A 21-story residential tower and cultural center has topped out at 2031 Fifth Avenue in East Harlem. The base of the building will house the National Black Theatre, retail space, a multipurpose “communal living room” open to the public. The upper levels of the building will house Ray Harlem, a 222-unit rental component.
The development team behind the project includes the National Black Theatre, Ray, and LXMD, the mixed-income development affiliate of L+M Development Partners. The design team includes Frida Escobedo Architects and Handel Architects.
The cultural center will occupy 27,000 square feet and include a 250-seat performance space, a 99-seat intimate theatre, administrative spaces, classrooms, and a set-building shop to support workforce development in theatrical trades.
Available units will range from studio up to two-bedroom floor plans.
Rendering of the National Black Theatre and Ray Harlem
Rendering of the National Black Theatre and Ray Harlem
Construction team celebrate the topping-out at the National Black Theatre and Ray Harlem tower – Photo by Brett Tiagwad
The development is the first to utilize the City’s Visual and Performing Arts (VPA) bonus, designed by former New York City Council member Inez E. Dickens. The VPA facilitates collaboration between the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs and the Department of City Planning to spur revitalization and cultural growth through rezoning.
Construction broke ground in July 2022 and the building is scheduled to open in late 2024. The theatre is on schedule to open in 2026.
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They had a pot of gold at the topping out?
A remarkable coincidence or a nice piece of PhotoShop! 🌈
A very interesting project, but the address doesn’t seem right.
Apparently they are re-naming this stretch of 5th ave to National Black Theatre Way. So the theater will be 2031 National Black Theatre Way and the residence is 2033 National Black Theatre Way
This block has been co-named NBT Way for years.
Amazing how fast it went up when so many other buildings are stalled. Would love a report on the long-standing holes across 125th and at Park. I’m sure there’s a story there.
They built an “intimate” theater at the Kimmel Center in Philadelphia and guess what? There were so few seats that performances could not break even and it sat idle. Ironically, Harlem is well on its way to becoming a white neighborhood. “Diverse” areas are usually in the process of changing from one majority to another.
Hope the base looks as good as the renderings. Now I’m heading over to the Lenox Lounge
Sorry Lenox Lounge is long gone
It is always positive to see development like this happening in Harlem. And where the black community and businesses can benefit. I just hope this would be use as an example for what is yet to come. RIP Reverend Calvin Butts