Construction watch: 204 Avenue A

Workers removed the plywood from outside 204 Avenue last week, providing a clear view of the new 7-floor building slowly progressing on the site of a former 4-story structure between 12th Street and 13th Street.

As previously reported, this city-owned property, along with the one at 535 E. 12th St. between Avenue A and Avenue B, is designated for affordable housing.

The project is an income-restricted cooperative with units available to households earning no more than 80% AMI. No. 204 features 10 units (8-1BRs & 2-2BRs). There are 11 one-bedroom rental units at the 6-story No. 535.

No. 204 and 535, part of the NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development's Tenant Interim Lease Program, have been vacant since 2008. "Due to deteriorating structural conditions," tenants from both buildings were relocated then.

Some more background: Both sites were city-owned since the mid-1970s and entered the Tenant Interim Lease program in 2001. 

The former tenants of each building will be able to purchase the co-op units in the newly constructed building at No. 204, which will include ground-floor retail. (The lottery for No. 535 ended in August 2022; we have not heard anything about 204.)

Shakespeare Gordon Vlado Architects is the architect of record for the project, which has taken several years to complete. 

Construction watch: 204 Avenue A

Workers look to be up to the fifth floor on the new building here at 204 Avenue A between 12th Street and 13th Street.

As previously reported, this city-owned property, along with the one at 535 E. 12th St. between Avenue A and Avenue B, will make way for affordable housing.

The project is an income-restricted cooperative with units available to households earning no more than 80% AMI. When the new construction is complete, No. 204 will rise to seven stories, yielding 10 units (8-1BRs & 2-2BRs). There are 11 one-bedroom rental units planned for the 6-story No. 535.

No. 204 and 535, part of the NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development's Tenant Interim Lease Program, have been vacant since 2008. "Due to deteriorating structural conditions," tenants from both buildings were relocated then.

The former tenants of each building will be able to purchase the co-op units in the newly constructed building at No. 204, which will include ground-floor retail.

Here's the last rendering that we saw for No. 204 (before neighboring 202 Avenue A was demolished for the building called the Topanga) ...

Shakespeare Gordon Vlado Architects is the architect of record for the project ... with an estimated December 2022 completion date.

204 Avenue A disappears; the all-new 202 Avenue appears

[The former 204 Avenue A]

Workers have completed the demolition of the long-empty 4-story building at 204 Avenue A between 12th Street and 13th Street...



As previously reported, this city-owned property, along with the one at 535 E. 12th St. between Avenue A and Avenue B, will make way for affordable housing.

When the new construction is complete, No. 204 will rise to seven stories, yielding 10 co-operative units for fixed-income housing. (There are 11 one-bedroom rental units planned for the 6-story No. 535.)

No. 204 and 535, part of the HPD’s Tenant Interim Lease Program, have been vacant since 2008. "Due to deteriorating structural conditions," tenants from both buildings were relocated at that time. The former tenants of each building will be able to purchase the co-op units in the newly constructed building at No. 204, which will include ground-floor retail.

Meanwhile, the scaffolding and construction netting was removed yesterday right next door at 202 Avenue A (H/T dwg!)...



Workers added a horizontal and vertical enlargement of the existing 4-floor structure, doubling the total square footage from 5,334 to 10,920.

There will be 10 residences here, including a duplex penthouse with a private terrace.

Here's a look at the rendering of the all-new 202 — called the Topanga — via Lenart Architecture ...



Highpoint Property Group bought No. 202 in a deal that closed in late 2017 for $6.75 million, according to public records.

Previously on EV Grieve:
• Affordable housing planned for city-owned buildings at 204 Avenue A and 535 E. 12th St.

• 202 Avenue A has been gutted on its way to doubling in size to become the Topanga

Update on the affordable housing planned for 204 Avenue A and 535 E. 12th St.

[204 Avenue A]

Tonight, CB3's Land Use, Zoning, Public & Private Housing Committee will hear an update (background here) on the two long-empty, city-owned properties at 204 Avenue A and 535 E. 12th St.


[File photo of 535 E. 12th St.]

Seems like a good time to provide a recap here too.

In December, the City Planning Commission heard an application that would allow for the demolition of the existing buildings and the development of 10 co-operative units for fixed-income housing at No. 204 between 12th Street and 13th Street, and 11 one-bedroom rental units at No. 535 between Avenue A and Avenue B.

The proposal calls an additional three floors (from 4 to 7) at No. 204, and one additional floor (from 5 to 6) at No. 535.

The new building permits were filed with the city for No. 204 on March 14 and for No. 535 on March 15.

CityLand, published by the Center for NYC Law, wrote about the plans for the addresses in December.

To facilitate the proposed development, the applicant team requested approval for the disposition of the City-owned lots and designation and approval of the lots as an Urban Development Action Area Project.

