Builders aiming to cater to the growing number of Chinese families in eastern Sunset Park have started looking for ways to redevelop its aging brick townhouses and squat walk-up apartment buildings. One such project emerged from the Department of Buildings filings yesterday. Longtime owner William Chou hopes to build an eight-story, mixed-use building at 816 58th Street, between 8th and 9th Avenues.
In January, developer Yosef Streicher disclosed preliminary plans to redevelop the long-vacant, three-story 68th Police Precinct Station House and Stable, an individual landmark at 4302 Fourth Avenue, located on the corner of 43rd Street in Sunset Park. The plan was for some sort of community facility, a café, and roughly 10 residential units. The New York City School Construction Authority (SCA) has since struck a deal with the developer to transform the property into an over 300-student public school, the Brooklyn Paper reported, which means the original plans are out the window. The SCA also disclosed the possibility and likelihood that the buildings could be demolished. Since the structures are an individual landmarks, that means the Landmarks Preservation Commission would have to approve its demolition (a highly unlikely event). The city could automatically demolish the landmark if the structures are deemed hazardous.
Back in 2014, the Brooklyn Public Library floated the idea of redeveloping its Sunset Park branch – at 5108 Fourth Avenue, located on the corner of 51st Street – into a mixed-use building with a new library and affordable residential units. Now, the Brooklyn Public Library and non-profit developer Fifth Avenue Committee are planning to move forward with an eight-story, 49-unit mixed-use project, DNAinfo reports. The team is expected to begin the city’s Uniform Land Use Review Procedure (ULURP) within the coming weeks. If approved, the building would feature a 21,000-square-foot library. The current single-story, 12,200-square-foot branch, which is in need of repairs, would be demolished. Fifth Avenue Committee would acquire the property from the city to develop the project.
Junhong Zhu, doing business as an anonymous Brooklyn-based LLC, has filed applications for an eight-story, 24,033-square-foot medical building at 876 60th Street, in southern Sunset Park, located two blocks from the Eight Avenue stop on the N train. The project will feature 19,160 square feet of medical offices, plus a daycare facility located on the cellar level. Lower Manhattan-based Chi F. Lau is the architect of record. The development assemblage include two 20-foot-wide, three-story apartment buildings. Demolition permits were filed in February to knock them down.
Brooklyn-based Hengchang Property has filed applications for a four-story, eight-unit residential building at 670 47th Street, in Sunset Park, located five blocks from the 45th Street stop on the R train. The structure will measure 9,075 square feet, and its residential units should average 890 square feet apiece. That means either rental apartments or condominiums. Shi Ming Tam’s Borough Park-based SM Tan Architect is the architect of record. The 45-foot-wide site is currently partially occupied by a two-story brick rowhome, and was subdivided into two tax lots in January to accommodate the new building.
