See Essex Crossing's first four buildings taking shape on the Lower East Side

The megaproject will eventually bring over 1,000 apartments to the Lower East Side

Field Condition recently stopped by at the Essex Crossing megaproject on the Lower East Side and captured the first four buildings at the site, in various stages of construction. All four of these buildings are set to open at different times over the course of 2018 and will bring a mix of condos, rentals, affordable apartments, and retail to the Lower East Side.

The first of the condo buildings that will see completion at this megaproject is located at 242 Broome Street. Since we last checked in with this SHoP Architects-designed building, most of the condo is now clad in its anodized aluminum facade. Sales on the 14-story tower's 55 condos got underway last fall with prices starting at $1.2 million.

Since the launch, several condos have already gone into contract. Of the ones that remain on the market, prices range from $2.5 million for a two-bedroom, two-bathroom unit and go up to $6.25 million for one of the building's penthouses.

The first four floors of the building will feature the amenities and some of the cultural components of the project, including a yet-to-be-named cultural center, and a bowling alley.

242 Broome is also known as Site One. As for Site Two, SHoP Architects is collaborating with Handel Architects on that project, which is located at 115 Delancey Street. That project will bring 195 rentals (98 of them affordable) to the Lower East Side.

This building will also serve as the new home of the Essex Street Market, a Regal Cinemas outpost, and serve as the entrance to Market Line.

115 Delancey Street

Over at Site Five, the Beyer Blinder Belle-designed rental has topped out and is fully clad in its brick-and-metal facade. Of the 211 apartments at 145 Clinton Street, 100 are affordable, the lottery for which launched in March this year. Two big chain stores will also make a home at this 15-story tower: a Target, and a Trader Joe's.

145 Clinton Street

Finally, Site Six is also nearing completion. Dattner Architects have designed a 14-story building with apartments for low-income seniors at 175 Delancey Street. It was the first building to top out, as part of the megaproject. The affordable housing lottery for the building's 99 one-bedroom apartments got underway in April this year with apartments starting at $558 per month.

Overall, the Essex Crossing megaproject is comprised of nine sites spread out over six acres. The project is being developed by the Delancey Street Associates at a cost of $1 billion and will eventually bring over 1,000 apartments (a little more than half affordable) to the Lower East Side.

• Construction Update: Essex Crossing [FC]
• All the Essex Crossing coverage [Curbed]