BUILDING BLOCKS
The hottest trends in new developments hitting the market this season
HUNTING season has officially begun. House hunting, that is. Thanks to a number of condo, rental and co-op buildings launching sales and leasing this spring and summer, New Yorkers on the prowl for a bigger and better habitat have a range of spiffy options to browse.
Among the newcomers, distinct themes emerge.
Some buildings come designed by some of the world’s most famous architects, while others command attention with unusually striking facades. Some will scrape the sky, while others are cropping up in areas farther from Manhattan’s core. Whatever your budget or taste, there’s something for everyone.
Here, The Post rounds up the four trends in new development making waves across town.
Don’t judge a book by its cover, but you can judge a building by its facade.
The 88 Withers St. condo in Williamsburg has a flamboyantly cantilevered exterior, crafted by RYBAK Development and BK Developers (contact: Corcoran, 917-968-4394). Its one- to three-bedroom pads have prices from $795,025.
This building is one of many hitting the market whose designs attract prospective residents looking for serious curb appeal.
Another is the 252-unit 416 Kent Ave. rental in Williamsburg, part of the 420 Kent Ave. complex, that launches in July from $2,350 for a studio (contact: Citi Habitats New Developments, 212-6857777). Designed by Eran Chen’s firm ODA, these glassy properties will front the East River. “We wanted to build something almost lyrical to serve as the gateway to Williamsburg,” says Chen. Another ODA project is 150 E. 23rd St., which sports a delightfully random array of windows; its 50 condos will start at $1.7 million (contact: Cantor Pecorella, 212-776-1350). In Jersey City, architect Hollwich Kushner — alongside developer KRE Group — created a zig-zagged gap in the middle of the 397-unit 485 Marin rental (from $2,350 for a studio), which launches in May (contact: The Marketing Directors, 201-834-0624). That opening, according to Hollwich Kushner co-founder Mat- thias Hollwich, opens the building to the surrounding neighborhood.
This spring also sees the launch of Glassworks Bushwick, a rental by ASH NYC with 63 dwellings (one-bedrooms from $2,500). It merges a former glassworks factory with modern additions to create a “more intimate and human scale rather than a massive development,” says ASH’s Ari Heckman (contact: EXR, 718-255-9800.)
Others make a statement — literally. Atop Torkian Group’s 42 W. 33rd St. Solari rental, a recess under the roof-level amenity deck allowed architect Stephen B. Jacobs to create a multicolored installation of LED lights (contact: Town Marketing and Leasing: 646-692-3326).
“We want to have our own spot on the skyline,” says Jacobs.
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