UPPER WEST SIDE—One glance at the rendering for Related's twin-towered The Harrison leads to a question: what the heck is that building in the middle? It's the Amsterdam Inn, a budget hotel between 76th and 77th Streets that also houses the Westside Brewing Co., the same establishment that was in the news recently regarding the destructive qualities of neighboring construction. A tipster writes: "The Amsterdam Inn wouldn’t sell out to Related. But rumor has it the Inn owner may actually go ahead and convert it into a real boutique hotel. West Side Brewery’s lease was up in February but they got extended to September. Not sure what happens then." A boutique hotel, just what this city needs! [CurbedWire Inbox]
CHELSEA/MEPA NORTH—An all Related CurbedWire! The rental portion of the developer's new Caledonia building, which is almost on top of the High Line, features one of the most anticipated affordable housing lotteries ever seen. Writes one entrant: "I got my wait list notification for Related's Caledonia housing lotto in the mail today. Very jealous of the people who will get these cheap apartments and those ahead of me on the list but, honestly, kind of happy with my very low wait list number." Careful where you do that yoga. [CurbedWire Inbox]
The city has posted a few renderings of its big plan for Hunters Point South in Long Island City. It would include up to 6,650 units of housing, with the definition of "affordable" in the plan being the subject of dispute. There's a huge Environmental Impact Statement out (available on the New York Economic Development Corp.'s website) and a large number of meetings coming about the plan, that have just started.
· Hunters Point South [NYCEDC]
· LIC Holds First Hearing on Hunter's Point South [Queens Chronicle]
HARLEM—Despite last minute efforts to block a vote, the City Council has approved the contentious plan to rezone 125th Street and surrounding blocks. Opponents say the rezoning will lead to more gentrification, displace residents and businesses and change the area signficantly, but supporters have argued it will pave the way for development and reserve space for the arts. Opposition among Council Members diminished after an agreement was reached to increase the amount of "income targeted" affordable housing in new units that would be built under the plan from about 20 percent to 48 percent. Nearly 4,000 units of housing might be built under the rezone. A lawsuit was filed on Monday to stop the plan. Reaction developing. [CurbedWire Inbox]
EAST VILLAGE—Something is going on at the "Milstein Lot." Per a tipster: "Went home for lunch today and noticed that the wall-thingys at the E.13th Street mystery-lot have come down. Last I saw, there were 3-4 guys in there picking up trash/bricks/tree branches, and other sorts of boarded up-vacant-wtf-land ish. What's the deal? Is someone going to finally block my view of 14th street. Oh hell no." [CurbedWire Inbox]
VILLAGE—Speaking of Karl Fischer, demolition work has started on the site of a Fischer hotel on W. 13th Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenues. As previously noted, the hotel will rise at 52-54 West 13th Street. It's located across the street from a New School building on a site that was occupied by Taste of Tokyo and La Dolce Vita. Projected completion is 2009. Why should Brooklyn have all the fun? [CurbedWire Inbox]
EVERYWHERE—Sometimes half the fun of writing city government is seeing what kind of form e-mail comes back. Are reader writes: "I wrote the Mayor a letter (an email) via the NYC.gov website regarding my concerns about the housing projects. I expressed my opinion about the obvious drain on resources, and the less than stellar results of this program...I asked whether they have ever considered selling off some, or turning them into co-ops, or something similar. I received a letter a few weeks later indicating that the city is pursuing a number of options regarding housing projects, and that there are some test developments converting to ownership. Go to the website and send an email to the Mayor detailing the same sorts of questions regarding the housing projects. In a few weeks, you will receive the same, or similar, letter, with a list of the housing projects that are now in transition." [CurbedWire Inbox]
A compromise was reached yesterday on the controversial rezoning of 125th Street in Harlem in advance of a City Council vote. The deal, reached after what were described as "all-night" negotiations, brings local Council Members whose support is crucial to passage of the plan on board before it goes to a vote. The key points in the deal are that building heights have been cut from a maximum of 29 stories to 19 and that about half of the 3,858 new apartments that could be built under the rezoning would be set aside for low- and moderate-income families at different levels, with the top income eligibility being somewhat lowered as part of the agreement. The deal also creates small $750,000 loan program to assist 71 small businesses that "would probably be forced to move" as properties are redeveloped. Not everyone's on board, though. One opponent told the Daily News: "Harlem may still have its black cultural institutions, but it won't have any black audience. There won't be any black politicians and there won't be any black churches because there won't be any black residents in white, rich Harlem." On the other hand, City Planning Chair Amanda Burden called the agreement "a milestone." More reaction are likely to come.
