(l-r) VU New York, Eastlight, and Hillrose28 are among the new residential developments taking Kips Bay by storm
In the early days of New York City, a manor house owned by Jacobus Kips was leased as a quarantine facility for patients with yellow fever. Centuries later, the neighborhood surrounding the manor house has been renamed in his honor and its medical history lives on with Bellevue Hospital, Alexandria Center for Life Sciences, and NYU Langone Health sitting practically side by side on First Avenue. It shows no sign of slowing down: Last October, Governor Hochul and Mayor Adams announced plans for Science Park and Research Campus (SPARC) Kips Bay, a $1.6 billion, 1.5 million-square-foot, full-block life sciences hub to take shape on the existing Hunter College Brookdale Health Science Center under the City University of New York (CUNY) system.
SPARC Kips Bay will be anchored by the Hunter School of Nursing and CUNY’s School of Health Professions, a life sciences lab, simulation classrooms, certification courses, and a new public high school devoted to the life sciences. CUNY is partnering with the city and state on the project, which will be jointly funded by the two with additional investments from the private sector. According to Crain's New York Business, construction is expected to begin in 2026, and completion is estimated for 2031.
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Additionally, up the street from the future home of Kips Bay, a north tower has long been in the works for the Alexandria Center for Life Sciences, but the pandemic and a sluggish office market were among the factors delaying it. However, The Real Deal announced that the city expects financing for the project to close in late 2024 or early 2025, and construction to begin shortly after that.
Conceptual rendering of SPARC Kips Bay (New York City Economic Development Corporation)
As one heads west from the hospitals and life sciences center, one notices more Kips Bay residential buildings with listings at attainable prices. Critics chalk this up to the absence of flashy retail and restaurant opportunities. However, the neighborhood has its share of unique businesses (think Dover Street Market), and national chains have caught on to its potential: It only took a few years for an AMC movie theater and Fairway to become local fixtures, and the Kips Bay Trader Joe's opened its doors in 2016.
SPARC Kips Bay alone is expected to create as many as 10,000 jobs in the next 30 years, and a map released by the New York City Economic Development Corporation shows thousands of employees and post-secondary students working in the area. However, thanks to a residential building boomlet, new housing is on the horizon to allow people to live near work. We take a look at new construction that will further put Kips Bay on the map.
SPARC Kips Bay alone is expected to create as many as 10,000 jobs in the next 30 years, and a map released by the New York City Economic Development Corporation shows thousands of employees and post-secondary students working in the area. However, thanks to a residential building boomlet, new housing is on the horizon to allow people to live near work. We take a look at new construction that will further put Kips Bay on the map.
Map of Kips Bay science buildings (New York City Economic Development Corporation)
Developed by Sinha Development | Design by TRA Studio
8 stories | 10 units
3 availabilities from $1,975,000
128 East 28th Street (Douglas Elliman)
Immediate closings are available at 128 East 28th Street, a boutique condominium with folded aluminum panels that present a modern take on the contextual aesthetic. The building's massing allows all units to have private balconies, and only two units per floor allow for optimal peace and privacy. All apartments feature sound-attenuated windows, 7" custom European oak flooring, kitchens with Terrazzo floors and Miele and Gaggenau appliances, and primary baths with radiant heated floors and Watermark fixtures. Amenities include virtual doorman, common roof terrace, private storage, and bike storage.
Developed by Forkosh Development | Design by C3D Architecture
19 stories | 43 units
2 availabilities for rent from $5,500/month
Hillrose28 (The Corcoran Group)
Three low-rise buildings near Third Avenue have been demolished, and Hillrose28 has risen in their place. The building is distinguished by its pale limestone facade and multiple private balconies, and all units have interiors by Lemay + Escobar. The apartments also feature oversized windows, white oak flooring, open-plan kitchens with Scavolini cabinetry and Bosch appliance packages, luxe primary baths, and in-unit Miele washer/dryers. Residential amenities include 24-hour doorman and concierge service, a duplex fitness center with dedicated cardio and fitness areas, a lounge with kitchen and fireplace, and a landscaped rooftop terrace with onyx bar and grill.
Developed by Lexington Partners LLC | Design by Issac | Stern
11 stories | 43 units
7 availabilities from $850,000
Lexi Condos (Serhant)
Located on the cusp of Kips Bay and Murray Hill, Lexi Condos is roughly in line with its neighbors and offers oversized windows to fill the apartments with light. The apartments also feature white oak floors, kitchens with custom Italian cabinetry and integrated Miele appliances, and primary suites with generous closet space and sumptuous baths. Residential amenities include state-of-the-art fitness center, a lounge, a co-working space, a children’s playroom, a bicycle room, private storage for purchase, and a furnished rooftop deck with lush planters, a barbecue, and stunning city views.
Developed by Minrav Development | Design by SLCE Architects
35 stories | 100 units
13 availabilities from $945,000
VU New York (Brown Harris Stevens)
At 407 feet high, VU New York is one of Kips Bay's tallest new skyscrapers. Floor-to-ceiling windows fill the apartments with natural light, and interiors by Paris Forino feature a light material palette, kitchens outfitted with Miele appliances, and spa-like primary baths. Amenities include a fitness center, lounge, and rooftop with stunning skyline and East River views. Closings commenced in April 2022, and the building is ready for immediate occupancy.
