News Summary
A significant real estate transaction occurred in the Kingsbridge neighborhood of the Bronx, where a property at 205 W. 230th St. was sold for $11.5 million. The buyer aims to develop affordable housing on the site, which previously changed hands in 2017 for $7 million. With proposed plans for a 12-story building featuring 99 residential units, this sale highlights ongoing efforts to address the housing crisis in New York City, particularly focusing on affordable housing initiatives.
Bronx – A key real estate transaction has recently occurred in the Kingsbridge neighborhood of the Bronx, where a development site located at 205 W. 230th St. has been sold for $11.5 million. The sellers, developers Michael Ashkenazy and Joshua Agus, are part of the prominent Ashkenazy real estate family. The buyer, Andrea Gjini, plans to turn the property into affordable housing. This all-cash transaction was facilitated by Lev Kimyagarov from Development Site Advisors.
The property previously changed hands in 2017 for $7 million, marking a significant profit for the sellers. Michael Ashkenazy is a partner at Ashkenazy Acquisition Corp., although Ben Ashkenazy, the firm’s chairman and CEO, has no involvement with this particular property.
Westorchard Management, a local Bronx-based real estate firm, had previously filed plans to develop a 12-story building on the site. This proposed structure, set to rise 124 feet tall, is anticipated to cover around 70,000 square feet and include 99 residential units. However, it remains unclear whether Gjini will proceed with Westorchard’s existing development plans or if the local firm will continue to play a role in the project.
In recent months, a growing number of developers have expressed interest in affordable housing initiatives. As of May 1, a total of 118 buildings have enrolled to participate in the 485-x affordable housing property tax incentive program, aimed at incentivizing the construction of affordable housing. Notably, all reported projects utilizing this program feature 99 units or fewer to bypass a minimum wage mandate of $40 per hour that applies to larger developments.
Additional permits have already been filed for another project involving an 11-story mixed-use building at 5517 Broadway, alongside the 12-story building at 205 W. 230th St. Collectively, these developments are expected to feature a total of 164 residential units across approximately 115,295 square feet. Of this, 93,530 square feet will be allocated for residential use, 21,566 square feet for commercial space, and 199 square feet designated for a community facility.
The planned 11-story building at 5517 Broadway will comprise 65 residential units, while the 124-foot-tall structure at 205 W. 230th St. is slated to contain 99 residential units. The overall development will also include 13 open parking spaces, 28 enclosed parking spaces, and a 30-foot-long rear yard.
Strategically located, the site is within close proximity to the 231st Street subway station, serviced by the 1 train, as well as several nearby bus stops offering access to various lines. The architect overseeing the project is identified as Kao Hwa Lee Architects. Currently, demolition permits for existing structures on the site have not yet been filed, and there is no estimated completion date for the construction.
This sale and the potential development of affordable housing epitomize the ongoing efforts to address the housing crisis in New York City, particularly in areas like the Bronx, which continue to see robust growth in real estate development.
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Additional Resources
- Crain’s New York: Ashkenazy and Agus Sell Kingsbridge Development Site
- Wikipedia: Kingsbridge
- BX Times: Permits for Two-Tower Mixed-Use Development
- Google Search: Kingsbridge Bronx Real Estate
- New York YIMBY: Permits Filed for 5517 Broadway
- Google Scholar: Affordable Housing Bronx
- Crain’s New York: Judge Denies REBNY Effort to Block Broker Fee Ban
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Real Estate
- Crain’s New York: NYC Deals of the Day
- Google News: New York City Real Estate Development
