Factory-esque Funhouse Padlocked On Bowery

Photo via bitchcakesny's flickr

An underground arts and events space at 169 Bowery called Collective Hardware has been shut down after the landlord of the building said the group owes $1MM in back rent. Their five-floor funhouse includes (or had hoped to house) artist studios, a cafe and bar, a wellness center, a lounge, a greenhouse, a production studio, and was expected to one day have a rooftop garden. Sure sounds like an expensive endeavor! And one that founder Rony Rivellini hoped would one day be able to "monetize the artists, so they can sustain themselves."

According to the NY Post, city marshals padlocked the place last week, and a spokesman for the building owner told the paper, "Also, the way they're using the building is illegal. They do not have the proper certificate of occupancy to run events or parties, and they do not have a public assembly permit. That creates a safety issue for the unsuspecting public."

Rivellini, likened his collective and its now shuttered space to Warhol's Factory, and has sent out an email calling upon a "white knight" to save his vision.

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By Jen Carlson in News on May 19, 2010 4:24 PM

Comments [rss]

butterbutter

Hmm. That's expensive rent! 1 million in a year. Rent must almost be 100K a month.

They need an investor that really needs a tax shelter. Perhaps the Collective can apply for non-profit status. It might help them find investors. Otherwise it's just like throwing money out the window.

May be they should think about buying a building themselves in a less 'hip' area of the city, like Morningside Heights, or Innwood, or even Staten Island.... but then their cool artsy factor would be gone and they would have to be real artists.

jules1000

that's too bad. I loved that place. But you gotta pay rent.

I expected it to be shut down anyway, because of the events.

NYC needs places like this, but it's hard to survive financially, especially in Manhattan.