MLK Plaza is home to a wide range of New Yorkers in need of affordable housing.
“It’s producing a variety of income tiers ranging from very low income to moderate income,” says Jonathan Beuttler, senior vice president of development at Radson Development, noting that the 167-unit building includes 33 homes for residents who were formerly homeless.
In addition, the remaining homes serve those earning 40%, 50%, 60%, and up to 110% of the area median income.
The 13-story development is one of the first to use the city’s new Zoning for Quality Affordability regulation, which allowed for a rezoning of the Bronx property from manufacturing to residential. And as a nod to the site’s past, the exterior design embraces the neighborhood’s industrial identity with dark gray brick and metal panels. Gold color panels provide a bright counterpoint, according to the architects.
MLK Place utilized the city’s Extremely Low- and Low-Income Affordability Program, known as ELLA, which provided financing that helped make the property 100% affordable. “We’re creating much lower affordability opportunities than would otherwise be available,” Beuttler says.
The $63.6 million LEED Platinum building was designed with the health of residents in mind. Residents have access to recreation and community rooms, a rear patio, and a gym on the seventh floor with an adjacent outdoor terrace. The location is midway between the top and bottom floors, making it more likely for people to take the stairs. To encourage use, the stairwell was conceived using active design principles, including bringing in natural light and views.
