Lower East Side

A historic LES synagogue, now an artist’s studio, asks $10.95M

Photo credit: Yoo Jean Han

September 15, 2026

A historic LES synagogue, now an artist’s studio, asks $10.95M

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Within what was once a well-known synagogue at 80 Forsyth Street on Manhattan's Lower East Side, the magnetism of this impossible-to-define property goes beyond its rich public history. The three-story space can be used as a live/work studio, gallery, or museum, with many more creative options due to the block's flexible zoning. Recently featured in the New York Times, the building is currently the studio of artist Dana Barnes, a former fashion designer known for creating large-scale fiber sculptures and wall hangings. Charmed by the space and its history, she and her husband, Dale Westhoff, purchased it in 2013 for $6.4 million. Asking $10.95 million, the 6,800-square-foot building's scale and architectural details require no embellishment beyond what meets the eye.
see the space from all angles
Lower East Side’s former Essex Street Market to become 99-unit rental

Renderings courtesy of BFC Partners and S9 Architecture.

August 3, 2026

Lower East Side’s former Essex Street Market to become 99-unit rental

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The site of the historic Essex Street Market on the Lower East Side is slated to become a mixed-use development with 99 apartments. As one of the last remaining undeveloped parcels in the city's decade-long Essex Crossing redevelopment, 100 Essex Street will rise 10 stories and include 26 affordable apartments, ground-floor retail, and a new elevator and escalator for the Delancey Street subway station. Developed by Delancey Street Associates and designed by S9 Architecture, the new building will rise on the site of the historic market, which opened in 1940 and closed its doors in 2019. Many vendors moved to a new and larger Essex Street Market across the street as part of the redevelopment.
details here
East River’s self-filtering floating pool delayed until 2027

+ POOL Rendering. Designed by Family New York & Playlab, Inc. Image: Family New York. Courtesy of Friends of + POOL

July 31, 2026

East River’s self-filtering floating pool delayed until 2027

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New Yorkers will have to wait a little longer for the self-filtering floating pool in the East River. Initially slated for a pilot this summer, the +POOL team announced on X on Wednesday that while construction is nearly complete, ongoing work on the Brooklyn Bridge-Montgomery Coastal Resilience project will delay testing of the prototype until at least 2027. More than 15 years in the making, the project reached a major milestone in summer 2024, when Gov. Kathy Hochul and former Mayor Eric Adams selected Pier 35 as its official location.
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Plan to restore 1820s Lower East Side church and add 130 affordable homes advances

Credit: City Planning Commission

June 1, 2026

Plan to restore 1820s Lower East Side church and add 130 affordable homes advances

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A project to restore an 1820s-era Lower East Side church and build a mixed-use development with 130 affordable apartments next to it is moving ahead. Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal on Friday recommended approval of a proposal to renovate St. Augustine's Chapel at 290 Henry Street and replace an existing two-story classroom annex with a 21-story mixed-use housing development. Now headed to the City Planning Commission for review, the development would include income-restricted apartments for families earning 50, 80, and 110 percent of the area median income, as well as some units for formerly homeless New Yorkers.
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Katz’s Deli reopens ‘secret’ dining room closed to public for nearly 80 years

All photos courtesy of Katz’s Deli

May 20, 2026

Katz’s Deli reopens ‘secret’ dining room closed to public for nearly 80 years

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After nearly 80 years hidden from the public, a "secret" dining room at Katz's Deli has reopened following a restoration. The Ludlow Room, a 68-seat space that once served generations of New Yorkers, opened Tuesday after being closed in 1949 and converted into a giant walk-in refrigerator amid postwar demand for deli meats. Restored to reflect its original appearance, the Ludlow Room features original tin ceilings and period-inspired lighting, as well as the same freight scale used to measure every pound of meat served at Katz's for eight decades.
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New Museum opens OMA-designed expansion

Photo: Jason Keen. All images courtesy New Museum.

