A lot situated at the foot of the Manhattan Bridge between the East River and Cherry Street that used to house a Pathmark grocery store is transforming into a 1,000-unit residential complex. Following the sale of the large underused parcel of land at the edge of New York City's Chinatown to Extell Development Corporation, a large residential complex known as One Manhattan Square is now emerging from the ground. The development includes a 68-storey residential tower with 815 units across 68 floors, and a shorter 13-storey edifice designed by Dater Architects and dedicated to affordable housing with approximately 200 rent-controlled apartments accessible from a separate entrance.

One Manhattan Square in early April 2016, image by Nicolas Arnaud-Goddet

Designed by Canadian architecture firm Adamson Associates, the tallest tower will rise 253 metres above street level and display a series of blue-tinted glass facades to the north and south, while the eastern and western glass walls will boast what appears to be a copper-toned cladding. The building's floor plate, resembling a pair of joined rectangles, maximizes the property's footprint and allows for each of the 13 to 14 units on a level to benefit from ample and direct sunlight in each room.

One Manhattan Square, image via Adamson Associates

The two structures will emerge from a five-storey podium boasting more than 30,000 square metres of amenity space, such as a private garage, a 70-seat theatre, a basketball court, a bowling alley, a sauna, a swimming pool, as well as a rock climbing room. Family-friendly amenities across the building also include a treehouse and play room, while several outdoor areas on the podium's roof will give the residents access to private landscaped spaces. Finally, the developer expressed interest in dedicating part of the street-level space to a grocery store.

Family-friendly unit at One Manhattan Square, image via Adamson Associates

Completion for the project is expected in 2019. In the meantime, additional images and information about the project can be found in the Database file linked below. Want to get involved in the discussion or share your photos? Check out the associated Forum thread — where more construction photos are available — or leave a comment at the bottom of this page.