Developers L+M Partners renovated the surrounding public housing at 1482 Fifth Avenue as part of the deal that would allow new market rate and affordable buildings to be constructed facing 116th and 117th Street just west of Fifth Avenue: LINK. With 100 units of new affordable rental residences along with 95 market rate units planned for another building and rezoning of the corridor initiated, any planned developments would have to have make the most use of all the outdoor space which comes as a surprise to some. Read more details in DNAinfo: LINK.
I find it interesting that they agreed to this to get their building fixed and now that the building has been repaired and upgraded there is a backlash. I say get rid of the court as the kids that play there have no regard for their neighbours. They play at all hours make as much noise as possible, ride motor bikes recklessly there and generally are a nuisance. As to the parking, the cars in the outdoor lot there look to be in some disrepair and some of them have so much dirt you can tell they have not been moved in years.
ReplyDeleteThe court also brings no economic value to the equation and I am sorry but that space takes up an entire quarter of a block on a main thoroughfare. You do not see this on 125th street.
I totally agree with the above! And the area is hardly devoid of play spaces: on 117th St the Children's Aid Society has a huge athletic complex and there is another playground next to that at a public school. And 4 blocks north is Marcus Garvey Park and 6 blocks south is Central Park. And all the NYCHA projects along 115th St have multiple b.b. courts. People will complain about anything!
ReplyDeleteWhy does Harlem need more affordable housing, we already have disproportionate number of welfare housing with the projects. Harlem and the City needs a tax base in these times and going forward.
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