March 20, 2026

New Museum opens OMA-designed expansion

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After two years, the New Museum will reopen its doors this weekend, as its long-awaited $82 million expansion is finally complete. The seven-story, 60,000-square-foot addition, designed by OMA’s Shohei Shigematsu and Rem Koolhaas in collaboration with Cooper Robertson, one of the few projects combining the work of two living Pritzker Prize-winning architects, opens to the public on Saturday, March 21. Seamlessly combining with the existing SANAA-designed flagship on the Bowery at Prince Street, the project doubles the New Museum's gallery space, adds a permanent home for its cultural incubator NEW INC, and introduces a new outdoor plaza and a 100-seat all-day cafe and restaurant.
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New $21M home for Lower East Side’s ABC No Rio art space tops out

Rendering courtesy of Paul A. Castrucci Architect

November 4, 2025

New $21M home for Lower East Side’s ABC No Rio art space tops out

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After breaking ground in summer 2024, construction began for a new home for ABC No Rio, the iconic DIY punk rock venue and arts/cultural space that had been a fixture on the Lower East Side’s street scene since 1980. On Friday, leaders and volunteers from ABC No Rio joined city officials to celebrate the “topping out” of their new home at 156 Rivington Street. The $21 million facility, funded by the city, will replace the tenement building previously occupied by the venue. The new building, designed by Paul A. Castrucci Architects and scheduled to open in late 2026, will meet LEED Silver and Passive House energy efficiency standards.
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Corlears Hook Bridge, amphitheater, and new sports fields reopen at East River Park

All photos courtesy of NYC Parks / Daniel Avila

October 3, 2025

Corlears Hook Bridge, amphitheater, and new sports fields reopen at East River Park

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City officials last weekend celebrated the reopening of the Corlears Hook Bridge, amphitheater, and restored sports field at East River Park. The reopening is part of the broader East Side Coastal Resiliency (ESCR) initiative, which is elevating and rebuilding the park to protect the Lower East Side from rising sea levels. In May, the park’s south end reopened after closing in 2021, with new picnic and barbecue areas, a passive lawn, six tennis courts, two basketball courts, a nature exploration area, and a multi-use area.
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East River Park section reopens with new passive lawn, picnic areas, and courts

All photos courtesy of DDC

May 30, 2025

East River Park section reopens with new passive lawn, picnic areas, and courts

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City officials on Thursday celebrated the opening of new public spaces in East River Park, just in time for summer. Closed since 2021 as part of the project to protect the Lower East Side from rising sea levels, the south end of the park's new amenities include picnic and barbecue areas, six tennis courts, two basketball courts, a passive lawn, a nature exploration area, and a multi-use area. These areas are currently only accessible via the new Delancey Street pedestrian bridge.
plan your park visit
Egg rolls, egg creams, and empanadas: Lower East Side street festival returns for 24th year

Photos courtesy of Museum at Eldridge Street

May 14, 2025

Egg rolls, egg creams, and empanadas: Lower East Side street festival returns for 24th year

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A street festival celebrating the diverse cultures of the Lower East Side takes place next month. Hosted by the Museum at Eldridge Street, the 24th annual Egg Rolls, Egg Creams, and Empanadas Festival brings together Jewish, Chinese, and Puerto Rican heritage with a day of food, music, crafts, and more. The block party takes place on Sunday, June 15.
details this way
Amazing light, East River views, and a private terrace for $2M on the Lower East Side

Photo credit: Allyson Lubow for The Corcoran Group

March 12, 2025

Amazing light, East River views, and a private terrace for $2M on the Lower East Side

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Homes in the classic East River Co-op at 572 Grand Street on the Lower East Side are known for offering great value when it comes to location and space. Asking $1,999,000, this three-bedroom residence is a fine example, with the additional perk of a private terrace and dazzling river and city views. Architect-designed interiors mean modern style and convenience on a par with the city's newly-minted condo towers.
Get a closer look
New Museum opening OMA-designed expansion this fall

Rendering of the expanded New Museum. All images courtesy of OMA/bloomimages.de

February 27, 2025

New Museum opening OMA-designed expansion this fall

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The expansion of the New Museum will finally open its doors on the Lower East Side this fall. Designed by OMA's Shohei Shigematsu and Rem Koolhaas in collaboration with Cooper Robertson, the 60,000-square-foot, seven-story addition—the architecture firm's first public building in New York City—connects to the existing building, doubling its gallery space and improving visitor flow. The project includes a permanent home for the museum's cultural incubator NEW INC, a new outdoor plaza, and full-service restaurant.
see it here
LES arts collective ABC No Rio breaks ground on new building in triumphant return to original home

Photo by Eden Janine and Jim via Flickr

September 17, 2024

LES arts collective ABC No Rio breaks ground on new building in triumphant return to original home

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A decade ago, New York City's creative community expressed alarm, tempered by a bit of hope, at the news that ABC No Rio, the iconic downtown DIY punk rock venue and arts/cultural space that had been a fixture on the Lower East Side's street scene since 1980, would be moving. What has been a 10-year journey has achieved a promising new milestone as construction began on a new space at 156 Rivington Street this summer. As Hyperallergic reports, the collective's new home, set to open in 2026, will mean a triumphant full-circle return to the group's original "art squat" address on Rivington Street after a long and arduous wait and many setbacks along the way.
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East River Park partially reopens with new ballfields and pedestrian bridge

