Gotham Plaza, a $23 million Blumenfeld Development Group project, was dedicated recently, reaffirming a commitment from the developer to work in partnership with city, state, and local officials to open a 90,000 sf mixed-uses commercial development on 125th Street in East Harlem. BDG was selected by the New York City Economic Development Corporation as the developer for the site in 2001 through the formal request for proposal process.
The center will consist of three levels, with the ground floor being used by retail tenants. The second floor will be occupied by Lifespire, Inc., a not-for-profit agency. The third floor will be occupied, in its entirety, by the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles.
David Blumenfeld, BDG vice president, stated, "Perhaps the most exciting part of the project is the fact that we build the first speculative commercial space in East Harlem's recent history and it is now fully leased, proof positive of the strength of this community. This decision underscores BDG's confidence in the vibrant future of East Harlem. In a post 9/11 work, where the nation has speculated on the strength of New York, we have created the evidence on 125th Street that our city is strong, united, and confident in its future."
Among those who participated in the dedication program were assemblyman Adam Clayton Powell IV, City Council member Phil Reed, Jim Capel, chief of staff for US Congreeman Charles Rangel and Luther A. Smith, chief of staff for Manhattan borough president C. Virginia Fields.
The architect for the project, Greenberg Farrow, is a national architectural, engineering and development services firm with offices in New York City, New Jersey, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Dallas, Chicago and Boston. The firm state that their vision for this mid-block building was quite contemporary, the new look for East Harlem using metal panels and glass for the exterior and natural materials like slate and stone for the interior. Glass was used on southern exposure to bring in natural light for the occupants. Ceramic frit (similar to sandblasting) was applied to the glass to regulate the increase in temperature related to the natural light.
Other Harlem projects designed by Greenberg Farrow include Former President William Clinton's office on 125th Street, The Renaissance on 116th Street, The Hamilton on 145th Street, and The Orleans on 116th Street. Other retail projects in New York City include Queens Place, Gateway Center in Brooklyn, and River Plaza on West Kingsbridge Road.
BDG has been working with the local Community Board (Community Board number 11), local elected officials and the Borough Presidents Office, the East Harlem Council for Community Improvement and local community organizations, to ensure that East Harlem residents and businesses benefited from both the construction phase and the permanent jobs created at Gotham Plaza.
Other crucial supporters of the project included Kenneth J. Ringler, Jr., commissioner, NYS Office of General Services; Bart Bush, director, division of RE planning, NYS Office of General Services; Charles Gargano, chairman, Empire State Development Corporation; Raymond P. Martinez, commission, NYS Department of Motor Vehicles; Jim Simmons, president, Upper Manhattan Empowerment Zone; William McCahill, executive vice president, Fleet Bank; David Givens, chairman, Community Board #11; Raul Rodriguez, executive director, East Harlem Council for Community Improvement and Vinny Torres, Positive Workforce, Inc.