ODA Chosen to Design Largest Affordable Housing Project in New York
By Lucas on Jan 09, 2014
Via ODA
By Penny Munoz
New York developer TF Cornerstone is working alongside the Office for Design & Architecture (ODA) to design and build what will be the city’s largest affordable housing project.
The ODA’s proposal was chosen over designs from other architecture firms such as BIG, SHoP and Perkins Eastman. Already having established strong roots in New York, TF Cornerstone has six high-rise luxury apartment towers on Center Boulevard; choosing the Manhattan-based architectural firm’s “green” scheme exemplifies the company’s understanding of the city’s needs. In the proposal, the design expresses a unique emphasis on connecting residents with nature by providing several community green spaces.
Via ODA
The development will occupy more than 1.2 million square feet along the Long Island City waterfront in Hunters Point South, with two residential towers measuring 41 and 36 storeys. Green spaces will be accessible by residents throughout the levels and will include urban farming plateaus!
The residential plans include nearly 2,000 new apartments, with 796 affordable apartments and 696 units targeting middle-income families. Approximately 100 of these units will be specifically for senior citizens of a particular financial criteria, offering studios, one-, two- and three-bedroom units.
Via ODA
"It will be a place where our senior citizens will have rents they can afford and supportive services, and where hardworking moderate- and middle-income New York families can put down roots and grow with this vibrant and flourishing neighborhood," HPD (Housing Preservation & Development) Commissioner RuthAnne Visnauskas said in a statement.
Via ODA
The development will also offer over 20,000 square feet of new commercial space, and a pre-kindergarten facility and a medical services facility. Residents will have access to a beautiful rock climbing gym, art galleries, yoga studios and new restaurants. The towers will also have a state-of-the-art fitness facility, children’s playroom, a viewing terrace and of course, plenty of new parking spaces and bike storage.
Via ODA
“Iconic double towers will dominate the design and enhance the Queens skyline,” described ODA. “Each 25-foot-wide, townhouse-scale vertical module will cascade up and down the towers like foothills surrounding the peaks, resulting in a gracefully stepped form which also creates an enormous inverted arch – an aperture, or gateway – from Long Island City to Manhattan.”
With over 60% of the units being affordable for senior citizens and middle-income families, this development is architecturally designed to help New York residents live healthier, happier lifestyles by giving them access to the green spaces necessary to participate in a variety of activities.
