5 River Park (Credit: Fortis and Romines Architecture; captured by CityRealty)
Fortis Property Group is forging ahead with their high-density redevelopment of Cobble Hill’s Long Island College Hospital (LICH) campus. In 2015, the developer presented locals and representatives a rezoning option that would have yielded some affordable housing and move some of the plan's bulk away from the low-scale historic district. The rezoning was met with a tepid response, leading Fortis to drop the rezoning pursuit and move forward with an as-of-right development to feature towers as high as 400 feet tall.
5 River Park is rendered farthest to the right
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As-of-right Site Plan created by FXColaborative Architects
The first tower that will come out of the ground is 5 River Park at 347 Henry Street. Spanning the western blockfront between Pacific and Amity streets, the tower is the closest to the Cobble Hill Historic District. The new building replaces a five-story loft structure and an undistinguished LICH medical building that held an outpatient clinic and pharmacy. Fortis’ kaput rezoning option proposed to expand a privately-owned public park at the corner of Pacific. The current plan preserves the open space with the tower jogging around it.
ZOning diagram via NYC DOB
5 River Park will stand roughly 200 feet tall to the top of its rooftop bulkhead. Inside will be 25 generously-sized one- to four-bedroom condos spread across 50,000- square feet of residential floor area. Sales have yet to launch but an approved offering plan submitted to the Attorney’s General Office shows a $78.88 million sellout — which averages a pricey $3.15 million per unit.
Buyers will have access to a multitude of amenities. Filings show there will be a music room, children’s playroom, game rooms, a fitness center and wellness room, a spa with accompanying lounge, an outdoor swimming pool, a communal terrace and yard, and parking for 18 vehicles.
Construction progess on 5 River Park as of early April (CItyRealty)
Polhemus Building and Townhouse
Earlier this year, a rendering was posted along the site’s construction fence giving us our first look at the “contextual design” by the DUMBO-based firm Romines Architecture. The tower will rest upon a long single-floor podium, to be overgrown with greenery according to the rendering. Above, the massing is broken into two components with diverging façades. The lower volume is painted a faded-pink tone a la Palazzo Chupi in the West Village, while the taller wing has a more understated muted appearance.
The Douglas Romines-led firm is also behind the design of River Park’s Polhemus Townhouses taking shape across Henry Street. At the corner of Henry and Amity is the condo conversion known as the Polhemus Residences where remaining three- and five-bedroom homes on the market are priced from $3.5 million.
Other forthcoming towers in Fortis’ first phase include 1 River Park at 350 Hicks Street which will be a 15-floor building replacing a LICH parking garage, and 2 River Park which will be a 440-foot-tall curved-glass condo designed by Hill West Architects. Fortis is also behind the slick 1 Seaport tower rising at the edge of the South Street Seaport in Manhattan.
Other forthcoming towers in Fortis’ first phase include 1 River Park at 350 Hicks Street which will be a 15-floor building replacing a LICH parking garage, and 2 River Park which will be a 440-foot-tall curved-glass condo designed by Hill West Architects. Fortis is also behind the slick 1 Seaport tower rising at the edge of the South Street Seaport in Manhattan.
Panoram showing River Park (Phase I) to the right and Manhattan/New York harbour to the left (Fortis Property Group)
Would you like to tour any of these properties?
New Developments Editor
Ondel Hylton
Ondel is a lifelong New Yorker and comprehensive assessor of the city's dynamic urban landscape.
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