Salvation Army selling on Bowery

The Salvation Army is looking to unload the tallest building on the Bowery, its 12-story Chinatown Corps building between Rivington and Stanton Sts.

Major Edmund Chung, the Salvation Army’s secretary for business administration, confirmed neighbors’ reports that the building is for sale. Its lower two floors currently house the Salvation Army’s church, but it is inadequate for the congregation, as well as children’s and senior activities they run, he said.

“If we can find another location, we would certainly divest ourselves of that property,” Chung said. The building has been there since the Depression and used to be known as Booth House II, serving as a hostel for homeless men run by the Salvation Army. It has 15 to 16 rooms per floor, but the top floors have been empty the last four years or so. The organization did not have the resources to renovate the building, Chung said.

Chung said the building is solid, concrete and steel frame, and that he would expect it to be bought by a private developer for residential use. He said sale prices tossed around have been $15 million to $20 million.