Adding a unique silhouette to the skyline, a new condominium project appears to be edging toward a finish line, with construction topping out in February and its first renderings released to the public only a month prior. Dubbed the West, its design comes from the revered dutch architectural firm, Concrete, and this is reported to be their first condo development in the New York City area. Good press has surrounded a number of their other designs, including the Urby residents in Jersey City and Staten Island, as well as the first Virgin Cruise ship. 

What Are the Basic Details of the Project? 

Helmed by the joint efforts of CB Developers, SK Development and Ironstate Development under the name CBSK Ironstate, the finished, 12-story building will feature modern amenities akin to their Urby developments, but also going beyond them. The overall design aims to bring to mind the area’s historical ties to industry, with large windows, Dutch brick on the facade, and a clean, modern aesthetic, with features (and 25,000 square feet of amenities) that include:

• 219 homes, ranging from single studios to sprawling 3-bedroom condos (the latter of which will have their own outdoor spaces).
• A communal kitchen, cleverly called Hell’s Kitchen
• A dog run for pet owners as well as a pet grooming station
• A children’s play area
• Bookable guest suites for visitors.
• A rooftop swimming pool
• A yoga studio
• A gymnasium, and more. 

Most notable, and the aspect that most recently topped out, is the Cloud, the upper five stories of the building, which are distinct from the lower portion in their appearance of a geometric, floating living space. The all-glass facade is home to the condominium’s largest residences. Many of them have their own private terraces and will probably command the largest price tags. Starting prices are at $820,000 for a studio. 

What Remains to be Completed? 

Photos in late January showed the mere skeleton of the entire structure, and against the earlier-revealed renderings, it may be easier to visualize its image on completion. Construction continues as the facade, and the many interiors are assembled. With the bones of the Cloud in place and the building at its final apex, the complete picture can now begin to take shape. This will not just include wiring, windows, and walls that passerby can already see coming into view, but also the extensive level of landscaping, plumbing, and top-of-the-line materials and fixtures that condominiums of this value can be expected to have. 

Construction is expected to finish this year. Sales are set to begin in the Spring, ideally when enough units have been finished to offer a clearer picture of what the majority of units will look like. Since it is likely that the larger, more luxurious homes are situated up in the Cloud, they may wait to unveil until the upper floors are nearer to finished. New residents will be able to move in starting in early 2021.

New Jersey governor Phil Murphy’s 2021 budget address last week was called “Building on Our Progress,” There wasn’t a lot of literal building highlighted in the speech outlining his administration’s priorities in the FY2021 budget, but he did mention a couple of construction related priorities.

First and foremost is the Portal Bridge. Of course, the Gateway Tunnel and Portal Bridge projects have been a huge source of conversation and controversy. The desperately needed repairs and new tunnel require federal funding that is being withheld by the Trump administration. But in February, the Federal Transit Administration raised the rating on the portal bridge replacement project to “medium-high,” making it eligible for federal funding. Of course, there are still hurdles to clear. A grant needs to be approved and a check written, but it looks like the rating will pave the way for that to happen. And that is definitely good news.

“With the federal government’s long-awaited green-lighting of the Portal Bridge replacement, we are finally moving forward in alleviating one of NJ TRANSIT’s commuters’ other headaches – wondering if a cranky, obsolete, century-old bridge is going to hold it together for another day,” Murphy said in his address.

He called it a “big victory” not only for commuters but “the building trades” and a “state whose economic lifeblood can only flow with modern infrastructure.”

Murphy, though, didn’t miss the opportunity to note the larger project that still needs to be approved.

“The Portal Bridge is just one part of a much larger project,” he said. “One new span doesn’t in any way eliminate the need for new tunnels under the Hudson and it in no way signals our retreat in the fight to get Gateway done.”

The other construction priority set by Murphy centered on affordable housing, as he noted the budget allocates at least $60 million from the Affordable Housing Trust Fund to support NJ municipalities in developing affordable housing in their area.

While many small villages and hamlets in the Long Island area have been undergoing massive upgrades, in Oyster Bay on Long Island, the downtown area of Hicksville has long awaited its opportunity for similar updates. A mixture of development delays and a lack of funds have left the most active railroad hub on the island locked in a bygone time, with crumbling facades and outdated buildings. It seems that at long last, Hicksville’s day has come, and several sources have come together to begin an overhaul that aims to transform the face of Hicksville’s downtown area for the better. 

