The Lower East Side confines leading up to the Williamsburg Bride is evolving rapidly. At the northeast corner of Delancey Street and Orchard, the old Moscot eyeglass store is being demolished. The two-floor building held the iconic retailer for 77-years according to a profile on the store and its owner by the Wall Street Journal. In its place will rise a 12-story, 24-unit rental building developed by JEMB Realty-affiliate, Helm Equities.
SWA Architecture are the executive architects with Alexander Gorlin Architects responsible for the design. Building permits were first filed in fall of 2014 and according to a representative at Alexander Gorlin Architects, construction should commence in the next couple of months. Alexander Gorlin’s prior NYC work includes the design of several affordable housing buildings in the Bronx and Brooklyn, and the Zenith at Liberty Harbor in Jersey City.
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Building permits were first filed in fall of 2014 and according to a representative at Alexander Gorlin Architects, construction should commence in the next couple of months. JEMB Realty affiliate, Helm Equities is listed as the project’s developer.
The Orchard Street project will rise mostly free-standing and is exterior is defined by full-height glass walls, dark metal spandrels and red-accented mullions. The building’s program will include two floors of retail at street level with nine floors of rental apartments above. Apartments will have private outdoor space and multiple exposures for occupants to enjoy open views of the area.
Rendering via Alexander Gorlin Architects; Demolition photos via Promont Group
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Ondel Hylton
Ondel is a lifelong New Yorker and comprehensive assessor of the city's dynamic urban landscape.
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