From Rinses to Retail, Chelsea Car Wash Makes its Exit

From Rinses to Retail, Chelsea Car Wash Makes its Exit
May 14, 2008 | Author: jeffatthehighline | Categories: Tishman Soeyer, Sundeck, New York Times, Neighborhood, Links, Education, Edris, Design, Community, Chelsea Now, Chelsea Market, CB4

As many Chelsea dwellers, West Side Highway & Hudson River Park commuters, taxi drivers, and car wash enthusiasts may have noticed, the distinctive red Chelsea Car Wash sign has disappeared. It was removed from where it was attached to the High Line about a month ago with little fanfare.

In the coming months, the Car Wash-- one of the characteristic staples of the working West Side--will close its garage doors to make way for a new retail location on the corner of West 14th Street and 10th Avenue.

There's currently no tenant booked, but in the next year or so, the Milk Group (as in Milk Studios, next door), aims to find a design, fashion, or other retail tenant for this 40,000-square-foot space directly underneath the High Line. Renderings from their sales office show wrap-around windows in Car Wash-like glass. There's also apparently a subterranean level for more retail.

More design renderings, and facts about the neighborhood-- from the sales brochure--after the jump.

From the sales brochure, DID YOU KNOW:

* 73,150 Cars pass the site daily

* 16,200 People visit the Chelsea Market, next door, every day

* Chelsea Piers attracts over 4 Million visitors annually

10 Comments

elizabeth (not verified) on 8/12/2009 6:38 PM said:

darn!! I was just googling to see their hours. though expensive they were the best in the city.

sam (not verified) on 8/12/2009 6:38 PM said:

when they gonna close the car wash

sam (not verified) on 8/12/2009 6:38 PM said:

when they gonna close the car wash..because the have more than 5 month and still there

Ted Greenwood (not verified) on 8/12/2009 6:38 PM said:

The original designers of the carwash are Base. See: http://blog.thisisbase.com/2009/03/one-new-york-city-landmark-to-close-a...

How to Get Six Pack Fast (not verified) on 8/12/2009 6:38 PM said:

I can tell that this is not the first time at all that you mention this topic. Why have you chosen it again?

Joseph Lengeling AIA (not verified) on 8/12/2009 6:38 PM said:

Great design that held up through several architectural design idioms in New York while it existed. Who were the original designers?

maria (not verified) on 8/12/2009 6:38 PM said:

please close the car wash and open the retail stores... i hope it turns out beautiful!!!

Alibaba (not verified) on 8/12/2009 6:38 PM said:

I appreciate the carwash and their employees. They do a superb job...pleeeeeeeeeze dont close!

achiote tincher (not verified) on 8/12/2009 6:38 PM said:

What Chelsea does NOT NEED is another retail store, OR restaurant, OR art gallery. puhleeze. Suggestion: a bicyce parking garage !

Bob McArdle (not verified) on 8/12/2009 6:38 PM said:

Retail-smeetail, bring the car wash back....DAMNIT !!.