5
p.m. to 2 a.m. daily, and reservations are accepted
via OpenTable.
O'>'#+) OB('+
/P7 H((=Q I>* M F'>'#+)FB('+)%#*#+,

After months of delays,
the popular Venezuelan
street food joints LES
outpost finally debuted
in mid-September. Its
the third restaurant in
the small family-owned
chain, which began as a
food truck in 2005; the
other locations are in
Washington Heights and
Elmhurst. The namesake
dish is a sandwich
framed by fried green
plantain patties in place
of bread, filled with a
variety of meat and
veggie combos. Theres
a version of a Cubano
with pulled pork, and
an excellent vegetarian
option featuring beans,
avocados and fried cheese. Other sandwich styles
include arepas, tachuchos (burrito-style wraps),
and cachapas (made with sweet corn cakes); all of
them are priced at $8 to $10.
EB9;( R E"<<!=(
/SSE T+9(%>: I>* M <B9;(');<"<<!=(*#+,
Lower East Side fans of Indian food can stop short
of trekking to the East Villages Little India district
with the addition of this new spot near Houston
Street. Its a straight-up classic Indian joint, serving

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First, there was the cronut. Then, the bruffin.
Now, a Stanton Street cafe wants in on the
hybrid-pastry action. Croissant/doughnuts
and brioche/muffins, make way for creffles,
the namesake dish at a new coffee shop
on the block between Ludlow and Essex
streets. Co-owner Alan Tak says its a combi-
nation of a crepe, a waffle and an eggette,
a spherical pancake popular in Hong Kong.
They come in both sweet and savory ver-
sions, along with coffee brewed from beans
roasted on-site.
@B9>% T9=)#:
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The newest restaurant from the Major Food Group (the team
behind Torrisi and Carbone) has arrived at the new Ludlow
Hotel. It brings the metaphor of a dirty martini or dirty rice
to French cookinga departure for the team known for its
Italian restaurants. Were taking a classic conceptin this
case, the Parisian bistroand adding bold and exotic flavors,
partner Jeff Zalaznick told /+.0) last month. Reservations
must be booked at least a month in advance. Theres also
an accompanying lobby lounge and garden offering cocktails
and people-watching.
U:= V"B#=9%
/6 H((=Q I>* M &"B#=9%)=?%+9$*#+,
A new purveyor
of gluten-free,
raw and vegan
across from
Seward Park of-
fers 12 varieties
of cold-pressed
juices, eight
smoothie fla-
vors (as well as
create-your-own
combos), tea,
coffee and shots
like wheatgrass.
Snacks include
an acai bowl,
chia seed pud-
ding and green tea fluff cake. Juices cost $3 to $9,
while smoothies are $6.50 to $8.50. Hours are 7
a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m.
to 6 p.m. on weekends.
lunch, dinner, happy hour and late-night eats, as
well as take-out and delivery. Try the vegetable
samosas and the lamb rogen josh with a side
of onion naan for dipping; the rice pudding is
delicious, too. Hours are noon to 11 p.m. daily,
and include lunch specials.
grand street update
When Shalom Chai pizzeria closed in June, many la-
mented the departure of the last full-service kosher
restaurant on the Lower East Side. Those laments,
however, may well have been premature. Nathan
Sklar, a lifelong Seward Park Co-op resident and lo-
cal businessman, is proposing a new kosher eatery
in the double storefront at 357-359 Grand St. Our
concept is a cafe where everyone can eat, said Sk-
lar, who would be making his first foray into the res-
taurant business, in partnership with other investors
and a chef who lives in East River Co-op. Sklar is the
executive director of Comprehensive Companies, a
collection of businesses that includes Comprehen-
sive Kids, a developmental school. Sklars proposal is one of four competing applications presented in
August to the board of Seward Park Co-op, which owns the one-story commercial strip running from
Essex Street to Clinton Street. The other three options include a Spanish restaurant by Grand Street
residents Alex Raij and Eder Montero, a noted husband-and-wife chef team who own three other res-
taurants and have already secured a liquor license there. Ned Baldwin, of East Village restaurant Prune,
is proposing a third restaurant. The fourth applicant is The Pickle Guys, whose owners are seeking to
relocate their well-known store around the corner into bigger space. A decision by the co-op board on
a tenant will likely be made public sometime in October. Sklars proposal includes breakfast, lunch, din-
ner, takeout and delivery, as well as a full liquor license and outdoor seating. People need to know that
kosher doesnt have to mean dirty, or unfriendly, Sklar said. The neighborhood is changing, and we
want to change with it.
