A NEW VISION FOR NEW YORK
By: Hope Wilkos, Writer/Blogger
Photographer: George Whylie
Videographer: Maxine Nolan
Photos Courtesy of www.nytimes.com
Every year the Javits Center in New York City draws a global crowd of visitors attending events from graduations to merchandise expos to fashion events. However, as we progress into the next coming years, the scenery in Midtown Manhattan close to this location is beginning to change. Colossal residential projects are in the works giving this portion of the city a fresh and vibrant change.
Silver Towers is a sleek skyscraper with 1360 residences each having integrated kitchens, top of the line appliances, a magnificent view of the Hudson River as well as a captivating view of historical landmarks all across the city. MiMa is on 42nd Street with over 800 units, a hotel, luxury services at your doorstep, state of the art exercise facilities and even comes complete with a dog city. Mercedes House is known as New York City’s next architectural icon with rental apartments having a stunning view of the Hudson River in a modern tower of glass and greenery. The high rise will have 850 units.
The largest development by far will be Gotham West. This rental and condominium complex will occupy almost entirely the block of 44th-45th Street from 10th to 11th Avenue. The grand opening will take place in 2013. The mix will consist of 1263 units as small as a studio and as large as a three bedroom in market-rate and income-restricted rental apartments and condominiums. One of the goals of this private developer, Gotham Organization, is a desire to make it affordable to live within the city with over 682 units being classified into this category. This is the largest project undertaking by a private developer. Also within this area will be 1700 square feet of retail space including a specialty store. In the midst of it all will be a landscaped Wi-Fi enabled two-level private courtyard that residents will be able to share and socialize in.
Where once an elementary school occupied a red brick building in the area, 25 condos will replace and the school is relocated to the Upper East Side. A new school will be constructed in the area with a completion date of Fall of 2013.
Quite a bit of money is going into making this area what it will eventually become. Gotham Organization is investing $200 million and tax-exempt bonds from the State’s Housing Finance Agency will fund a portion as well.
This will definitely revitalize the area, a feat that may be just what Midtown Manhattan needs. A few blocks south is Hudson Yards. There is speculation that New York Fashion Week may already be outgrowing Lincoln Center after just a few seasons and Hudson Yards may be the perfect solution and destination for this fashion event. It may be called ‘The Culture Shed’ within Hudson Yards. With this would also come a giant Nordstrom store and Coach’s Headquarters. The additional possibility of a mall is not far off either.
Good news is that oversaturation would certainly not present a problem and this would only generate more demand for housing and signify stability and permanence in this upcoming area.
The minds are in motion and we will be eager to see the finished product in 2013.
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