Waterline Square Continues to Grow and Offer Amazing Amenities

In less than a year’s time, three buildings of Waterline Square, designed by world-class architectural firms, have risen quicker than one may have thought they would. For those of you looking for a new place to live, you're going to love all the amenities these buildings come with.

PC: Field Condition

The Buildings:

• One Waterline Square, designed by Richard Meier and Partner Architects, has nearly half of its 37 total floors off the ground.
• Two Waterline Square, designed by Rafael Viñoly Architects, has less than 12 of its intended 38 floors built.
• Three Waterline Square, designed by Kohn Pederson Fox Associates, also has about half of its 34 floors completed.

The Condos

There will be 263 condos offered between all three buildings which are intended to be offered in late 2018. They will start at the 20th floor and start at two million dollars per unit. The lower floors of the building will offer rentals as well.

The Amenities:

If you're looking for a living space which leaves nothing to be desired, you'll love this property and its endless amenities.

• Outdoors: 2.6 acre park with sculptural fountains, manicured lawns, and a child’s playground.
• Pool: 25-meter long pool with three lanes, a separate pool for children, a hot tub, steam rooms, and sauna.
• Sports: Indoor tennis court, indoor soccer field, indoor skate park (yes, really), 30-foot rock wall, a basketball court, golf simulator, and mini bowling alley.
• Arts: Recording studio, art studio, and indoor gardens.

The buildings will also offer a catering kitchen, game room, card parlor, and screening room.

If you end up deciding to live here when the building are complete, let us know! For more NYC building news, follow follow AMAA on Facebook and Twitter!

AMAA is your source for structural inspections, mechanical inspections, civil inspections, and architectural inspections in New York and the entire metropolitan area. With over 50 years of experience, we are known for both our high standards and specialized services. We have supported the work of some of the largest and most prestigious developers, retailers and more. Call us today at 212.867.6720 or visit our website for more information.

MacQuesten Brings Transit-Oriented Affordable Development to Brooklyn

As New York City continues its push for more affordable housing to be built throughout the boroughs, more and more developers are hopping onto the bandwagon, the latest being MacQuesten Development. They’ve just launched a mixed-use, transit-oriented development in the Ocean-Hill Brownsville neighborhood of Brooklyn.

Photo Courtesy of MacQuesten Development

The Where:

The development will be located at 1510-1524 Broadway on the corner of Hancock Street, conveniently next to the Halsey Street subway station.

The What:

The residential section of the development will hold 26 one-bedroom units, 22 two-bedroom units, and 11 three-bedroom units. Amenities for the residents will include:

• A 1,000 square foot lounge and children’s playroom on the first floor
• A 700 square foot lounge on the second floor
• A laundry room
• 45 bicycle spaces
• 39 parking spaces

The Why:

According to Rella Fogliano, Founder and CEO of MacQuesten Development, the project is intended to “provide area residents with well-designed affordable apartments and attractive retail stores while adding new vitality to the neighborhood.”

We’re excited to see that more New Yorkers are going to have affordable living options in great areas! For more updates on NYC construction projects, follow AMAA on Facebook and Twitter!

AMAA is your source for structural inspections, mechanical inspections, civil inspections, and architectural inspections in New York and the entire metropolitan area. With over 50 years of experience, we are known for both our high standards and specialized services. We have supported the work of some of the largest and most prestigious developers, retailers and more. Call us today at 212.867.6720 or visit our website for more information.

How A 1961 Zoning Code Will Affect NYC’s Commercial Buildings

When you live or work in the big city, it’s nice to have at least a small outdoor space to get some fresh air and sun throughout the day. Unfortunately, the revival of a 1961 zoning code may prevent you from doing that in commercial buildings.

What It Is:

This zoning code, originally passed in 1961 to limit the spreading of outdoor flea markets, has been brought back by the Department of Buildings to limit the creation of commercial terraces.

What Constitutes as a Terrace:

To comply with the code, all commercial building space must be within an “enclosed” area— meaning one with walls and a permanent roof only interrupted by windows, entrances, and doors. Many developers claim that terraces are still part of an enclosed building, but the DOB has plans to restrict that interpretation.

Why It’s Been Revived:

As of now, the DOB hasn’t given a definitive answer as to why they’re more strictly enforcing the use of commercial terraces. There has been some release of information about the new interpretations of the law, but no word as to why the change is coming about now.

