Council Member Ben Kallos joined Extell Development president and founder Gary Barnett to cut the ribbon on a newly completed residential and commercial construction at 1768 Second Avenue at 91st Street across the street from his district office.
The two buildings that make up the project are a six-story and an 11-story building that will offer units reserved for households starting with incomes of $36,858 for individuals to $96,800 for a family of six (at 70 to 80 percent of the area median income).
Units range from studios at $1,018 to three bedrooms at $1,740. The new buildings will also offer private childcare on its ground floor operated by Alef Bet Preschool.
About a dozen students who will be attending pre-school at the facility were also present at the ribbon cutting.
“We are building 100 perecent affordable housing for low-income families on the Upper East Side, complete with the childcare these growing families will need,” said Kallos.
“This development is model for building affordable housing in neighborhoods with the most expensive real estate using as of right incentives and without piling on discretionary subsidies from the city. Gary Barnett has been responsive to my office, neighbors, and the larger community, not to mention that this is the second space childcare that he has built.”
“We are delighted to be celebrating the completion of this building,” said Barnett. “It has been a pleasure working with all of the city officials in bringing 28 newly-built affordable units and a new preschool to this community.”
The architecture firm, Curtis + Ginsberg, noted, “The brick façades with alternating infill details are designed to complement the built pattern of the neighborhood that includes a variety of scales, materials and textures.” The buildings also feature accessible roof terraces, which will be used for additional community programming.
The building is steps away from the Second Avenue Subway 96th Street Station with an entrance at 94th Street.
