Development

ODA's Supersize Mega-Development for All Year Rises at Rheingold on Melrose in Bushwick

The numbers are big: The development will add approximately 1 million square feet of homes, including 92 affordable units, over two city blocks.

Photo by Field Condition

by Field Condition

07/19/2017 0

Construction is under way on 123 Melrose, the two-block development from All Year Management at the southern end of the Rheingold Brewery complex in the Bushwick neighborhood of Brooklyn. The ODA-designed development will add approximately 1 million square feet of homes plus a park over two city blocks each measuring 400 by 200 feet.

In addition to greenery, the development will bring some affordable housing to this corner of Bushwick. The nine-story building will have a total of 468 apartments, 20 percent of which — or 92 units — will be offered under the city’s affordable housing program.

south site (foreground) and the north site (background) from Evergreen Avenue and Melrose Street. — Close-up of the northeast corner of the north site

The concrete superstructure has topped out at the north block, while at the south block the superstructure is nearing the street level. The superstructure features cross bracing at the perimeter, which will be expressed on the brick and glass facade.

A 17,850-square-foot park open to the public will split the two blocks, while smaller connecting courtyards will provide more intimate open space accessed mid block.

Residents will have a visual connection to the planted open areas of these courtyards from the adjacent ground floor amenity spaces. The two blocks will also be capped by extensive rooftop amenity space for residents — complete with panoramic skyline views of Brooklyn and Manhattan.

Just down the street, ODA’s design for Rabsky is rising at 10 Montieth Street, also part of the huge Rheingold Brewery development. Further west on the Williamsburg waterfront, another big ODA project is rising at 420 Kent for ex-governor Eliot Spitzer on the site of the former Kedem Winery.

ODA is one of a handful of firms influencing Brooklyn architecture. ODA is known for its variations on the theme of a singular extruded block deconstructing into a multiplicity of boxes.

All Year Management owns, manages and develops property, including many developments in Brooklyn.

The development is part of a massive redevelopment of the former site of Bushwick’s Rheingold Brewery. An award-winning complex of affordable housing was completed on part of the former brewery site in the early 2000s. In 2013, the remaining undeveloped blocks were rezoned to allow housing.

At the time of the rezoning, the property’s initial developers promised 30 percent affordable housing, but subsequent owners have scaled back those to 20 percent, leading to controversy. The for-profit development will bring blocks of market-rate luxury housing to the traditionally working class neighborhood.