Demolition Begins Next to India Street Pier

Demolition has started at the old Huxley Envelope factory on West and India Streets in Greenpoint, where long-stalled plans for a 39-story tower are finally moving forward. The megaproject will bring more than 600 apartments and 23,000 square feet of retail to the block-long site at 145-155 West Street. Last year, developer Richard Mack of Mack Real Estate Group told WSJ the development will be aimed at “millennials” looking for “affordable luxury.” In addition, 20 percent of the apartments will be affordable.

Ismael Levya Architects first filed plans for the building in 2009, after the developers secured special permits from the City Planning Commission. In exchange for the right to build so big, the developers promised to create a 22,000-square-foot waterfront park and playground.

Palin Enterprises paid $84,570,000 for the 100,000-square-foot factory in 2006. Then it sold again last August to Palin’s development partner, Mack Real Estate Group, for $120,000,000, according to public records.

Click through the jump for a few more demo photos.

Update: Reps for the developers told us that the interior design for the project will differ from previously published renderings, and that Ismael Levya will still be the architect of record.