If there's one thing that John Catsimatidis loves more than running for mayor, it's developing large buildings on/near Myrtle Avenue in Brooklyn. The grocery store magnate's Red Apple Group had its plans for 180 Myrtle Avenue, a site that has been in development since 2007, partially approved last week and now Dattner Architects has revealed some renderings of the mixed-use building. Red Apple and Dattner have previously collaborated on two other projects in the area and it shows — the design for 180 Myrtle is virtually identical to 81 Fleet Place and marginally similar to The Andrea at 218 Myrtle.
In 2008, Catsimatidis announced that his complex at the 180 Myrtle site would include a supermarket, which was significant because he had just demolished the only one in the immediate area to make way for the development. Now, six years later, the project has shrunk from multiple buildings to a single building, the overall area has been reduced, and it doesn't seem like the supermarket is part of the plan anymore. It will, however, have 20 percent of its 191 units dedicated to affordable housing. In addition to the apartments, there will be 500 square feet (so generous) set aside for a "community facility" and just over 10,000 square feet for ground floor retail. The 15-story building is expected to be completed in 2015.
· Revealed: 180 Myrtle Avenue [NY YIMBY]
· 180 Myrtle Avenue [Dattner Architects]
· Fort Greene Development Mystery Continues [Curbed]