Long Island City is one of 15 neighborhoods the de Blasio administration is seeking to rezone in its ambitious efforts to build 250k units of housing in the city by 2024. Unfortunately, with our infrastructure in shambles and ever-escalating rents being interpreted as a side effect of new development, it's been a tough sell to the city's communities.

Earlier this month, Politico reported a team of planners held a public meeting about the rezoning of a 50-block area of LIC. Called the LIC Core Neighborhood Plan, the study seeks to create a mixed-use district between Sunnyside Yard and Queensbridge Houses. According to Jeffrey Shumaker, the Chief Urban Designer for the New York City Department of City Planning, the rezoned section of LIC will be the city's first 21st Century mixed-use neighborhood and will embrace a new set of design guidelines that allows for a much greater mix of uses.

"The design guidelines also encourage spaces for light manufacturing; public spaces along the waterfront that do double duty in terms of resilience and connectivity; and a wide variety of flexible ground floor configurations to catalyze as many different uses as possible -- and of course affordable housing."

The conceptual rendering above released by NYC DCP, shows a string of new development, both high and low running from Rockrose's East Coast master plan to the Queensborough Bridge. Within the mix are already announced projects such as Simon Baron's Paragon Paint redevelopment at 45-40 Vernon Boulevard, the long-stalled River East development and the massive Silvercup Studios redevelopment directly next to the Queensborough Bridge. Stay tuned for our upcoming East River development report and more Bronx cheers from locals.

 

Sold Out Condos Designed by Morris Adjmi Near Finish Line

Construction of 472 Pacific Street in Boerum Hill is almost complete.The $55 million condo venture by Avery Hall Investments and ARIA Development Group launched sales in fall 2015 and soon after all 30 units were quickly signed into contract. The building is covered in a handsome red brick and black metal exterior designed by Morris Adjmi Architects. Homes range from one to five bedrooms, and asking prices began at $835k.

For those looking for new construction Boerum Hill condos, not to worry. Nearby is the recently topped off Hendrik, 125 Third Avenue and the Nevins at 319 Schermerhorn Street.

 

How Big Can NYC Grow?

With thousands of units projected to be built (slowdown be damned!), many of us are wondering just how big New York City’s population could grow. If you took the 1-train to work this morning, you’d be hard pressed (literally) to find a number higher than zero. The city’s first 1916 zoning law allowed the city to accommodate 66 million residents --a Hugh Ferris dream come true. Our 1961 zoning ordinance (now greatly tweaked) is said to allow for roughly 12 million residents if all city lots were fully built out. An article from City Limits sheds some light -- or at least brings more questions to this complicated matter.

A City-Data poster recently did some simple math and found that if all 5-boroughs had the population density of Manhattan, our city limits would hold 21.85 million people. On the other hand, if all the boroughs had the density of Staten Island we would be at 2.46 million, slightly smaller than Toronto and Chicago.

The city's population estimate for 2016 is slated to be released next month. We already know for the first time in several decades, New York State lost residents. However, permit data amassed by Dodge Data & Analytics shows that a staggering amount is still being built in the metro area --far more than any other area in the country. We won't truly know how much growth these units will yield until the official census count in 2020, granted our residents don't boycott the census after being spooked by Trump's policies.

 

Fugly to Fabulous: Sales Launch on New Crown Heights Condos

Six new condos are now available in Crown Heights priced from $575K for studios to 1.199M for a three-bedroom. The building was formerly a red brick ugly duckling that was finished in 2006. Here's what HDC had to say about the original building in 2015:

"The current appearance of 863 St. Mark’s Place is not only insensitive, but a detraction from the elegance that encompasses it. This is a rare case where adding stucco and an additional story helps blend a building into the background, where in this case, it belongs."

863 St. Mark’s is situated on a tree-lined block is filled with ornate limestone rowhouses and is across from the Brooklyn Children's Museum and Brower Park. Per the listings, the units all feature large windows with abundant light, high-end finishes...etc.

