READ: RESIDENTIAL TOWER AT EAST HARLEM MALL

An old factory was torn down just east of Pleasant Avenue by 116th and was soon replaced by a massive mall fit for the suburbs back in 2010 but the story appears now to include a huge residential tower.  Based on recently published reports, the developer now wants to add up to 1,000 units on top of the current 5-story structure and is trying to convince the neighborhood that the plan will include 20 percent affordable housing.  This is quite an ambitious plan and probably indicative of market demands these days but is far from a done deal.  East Harlem has probably the most unsightly towers per block in all of Manhattan and another large one will surely add more character to the neighborhood.  Read more in Curbed: LINK