New renderings have been revealed for 76-99 Empire Boulevard, a proposed 13-story residential building in Crown Heights, Brooklyn. Designed by S9 Architecture and developed by Bridge Development Group, which recently filed rezoning applications for the site, the 145-foot-tall structure is planned to yield 261 rental apartments, including 78 rent stabilized and affordable units. The building will also contain 98,000 square feet of commercial space and 190 enclosed parking spaces. The trapezoidal property is bound by Sullivan Place to the north, Empire Boulevard to the south, and McKeever Place to the west.
The renderings depict the building composed of multiple staggered volumes clad in different shades of gray and earth-toned brick, all surrounding a uniform grid of recessed windows. The setbacks atop each of the volumes are depicted topped with green terraces, and the structure culminates in a flat parapet capped with a bulkhead and a landscaped roof terrace. The first two stories feature expansive floor-to-ceiling glass for the retail space, which is planned to include a grocery store.
Rendering courtesy of S9 Architecture.
Rendering courtesy of S9 Architecture.
The entrance to the underground parking garage will be located on the northern elevation along Sullivan Place, as seen below. A loading dock for the commercial space will sit beside the garage entrance.
Rendering courtesy of S9 Architecture.
At a public hearing in January, Crown Heights residents voiced opposition to the project, raising concerns that the structure would cast shadows over at the nearby Jackie Robinson School outdoor playground. They also argued that the project would be oversized relative to the neighborhood, despite the fact that the site directly neighbors the much taller Ebbets Field Apartment complex. A representative of the developer argued that 73-99 Empire Boulevard would create new opportunities for business and jobs, fulfill the need for affordable housing through the Mandatory Inclusionary Housing program, and tackle the site’s state of urban decay.
The 70,774-square-foot site is currently occupied by a derelict one-story garage, seen in the Google Street View images below.
Image via Google Maps.
Image via Google Maps.
Image via Google Maps.
If the rezoning application is denied, Bridge Development Group plans to instead construct a two-story commercial building with 182 underground parking spaces. Brooklyn Borough President Reynoso has until February 15 to make a decision on the proposed rezoning. The proposal would then go to the City Planning Commission, which would hold another public hearing and vote before the application goes before the City Council.
The nearest subways from the site are the B, Q, and S trains at the Prospect Park station to the southwest along Lincoln Road, as well as the 2 and 5 trains at the Sterling Street station to the east at Nostrand Avenue.
The site was last sold for $15.2 million in April 2021. The developer previously filed demolition permits to tear down the aging structure, but they were never issued.
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Would be a shame if the rezoning doesn’t go through!
Can an architect please comment on why every new building has a brick base with a very dark metal-clad protrusion coming out? I understand the form factor precipitated by zoning, its more why are they all brick bases with grey or black toppers? Why that specific design choice?
Also don’t we want buildings to be lighter in color to prevent heat island effect? Like painting black roofs white?
It’s all part of an obsession to “break up the mass” without ever asking why that’s needed.
A misguided attempt at “breaking up the mass” of a building.
So whatever gets built here, it seems hundreds of new parking spaces is the point.
A McDonald’s ‘Golden Arches’in a rendering, ruins the vibe..
As usual, NYC being allergic to landscaping. What a dull design. And why no balconies?
What’s with all the parking spaces? It may as well be Long Island at this rate
Desolation is also part of the problem, but denial and disagreement can happen as well on development: Thanks.
It was a matter of time before they tore down that old structure across from Western Beef and McDonald’s. Old Crown Heights is gone.