The Problems It May Cause:

Many building developers are now concerned that a lack of terrace space will make it harder for them to attract tenants, as this was often a big selling point for commercial buildings. Beyond that, plans that include terraces would have to be altered, which could hurt their competitive edge within the market.

For now, we’ll have to wait and see how the DOB decides to change and enforce the interpretation. For more NYC building news, follow follow AMAA on Facebook and Twitter!

AMAA is your source for structural inspections, mechanical inspections, civil inspections, and architectural inspections in New York and the entire metropolitan area. With over 50 years of experience, we are known for both our high standards and specialized services. We have supported the work of some of the largest and most prestigious developers, retailers and more. Call us today at 212.867.6720 or visit our website for more information.

New Library to Be Built in Greenpoint, Brooklyn

“Conservation is a state of harmony between man and land.”

That’s probably what the Brooklyn Public Library had in mind when they commissioned the new Greenpoint Library and Education Center to be built. This new center is being funded by a $5 million grant from the Greenpoint Environmental Fund and $10 million in funds from the Brooklyn Public Library.

Rendering done by Marble Fairbanks

What is the purpose of the Greenpoint Library and Education Center?

The center will be used to promote environmental awareness and advocacy, as well as provide community members with a space to hold public workshops and forums about conservation. It will also serve as a place to educate the community on the rich history of the neighborhood along with its ongoing environmental changes.

What will the Greenpoint Library and Education Center offer?

The space will be double the size of the Brooklyn Public Library branch, offering plenty of books and other collections that tell of Greenpoint’s history. It will still offer the usually books, services, and programs as a traditional library would, but it will also serve as a space that will house “environmental stewardship and activism, with resources for the people and organizations working to preserve Greenpoint’s past and contribute to its future,” as said by Linda E. Johnson, President and CEO of Brooklyn Public Library.

We can’t wait to see how this library will help improve the environment in NYC. For more updates on NYC construction projects, follow AMAA on Facebook and Twitter!

AMAA is your source for structural inspections, mechanical inspections, civil inspections, and architectural inspections in New York and the entire metropolitan area. With over 50 years of experience, we are known for both our high standards and specialized services. We have supported the work of some of the largest and most prestigious developers, retailers and more. Call us today at 212.867.6720 or visit our website for more information.

Penn Station Renovations Already Halfway Done

New Yorkers, rejoice! Well, at least a little bit. Amtrak has reported that over half of the repairs they had scheduled for Penn Station are now complete. They’re even going as far as saying they are ahead of schedule. The repair plans have 20 projects scheduled, 12 of which are successfully finished, with four more in progress.

For some commuters, this summer has been a rough one. While the MTA has worked to provide alternative modes of transportation and travel routes, there is no denying that those plans simply don’t work for some people. All the same, the Long Island Rail Road has offered ferries out of Glen Cove, Long Island and Long Island City, Queens, as well as routes to Manhattan by transferring at Jamaica to take the Manhattan-bound E train or the Brooklyn-bound train to Atlantic Terminal.

Riders from both New York and New Jersey have seemed to manage their commutes without too much stress, but the MTA-run subway system is usually where things go south. Some subways have been seriously delayed or even canceled, extending riders’ commutes or forcing them to find other routes of transportation. This being the case, we’re pretty sure it’s safe to say that everyone is looking forward to the completion of these repairs.

For more information on the Penn Station repairs, follow AMAA on Facebook and Twitter!

AMAA is your source for structural inspections, mechanical inspections, civil inspections, and architectural inspections in New York and the entire metropolitan area. With over 50 years of experience, we are known for both our high standards and specialized services. We have supported the work of some of the largest and most prestigious developers, retailers and more. Call us today at 212.867.6720 or visit our website for more information.

Architectural Inspections You Need for Your Building

Did you know that you can’t complete your NYC building project without a special inspections agency signing off on it? A special inspections agency’s job is to ensure that all construction work is done in accordance to all building codes and the NYC Department of Building’s approved plans and specifications. To ensure you get the proper boxes checked off — so to speak — make sure you have these architectural inspections performed on your building.

• Wall Panels, Curtain Walls, and Veneers: Among other things, these inspections ensure that:
• Framing components are properly sized, aligned, and without structural defect or weakness.
• Anchors are properly placed, welded, bolted and applicable.
• Materials are installed to compensate for horizontal and vertical movement in accordance with the design and manufacturer's guidelines.

• Luminous Egress Path Markings: In order to be in compliance, you’ll need to have luminous egress path markings on steps, landing areas, handrails, and on doors among other areas to ensure quick and safe exits from building in the case of emergency.