Developed by China Overseas Land & Investment | Design by CetraRuddy
34 stories | 144 units
11 availabilities from $827,000
Easlight (The Corcoran Group)
In November 2017, The Real Deal reported that China Overseas Land & Investment bought a Kips Bay development site from Extell for $75 million. Since then, a towering new building has risen on the corner of Third Avenue and East 34th Street - a busy thoroughfare, but sound-attenuated windows mean one would never know it inside. Interiors feature 9' ceilings, 7" white oak flooring, kitchens with custom oak cabinetry and integrated Miele appliances, and marble-clad primary baths. The amenity suite is on the 34th floor so as to make the most of spectacular views and offers a fitness center, lounge, dining room, and roof terrace. The apartments are available for immediate occupancy.
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Developed by Lions Group NYC | Design by C3D Architecture
14 stories | 40 units
No current availabilities
The Lex (Real New York)
Construction on The Lex was completed in 2019, and leasing launched shortly after. Residents enjoy excellent privacy--only two or three apartments per floor--abundant natural light, elegant kitchens with top-of-the-line appliances, baths with radiant heated floors, and in-unit washer/dryers. Select units have private balconies, and all residents enjoy virtual doorman service and a common roof deck.
Developed by Slate Property Group
6 stories | 144 units
4 availabilities from $4,200/month
The Collective (Abode Residential LLC)
On the corner of Third Avenue and East 33rd Street, The Collective comprises seven adjacent properties housing newly renovated residences in a central location. All apartments feature high ceilings, designer details, kitchens with stainless steel appliances, and well-sized bedrooms. A part-time doorman and on-site superintendent are on staff, and amenities include a business center, laundry room, lounge, and roof deck.
Coming Soon
Developed by New Empire Corp. | Design by DXA Studio
12 stories | 59 units
Rendering of Hendrix House seen on construction site (CityRealty)
Home office space and private outdoor space became priorities for homeowners at the height of the pandemic, and developer New Empire Corp. clearly took notice: At the groundbreaking for Hendrix House, their new condominium on the corner of East 25th Street and Second Avenue, New Empire CEO Bentley Zhao told Multi-Housing News that every unit in the new building will have a “home office hot spot,” and more than half the units are set to include private outdoor space. Common amenities will include an outdoor garden, a common coworking space, and a fitness center with steam room and sauna. The groundbreaking took place in May 2023, and completion is estimated for early 2025.
Developed by The Horizon at Rivington LLC | Design by Fischer + Makooi Architect
18 stories | 65 units
Rendering of 609 Second Avenue (Douglas Elliman's Tirosh and Team)
Earlier this summer, construction topped out on the new building at 609 Second Avenue. The oversized windows and curved upper-level balconies are already evident; next to go up is the dark brick facade seen in renderings of the project. Permits call for two stores at grade level, no more than five apartments per floor up to the 14th floor, and full-floor penthouses from floors 15 to 18. Residential amenities will include an attended lobby, a lounge, a fitness center with yoga room, a half-court basketball court, and a rooftop sundeck with cooking and dining areas. Completion is estimated for 2024.
Lexington South, 154 Lexington Avenue
Developed by Evenhar Development Corporation | Design by Woods Bagot
11 stories | 60 units
Rendering of Lexington South (Evenhar Development Corporation)
In August 2022, demolition permits were filed for four low-rise buildings, the First Moravian Church and the original home of The Old Print Shop among them, on the cusp of Kips Bay and NoMad. A few months later, an application was filed for a new mixed-use building to contain housing units (likely rentals), retail space, and an 8,700-square-foot community center. Details are not yet available on residential amenities, but early renderings show floor-to-ceiling windows, private balconies in select units, and planted rooftops. Additionally, while The Old Print Shop has moved to a new location in Flatiron, First Moravian Church is rumored to have new worship space in the new building.
Developed by Excel Development Group | Design by GF55 Partners
23 stories | 155 units
Rendering of 345 East 33rd Street (GF55 Architects)
As this project shows, Kips Bay's transition to an increasingly residential area is not without challenges: Its developers had to seek a rezoning from the city. According to The Real Deal, the mixed-use development that will bring approximately 10,000 square feet of retail space with rental apartments on top. Under the Mandatory Inclusionary Housing program, a percentage of apartments will be earmarked for affordable housing. Construction permits have not yet been filed, but a new rendering was revealed in June 2022.
Developed by Shalimar Management | Design by C3D Architecture
11 stories | 20 units
543 Second Avenue rendering via C3D Architecture
According to renderings, a vacant lot on the corner of Second Avenue and East 30th Street is in for a glistening new look. Renderings show top four stories of the glassy new building cantilevering over the adjacent building. A custom glass curtain wall will offer residents floor-to-ceiling windows, and antique gold finish frames will make the building even more of a standout. There will only be two apartments per floor, and a glass-enclosed elevator will ferry residents to them.
Would you like to tour any of these properties?
Just complete the info below.
Or call us at (212) 755-5544
Would you like to tour any of these properties?
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