A Template for the Future Downtown Hicksville

In late February, CBS reported that Hicksville marked the establishment of what they called their first “smart-growth” development in the downtown area. The previously vacant building had been reworked into a mixed-use space that has become popular in communities all over the metro area: shared workspace, with 18 new apartments situated above. Officials stated their belief that this would be the template for the renovations to come: a downtown area that is lived and worked in and alive. 

What Is Contributing to the Funding of the Hicksville Renovation?

Much of Hicksville’s upgrades are tied to its proximity to the Hicksville Long Island Railroad Station, so not surprisingly, part of this funding is coming straight from the Metro Transit Authority, including roughly $132 million invested in the station itself. Other sources report that Oyster Bay is in talks with the MTA to construct commuter parking near the station. 

This is not all, however. The Nassau County Office of Community Development has provided a $150,000 grant for “transit-oriented” improvements. Another, larger grant is coming from the New York State Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) nearing $10 million will help to fund the project going forward. 

What Are Some of the Major Details on This Project?

The renovation as it kicks off is going to call for a number of different, smaller projects that are needed to create the community vision that leaders and residents share alike. 

• At least 10 new buildings are to be constructed in the area. 
• One property adjacent to the Hicksville LIRR has recently been offered up as a space for potential “residential transit-oriented development.” 
• The overall plans will incorporate increased access to transportation, including the upgrades to the transit areas like that proposed commuter parking, a “walkable” downtown map, and residences closer to the train station. 
• New housing opportunities are attached at nearly every level of this, whether through mixed-use properties or the pressing for more homes for rent rather than for sale. 

In all of this, locals have emphasized a desire to maintain a more suburban look to the place and are generally averse to high raises and other new developments that feel more like what you find in larger nearby cities. For those firms pulled in to take part in the planning as they go forward, this may call for a little creativity. 

A massive waterfront space in eastern New York City may be set for an equally enormous transformation. Along Flatlands Avenue in Brooklyn, in the properties around a Christian Cultural Center’s megachurch and in partnership with the Gotham Organization and Practice for Architecture and Urbanism, a project marketed as “innovative urban living” is about to take off, pending a scoping hearing to hear questions and concerns from locals. The end product hopes to bring affordable housing, commerce, and years of construction work to the area. 

What Is the Project Going to Involve? 

Construction would be taking place over five lots situated along Flatlands Avenue, Louisiana Avenue, and Pennsylvania Avenue, totaling about 2.4 million square feet of complex that developers are calling an urban village, with amenities that are contained but publically accessible. Sources report this will involve the construction of 13 new buildings, and altogether locals will be seeing: 

• 2,000+ new apartments, around 1,800 of which will be priced as affordable housing, a portion of which are reserved for elderly residents as part of the Mandatory Inclusionary Housing (MIH) initiative. The developers endeavor to build a community that doesn’t expose current residents to gentrification or pricing them out of their own neighborhoods. Preference is given to current locals for half the available living spaces. 
• The Christian Cultural Center remains with plans to incorporate it into the overall community. 
• Public amenities are to be created, including a daycare, outdoor public space, both an elementary school and a trade school, and a performing arts center. 
• Once the full project is completed, another major community amenity will be a shuttle service that will give locals access to the L train and the 3 train for those that require access to mass transit.

Much of the project’s vision comes from Reverend A.R. Bernard—current owner of the Christian Cultural Center—who wishes to build a community for its residents, which means supporting current and future residents and their needs. 

Following the public scoping meeting on March 3rd, a more definitive word will come of whether this project moves forward. Other major steps that must be made include an amendment of the current zoning map, as well as necessary permits from the city. 

In Terms of Jobs, What Kind of Work Could Come Out of This?

Construction is expected to be completed around 2031, provided all goes well in terms of planning. By itself, this projected date says a lot about potential work, because if ground breaks at the time it’s currently projected (2021-2022), that’s potentially 10 years’ worth of jobs for any firms that get involved. 

Some structures that already exist are going to need to be remodeled to suit a new purpose. Multiple new structures are to be built, ranging from two to seventeen stories in height. New roadways and walkways are to be expected, especially in park areas, and sources have noted several curb cuts that must be relocated. For now, that’s just what is covered in the planning stages. More details are likely soon to follow.

The Flushing area of Queens on Long Island is looking to see some imminent improvements to the waterfront area. A couple of months ago, Hill West Architects revealed plans for an enormous complex of mixed-use buildings to be constructed in the 29-acre area. There are hopes that this will help to expand the downtown area, provide greater access to the waterfront, expand local housing and business opportunities, and only continue to improve the overall environment. The expansive footprint of this proposed project has led to citizens demanding an environmental impact in order to see assurances of their ecologically-friendly intentions. 