thing happened in the streets. In 1945, she joined
the Photo League, a group that believed in using
the camera lens to effect social change. When it
[the League] started, Lepkoff told Elkin, there was
no photography that had to do with life at all... No
one took photographs of how people lived. The
Photo League said the world is out there and
we should go out there and bring life back to be
seen. Later in life, Lepkoff split her time between
New York City and Vermont. Following her death
August 17, Jesse Lepkoff, her son, told a local
newspaper, She was an amazing artist, mother,
and person.
There is a rich tradition of street photography
on the Lower East Side that is still very much alive
today. This past summer, we lost a photographer
whos an inspiration to so many others who fol-
lowed in her footsteps. Rebecca Lepkoff, who was
born on Hester Street in 1916, died at her part-time
home in Townshend, Vermont, just a few days after
her 98th birthday. Lepkoffs black-and-white photo-
graphs from the 1940s and 1950s captured every-
day lifekids playing in the street, women hanging
laundry, people gathered on the front stoop. In a
2011 interview with The Lo-Downs Tobi Elkin, Lep-
koff recalled, People lived in the streetsevery-
arts watch
Remembering Rebecca Lepko
22 October 2014 The Lo-Down | TheLoDownNY.com 23
The Estate of Rebecca Lepkoff, Courtesy Howard Greenberg Gallery, New York.
The Estate of Rebecca Lepkoff, Courtesy Howard Greenberg Gallery, New York.
The Estate of Rebecca Lepkoff, Courtesy Howard Greenberg Gallery, New York.
The Estate of Rebecca Lepkoff, Courtesy Howard Greenberg Gallery, New York.
The Estate of Rebecca Lepkoff, Courtesy Howard Greenberg Gallery, New York.
The Estate of Rebecca Lepkoff, Courtesy Howard Greenberg Gallery, New York.
The Estate of Rebecca Lepkoff,
Courtesy Howard Greenberg Gallery, New York.
The Estate of Rebecca Lepkoff, Courtesy Howard Greenberg Gallery, New York.
The Estate of Rebecca Lepkoff, Courtesy Howard Greenberg Gallery, New York.
24 October 2014 The Lo-Down | TheLoDownNY.com 25
me young, I want to keep mastering stuff and stay
agile, and I dont care how old I get, Ill never
grow up.
How long have you worked on the Lower
East Side?
Weve had Dah Shop for six and a half years (this
month). But itll be a year that Ive had it on my
own. I originally started with a business partner but
now its just me, by myself.
What made you decide to open Dah Shop
here?
The location kind of chose us. We really wanted
to be near the Manhattan Bridge because I used
to work at Metro Bikes on the west side, so the
Manhattan Bridge was pretty much my daily rou-
tine. I grew up in Flatbush, and thats the route I
would take every day. So at some point in time,
it dawned on us that there wasnt a bike shop
What do you do?
I ride for Animal Bikes and I sell a lot of their prod-
uctsprimarily their productsin my store. I've
worked on some signature products with them
and Ive been riding with their company since
2000, since day one for me...I dont like to cate-
gorize the type of riding I do, but what we do
most is street riding. There werent a lot of skate
parks when we started riding and if there were,
they didnt allow bikes. I like to refer to what I do
as freestyle because I can get on anything and
be free and have fun. I like to ride a lot of different
types of bikes to keep trying stuff outit keeps

Tyrone
WILLIAMS
For our regular feature spotlighting the people
who live and work on the Lower East Side, we
talked with Tyrone Williams, who owns Dah
Shop bike shop at 134 Division St., and is a
BMX freestyle rider.
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anywhere around there. We knew that was part
of what we wanted to do. Because either way, as
commuters or riders, whatever style, if you need
something or you get a flat youre gonna hope
theres a bike shop nearby and you dont have
to walk too far. We came here and I think the
landlord just took a liking to us and it just kind
of worked out. Now people know us from all
over the world. So well hopefully be here for a
long time.
Favorite cheap eats?