Photos courtesy of NYC Parks / Daniel Avila

September 11, 2024

East River Park partially reopens with new ballfields and pedestrian bridge

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New York City officials this week opened two ballfields in East River Park and unveiled the new Delancey Street pedestrian bridge, marking a significant milestone for the East Side Coastal Resiliency Project (ESCR). Ballfields 1 and 2 have been equipped with an advanced drainage system and new amenities to withstand climate change through the $1.45 billion ESCR initiative. The Delancey Street Bridge, manufactured in Italy and installed in the park, provides an ADA-accessible entry point from the Lower East Side to East River Park.
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NYC floating pool coming to the Lower East Side (eventually)

+ POOL, designed by Family New York & PLAYLAB, INC. Rendering by Luxigon.

August 7, 2024

NYC floating pool coming to the Lower East Side (eventually)

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Plans to bring a self-filtering floating pool to the East River are taking a small step forward this month. Gov. Kathy Hochul and Mayor Eric Adams named Pier 35 on the Lower East Side as the official location for the +POOL, a first-of-its-kind swimming pool that uses a unique filtration system to provide safe swimming. Thanks to joint funding from the city and state, a three-month water filtration demonstration project will begin this month. A prototype of the +POOL structure could be ready by the summer of 2025.
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Lower East Side rental opens lottery for 196 affordable apartments, from $454/month

Rendering courtesy of NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development

July 1, 2024

Lower East Side rental opens lottery for 196 affordable apartments, from $454/month

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A housing lottery launched this week for 196 affordable apartments in a new rental building on the Lower East Side. Located at 165 Broome Street, the 15-story building offers tenants new residences in one of New York City's trendiest neighborhoods. New Yorkers earning 30, 50, 70, and 80 percent of the area median income, or between $18,480 for a single person and $154,080 for a household of seven, can apply for the units, which range from $454/month studios to $2,949/month for a three bedroom.
find out if you qualify
A new grocery store for Two Bridges: Brooklyn Fare opens at One Manhattan Square

Photos courtesy of One Manhattan Square

May 8, 2024

A new grocery store for Two Bridges: Brooklyn Fare opens at One Manhattan Square

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Over a decade after the longstanding Pathmark store closed, residents of Two Bridges this week celebrated the opening of a new grocery store in the neighborhood. Brooklyn Fare Kitchen & Market has opened at the base of luxury condominium One Manhattan Square at 227 Cherry Street. The new store measures 25,500 square feet, features an all-glass storefront and 20-foot ceilings, and offers a variety of fresh produce, prepared foods, and more, at an affordable price.
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Sammy’s Roumanian Steak House will reopen on the Lower East Side

Sammy’s Roumanian Steak House on Chrystie Street. Streetview © 2024 Google

April 3, 2024

Sammy’s Roumanian Steak House will reopen on the Lower East Side

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A legendary Lower East Side restaurant known for its Jewish Romanian dishes and vodka-fueled party atmosphere is making a comeback after closing during the pandemic. Sammy's Roumanian Steak House announced plans to reopen at 112 Stanton Street, with service starting on Passover, as EV Grieve first reported. Daily service is expected in June.
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$24M revamp of Lower East Side’s Nuyorican Poets Café is underway

Renderings courtesy of the NYC DCLA

March 29, 2024

$24M revamp of Lower East Side’s Nuyorican Poets Café is underway

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The Nuyorican Poets Café, a beloved performance space on the Lower East Side for half a century, is undergoing a $24.1 million transformation. The city's Department of Cultural Affairs and the Department of Design and Construction on Thursday kicked off the project, which will renovate and expand the cultural institution's lobby, add new performance spaces and offices, improve accessibility, and perform extensive repairs on the building's exterior. Designed by Rice+Lipka Architects, the reconstruction project is slated for completion in spring 2026.
see the design
At former Streit’s Matzo Factory, a Lower East Side penthouse with two terraces asks $4.35M

All photos courtesy of Allyson Lubow for The Corcoran Group

March 27, 2024

At former Streit’s Matzo Factory, a Lower East Side penthouse with two terraces asks $4.35M

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At the site of a former matzo factory on the Lower East Side, a shiny new penthouse is available for purchase. The seven-story condo building 150 Rivington Street replaced Streit's Matzo Factory, a neighborhood icon in operation for nearly 90 years before closing in 2015. Atop the brand-new project is a sun-drenched three-bedroom apartment with over 500 square feet of outdoor space and classic city views, listed for $4,350,000.
details here
Essex Crossing’s Market Line food hall to close in April