· Compromise is Reached on Harlem Rezoning [NYT]
· Cheers in Harlem as 125th St. plan gets an overhaul [NYDN]
· Housing Help for Harlem [NYP]
CHELSEA—There is significant progress, of a sort on Jean Nouvel's hole. The tipster who sends the construction photo explains, "1 and a half years of watching the building and they finished excavating last week. Today...they built that shed in one day. Progress. Perhaps the units will all be sheds." [CurbedWire Inbox]
GRAMERCY—The tipster who sent the photo here (click to enlarge) believes there's a little bit of a problem with the building pictured: "Doesn't anyone pay attention to the Sliver law??? 316 E 22nd Street is building up 75 feet on a lot only 40 feet wide. The sliver law applies to lots under 45 feet and that limits this build to 60 feet. Is DOB so inefficient they don't know their own rules? Somebody should audit their application and issue a Stop Work Order immediately." [CurbedWire Inbox]
EVERYWHERE—As it turns out, a huge number of foreclosures in New York City last year involved two- to four-family buildings or multi-family dwelling. The Furman Center for Real Estate and Urban Policy reports that almost 60 percent of the 15,000 foreclosure filings fell into that category. About 76,000 people live in buildings that entered foreclosure in 2007 and about 38,000 of them were living in rental units. The majority of renters living in foreclosed buildings are in Brooklyn and Queens. [CurbedWire Inbox]
Let's just say the fight for control of the land currently occupied by Pfizer in Williamsburg is not going to pretty to watch. The pharmaceutical giant, which is shutting down the plant, wants to find someone to develop the 15 acres of land as "a mixed-use, mixed-income complex." Meanwhile, State Assemblyman Vito Lopez has introduced a bill to get the land for affordable housing via eminent domain with part of the rationale being that Pfizer has "almost always donated their land back to the community in a good faith effort to contribute to areas" where its plants were located. Pfizer isn't having it. They emailed The Real Estate to say "Not only is the concept of state-sponsored eminent domain extremely premature at this point and potentially chilling for development statewide." Interestingly, it's not the only eminent domain threat being used in the Burg. State Sen. Joe Lentol is pushing an idea to seize the property held by TransGas, which saw its Williamsburg waterfront power plant turned down last week, for use as part of the Bushwick Inlet Park. Brooklyn's other big eminent domain hot spot is Atlantic Yards.
· Vito Lopez Moves to Take Pfizer's Brooklyn Site by Eminent Domain [TRE]
· Will Pfizer Need Anti-Depressants Over Brooklyn Property? [Curbed]
The number of possible new bidders for Brooklyn's huge Starrett City complex is now up to four. Even though the 5,800 unit development--which was the subject of a failed purchase attempt last year--isn't officially up for sale, Crain's reports that the National Housing Partnership Foundation and the New York Housing Partnership "have both expressed interest" in the development. A coalition of labor, religious and community groups as well as the National Development Council, which is a Manhattan-based nonprofit, have been previously noted as potential bidders. Absent so far are any potential private buyers for the 46-building complex. It remains to be seen which of the interested groups turn into actual bidder, whenever the complex is actually put back up for sale. Last year's failed bid by Clipper Equities was $1.3 billion.
· List of Starrett City bidders grows to four [Crain's]
· New Starrett City Action: Community Group Bids First [Curbed]
· Lay Off My Lama: Starrett City Puts on Their Rally Caps [Curbed]
The bidding for Starrett City, the country's biggest federally-subsidized housing complex is starting up again. (It was announced late last year that the 6,000 unit complex would be on the market again.) Crain's is reporting that a coalition of community groups, religious organizations and labor unions have submitted a bid for the complex. Last year's winning bid fell apart after it ran into heavy opposition from local groups and politicians. The group of bidders includes the Christian Cultural Center, the Central Labor Council, and the Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty. They say the goal is keeping Starrett City affordable. The bid is said to be "well below" the $1.3 billion bid last year. Other bids are coming too, so prepare for another drama.
