Essex Crossing Unveiled

The undeveloped city-owned land near Seward Park may be the last kid picked for the team, but its day in the sun is finally drawing near, reports Capital New York. Construction on Essex Crossing (pictured above) is right around the corner and L+M Development Partners have released the designs for the four buildings of its first phase. The development, one of New York’s largest urban renewal projects ever, is a JV with BFC Partners and Taconic Investment Partners. Plans include an Andy Warhol museum and a bowling alley on site one; an urban farm at site two, a park and a supermarket at site five; and senior housing and community space at site six. All sites will include affordable and market-rate apartments and additional retail and commercial space. So far, the only lease signed is for a 14-screen theater at the base of a Handel Architects-designed, 24-story, 285-foot tall building at site two. Other Architects include Blinder Belle Architects & Planners, Dattner Architects, and SHoP Architects. Demolition of buildings currently on the site, which has been vacant since 1967, is set to begin at the end of the month, with groundbreaking expected this summer.