 

30 Park Place Gets Top Condo Contract of Last Week

30 Park Place, the love child of Larry Silverstein and Robert A.M. Stern, secured the top condo contract signed last week, according to Olshan Realty’s weekly report. The 4-bed, 5.5-bath unit had an ask of $13.6 million and occupies half of the 73rd floor…incredible given that the building only has 70 floors.

There are still a handful of units available at similar elevations: #77B for $18.875M, #78A for $32.5M and a penthouse on the 82nd floor asking for $30M. The building’s Four Seasons Private Residences New York begin mid-way up the building with hotel rooms and amenities below.

 

What took so long? Morningside Heights and its Giant Cathedral Now Landmarked

It’s hard to find a more beautiful and intact neighborhood than Morningside Heights --and its blocks along Riverside Drive are especially an architectural treat. If you didn't know this, go there and read Andrew Dolkart's Morningside Heights: A History of Its Architecture and Development.

Yesterday, the Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) designated 116 buildings from West 109th to 119th streets between Riverside Drive and Amsterdam Avenue. More than 60 percent of the buildings in the 'hood were constructed between 1900 and 1910, according to the LPC. DNAinfo reports the decision was unanimous and a new interactive 3D map showing the new district in now online. The Cathedral of St. John the Divine was also finally granted landmark protection, and we hope this stops any new rental buildings from rising on the church grounds...looking at you Enclave at the Cathedral and Avalon Morningside Park.

 

Vinoly’s Box O’ Condos Gets its Crane

This past week a kangaroo crane has jumped onto the site of Victor Group and Lend Lease’s condo project, 281 Fifth Avenue. The soon-to-be 52-story / 728-foot-high building is being designed by Rafael Viñoly Architects and will house 130 residences. Since getting the 432 Park Avenue commission, Viñoly been tapped to design at least three other tall condo towers in Manhattan: 281 Fifth Avenue, 125 Greenwich and Three Waterline Square.

 

Two Units at 212 Fifth Avenue Up for Rent (Already?!)

Over at 212 Fifth Avenue, just a few blocks south of the Viñoly’s tower mentioned above, we noticed two rental listing have come online. Strange since the building is not yet finished and closings have yet to begin. Contracts have been signed for nearly half of 212 Fifth’s 47 condos and earlier this month The Real Deal learned that Charles Kushner (father of President Trump’s trusted adviser/son-in-law Jared Kushner) nabbed three units for around $12.5 million.

Unit #6A is now available for rent at $40,000/month. Up until last week, the 3,008 ft², 3-bed/ 3-bath home was up for sale with an ask of $10.7 million. The great room measure 37' x 18' and overlooks Madison Square Park. Elegran is marketing the unit.

Sharing the floor with one of Charles Kushner's units, #7C is the other rental available for $11,200/month. The 1,528-square-foot home features north-facing exposures with views of Midtown and the Empire State Building. The 2-bed/ 2.5-bath residence was signed into contract last summer and had an ask of $4.1 million. Hecht Group is handling the marketing of the unit.

 

Check this Recent NYC Drone Vid from “Outlaw Instagrammer” Humza Deas

Urban explorer and photographer Humza Deas has made a name for himself capturing acrophobia-inducing photos from the forbidden heights of Manhattan. Along the way, he's racked up a stellar portfolio of images garnering him 208k Instagram followers and a 2014 profile in New York Magazine.

Now he’s got his hands on a drone and has been posting some incredible footage on Youtube. In addition to the usual drone shots of the fair grounds, the Brooklyn Bridge and the Queensboro Bridge (sorry Ed Koch, there’s no way we’re saying all that), Deas gets some recent footage of One Manhattan Square, VIA 57 WEST (with its Central Park-proportioned courtyard) and TEN Arquitectos’ Mercedes House which we think looks much cooler from above.