With its reputation for being ‘ahead of the curve’, New York City’s Lower East Side offers an eclectic mix of culture, heritage and pizzazz. Chic boutiques, high-rise apartment buildings and trendy hangouts live harmoniously amongst one another to create one of Manhattan’s most sought-after areas. But thanks to a new mixed-used project, a different way of living is set to be offered to local residents.
Situated on the biggest stretch of undeveloped City-owned land in Manhattan, Essex Crossing will consist of over 1,000 new residences, 400,000 sq ft of office space and 450,000 sq ft of retail space over nine sites that will enhance the unique flavour of Lower East Side (LES).
The first stages of NYC’s most significant urban renewal development began in mid-2015, with a predicted completion date for the entire mixed-use development being 2024. Here at Unsuburbia, we think this is a brilliant example of a shift towards an unsuburban mentality when it comes to incorporating residential living, commercial amenities and green space into a regeneration project – it’s different by design for a different way of living. We’ve taken a deeper look at just why you should believe the hype about LES’s Essex Crossing.
A newly designed NYC neighbourhood
The LES is renowned for being a highly-fashionable district of New York, and the Essex Crossing regeneration project evokes this evident ethos in everything it does to create a place where people would want to live – and live there differently.
Essex Crossing describes its residential offering as “distinctly designed condominium residences that pay homage to the beauty and history of Lower East Side architecture while offering stunning views and custom finishes”.
With over 1,000 condos to be available once the entire mixed-used development is complete – including 561 permanently affordable apartments – there’s a new feeling that living in the hip and desirable Lower East Side is feasible. But not only that, it becomes a place where you can also achieve a good quality of life, especially given the amenities within the development.
The Rollins building, as an example, will facilitate “a fitness room, a yoga room, a children’s playroom, a dog-wash room, bicycle storage and a residents’ lounge”. Amenities are second-to-none, with shops, bars and entertainment venues – including a 14-screen luxury movie theatre at 115 Delancey Street. Being at the heart of the LES, Essex Crossing is well-served by Williamsburg Bridge meaning getting from A to B in NYC is simple. It’s got everything you’d want from an inspiring mixed-use development.
You just have to look at its Instagram feed to get a true feel for it – be warned, one look and this will be the lifestyle you lust for.
An improved local market too adds to the appeal of this new residential development. Situated at the heart of the development, Essex Street’s Market Line will act as the cornerstone for the entire community ethos, leaning on the area’s traditions to curate events for all residents to enjoy. Spanning three blocks and connected by underground tunnels, it’s set to be an architectural marvel. Not to forget either, the 28 vendors who will be on-site on a daily basis, engaging with all those within this mixed-used project.
Culture will be at the beating heart of Essex Crossing too, with the International Centre of Photography relocating to the development in 2019.
An escape from the concrete jungle
Essex Crossing isn’t just prestige, it promotes health and wellbeing to create a neighbourhood for the many, not the few.
The need for green spaces is essential for any suburban-meets-urban development to allow residents to explore, engage and exercise in a natural environment – something we’ve discussed in-depth previously – and Essex Crossing breathes the idea of residents embracing greenery.
Credit – Moso Studio
On Broome Street, an integral part of the Essex Crossing development, over 35 per cent of the area has been assigned purely for trees, plants and flowers for locals to relax amongst. The community table here too promotes sociability – it wants people to live in solidarity, rather than in solitude. The likes of residential roof terraces and indoor green spaces will also be prominent features within the finished regeneration project. Bike paths too will be fitted, encouraging locals to adopt a healthier means of transport. It’s a way of living New Yorkers will crave.
Perhaps most impressively, the developer has incorporated a 10,000 sq ft ‘urban farm’ on Delancey Street. This piece of ingenuity allows residents to interact with an essential part of green spaces (i.e. its natural habitants) within a totally urban area – it’s a fantastic concept.
Inspiring the next generation of forward thinkers
Alongside the awe-inspiring design model and community ethos ingrained in all that Essex Crossing is doing comes the want and need to build a legacy for longevity. The former Seward Park Urban Renewal Area is steeped in heritage – something this mixed-used development wants to protect and project into the future.
From its humble beginnings of pushcart vendors in the 1900s, LES has positioned itself at the cultural epicentre of New York City thanks to an ever-so eclectic mix of museums, galleries and entertainment venues – it’s become the ‘one step ahead’ place, something which Essex Crossing wants to celebrate.
It wants to bring the next phase of forward thinkers to
the development, get them out of the brash skyscrapers of the inner-city and move them into its state-of-the-art office space. The new wave of businesses will see Essex Crossing as a place to influence and expand their decisions – the LES vibe and unique green space access will only increase the creative thought process of tomorrow’s businesses.
With affordable residential condos, a thriving range of amenities and vast green space access, Essex Crossing is set to transform the way the Lower East Side lives and create the neighbourhood of tomorrow, today.
