Update on East River Big Box Stores
We haven’t heard anything about this project for a while as it has been overshadowed by the approval of the River to River Project and the ViVa Restaurant Row progress. The Real Deal reports that the complex should be opened by fall of 2009. As we already reported, Home Depot has pulled out of the deal but according the TRD article, might sublet the space. Read the article after the jump.
East River Plaza, a former dormant wire factory in East Harlem, will be opened as a big-box retail complex in October 2009, 15 years after developer David Blumenthal purchased the site. The property, which runs from 116th to 119th street along Franklin D. Roosevelt Drive, will cater to stores like Costco and Wal-Mart. Home Depot and Target have already signed on, though Home Depot might sublet it space as it trims its expansion because of the weak economy. Blumenthal hopes to make the site as suburban as possible, going as far as to give the site’s parking garage a parking lot feel with flat levels and bridges that connect the levels to the building. Blumenthal is developing the site with Forest City Ratner.
Source: TRD
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Yeah, the design is odd considering. The location is definitely more suitable for people with cars. Not necessary for the locals I would guess.
The Community Board should have pushed for a better design. East Harlem isn’t the suburbs… it should have a better pedestrian-friendly design that hides the parking and looks inviting to people walking over from the neighborhood. It feels like they just want to market this to people coming off the FDR and getting back on.