Victoria Tower Residences: Harlem's tallest offering free rent this December and one month free on 13-month lease

By CityRealty Staff | From Upper Manhattan Thursday, December 14, 2023

All images via Victoria Tower Residences

Nearly 20 years after the first request for proposals was issued for Harlem’s iconic Victoria Theater, the winning project is nearing completion. A recent site visit saw construction winding down; the Renaissance Hotel and on-site restaurant The Victoria opened earlier this year; spring 2024 programming has been announced for the building's cultural component; and leasing is going strong at Victoria Tower Residences, the residential component at the top of the tower.

An affordable lottery took place in winter 2022, and current market-rate availabilities start at $2,719/month for studios, $3,413/month for one-bedrooms, and $4,036/month for two-bedrooms. As of this writing, the building is offering one month free rent on a 13-month lease, with no rent for the remainder of December 2023 and the last month (February 2025) free. The listed rents are net effective to reflect the concession.

Enlarge Image

All 191 studio through two-bedroom units feature:

Extra-large windows that allow for incredible light and views of Harlem and Central Park
Hardwood flooring and generous storage space throughout
Open-concept kitchens with granite countertops and stainless steel GE appliances
Serene baths with soaking tubs
Central heating and cooling
In-unit washer/dryer

Membership to the building’s fitness center is included in the rent. In addition to the fitness center, residential amenities include:

Doorman and 24-hour superintendent service
Central laundry room
Lounge/game room
Roof deck
On-site parking

Views of Central Park and Billionaires' Row

At 27 stories and 340 feet high, the redevelopment is the tallest building in central Harlem. The design by Aufgang Architects offers two distinctive entrances for each component. The hotel and cultural center’s entrance features a sleek glass tower looming behind the restored facade of the old theater. The residential entrance is more consistent with Harlem’s historic aesthetic, and features masonry details and neat rows of picture windows. The project also included the restoration of the Victoria Theater's historic facade and lobby.

The New York Post notes that the Renaissance Hotel was the first hotel to be built in Harlem in about 85 years. Part of the Marriott Bonvoy portfolio, it features 211 guest rooms and suites, over 9,000 square feet of event space, and an on-site restaurant helmed by Silk Hospitality Group and serving executive chef Bobby Bouyer's Cajun-inspired cuisine. It will host nightly jazz performances at the bar's grand piano (h/t Patch).

Enlarge Image

In addition to the residences and the hotel, the tower features a cultural component with two new theaters, seating 99 and 199 people each, located on the third and fourth floors and to be occupied and operated by the Apollo Theater Foundation. The Apollo Theater Foundation will also take office space in the new tower in a move that will allow it to embark on a long-awaited renovation and expansion of its existing, Landmarked theater up the street. The 99-seat theater in the new building will be named in honor of Jonelle Procope, longtime president and CEO of The Apollo (h/t American Theatre).

The Apollo Theater is expected to close for six months during the renovation, but the neighborhood will remain bustling. The Victoria is in a central location near the National Jazz Museum, the new Studio Museum, local retail that includes Whole Foods, and prominent restaurants like Sylvia’s, Melba’s, Red Rooster, Minton’s, and Harlem Nights. The building offers on-site parking, but is also primely positioned near the 125th Street A/B/C/D and 2/ 3 subway stops, the M60 bus, and the MetroNorth train station.

This project represents the latest iteration of the Victoria Theater, which began as a vaudeville hall in 1917 and later transitioned to a movie theater. The space was carved into five smaller theaters after the state took over the space in 1977, and the Empire State Development Corporation (ESD) and Harlem Community Development Corporation (HCDC) issued a request for proposals in 2004. The 2008 recession delayed construction of the winning proposal, and the more recent coronavirus pandemic delayed progress after the building topped out in fall 2019.

Enlarge Image

Enlarge Image

This is your member's center

Related Links

Tags:

Related Articles

More No Fee Rental Deals

Buy & Sell

Rent

Buildings

Insights

Company