According to Curbed, the Salvation Army is negotiating to sell 347 Bowery.
A few days ago EV Grieve reported on Koi Restaurant’s outreach to the neighborhood, ahead of tonight’s meeting of the CB3 committee that reviews new liquor licenses. We stopped by the “meet and greet,” last Thursday, held at Sala, just across the street from the proposed upscale sushi spot — the former Salvation Army East Village Residence (347 Bowery). The Salvation Army is still, apparently, in negotiations with the Koi Group. As a glaring symbol of gentrification, it’s a development that hasn’t gone unnoticed by neighborhood blogs.
CEO Nick Haque, was not there, but his chef, Nathaniel Christian, and Dina Voorhees, GM of the Bryant Park branch of Koi, were available to answer questions and show us the plans. The attendance from the community was minimal. We didn’t hear any vocal opposition while we were there but that could have been because we were all busy partaking in the tasty food and drink provided by Sala.
We learned the interior of the new space will be redesigned but it seems the outside of the building will not be altered. We were told Mr. Haque will be on hand at tonight’s community board meeting. We’ll be there, too, tweeting the latest news, and we’ll have a full update after the marathon meeting late this evening. For a list of LES restaurants and bars that will be applying for or trying to upgrade liquor licenses at tonight’s meeting, visit our earlier post here.
