Landscape Renovations Underway At NYU’s Bleecker Street, LaGuardia Place Plazas, Greenwich Village

6:30 am on February 19, 2016 By Vitali Ogorodnikov

New York University’s 1.6-million-square-foot expansion looms on the horizon, in anticipation of its distant 2035 completion. However, well ahead of any significant redevelopment, a smaller overhaul of street-adjacent community space is already underway. NYU is collaborating with the NYC Department of Parks and Recreation to upgrade two linear, street-facing plazas at LaGuardia Place and Bleecker Street.

Read More
Orchard Beach pavilion

Bronx Borough President Proposes Upgrading Pelham Bay Park’s Orchard Beach Pavilion

6:00 am on February 19, 2016 By Reid Wilson

Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. is proposing to redevelop the Orchard Beach pavilion, an individual landmark, that currently serves as the focal point for Pelham Bay Park, in the East Bronx. The structure, which was completed in 1936, would be transformed to allow for more event space, food concessions and retail space, according to The Real Deal. Nearby the pavilion, the park includes picnic areas, the Pelican Bay Playground, and a beachfront. The pavilion portion of the project is being estimated to cost $40 million, although plans have been in the works for some time to upgrade the rest of the beach, which could cost up to $200 million in total. Diaz has designated $10 million in capital toward the project. The Landmarks Preservation Commission would have to approve any alterations to the Orchard Beach pavilion.

Read More
135-35 Northern Boulevard

RKO Keith’s Theater Mixed-Use Development Site Being Placed Back On The Market, Flushing

4:00 pm on February 18, 2016 By Reid Wilson

In 2013, Jerry Karlik’s JK Equities acquired the RKO Keith’s Theatre, an individual landmark at 135-27 – 135-35 Northern Boulevard in Downtown Flushing, for $30 million. The developer received approval to redevelop the severely dilapidated structure in 2015, but now Karlik is putting the development site back on the market, Crain’s reports. A new developer could build a 16-story, 269-unit mixed-use building with 24,493 and 15,727 square feet of commercial and community facility space, respectively. A buyer could also take advantage of a previously granted tax break. Studio V Architecture was behind JK Equities’ proposal, although a new owner could always choose to design a different building and go back to the Landmarks Preservation Commission for approval. Cushman & Wakefield is marketing the site.

Read More
83 Stanhope Street

Two Four-Story, Eight-Unit Residential Buildings Filed At 83 Stanhope Street, Bushwick

3:00 pm on February 18, 2016 By Reid Wilson

Isaac Silber, doing business as an anonymous Brooklyn-based LLC, has filed applications for two four-story, eight-unit residential buildings at 83-85 Stanhope Street, in central Bushwick, located three blocks from the Central Avenue stop on the M train. Each of them will have 5,457 square feet of residential space, which means units will average a rental-sized 682 square feet apiece. Each building will also have a fifth-floor penthouse level to which one of the fourth-floor units will have access. Midtown East-based Michael Avramides is the architect of record. Two two-story townhouses must first be demolished.

Read More
5521 Eighth Avenue

Foundation Work Underway For Six-Story, 40-Unit Medical Office Building At 5521 Eighth Avenue, Sunset Park

2:00 pm on February 18, 2016 By Reid Wilson

In October of 2014, YIMBY revealed renderings of the planned six-story, 40-unit multi-use commercial building at 5521 Eighth Avenue, on the corner of 56th Street in Sunset Park, located seven blocks north of the N train’s stop on Eighth Avenue. The Brooklyn Daily Eagle reports foundation work is now underway on the 81,569 square-foot project, which will include 36 medical offices and four retail units. The retail space will measure 13,003 square feet in total and will span the ground floor and a mezzanine level. The medical offices will begin on the second floor and should average 1,180 square feet apiece. Flushing-based Andy Wong filed documents with the Attorney General’s office in January, which indicated the project is being valued at $76.3 million. Raymond Chan is designing and completion in 2017 seems likely.

Read More