· Community Group to Bid for Starrett City [Crain's]
· Lay Off My Lama: Starrett City Puts on Their Rally Caps [Curbed]
[Photo courtesy of ntang/Flickr]
Atlantic Yards is getting a trim here and there, and the prime target so far appears to be Frank Gehry's Miss Brooklyn tower. Atlantic Yards Report noted yesterday that "the size of the project may have been reduced" based on a review of some documents and follows up today with more detail about possible cuts. The overall project apparently hasn't shrunk in a dramatic way, but the Frank Gehry-designed Miss Brooklyn looks like it will be smaller, down from 900,000 square feet to 528,000 square feet, although a hotel could bulk it up again. Also, of note: the building won't have condos, but will have office space, bringing the total number of residential units associated with the project down from 6,430 to 6,000. Plus, the timetable for building a new rail yard is about 5 years rather than the previously mentioned 3 1/2 years. Even the Barclays Center is getting the reduced calorie treatment, with the number of luxury suites cut from 170 to 130. Of course, demolition is moving forward on the parts of the site that aren't involved in litigation. May will mark two years since the Gehry renderings of a tall Miss Brooklyn were released.
· AY scaleback? Well, at least Miss Brooklyn, apparently [AYR]
· Atlantic Yards Quietly Scaled Back? [Crain's]
· Atlantic Yards Scope Trimmed; Funding Still Fuzzy [Brownstoner]
Purple 53, the truck from the parking lot at N. 11 Street and Bedford Avenue in Williamsburg is now on a farm in North Carolina. We noted it's departure yesterday, and since then, Angel Hess, the artist that had been living in the truck in the Burg since October '06 and had been at the lot for the last year, emailed from a farm in North Carolina:
Purple53 is in NC on a farm. They've got emu, goats, chickens, lama, and all sorts of animals; its a nice place. I found the owner on craigslist and asked if I could stay for a week; I'm traveling south.
The Burg's famous purple truck in the parking lot on Bedford Avenue between N. 11 and N. 12 street is gone. The truck, and its occupants, who spent a year living in the parking lot for $200 a month, took off last week after getting the truck back in driving condition. When last heard from on Saturday, Purple 53 was in Richmond, having left New York City on Friday after spending a few days being brought back up to driving condition. Also, tolls in Jersey apparently put a dent in the budget. The truck is headed south. Georgia is mentioned, as is Louisiana. Another piece of Williamsburg affordable housing gone.
· Purple53 Blog [purple53.com]
· Burg's Hipster Parking Lot & Purple Truck Doomed [Curbed]
· $200 Can Also Get You a Hearse in Williamsburg [Curbed]
March 15 is the deadline date for anyone who wants to get in the game to win one of the "permanently affordable rental apartments" available in the Caledonia, a great deal that we told y'all about a few weeks back. There are 59 recession-beating units in this new building, which is connected to the High Line and just a bone's throw from the Meatpacking District. From the looks of things, the folks in charge of the lottery might change the rules any minute, so act fast!
Did someone say, Brooklyn town homes and brownstones for under $600,000? Is there such a thing? Yes, there are, and they're not part of the city's affordable housing lotteries. They do, however, come with some catches, mostly revolving around location, size and, especially, condition. Take the specimen above, which is a "one-family townhouse" located somewhere in "Park Slope/Gowanus." (Most likely a more the latter than the former.) The bad news is that this one may be in contract, but there are other buys out there.
· Affordable NYC: Brooklyn Under $600K [Reclaimed Home]
· One Family Townhouse in Park Slope/Gowanus [d'Andrea Craig Realty]
The small blocks of affordable apartments that most developers include in new buildings in exchange for zoning and tax breaks remain one of New York's great housing mysteries. How does one actually nab one of these luxury homes at pauper prices? Timing and luck, pretty much, and in the case of The Caledonia—Related's sold-out new High Line building—the time for luck is now! Listed as "Chelsea" on the Dept. of Housing Preservation & Development's website and 451 West 16th Street/450 West 17th Street in the email we just received, the ultrafancy Caledonia is offering up 59 affordable rentals. Quit your job for one at McDonald's, fill out an application and keep your fingers crossed. If the stars align, you'll be looked down upon by your wealthy neighbors in no time!