I like to go to the bakery around the cornerSun-
rise Bakery on East Broadway, at the corner of
Essex. Thats a good spot for quick, good pastries
that you can get for a dollar or a dollar twenty-
five. You can get good stuff on the go there. I also
like going to Mings Cafe, which is the Chinese
restaurant on Canal at the corner of Essex. My
favorite quick eat is the peanut butter and jam
toast cuz Im a fanatic about peanut butter and
jelly. I dont know why. I like it a lot. It works. Some
people think thats all I run on cuz i probably eat
it almost every day. Peanut butter and jam toast
for $1.25 with a cold Ovaltine made by Tiffany.
Favorite place for a special event?
I like Bacaro, next door to the shop. Some people
go there who are a little posh and they look at me
like, what are you doing here? But I like that I
can go in wearing basketball clothes and not be
turned away. If you have a larger crowd you can
go downstairs and theres more seating. Weve
done a bunch of random celebrations there. I
also like Forgtmenot, my other NDN [next
door neighbor]. Its two different vibes and two
different atmospheres. Both are cool. Forgtmenot
is a homestyle place: its a bar that serves good
food with good people. Sometimes you can
watch some soccer, but sometimes you can watch
movies. Ive seen so many movies there. Its a
place where you can chill and enjoy yourself and
take a load off. Neither of the two places are
pushy theyre very relaxed.
How have you seen the neighborhood
change?
A lot more diverse businesses and galleries have
opened up; some work, some dont. There are a
lot more places to eat and drink. It was really
quiet when we opened. There was nothing ex-
cept this nice Venetian restaurant [Bacaro] and
Project 8, which was a posh ladies store that
never had anyone in it. Some of the older, cheap
electronics businesses and such have had to
move out because they were stuck in a different
time period, things are moving faster now and its
hard for them to stay around.
What do you miss from the old LES?
These days, Im always working, so Im more fo-
cused on what Im doing than whats going on
out there. The job of running a business means
life just whizzes by you. I look up and its the end
of summerwhat happened?
Is there a new arrival you love?
I like Dimes. Dimes is cool. Im not a crazy fan
about restaurants, I dont get all wowed out, but
theyre cool. I mean, if theres a place where you
can enjoy good food, then its probably OK.
When we first opened up, I was eating a lot of
dumplings and stuff like that because it was cost-
effective. But at the same time, Im an athlete and
I cant be eating that shit all the time because its
[messing] up my body.
What drives you crazy about the neighbor-
hood?
Not much, except when people have attitude or
12+'("'0)3 +' #4.) 567
26 October 2014 The Lo-Down | TheLoDownNY.com 27
receive upgrades for energy efficiency. The historic
row houses at 263 and 265 Henry St. were selected
by the Municipal Art Society for a green building
demonstration project. Some enhancements have
already been made, with more to come.
A capital campaign to support the renovations
began in 2012 with the goal of raising $12 million.
Foundations, all with representatives on the Henry
Street Board of Directors, came forward with major
gifts right away. The Louis and Anne Abrons Foun-
dation, the Burch Family Foundation, the Harold
and Mimi Steinberg Foundation and the Source
of Hope Foundation all contributed $1 million or
more. There were gifts from other foundations,
corporations and individuals, and government enti-
ties came up with another $3.3 million. The gifts al-
lowed Henry Street to launch an even more robust
fundraising campaign. Nearly $17 million has been
pledged so far, with $3 million still to go.
Garza said it will take about three years to com-
plete the projects. A public review process to give
Henry Street ownership of the firehouse is about to
get underway. The main goal, he said, is to make
sure Henry Streets facilities match the high quality
of its programs.
12+'("'0)3 8*+9 #4.) 5:7
give you a look like who are you? with some
sense of entitlement. But theres not too much
that irritates me because Im pretty easygoing
and open-minded.
Whos the best neighborhood character
youve met and why?
Well, were all characters arent we? But my
favorite neighborhood character lately is the
Sikh mailman I see around here all the time. He
custom-made his clothing so he could work for
the post office. He has this tall turban and a long
beard. Im not sure what country hes from; he
might be from the Middle East. But he just has a
look to him thats like yeah. He has a custom-
made uniform to fit with his religion. I see him
and think, that dudes dope. He used to wear
the big Beats headphones on top of his whole
turban wrap and Id be like, oh, my man is really
doin it right now. Hes chillin. Thats what it's
all about. Hes like, OK, I work for The Man but
so what, I got to make a living, but Im gonna do
it my way.
