Two very narrow parking lots in Manhattan’s Tribeca neighborhood will soon be filled in with a pair of very narrow condo buildings designed and developed by DDG. The firm’s plan for 100 Franklin Street was approved by the Landmarks Preservation Commission in early 2014, but only recently made it through the Board of Standards and Appeals (BSA) which had to grant a zoning variance for the site.
Crain‘s reported that given the tricky nature of the site, the BSA decided to wave a requirement for setbacks on upper floors. The two buildings, one six stories and the other eight, comprise 10 apartments that are set above ground-floor retail that faces 6th Avenue. DDG’s non-profit arm has also agreed to convert a narrow pedestrian island across the street into a permanent park.
The two buildings both have a red brick facade that appears partially pixellated as DDG has removed individual bricks here and there. At the street level, the building has arched masonry frames and a ribbon of plantings that runs the length of the building, just above the glassy storefront spaces. Taking a cue from the angled site, 100 Franklin forms a point at its northern edge.
Construction is slated to start this fall and wrap up in 2017.