What Is the Pre-Project State of the Flushing River Waterfront?

The good news is that even before construction was to commence, the area has undergone numerous cleanup efforts, taking it from one of the most polluted waterways in the metro area with a notable “rotten egg” stench to marked improvement, as reported in late 2018. Major changes to the area included: 

• Dredging 89,000 cubic yards of sediment, which on its own can adversely affect wetland areas, increase erosion, lower moisture, and make the environment less habitable for local flora and fauna;
• Reworking the local sewer system to stop over 200 million gallons of sewage from dumping into the bay every year; and
• Installing acres of new wetlands that help to filter the water and keep it clean naturally. 

It is not a complete fix, as recent reports suggest that heavy storms still lead to swelling, backed up sewage, and other issues. More than a year after news of improvements to the area, and still stink-free, the waterfront is on its way to transforming into another substantial way, including:  mixed-used properties, including more sorely needed low-income housing, to bring residents back to the area while still sustaining continued environmental improvements.

Moving Forward: Changes the Mixed-Use Project Aims to Bring

Hill West’s project is massive, spanning 29 acres of currently unused industrial space. A total of nine buildings are planned across the site. The project, assuming approval is imminent, should commence this year and is projected to continue, with a steady stream of construction work to follow through to 2025. Further specifics include:

• A total rezoning of the area from industrial to residential. 
• 1,725 new apartments, with around ten percent reserved for below-market-rate spaces.
• 1,387,040 square feet of commercial space, to “include 298,811 square feet of retail, a 714,588-square-foot hotel, and 383,641 square feet of office space.” 
• 21,913 square feet of community facilities.
• 3.14 acres of publicly accessible open space and park area. 
• 1,533 parking spaces. 

But for the rezoning, which is all paperwork, the rest consists of virtually every trade a team will need in construction, across four separate sites, to complete it. Hill West Architects revealed plans show an ambitious transformation over a large chunk of the local map. Pending approvals and impact reports can only reveal more details on how this change could change the local environment for better or worse

After years of discussion and debate, it appears that the New York City Football Club is beginning to reach the more serious planning stages of bringing a soccer stadium into the city limits. They have everything but an official home, and that may soon change. Standing behind the project include developers like Madd Equities, the New York Economic Development Corporation, the Bronx Parking Authority, and the New York Yankees. The location in question would be mere blocks from Yankee Stadium, whose stadium has been home to the NYCFC’s games in the interim. 

How Might a New Stadium Affect the Area? 

According to NYC.gov, sports and recreation entertainment represents the smallest number of establishments and overall jobs in the metropolitan area. Just 100 establishments exist, bringing about 3,900 jobs, and this is in comparison to the next smallest number, the arts, with 1,800 establishments and over 18,000 jobs. It also brings in the smallest in terms of output, the only category in six that doesn’t break a billion dollars annually. In addition to that, their 3,900 jobs add up to over $350 million in wages paid each year, which is nearly identical to wages paid in total by the Venues category, which also has over 19,000 employees. 

Looking at the numbers as they are, it is very easy to see where adding additional sports establishments, where possible, might also bring more jobs and more profits, especially if these establishments are filling niches that don’t yet exist (in full or in part) in the greater area. The NYCFC’s proposal would do just this by giving a home to New York City’s very first soccer-specific stadium. 

The NYCFC Stadium Construction: A Focal Point in a Much Larger Project

Upon finalization, which is expected soon as of the posting of this article, the building of this 25,000-seat stadium will be part of a larger overarching project whose budget is in the ballpark of around $1 billion in total. There is also much more in the planning stages than just a stadium, the scope of which will transform the South Bronx in a number of ways. 

With the earliest date of completion projected for 2024 pending imminent approval, the following details are known: 

• The current site for construction includes parking lots and an elevator parts factory owned by GAL manufacturing (and an agreement to purchase that property has already been reached).
• The NYCFC’s soccer stadium, with its short distance to Yankee Stadium, can draw more sports fans to the area. 
• Also, in the works would be affordable housing units, a school, retail space, and a hotel. This would bring additional housing for visiting teams, a diverse population of local fans, as well as businesses that would stand to benefit from multiple sports entertainment seasons each year. 

It’s suddenly very clear why so many development groups are involved in this proposal so far: the number of demo, construction, and landscaping jobs that stand to come out of this could be staggering.