Gotham Organization Inc. has reached a deal to secure a $530 million construction loan from a group led by Wells Fargo to build a huge residential complex on the far West Side, sources said Tuesday.
Known as Gotham West, the four-building complex will consist of about 1,240 residential units—with more than 500 of them designated as affordable housing—taking up almost an entire city block between West 44th and West 45th streets and Tenth and Eleventh avenues. Construction on the project, which will also include a parking garage and 17,000 square feet of retail, is expected to begin in the third quarter of this year, according to the company's website.
Last edited by babybackribs2314; Jun 9, 2011 at 7:56 AM.
This building is far from exciting architecture, however if the developer doesn't go crazy with cheap materials it should look alright. More importantly, it'll be great to pump new residents into what is currently a pretty fringe neighborhood.
It's a midrise tower on 11th ave, then lowrise the length of the street, with a school being built separately but at the same time. There is a little more bulk to be built on the far east side of the site yet, backing the gas station on 10th ave. It's apartments other than the school.
I walked by this project the other day, it is seriously massive. It feels like its larger than 1,250 units (I would have guessed closer to 2,000 units). It takes up the entire block minus the gas station on 10th Avenue. This area of Hell's Kitchen needs many more projects like this one to bring it proper street life. The stretch of 11th Avenue where this is located is nearly devoid of any interesting commercial uses and restaurants. On to my pictures.
The remaining gas station on 10th Avenue (hopefully this is redeveloped one day)
A new school:
(photos by me)
Some final thoughts:
- Its amazing how a project of this size for the most part has flown completely under the radar. It is probably partly due to its location on the far west site, but it says something how something of this magnitude can happen in NYC with so little attention.
- The architecture is boring, but somehow seems to work given the project's seeming admission to being "filler".
- I hate how they have treated the street frontage on the side streets. The ground level units have bars over the windows. I don't think it helps change the perception of this neighborhood as being rough (which it really isn't anymore).
- Finally, this project needs friends. I think there needs to be several other mixed-use residential buildings going up nearby to get the critical mass needed to make it a pleasant neighborhood. Additionally, more residential would help bolster transit connections locally, which are definitely needed.
sbarn you did the same walkaround i did on this. great it see how much further along it is.
too bad its such boring filler. i think avalon west is going to be kinda dullsville like this one too. they should have come up to the south bronx to see cool new blockbuster infill architecture (via verde) - ha!