Photo courtesy of QuallsBenson

February 9, 2024

Essex Crossing’s Market Line food hall to close in April

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The Market Line, the food hall located inside the Lower East Side's Essex Crossing development, is closing its doors on April 1. A spokesperson for developer Delancey Street Associates on Friday announced that the subterranean food hall will close this spring due to pandemic-related difficulties. A majority of the food hall's vendors, including its anchor beer spot the Grand Delancey, have announced their exodus from the space over the last month, as Eater New York reported. Delancey Street Associates said that they're looking at other uses for the space.
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Look out on the city from high above the Lower East Side in this $3.8M penthouse

All photos courtesy of Rise Media

February 1, 2024

Look out on the city from high above the Lower East Side in this $3.8M penthouse

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Manhattan's Lower East Side is enjoying a true 21st-century glow-up; this three-bedroom penthouse atop 196 Orchard Street embodies the layers of luxury that now define the storied neighborhood. The 1,925-square-foot condo offers an iconic city perch surrounded by 18-foot ceilings and views of downtown Manhattan through bronze-edged casement windows.
downtown penthouse living, this way
The best bar in North America is on the Lower East Side

Double Chicken Please, image courtesy of World’s 50 Best Bars

October 19, 2023

The best bar in North America is on the Lower East Side

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The best bar in North America is in New York City. The annual list of the world's 50 best bars was unveiled this week and the Lower East Side's Double Chicken Please took second place, making it the best bar on this continent. Two other Manhattan bars made the list: Overstory in the Financial District at 17 and and Katana Kitten in Greenwich Village at 27.
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Tenement Museum reopens historic building after $7M restoration

All photos courtesy of the Tenement Museum

September 21, 2023

Tenement Museum reopens historic building after $7M restoration

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A 160-year-old tenement on the Lower East Side that was home to thousands of immigrants from 1863 to 1935 will reopen to the public following a major restoration. After a year-long renovation project, the Tenement Museum on Thursday will unveil work done on 97 Orchard Street, one of two historic tenements owned by the museum that offers an immersive look at the lives of immigrants during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The comprehensive renovation project reinforced and protected original features and finishes, preparing it for future generations of visitors.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE RESTORATION PROJECT
‘Beastie Boys Square’ to be unveiled at LES block party with Ad-Rock and Mike D

Photo courtesy of Eden, Janine and Jim on Flickr

September 7, 2023

‘Beastie Boys Square’ to be unveiled at LES block party with Ad-Rock and Mike D

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A Lower East Side intersection is being renamed "Beastie Boys Square" this weekend, with members of the famed hip-hop trio expected to make appearances during the celebration. On Saturday, September 9 from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m., Adam "Ad-Rock" Horovitz and Michael "Mike D" Diamond will join Council Member Christopher Marte and fellow New Yorkers for a block party celebrating the co-naming of the corner of Ludlow and Rivington Streets. The now-iconic intersection was featured in the art for the group's second studio album "Paul's Boutique."
get the details
Lower East Side corner named for Economy Candy founder

Photo courtesy of the New York City Council

July 31, 2023

Lower East Side corner named for Economy Candy founder

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The corner of Rivington and Essex Streets on the Lower East Side has been co-named "Morris 'Moishe' Cohen Way" to honor the founder of New York City's oldest candy shop. After returning home from World War II, Cohen took over Economy Candy, which quickly became a neighborhood staple, serving candy, chocolate, nuts, and gift baskets. His family has pushed for the co-naming since Cohen's death at the age of 97 in 2015. After the City Council approved the naming earlier this year, the street corner was officially renamed on Saturday.
Details here
City designates these NYC neighborhoods as ‘rat mitigation zones’

 Photo by Ludovic Bertron on Flickr

April 5, 2023

City designates these NYC neighborhoods as ‘rat mitigation zones’

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New York City this week named eight rat-prone neighborhoods as part of Mayor Eric Adams' quest to control the rodent population. According to a notice posted by the city's Department of Health and Mental Hygiene on Monday, the "rat mitigation zones," which are areas with "high levels of rat activity," include Bushwick, Bed-Stuy, and Prospect Heights in Brooklyn, Grand Concourse in the Bronx, and Chinatown, the East Village, the Lower East Side, and Harlem in Manhattan. As Crain's reported, these identified zones will be the focus of a multiagency effort to address the rats and the conditions that cause them, according to the city.
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