70 West 139th Street

Eight-Story, 64-Unit Mixed-Income Residential Building Tops Out at 70 West 139th Street, Harlem

The eight-story, 64-unit mixed-use building under development by Harlen Housing Associates at 70 West 139th Street, in Harlem, has now topped out and is receiving its façade. YIMBY can bring you photos of the construction progress thanks to a tipster. The latest permits indicate the structure will encompass 68,857 square feet. The mixed-income project will feature a 1,878-square-foot community facility on the ground floor, followed by 64 condominiums averaging 836 square feet apiece. It was learned last year roughly two-third of the apartments, or 42, will receive some degree of affordable designation. Amenities include a 32-car underground garage, storage for 34 bikes, laundry facilities, private residential storage, an outdoor recreational space on the ground floor, and another “recreational room” on the ground floor (possibly a fitness center). Peter Franzese’s Greenwich Village-based design and engineering firm is the architect of record. Completion can probably be expected late this year or early next year.


3052 West 21st Street

Ford Amphitheater on Coney Island Boardwalk Opens for Business at 3052 West 21st Street

Last week, the open-air Ford Amphitheater on the Coney Island Boardwalk, at 3052 West 21st Street in southern Brooklyn, held its ribbon-cutting ceremony. The 5,000-seat venue debuted its first show, Impractical Jokers, on Friday. Live Nation is operating the amphitheater, according to Crain’s, and the location now serves as the new home of Seaside Summer Concert Series, which hosts free shows during the summer months. The three-story former Childs Restaurant Building, an individual landmark, was renovated and incorporated into the new amphitheater structure. The 90,164-square-foot building will also feature a restaurant on the ground floor and the rooftop, although it’s unclear when that will open. The rest of the property includes 40,000 square feet of public open space. The project is the work of iStar Financial, the nonprofit Coney Island USA, and the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC). Gerner, Kronick + Valcarcel (a.k.a. GKV Architects) is the architect of record.


Foster's 200 Greenwich, composite by Jose Hernandez, image originally by Joe Woolhead

It’s Time to Bring Back Norman Foster’s Design for 2 World Trade Center

News broke this week that billionaire Ron Perelman committed $75 million to financing the World Trade Center’s Performing Arts Center, which will provide the complex with a much-needed cultural amenity. But with 175 Greenwich (3 World Trade Center) nearly complete and the remaining puzzle pieces now falling into place, it is YIMBY’s opinion that it is also time to reconsider the design changes proposed for 2 World Trade Center. With Fox failing to commit to BIG’s proposal for the site, it makes much more sense to return to Norman Foster’s far more attractive design for the tower, which was shelved last year.

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510 East 185th Street

Two Six-Story, 88-Unit Extended-Stay Hotels Filed at 150 East 185th Street, Belmont

Nehalkumar Gandhi, doing business as North Bergen, N.J.-based Ratan Realty, has filed applications for two six-story, 88-unit extended-stay hotels at 510 East 185th Street, in the West Bronx’s Belmont section. One of the buildings will measure 43,895 square feet while the other will measure 53,340 square feet. Across both, there will be a total of 121 hotel rooms located on the ground through third floors, and 55 apartment-hotel units located on the fourth through sixth floors. Amenities include off-street parking for 20 cars, storage for 34 bikes, laundry facilities, meeting rooms, fitness centers, and breakfast areas in the cellars. Michael Kang’s Flushing-based architectural firm is the architect of record. The 21,411-square-foot site, bound by Bassford and Bathgate avenues and East 185th Street, is currently occupied by a single-story warehouse. Demolition permits were filed in April. The site is six blocks south of Metro-North Railroad’s Fordham station.