502 Main Street

New 5,500 Square-Foot New York Public Library Branch Planned At 502 Main Street, Roosevelt Island

The New York Public Library plans to build a new Roosevelt Island branch at the site of the existing building at 502 Main Street. Located in the East River between Queens and Manhattan island, Roosevelt Island is politically part of Manhattan. According to Curbed NY, the new library will measure 5,465 square feet and will feature a 670 square-foot community room, a children’s room and teen space, as well as many more computers. The old 2,200 square-foot facility at 524 Main Street is reportedly struggling to keep up with public demand. Smith-Miller+Hawkinson Architects is designing the new library, which is scheduled to open in late 2017 or early 2018.

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485 Seventh Avenue

Financing Secured For 16-Story, 618-Key Hotel Conversion At 485 Seventh Avenue, Garment District

In March of 2015, the Landmarks Preservation Commission approved alterations that would go into converting the 16-story, 235,000 square-foot office building at 485 Seventh Avenue, at the corner of West 36th Street in the Garment District, into a boutique hotel. The property, an individual landmark, was completed in 1907 as the Mills Hotel No. 3, a male-exclusive, 1,885-unit single-room occupancy residential hotel. The Lightstone Group is planning to convert the property into a 618-key MOXY Hotel by Marriott, and Commercial Observer reports $330 million in financing was secured for the project. Retail space and a restaurant will be located each on the ground and second floors. Stonehill & Taylor Architects is the architect of record.

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