In 2006, a doctor involved in a bitter divorce destroyed his four-story townhouse on the Upper East Side. The explosion also killed the doctor, earning him the nickname “Dr. Boom.” Now, there is a new approved proposal for what will fill the vacant lot.
CW Realty is planning to develop a 33-story condominium tower at 1361-1363 First Avenue, located on the corner of East 73rd Street on the Upper East Side. The project is expected to measure roughly 120,000 square feet and is being designed by HTO Architects, the New York Post reported. The number of planned apartments wasn’t disclosed, and it’s unclear whether there will be commercial space included. The new building will cantilever over the adjacent four-story tenement at 1365 First Avenue. CW Realty acquired the four-story mixed-use building at 1361 First Avenue earlier this year for $9.4 million and is in contract to purchase the four-story tenement at 1363 First Avenue. The latter sale is expected to close next year, and existing commercial and residential tenants in both properties are already in the process of relocating. The developer will also transfer air rights to the assemblage from other properties on the block. Demolition permits haven’t yet been filed.
Work is now underway to convert the dilapidated three-story (plus basement), 12-unit single-room-occupancy (SRO) building at 226 West 132nd Street, in Harlem, into four residential apartments. Construction on the building can be seen in a photo posted to Harlem+Bespoke. Permits at the Buildings Department indicate there will be 3,384 square feet of residential space, which means the project’s four full-floor apartments should average 846 square feet apiece. It’s unclear if the apartments will be condominiums or rentals. Renovations to the structure include a rebuilding of the interior spaces, foundational work, and new windows. Chi F. Lau’s TriBeCa-based architectural firm is the architect of record and David Lavipour is the property owner. Completion can probably be expected later this year.
Fairstead Capital has purchased the vacant seven-story, 108-key Park 79 Hotel at 117 West 79th Street, on the Upper West Side, for $22.5 million. The new owners plan to convert the 32,172-square-foot SRO building into an undisclosed number of residential apartments. It’s unclear whether the apartments will be rentals or condominiums. Park 79 Hotel closed late last year after receiving a slew of violations from the Buildings Department. Before the property was an illegal hotel, it was supposed to be a single room occupancy building for low-income tenants, Real Estate Weekly reported. The property comes with 27,780 square feet of air rights, allowing for a potential expansion. It’s also located within the Upper West Side/Central Park West Historic District, which means the Landmarks Preservation Commission must approve any exterior alterations.
Central Harlem is soon going to have one fewer vacant lot. Developer Rafael Santandreu hopes to build a nine-story, mixed-use building at the corner of 135th Street and St. Nicholas Avenue, next to the 135th Street stop on the B and C trains.
