Despite past protests and public demonstrations, a new Chelsea condominium development has risen out of the ground on a lot next to a historic church on West 16th Street. Now, new renderings of the project from David Howell's DHD Architecture provide a new glimpse at the church-hunkering development. The mid-block property at 124 West 16th Street, is on the south side of a human-scaled street between 7th and 8th avenues. According to DNA Info, the 25-foot-wide lot was purchased by Einhorn Development Group for $4 million in 2012 from the French Evangelical Church, which sits directly next door. A small 4,000-square-foot structure that stood at the site was demolished shortly after.
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A six-story building was initially planned, but the developers then purchased air rights from the church, thus allowing them to construct the proposed 11-story, 120-foot tall building. The church was built in 1835 and is in dire need of repairs which motivated the sale of its coveted air rights. When complete, the new residential building will cantilever over the church from the 5th floor, tripling the width of its floor plates.
Foundation work is complete, and the project's steel frame has already moved past the second story. The exterior will be clad in a 2-inch-thick bluestone masonry skin. Floors are grouped vertically in sets of two, visually reducing the height of the building, and neat rows of multi-pane windows contextualize the structure with its pre-war neighbors.
There will be 48,088 square-feet of residential space in all, sub-divided into 14 high-end apartments. According to DHD, the homes fall within the boutique segment of the luxury market, and the grand homes will provide far-reaching views over Chelsea. The building's 14 units span the 2nd through penthouse floors. There are 5 full-floor units, and a single duplex penthouse unit spread over the 11th floor & penthouse level. The building's first floor will have a lobby & recreation room. The lower level of the roof will be a recreation area and a pool. The little church will remain intact and its facade unchanged.
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