Rendering of The Grand Mulberry via Nexus Building Development Group
While historic Little Italy is no longer a destination for Italian immigrants, its heritage lives on through its food scene, fire escape-laden tenements, and cultural institutions such as the Italian American Museum. Tight zoning under a special mixed-use district in addition to a plethora of rent-regulated apartments, has kept the lid on new developments over the years, allowing the neighborhood to maintain its physical character despite real estate pressures from all around. The handful of new construction that has taken place is restricted in height and, for the best interest of the developer and the neighborhood, usually seeks to augment the richness of the area. One such new addition is The Grand Mulberry, a nearly-complete 20-unit condominium designed by Morris Adjmi Architects whose textured masonry facade pays tribute to the historic neighborhood in a rather contemporary approach.
(Photo credit: Jimi Billingsley)
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(Photo credit: Jimi Billingsley)
Named in honor of its address at 185 Grand Street, on the corner of Mulberry Street, the seven-story building is distinguished by a curving corner, slim cornice line, and a brick facade that faintly traces the fenestration pattern of surrounding tenement buildings. Adjmi explained in a recent interview
that they specified a custom-made, profiled brick to create the image of what a tenement would have looked like with framed openings, lintels, cornices, and other traditional details, then punctuated that façade with a more modern, regular grid of metal-framed windows. "The result is a juxtaposition of the historical tenement building with its classical detailing and then a very modern building with a more austere rhythm overlaid on top of it," says Adjmi.
The Grand Mulberry replaced part of this row of low--rise walkups, one of which housed the Italian American Museum
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Developed by Oved Group and Nexus Building Development Group, the structure replaces part of a humble row of turn-of-the-century rowhouses that was home to the Italian American Museum. However, as a wonderful example of the types of cultural-private partnerships that should be more commonplace, the museum will return to the site later this year, anchoring the building's ground floor with a much larger, rent-free space. It will have a separate entrance on Mulberry Street and feature a central atrium with a 20’ ceiling, a series of temporary and permanent exhibitions, a 50-seat auditorium, and a gift shop. As the museum is still temporarily closed, you can learn more about its mission and programming here.
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After two years of meticulous construction work, the beautiful exterior is finished and the interior fit-out is moving apace with occupancy expected in the coming months. Sales launched in summer 2021 on the 20 one to three-bedroom residences which feature open floor plans and contemporary finishes using thoughtfully-considered materials and details.
Google Earth aerial showing the central downtown location of The Grand Mulberry
The Grand Mulberry stands in one of the most sought-after areas of Manhattan, at crossroads of SoHo, NoLita, the Lower East Side, and Chinatown. Given the scarcity of listings in the area, units are competitively priced, coming in at an average price/ft2 of $2,306. With no more than four homes per floor, residents will benefit from exceptional privacy and multiple exposures. Available one-bedrooms start at $1.36 million, two-bedrooms from $2.45 million, and a three-bedroom penthouse with a private wraparound terrace is on the market for $7.35 million.
Amenities include an attended lobby, bike room, package room, common roof terrace, and additional storage for purchase. However, The Grand Mulberry’s greatest asset is its proximity to all the shopping, dining, nightlife, and culture within the surrounding, extremely walkable neighborhoods. Easy commutes to the Financial District and Midtown can be had via nearby subway stations serving the 6, J, Z, N, Q, R, and W lines.
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Residents will be able to enjoy a common rooftop terrace
↓ The facade is articulated with varying colors of brick which faintly trace the fenestration patterns of typical tenement buildings.
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↓ Residents enter on charming (and less touristy) Grand Street.
↓ Oversized windows and the low-rise typology of the neighborhood allow the homes at The Grand Mulberry to be filled with natural light.
↓ Interiors feature contemporary design, custom stained 7" white oak flooring, high-efficiency central VRF heating and cooling, in-unit washer/dryer, in-wall speakers, and prewiring for smart home technology.
↓ Bespoke kitchens come equipped with white matte lacquer cabinetry, scalloped mosaic tile backsplash, and integrated Miele appliances.
↓ Select homes have terraces.
↓ Primary bedrooms include large walk-in closets.
↓ Primary baths feature radiant heated flooring, custom walnut double vanity, and rainfall shower.
↓ Secondary baths feature custom walnut vanity, terrazzo flooring with radiant heat, soaking tub, and matte black plumbing fixtures.
↓ One-bedrooms start at $1,355,000.
↓ A two-bedroom is available for $2,450,000.
↓ A massive penthouse is reached by private elevator entry and opens up to an enormous wraparound terrace.
↓ The center of the penthouse's open-plan kitchen is an oversized dolomite island with overhang for counter seating.
↓ The penthouse's five-fixture primary bath includes a freestanding soaking tub and walk-in steam shower.
↓ It is listed for $7,350,000.
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