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Developer Plans Million SF High Rise in Crown Heights

In what is being pegged as possibly the largest ever developement in Crown Heights history, two real estate moguls are seeking approval for a 1-million-square-foot mixed-income residential project on Montgomery Street, at the site of a century-old spice warehouse.

From The Real Deal:

Bruce Eichner’s Continuum Company and Joel Bergstein’s Lincoln Equities are planning to develop a 1-million-square-foot mixed-income residential project in Crown Heights — one of the largest developments in the history of the neighborhood.

Lincoln recently went into contract to buy two parcels at 120-136 Montgomery Street spanning a combined 88,800 square feet, as The Real Deal reported Monday. The partners are also buying two adjacent lots at 964-968 Franklin Avenue. Speaking at the RealInsight New York Multifamily Summit on Wednesday, Eichner said the assemblage spans 120,000 square feet. He declined to say how much the partners paid for the site, but claimed the entire project will cost more than $500 million.

Cushman & Wakefield’s Robert Knakal is brokering the land sale.

The partners hope to develop four buildings and earmark 50 percent of the units for below-market rents in return for a rezoning that allows for more density. The project still has to go through ULURP and win city approval. According to Eichner, it will be built under the city’s Mandatory Inclusionary Housing program.

Eichner also said he will develop the project with union labor. He claimed AFL-CIO’s Housing Investment Trust signed a letter of intent to finance the development in a bond deal that would cover 75 percent of the cost. The trust could not immediately be reached for comment.

The site is three blocks from the Bedford-Union Armory, where Donald Capoccia ran into fierce local resistance against his mixed-use redevelopment plans.

Eichner most recently developed the luxury condo high-rise at 45 East 22nd Street and is currently looking for a $180 million condo inventory loan for unsold units there. He also planned to build a 32-story rental building at 1800 Park Avenue in Harlem but ended up selling that site to the Durst Organization last year.

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12 Comments

  • Wow!!!

    I’m not sure who might be reading this, but this is BIG news for our area. It will make our area much upscale, wealthy and hip. Fantastic for homeowners, not great for renters who require space (medium and large size families), but pretty good for singles who want a nice area to live in. It’s official.. crown heights is now back to the 1950’s when it was a nice upscale place to be.

  • Resident

    WAKE UP FRIENDS!
    1- WHO will teach our children in five years from now ?
    2- WHO will our children be mingling with in the streets and these ”new ”restaurants opening ?
    3-WHERE will our children live ?
    4- WHAT will be the future ?

    THIS would not happen in williamsburg .TO bring more goyim and pritzus and high rents. BUT WE LET IT HAPPEN TO US.
    Pleas vote no for the armory !! take time and go to the board nine meetings.

    • response to #2

      It has already happened to Williamsburg….What is happening there is that young families have moved in mass and started new communities in Jersey City, upstate NY and other places. No reason why we can’t do that either and in fact is already is happening in North Miami/ Hollywood area, 5 towns, Kingston Pennsylvania, and for those wishing to stay close- THE OTHER SIDE OF THE HOSPITAL

    • Simple math

      “Where will our children live?”

      You really think you can continue having 13 kids and still be able to live in densely populated areas for generations?

  • Big families

    Is it possible to build 4-5 bedroom apartments with 2 sinks for big families. It is very hard to find these as more and more of them are rented out to singles.

    • response to #5

      Parking problems-yes, more rats? Rats don’t live in upscale new condo buildings, more crime- Ha! Hardly, does Manhatten have crime? Not realy.. crminals can’t afford to live there.

  • Chaim

    Before everyone gets so upset, they should realize that this building will be east of Franklin Ave. not in the center of Jewish crown heights