The architects for BAM North Site 1 unveiled the plans for a city-sponsored 52-story tower last night in the BAM Cultural District at a Community Board 2 meeting. The high rise at 598 Fulton will have 586 apartments total: 281 “affordable” residences, including 117 inclusionary housing units, and 305 market rate units. The building will be made of three different-colored materials to make it blend in better with the neighborhood. It will also have a podium that extends out from the base tower (close up pictures after the jump). There will be 10,800 square feet of ground-floor retail on Fulton Street, and 8,000 square feet of cultural office space on the second floor. The building won’t have a garage because it’s being built directly on top of the subway.

Builder Gotham Organization is expected to break ground on the site by the end of this year or early next year, and construction will last three years. Gotham wants the project to meet the criteria for Enterprise Green Communities, a green building program that’s somewhat similar to LEED.

FXFOWLE Architects designed the building, which will be located between Rockwell and Ashland Place, next to Theater for a New Audience. The developer is BAM Go Developers LLC, a subsidiary of Gotham. Jonathan Rose Companies, chosen yesterday to develop BAM North Site II, may also consult on the building process.

The city chose the income levels for the affordable units, which are 65 percent of Area Median Income, 135 percent AMI, and 165 percent AMI. They range from studios to three-bedrooms. Some community board members voiced objections to the city’s definition of “affordable” and “middle income,” which ranged from a studio for someone making $30,000 (65 percent AMI) to a three- or four-bedroom for a family of six making $178,000 (165 percent AMI).

During construction, neighbors can report complaints through a hotline or an email address, and a website will have construction updates and notify residents if something unusual is planned. Gotham expects to close one lane of traffic on Fulton, Rockwell and Ashland Place and close the sidewalk on Rockwell during construction.

The picture above is the building’s front (from Fulton), but click through to see more renderings and angles of the proposed building. GMAP

Here’s the concept drawing that shows the different building materials: 

The rear view from Rockwell Place:

View of the podium from Fulton:

Another view of the podium, next to Theater for a New Audience:


What's Your Take? Leave a Comment

  1. No parking lot is safe is Brooklyn! Gotta say, I love what all this development brings downtown even though it will also pose challenges for schools, public transportation, and congestion. Still, I’m excited to be a resident during this transformation. Oh, and this will seriously block the eastern views and light of 66 Rockwell place.

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