Foundations are underway at 335 Eighth Avenue, the site of a seven-story mixed-use building in Chelsea, Manhattan. Designed by COOKFOX Architects and developed by MAG Partners and Penn South aka Mutual Redevelopment Houses, Inc., with financing provided by global holding company Safanad, the structure will span around 200,000 square feet and yield 188 rental units in studio to two-bedroom layouts, as well as a 23,000-square-foot Lidl supermarket and additional ground-floor retail space. Thirty percent of the homes will be reserved for affordable housing. Urban Atelier Group is the general contractor for the property, which is located at the corner of Eighth Avenue and West 26th Street within the Penn South affordable housing cooperative, officially known as Mutual Redevelopment Houses.
Demolition had just finished at the time of our last update in early October, when the plot sat cleared and awaiting the start of excavation. Since then, crews have already created various sections of the new reinforced concrete foundations around the eastern corner while excavators continue to unearth the remainder of the rectangular parcel. The superstructure could likely start to rise above street level in late spring to early summer.
Photo by Michael Young
Photo by Michael Young
Photo by Michael Young
Photo by Michael Young
Photo by Michael Young
Photo by Michael Young
Photo by Michael Young
Photo by Michael Young
Photo by Michael Young
A new rendering has also been released showing the eastern elevation. The building is depicted with a red brick envelope, a grid of recessed rectangular windows, and tall floor-to-ceiling windows for the retail frontage. The residential entrance sits beneath a canopy topped with shrubbery along Eighth Avenue, and dark metal railings line the expansive rooftop terrace.
Photo by Michael Young
The Lidl supermarket will feature a bakery, fresh produce, a floral shop, meat and seafood, and other typical everyday essentials. The store will be the German company’s second outpost in Manhattan following a Harlem location at 2187 Frederick Douglass Boulevard that opened in February 2022. YIMBY last reported that Lidl is expected to work with Hire NYC to offer employment to local residents and provide comprehensive benefits such as healthcare for all full- and part-time employees, regardless of hours worked per week.
Ninety percent of the units will be studios and one-bedrooms, and the remaining 10 percent will be two-bedroom apartments. Residential amenities at 335 Eighth Avenue will include a fitness center, library, media lounge, coworking lounge with private workspaces, a dining area with a catering kitchen, and rooftop gardens with dining areas and a grilling terrace.
In recent news, JLL Capital Markets arranged a $151.4 million capitalization for the project with financing secured from Bank OZK and MetLife Investment Management. The property is a short walk from the local C and E trains at the 23rd Street station to the south.
335 Eighth Avenue’s anticipated completion date is slated for the third quarter of 2025.
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This is too small, it’s going to be a tear-down and replace in 10 years. What a waste.
Great addition to this area. The brick matches nearby towers so it will integrate perfectly. It’s next to a huge parking lot which will hopefully turn into other great developments like this one.
As has been said before of course this development probably should have been 3X as large but the developers likely didn’t want a prolonged fight from Penn South neighbors overs views and density, the involvement of the CB or a lengthy zoning change process.
If they could build bigger as of right, why wouldn’t they?
The issue seems more with the zoning code which forces those annoyances for variances.
I don’t know if they could have built bigger as of right, that’s what I’m saying. A larger project probably would have proved controversial with Penn South owners and forces a long ULURP process.
The lot should have been zoned for higher density by the city.
It seems ironic for people living in tall, commieblock like buildings to complain about such a thing
Penn South owns the property. They don’t have to fight with the developers. They partnered with them.
RIP UCB!
Insane how small this is. Instead of fighting the Penn south folks- just tear that down.
Can anyone explain to me why we have a massive empty parking lot next to this building also!?
It’s not empty. There is a long waiting list for Penn South residents and it takes non-residents as well at full price. Maybe you saw it on a weekend when many people drive out of town!
Goodbye, Grifter Gristede’s. Lidl will show you how a supermarket is run.
This looks very promising, though I do wish its potential size was fully maximized and not only stand seven floors tall against a busy avenue. Could’ve been as tall or taller than 278 8th Avenue just down the road
What are we doing building shorter than decades ago?! blocks away from Penn Station?!
Anyone who lives nearby knows that it’s the perfect size for its location. Empty parking lot? The Penn South parking garage is usually full to capacity (above and below ground). It generates a lot of income for Penn South. Moreover, all the surrounding businesses that Penn South own are low buildings. Penn South prides itself on its beautiful green spaces and aesthetically pleasing urban layout.
Penn South owns the property. That’s the answer to all the questions about height and size. Penn South also owns the land the parking lot is on.
An asset to Chelsea
Urban Atelier Group should be responsible and well-versed in bricklaying, is there anything else to worry about? Thanks to Michael Young.