A new building rising in Longwood looks like it is one of the few in the community to be built without using housing subsides.
Construction began on Thursday, July 6 on a residential building at 915 Dawson Street that will offer 29 apartments, as well as various amenities like an exercise room and indoor bicycle storage.
The eight-story, 23,301 square foot building is one of at least three planned in the southern part of the borough that are being developed by Propco Holdings and built by UA Builders Group, a nationwide construction company.
According to a spokeswoman for U.A. Builders, there will be no city-subsidies used in the new development at 915 Dawson Street.
“The Dawson Street project furthers the ongoing revitalization of the south Bronx, and will provide the area with a new multi-family residential building with desirable modern amenities,” said Albert Gjonbalaj, UA Builders Group CEO.
Richard Markel, UA Builders Group vice-president, stated in an email that the project is planned for completion sometime in the second-quarter of 2018.
“The units are being constructed with economy and affordability in mind,” stated Markel, adding the company is also currently designing new developments with Propco Holdings at 1081 Tiffany Street and 2061-64 Ryer Avenue.
Markel stated that in order to meet market demand, the project is predominantly one-bedroom units that are approximately 500-square feet, with additional 300-square foot studio apartments and 600-square foot two-bedroom apartments.
“The residential units are being designed as clean, modern and economical with a mix of amenities well-suited for families and professional tenants,” he stated.
The project can be considered part of a larger redevelopment of the borough, said Alfred Popaj, Propco Holdings asset manager.
“Redevelopment of the Bronx continues at a rapid pace and we’re excited to provide the neighborhood with a smartly-designed and well-constructed building,” said Popaj, adding that UA Builders was selected because Propco is confident in their organizational and technical expertise.
The apartments will feature wooden floors, modern kitchens with energy saving appliances, and programmable controls for a heating and ventilation system.
The building will feature an onsite laundry facility and an onsite recycling program, and is across the street from Rainey Park.
Online leasing, payment and maintenance requests will be available to tenants.
In designing the 915 Dawson Street, UA used Building Information Modeling, a computerized modeling system that creates a digital representation of something being constructed.
“BIM allows us to proactively solve problems before they are encountered in the field,” stated Markel. “This allows us to build more quickly, more safely and with greater efficiency than conventional means.”
Markel stated that the Longwood community is a network of neighborhoods with diversity and a rich history.
Two sources with knowledge of the community’s real estate development needs, neither of which were authorized to speak on the record, said that market-rate development was rare in the neighborhood and that local community leaders would likely want to learn more about the project.
