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The Smile's East 125th Street face. The project partially rest atop the commercial building, Gotham Plaza (BloomImages for Bjarke Ingels Group / Blumenfeld Development Group) The Smile's East 125th Street face. The project partially rest atop the commercial building, Gotham Plaza (BloomImages for Bjarke Ingels Group / Blumenfeld Development Group)
In 2018, Upper Manhattan's most exciting rental project was minted “The Smile.” Now as the swooping development nears completion, an affordable housing lottery has launched to appropriately allocate its 70 well-below market-rate units. The guidelines published through NYC's Department of Housing and Preservation's Housing Connect website shows that there will be 47 low-income units, available to variously-sized households earning between $38,400 and $73,680 per year. Studios will go for $1,023/month, one-beds for $1,090/mo, and two-beds for $1,297/mo.

Twenty-three apartments will be set aside for middle-income households earning between $70,423 and $159,640 per year. For this annual income bracket, studios are priced at $2,054/month, one-bedrooms at $2,200/month, and two-bedrooms at $2,849/month. Interested parties can apply via Housing Connect. The deadline to submit an application is July 23, 2020.
 
 
 
 
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In this article:

The Smile, 148 East 126th Street
The Smile, 148 East 126th Street East Harlem
Ryan Serhant and his team at Nest Seekers will be handling marketing and leasing for the market-rate apartments which should launche later the year. The project is their first under the newly-launched Serhant New Development Leasing division. In the team’s weekly vlog post, Serhant explains the building’s name reflects its curved form and to convey how fun the building will be to live in. Other names considered included The Moon, The Luna, and The Curve.
 
 
 
 
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As we previously noted, The Smile is an 11-story development rising at 146 East 126th Street in East Harlem. The project’s distinguished design was shaped by Bjarke Ingels and features a gentle, inward concave along 126th Street and a cantilevering leg that kicks out towards 125th Street. The venture is being brought to market by Blumenfeld Development Group (BDG), who also built the commercia low-rise building adjacent and partially below The Smile.
The Smile will comprise of a mix of studios, one- and two-bedroom apartments. According to earlier press releases, the lobby will feature artwork from local artists as a way of supporting Harlem's vibrancy and creative spirit. Common amenities will include a fitness center, game room, lounge, and rooftop outdoor area with a pool and individual entertaining areas that showcase spectacular views of the area and Manhattan skyline.
The Smile’s T-shape floorplan will offer a variety of unique layouts — many with open views of the Manhattan skyline and the Harlem River. An amenity package unparalleled in the area will be provided; it includes a rooftop pool, hot tubs, outdoor movie theater, a luxury spa, sauna, salt room, residents lounge and game room, and a state-of-the-art fitness center with a yoga room.
 
 
 
 
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