By Lincoln Anderson
A new five-story residential building is rising on the site of the Sullivan St. building formerly home to “The Fantastiks,” the longest-running Off-Broadway play in history. Developed by Jeff Gershon and designed by ADG Architects, the new building at 181 Sullivan St. will feature five full-floor condominium residences, including one garden duplex.
Also, on Third Ave. between 14th and 13th Sts., a new 21-story, 77-unit residential tower is being constructed by the Toll Brothers developers. Apartment prices will range from $850,000 to $2.2 million. The site was previously home to the Off-Broadway Variety Theater — earlier a vaudeville theater, nickelodeon and then movie theater — which was demolished for the new project.
Andrew Berman, director of the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation, said G.V.S.H.P. is working with State Senator Tom Duane to preserve Downtown theaters.
“We are trying to address the problem of theaters being pushed out for high-end residential development,” Berman said. “It’s a big problem when the Village is losing theaters, which have been the backbone of the cultural vitality of this neighborhood for generations.”