· Current Housing Lotteries [nyc.gov]
· High Line Construction Chronicles: Caledonia Looming [Curbed]
· The Caledonia [Official Site]
It's been almost exactly a year since Pfizer announced it was closing its huge manufacturing plant in Williamsburg/Bed-Stuy and setting plans in motion about the 15 acres of real estate that would become available. Now, a battle for control of the property seems to be emerging. Today's Observer reports that Pfizer is putting out an RFP for "developers to create a mixed-use, mixed-income complex." Wait. State Assemblyman Vito Lopez is pushing to get the site via eminent domain. He's drafting a bill in Albany that would have the state get control of the site, then issue its own RFP for 1,700 affordable units. Pressure tactic to make sure more affordable housing is built? Possibly. Odds of Pfizer execs dipping into the company medicine box for Xanax or Zoloft before it's over: significantly better than 50-50.
· Pfizer Offering Williamsburg Plant Site for Affordable Housing [NYO]
· Annals of Manufacturing: Debating Pfizer Site's Future [Curbed]
All those hip gentrifiers, with their Bushwick and Bed-Stuy invading ways and their money to spend on rent, are totally screwing everything up for people who have no choice but to live in low-income areas and rely on Section 8 federal rent vouchers. New York has no law on the books stating that landlords can't discriminate against voucher tenants, and now many real estate listings exclude voucher holders from having a crack at the apartment. This is a problem, at least until Governor's Island is converted into a tent city for refugees who can't afford to live in Brownsville's hundreds of Richard Meier-designed, zen-inspired glass towers (which we're predicting will happen by 2016). Anyhoo, a bill has been introduced to prohibit landlords from turning away applicants just because they get government assistance. Landlords groups have countered by saying that the bill would essentially force them into taking voucher tenants. Meanwhile, upscale coffee shop owners wait in the wings, readying the free wi-fi and Balthazar pastries.
· Bias Is Seen as Landlords Bar Vouchers [NYT]
Great news! We've finally found the elusive $100,000 Brooklyn condo. The bad news is that it's a little off the beaten path. The complex is called the MeadowWood at Gateway and it's in East New York and was formerly known as Fairfield Towers. Brownstoner reports that nearly 1,000 of the apartments are on the market, priced to move at $100,000-$340,000. The force behind it is Taconic Investment Partners, which is putting $40 million into the renovation. It's a former Mitchell-Lama building, making it the second time this week we've mentioned the affordable housing program, which is losing units to condo conversions and the like. Excellent chance to get ahead of the market.
· Sales Begin at Brooklyn's Biggest Condo Conversion [Brownstoner]
· Lay Off My Lama: Starrett City Puts on Their Rally Caps [Curbed]
Comments
Atlantic Yards is getting a trim here and there, and the prime target so far appears to be Frank Gehry's 
The small blocks of affordable apartments that most developers include in new buildings in exchange for zoning and tax breaks remain one of New York's great housing mysteries. How does one actually nab one of these luxury homes at pauper prices? Timing and luck, pretty much, and in the case of The Caledonia—Related's sold-out new 
All those hip gentrifiers, with their Bushwick and Bed-Stuy invading ways and their money to spend on rent, are totally screwing everything up for people who have no choice but to live in low-income areas and rely on Section 8 federal rent vouchers. New York has no law on the books stating that landlords can't discriminate against voucher tenants, and now many real estate listings exclude voucher holders from having a crack at the apartment. This is a problem, at least until Governor's Island is converted into a tent city for refugees who can't afford to live in Brownsville's hundreds of Richard Meier-designed, zen-inspired glass towers (which we're predicting will happen by 2016). Anyhoo, a bill has been introduced to prohibit landlords from turning away applicants just because they get government assistance. Landlords groups have countered by saying that the bill would essentially force them into taking voucher tenants. Meanwhile, upscale coffee shop owners wait in the wings, readying the free wi-fi and Balthazar pastries.
Great news! We've finally found the elusive $100,000 Brooklyn condo. The bad news is that it's a little off the beaten path. The complex is called the MeadowWood at Gateway and it's in East New York and was formerly known as Fairfield Towers. 
