The Melar - 250 West 93rd Street - Rental

[epm2004]

Anyone have details on the development at this location? It used to be an organic health food store, prior to that it was a clothing store. It looks like it might be more condominiums. Any information would be appreciated. Cannot seem to find anything on it. Thanks.
epm:)

[londonlawyer]

Is this the site that was razed during the summer? There are some more sites with shabby low-rise buildings on the west side of B/Way that will probably be developed over the next few years too.

[epm2004]

Yes it is the site that was raised this summer. The construction has happened fairly quickly and I suspect it should be completed by Spring if not sooner.

[londonlawyer]

I haven't been through there in six weeks. Is a frame rising already?

[epm2004]

Yes. The frame is almost complete. As I indicated, the building is going up fairly fast.

[krulltime]

92nd and Broadway:

http://i.pbase.com/v3/55/435155/1/51336057.92ndb.JPG

http://i.pbase.com/v3/55/435155/1/51336059.92ndc.JPG

http://i.pbase.com/v3/55/435155/1/51336053.92nda.JPG

[czsz]

Any idea what this is supposed to look like?

[Derek2k3]

The Melar
2491-2495 Broadway/250-252 West 93rd Street
20 stories 210 feet
Costas Kondylis & Partners
Dev-Friedland Properties
Residential Rentals
143 units 164,714 Sq. Ft.
Under Construction 2005-2006

They recently covered a piece about it in Curbed.
http://www.curbed.com/archives/2005/10/21/uws_highrise_war_zone_today_20_floors_tomorrow.php

[Edward]

http://themelar.com/

[londonlawyer]

I walked by there on Feb. 13th. It looks decent. However, I think that it would have looked better if the whole facade were the same color.

[lofter1]

Very awkward combo of materials here.

[londonlawyer]

I agree. It looks better in person than in the renderings though. I thought that the lower portion was all reflective glass, but it's not. It's tan brick and glass. Nonetheless, the whole building should have been the same color.

[krulltime]

February 16, 2006:


http://i.pbase.com/o4/55/435155/1/56185318.IMG_7484.jpg

http://i.pbase.com/o4/55/435155/1/56185332.IMG_7486.jpg

http://i.pbase.com/o4/55/435155/1/56185333.IMG_7487.jpg

[czsz]

I'm really glad the upper-UWS is getting all this new upscale housing. The sketch factor owing to the number of surviving SROs in this part of the neighbourhood is still high compared to the area below 89th St.

[czsz]

From curbed:


UWS 'War Zone' Update: Street Level Skirmishes Go On

http://www.curbed.com/archives/2006_03_melar93bway.jpg

The Melar, the 210-foot residential tower (above) at West 93rd and Broadway, has topped out, but that old NIMBY feeling that we mentioned last fall hasn't gone away entirely. This is, if the complaints page for the property is any indication. Either the crews at this site are really bad about leaving construction material in the crosswalk, or there's one irate neighbor who keeps calling 311 like it's their job.

Meanwhile, the "big box space" at street level is still up for grabs, according to developer Friedland Properties' website—Whole Foods and West Elm rumblings notwithstanding—but we can't seem to locate any more dirt on the units up top. Don't be afraid to drop us a line at tips@curbed.com. It's like 311, with a sense of humor.

[antinimby]

http://img525.imageshack.us/img525/750/melartp8.jpg

[sfenn1117]

The bottom portion is acceptable work, but man, what about that incoherent top?

And antinimby, thanks for all the pics today!

[ablarc]

The bottom portion is acceptable work, but man, what about that incoherent top?
Top? Who? Me?

[lofter1]

Top ... bottom -- it's all a fugly wreck.

[stache]

Insurance company meets prison.

[pianoman11686]

That "top" portion also extends all the way down to the street, on the southern side of the building.

This one looks nasty.

[antinimby]

And antinimby, thanks for all the pics today!You're welcome.
As you can tell with the poor quality of the pictures, I'm still learning. ;)

The base of the Melar is not bad at all and is actually quite impressive.
The residential lobby is on the side street of 93rd St. and the rest will retail spaces. Definitely adds to the streetscape of upper Broadway (as long as no one looks up of course :D ).