• Lowest Floor Elevation: This designates the lowest enclosed area of the building including the basement. This determination will help building planners create a floodplain management plan.

• Fire-Resistant Rated Construction: In order to create a safe environment, your special inspections agency will check for:
• Fire resistant rate partitions, floors, ceilings, and shafts.
• Through-penetration firestopping, draftstopping, and fireblocking.
• Fire dampers/shutters

For more information on what architectural inspections your building will need, follow us on Facebook and Twitter!

We are your source for structural inspections, mechanical inspections, civil inspections, and architectural inspections in New York and the entire metropolitan area. With over 50 years of experience, we are known for both our high standards and specialized services. We have supported the work of some of the largest and most prestigious developers, retailers and more. Call us today at 212.867.6720 or visit our website for more information.

Penn Station Gets New Renovation Design Plans for Trail Hall

Hey, New Yorkers. We know you’re probably not all too thrilled that Penn Station has become a madhouse this summer, but not to worry! The city is fast-tracking the project as Governor Cuomo just announced the closing of a deal that will redevelop a large section of the James A. Farley Post Office into a giant, new train hall.

What the Project Entails:

The new project will make a 250,000 square foot terminal for the Long Island Railroad and Amtrak and allow for 700,000 more square feet of space to be created and used for a new civic space of shops, restaurants, and commercial reality for West Manhattan. Good news for commuters — the hall will actually offer 50% more walking space in Penn Station. (No more being stuck behind slower walkers.)

Is This New?

While this may seem like a new project, "The Farley’s Building Moynihan Trail Hall” is actually a project two decades in the making. Governor Cuomo is excited that the trail hall with allow better access to subway and trains, as well as offer state-of-the-art infrastructure to bring ‘the nation’s busiest rail station into the 21st century.”

What Will It Look Like:

The new renderings for the station include 92-foot tall skylights to be built above the building’s historical steel trusses, direct connections to the Eighth Avenue Subway, an entrance on Ninth Avenue, and a redesign of the Long Island Railroad’s 33rd Street concourse. Talk about more convenience!

We are your source for structural inspections, mechanical inspections, civil inspections, and architectural inspections in New York and the entire metropolitan area. With over 50 years of experience, we are known for both our high standards and specialized services. We have supported the work of some of the largest and most prestigious developers, retailers and more. Call us today at 212.867.6720 or visit our website for more information.

New Bill Offers Tax Incentives for Office Tenants and Developers in Lower Manhattan

It’s no secret that living, much less building, in New York City is no cheap affair. So how are city and other government officials convincing developers to build commercial space in Manhattan? Well, Governor Cuomo has signed a bill that extended tax incentives for office tenants and developers in Lower Manhattan.

The Programs

The Commercial Revitalization Program (CRP)

This program includes tax break incentives that encourage investments to be made in buildings with commercial tenants — everything from office leases to small businesses. It offers a $2.50 per square foot tax abatement for tenants who relocate to buildings built before 1975 that are located south of Murray Street, west of South Street, and east of West Street. Tenants can take advantage of this program for five years if they sign leases before March 31, 2021.

The Industrial and Commercial Abatement Program (ICAP)

The ICAP offers developers 25 years of partial tax breaks for making renovation to industrial and commercial buildings south of Murray Street. In order to qualify for the program, commercial developers must spend a minimum 30% of the structure’s value on improvements.

The Sales Tax Exemption Program (STE)

This program provides exemptions for goods purchased for building in Brookfield Place, World Trade Center, and Battery Park City, provided the leases last for at least 10 years.

The Lower Manhattan Relocation Employment Assistance Program (LM-REAP)

Ths program gives companies a $3,000 tax credit per employee that they move into New York City. Since its inception, it has been used by Pearson when they moved and expanded to 300 Hudson Street.

The Lower Manhattan Energy Program (LMEP)

The last program of this new bill, the LMEP gives property owners as high as a 45% discount on their energy bill, as well as gives them the opportunity to meet requirements of the ICAP.

These incentive programs are being put into place in order to enable developers to attract marquee tenants even though rental asking prices have reached an all-time high in NYC. For more NYC building updates, follow us on Facebook and Twitter!

We are your source for structural inspections, mechanical inspections, civil inspections, and architectural inspections in New York and the entire metropolitan area. With over 50 years of experience, we are known for both our high standards and specialized services. We have supported the work of some of the largest and most prestigious developers, retailers and more. Call us today at 212.867.6720 or visit our website for more information.