Iconic Chelsea Artist Building Offered Purchase by Elizabeth Foundation

An esteemed nonprofit seeks to purchase a West Chelsea arts building to establish an artist residency program while retaining existing tenants. The Wolff Building, listed earlier this year, has been contested by artists and residents. The Elizabeth Foundation for the Arts offered to buy it and create a studio program like its West 39th Street flagship. Anne-Brigitte Sirois of Art State LLC emphasized preserving Manhattan’s creative hub. The foundation plans to maintain the current tenants and introduce new cultural spaces and resources. The building’s future depends on the Naftali estate, which listed it for $170 million. Although four offers, including from Bedrock Mini-Storage, are on the table, none have been accepted yet. Tenants face uncertainty as new leases allow future owners to evict with short notice. Despite challenges, many remain hopeful, with ongoing events and protests against the sale.