Tell us your best LES memory.
You know, its just every day that passes. You
dont know where youre gonna go or how
youre gonna feel or how its going to end up. I
never thought that Id live to be 31 years old. I
dont feel like Im 31 years old, Im still a little kid
on the inside. Ill act like an adult when I have to,
but if you want to live a long time, you have to
be able to enjoy yourself.
DodgePoetry.org
VISIT
O
C
T
O
B
E
R
2
3
-
2
6
, 2
0
1
4
1
5
T
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A quick PATH
ride to over
70 acclaimed
poets at
9 beautiful
venues
in Newarks
Downtown Arts
District
Henry Street Settlement Embarks on
Major Capital Projects
By Ed Litvak
The Henry Street Settlement, one of the Lower
East Sides largest institutions, is preparing a major
upgrade of its facilities. The $20 million project will
include the transformation of an old firehouse that
has been vacant for well over a decade and a facelift
for the amphitheater at the Abrons Arts Center.
The firehouse at 269 Henry St. was closed fol-
lowing the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. A plan
has been in place for several years to transfer own-
ership from the city to Henry Street, which has its
headquarters right next door. But it took some time
to raise the money to restore the building. Once the
organization takes control, it will spend $5.5 million
to convert the 1884 structure into a new Neighbor-
hood Resources Center.
The design, from architectural firm Beyer Blinder
Belle, emphasizes street access. The 5,000-square-
foot building will become Henry Streets front door,
offering food stamp enrollment, legal services, a
parent center, child care rooms and a community
gathering space.
On Grand Street, the amphitheater will be re-
designed as more open, accessible and welcom-
ing. The Abrons Arts Center building, opened in
the 1970s, has always been a bit foreboding and
institutional. The revamp, by Ennead Architects, will
include moving the wall of the second-floor gallery
out toward the street and installing floor-to-ceiling
windows. There will be new landscaping, resurfac-
ing and a ramp in compliance with the Americans
with Disabilities Act. The current entrance just to
the west of the amphitheater will be eliminated
and a more obvious entryway created at the top of
the theater steps. The project also includes repairs
to the buildings exterior to prevent future water
damage and upgrades to the adjoining 1915 play-
house, a national historic landmark. The arts center
improvements are expected to cost $7 million.
A few years ago, rumors circulated that Henry
Street was entertaining offers from developers to
sell air rights at Abrons Arts Center for possible con-
dos. Henry Street Executive Director David Garza
told The Lo-Down he couldnt comment directly
about that, but added that the organizations in-
vestment in the facility is a powerful statement
of support for the reinvigorated arts program,
which, he noted, has tremendous momentum.
At 301 Henry St., portions of the organiza-
tions youth center will also see improvements. The
lobby will be remodeled, a new kitchen will be in-
stalled and the lower-level gym will be renovated.
In addition, the organizations headquarters will
Rendering of the revamped Abrons Arts Center by Ennead Architects
Renderings of the firehouse at 269 Henry St.
by Beyer Blinder Belle
28 October 2014 The Lo-Down | TheLoDownNY.com 29
The Lo-Down is the Lower East Sides
essential community news source.
Founded in 2009, Lo-Down Productions
LLC produces this monthly magazine as well as a
website, thelodownny.com, which is updated
daily with neighborhood news, arts coverage,
restaurant information and more. The primary
editorial coverage area is bounded by East
Houston Street on the north and Bowery on the
west, although some stories range above Houston
Street, as far uptown as East 14th Street.
The print magazine is published 10 times each
year, with double issues in July/August and
December/January. Each month, 12,000 copies
are distributed throughout the Lower East Side.
The Lo-Down is not aff iliated with any other
company or organization.
This independent publication relies solely on
advertising revenue and does not receive funding
from any outside sources other than the various
advertisers who are displayed in print and online.
Our sponsors sustain this publication as a vital
outlet for community journalism and engagement.
A variety of advertising opportunities are
available in the magazine and on the website.
Inquire by email at ads@thelodownny.com or by
phone at 646-861-1805. Story tips, article
submissions and letters to the editor are welcome
via email at tips@thelodownny.com.
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