The Curbed Cup, our annual award for the New York City neighborhood of the year, is kicking off with 16 areas vying for the prestigious (fake) trophy. This week we'll have two matchups per day, and all the results and the full tournament bracket will be reviewed on Friday. Voting for each pairing ends 24 hours after it begins. Let the eliminations commence!
We're nearing the end in our first batch of match-ups for the Curbed Cup, but we've still got some heavyweights left in the fight. This round sees the neighborhood of the future, Hudson Yards, take on Yorkville.
What was once supposed be to be the site of a stadium became the home of the Hudson Yards, which will ultimately see the creation of as many as 16 skyscrapers that include apartments, office space, shops, and a plethora of public space. This year, 10 Hudson Yards, which will house tenants like L'Oreal and Coach, topped out, and construction is now underway on the 70-story residential tower known as 15 Hudson Yards. Meanwhile, parts of the four-acre Hudson Yards Park opened to the public, and the 7 train expansion finally opened after several delays. And work is well underway on the "mini megaproject" across the street from Hudson Yards, Manhattan West, which will bring 800 apartments to the neighborhood. Though much of this development is still in the works—the first Hudson Yards buildings aren't due to open for a couple more years—the megaproject has already proven itself to be a game-changer.
Across town, Yorkville—the eastern edge of the Upper East Side—has been making its own waves. Though it doesn't have a glut of developments changing its landscape, it more than makes up for that with the number of starchitects and big-name developers working on projects there. Robert A.M. Stern's 18-story residential building with a $35 million penthouse is quickly taking shape on East End Avenue. Ben Shaoul's conversion of Post Toscana is almost complete, and one bedrooms there will start at $900,000. Construction is underway at DDG's 521-foot residential tower on East 88th Street; the SHoP-designed 34-story residential tower changed names and addresses; and a Karl Fischer-designed building on East 96th Street continued the newfound trend of "affordable luxury" by unveiling plans for a 48-condo project. And let's not forget the Second Avenue Subway, which, despite possible setbacks, will eventually make commuting to and from the neighborhood at least slightly easier.
Should Hudson Yards or Yorkville advance? Cast your vote now!
· All the Curbed Cup Coverage [Curbed]