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Long known for its gritty urbanism, Hell's Kitchen remains one of the last frontiers of gentrification left in Midtown Manhattan. Its stock of prewar apartment blocks and former tenement houses is slowly but surely giving way to luxury retrofits and modern highrises, as New York's skyrocketing real estate market works overtime to sweep the last vestiges of the old working class neighbourhood into the dustbin of history. So while it may seem odd to imagine something as commercial and suburban as a Target coming to the heart of Hell's Kitchen, those familiar with the recent development history of the neighbourhood will know that it was only a matter of time.
Set to occupy an entire block of 10th Avenue between 44th and 45th Streets, XIN Development's 615 10th Ave will replace a long-standing gas station. Just recently, the U.S. subsidiary of XINYUAN Real Estate Ltd. secured a $108 million non-recourse commercial construction loan from The Bank of Ozarks, moving forward the company's first project in Manhattan and the second in New York City after the completion of the Oosten condominium in South Williamsburg, Brooklyn. The seven-storey mixed-use development will be anchored by a 29,000-square-foot flexible-format Target department store, which will take root within the base of the mid-rise residential block.
Composed almost entirely of what appears to be concrete, the project appears in renderings to take on a 1970s office tower aesthetic not commonly seen amidst the more usual steel and glass look that has become an industry standard in recent years. Placed within a streetscape featuring a mix of prewar brick-clad apartment blocks and modern new builds, the retro look will ensure this is a standout development. The chain retail offerings in store for the base of the structure will bring a more corporate feel to the otherwise eclectic neighbourhood.
Slated for completion in 2019, 615 10th Avenue will bring a great deal of foot traffic to where there was once a block-long dead space owing to the size of the former gas station.
SkyriseCities will be sure to return to this project as progress continues. For more information, check out the associated Database file and Forum thread, and as always, feel free to join the conversation in the comments section below.