Both buildings, part of the HPD’s Tenant Interim Lease Program, have been vacant (save for squatters on 12th Street) since 2008. "Due to deteriorating structural conditions," tenants from both buildings were relocated at that time.

The former tenants of each building will be able to purchase the co-op units in the newly constructed building at No. 204, which would include ground-floor retail. Meanwhile, the all-new No. 535's one-bedroom rentals "will be a middle-income rental building with an income restriction at 130 percent AMI."

And details about all this via CityLand:

The project was proposed as an Affordable Neighborhood Cooperative Program (ANCP) project. ANCP is an HPD program where developers are selected to rehabilitate distressed City-owned properties managed by the Tenant Interim Lease Program, in order to create affordable cooperatives for low- and moderate-income households. Under the program, developers receive low interest loans in the form of City Capital subsidy, in addition to construction and permanent financing sources provided by private institutional lenders and New York State Affordable Housing Corporation programs.

As an Affordable Neighborhood Cooperative Program project, following the construction loan closing, the 204 Avenue A building will be conveyed to a Housing Development Fund Corporation cooperative with unit purchase requirements, income restrictions, and resale requirements. The projected maintenance for the cooperative is expected at 40 percent AMI.

In addition, although the entire building will be affordable, two of the units are going to be permanently affordable as required by the Inclusionary Housing Designated Area bonus, which gives an applicant a higher residential Floor Area Ratio in return for 20 percent of residential units being designated as permanently affordable.

CB3 and Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer have already signed off on this project.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Affordable housing planned for city-owned buildings at 204 Avenue A and 535 E. 12th St.

Affordable housing planned for city-owned buildings at 204 Avenue A and 535 E. 12th St.

[Reader-submitted photo of 204 Avenue A]

Plans are moving forward to demolish two long-vacant, city-owned properties — 204 Avenue A and 535 E. 12th St. — to erect new buildings for fixed-income housing.



CityLand, published by the Center for NYC Law, has a post with all the details.

Earlier this month, the City Planning Commission heard an application that would allow for the demolition of the existing buildings and the development of 10 co-operative units at 204 Avenue A between 12th Street and 13th Street, and 11 one-bedroom rental units at 535 E. 12th St. between Avenue A and Avenue B. The proposal calls an additional three floors (from 4 to 7) at No. 204, and one additional floor (from 5 to 6) at No. 535.

Per CityLand:

To facilitate the proposed development, the applicant team requested approval for the disposition of the City-owned lots and designation and approval of the lots as an Urban Development Action Area Project. The application was brought by the Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD), along with the selected developer for the project, Juan Barahona of SMJ Development.

Both buildings, part of the HPD’s Tenant Interim Lease Program, have been vacant (save for squatters on 12th Street) since 2008. "Due to deteriorating structural conditions," tenants from both buildings were relocated at that time.

The former tenants of each building will be able to purchase the co-op units in the newly constructed building at 204 Avenue A, which would include ground-floor retail. Meanwhile, the all-new 535 E. 12th St.'s one-bedroom rentals "will be a middle-income rental building with an income restriction at 130 percent AMI."

And details about all this via CityLand:

The project was proposed as an Affordable Neighborhood Cooperative Program (ANCP) project. ANCP is an HPD program where developers are selected to rehabilitate distressed City-owned properties managed by the Tenant Interim Lease Program, in order to create affordable cooperatives for low- and moderate-income households. Under the program, developers receive low interest loans in the form of City Capital subsidy, in addition to construction and permanent financing sources provided by private institutional lenders and New York State Affordable Housing Corporation programs.

As an Affordable Neighborhood Cooperative Program project, following the construction loan closing, the 204 Avenue A building will be conveyed to a Housing Development Fund Corporation cooperative with unit purchase requirements, income restrictions, and resale requirements. The projected maintenance for the cooperative is expected at 40 percent AMI.

In addition, although the entire building will be affordable, two of the units are going to be permanently affordable as required by the Inclusionary Housing Designated Area bonus, which gives an applicant a higher residential Floor Area Ratio in return for 20 percent of residential units being designated as permanently affordable.

CB3 and Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer have already signed off on this project. The City Planning Commission will be next to vote on the application at a later date.

EVG readers spotted workers taking soil samples at both buildings this past February.

Gut renovations are currently taking place next door to 204 Avenue A, where a condoplex conversion will see 202 Avenue double in size.


[Photo of 202 Avenue on Nov. 26 by Steven]

Activity at the long-empty 204 Avenue A

Residents yesterday spotted a Davey Drill taking (presumably) core samples from outside 204 Avenue A, the bricked-up building here between 12th Street and 13th Street.

According to public records, the NYC Housing Preservation and Development owns the property. There's nothing on file at the DOB to suggest any future development just yet. (There is a recent filing for "facade repair" at an estimated cost of $4,450.)

No. 204 has been vacant since at least 2009.

A look at Google Street View shows the building in use in September 2007...



By 2009 the place had been boarded up.

H/T dwg!