The city recently tried to peddle the property on the south side of Delancey Street where the Essex Street Market used to be to Hilly Kristal, owner of CBGB, the famed punk nightclub that’s leaving the Bowery in November. But he’s not interested.

“It would cost $5 million to renovate it,” he said, adding, “I have no money.” And because of his financial woes, before Kristal can rent a new space, he’s been trying to find new ways to sell the CBGB brand.

There may be other takers, however.

“We’ve had some interest in the building lately and we’re looking into our options,” said Janel Patterson, a spokeswoman for the city’s Economic Development Corporation, which runs the space. She declined to name the suitors. “There’s nothing we can talk about publicly at this point. Hopefully something will happen soon.”

Locals have long wondered what the future holds for the building.

“You’ve gotten used to just ignoring it,” said Dara Lehon, director of marketing at the Lower East Side Business Improvement District. “There’s always junk and trash lying around there. But it seems like such a valuable space that’s underutilized.”

The area north of Delancey — where there’s another Essex Street Market building used by produce, fish and meat purveyors — has been colonized by trendy bars, restaurants with luxury hotels and housing. The area south of Delancey has only recently been eyed as a hot spot. “There’s a lot of construction going on down here, a lot of new eateries,” Lehon said. “It’s a different vibe.”

In the meantime, Kristal has his eyes on another space below 8th Street and two in Midtown that could accommodate his vision for a new CBGB. Aside from the club, he’d like an area to sell clothes, food, and “a museum kind of thing.” “[The Essex Street Market] is nice big space,” Kristal said, “but I might find something even bigger.” Kristal is also continuing talks for a possible space in Las Vegas