Sleek Tower With Affordable Housing, Arts Space Rises in Fort Greene's Cultural District

After many years stuck in development, the BAM Cultural District is starting to take shape as several towers in the master plan start to rise. One of the farthest along, BAM North Site 1, at 250 Ashland Place, has fewer than 10 floors to go before topping out at 52 stories.

Developed by a partnership between the Gotham Organization and DT Salazar along with the Department of Housing Preservation and Development and the NYC Housing Development Corporation on city-owned land, it will offer a significant amount of affordable housing and cultural programming.

FXFOWLE is designing the 568-foot tower, which features a bundle of rectangular volumes clad in glass and bricks of different color to distinguish the separate extruded forms. Bricks on the central volume facing Fulton Street are dark maroon, while the tower elements facing Ashland Place and Rockwell Place are light tan.

Inside, the tower will accommodate not only housing but 10,000 square feet of retail and 8,000 square feet of space for an arts group yet to be selected. It will have 586 residential units, almost half of which will be permanently affordable. The 282 one- to three-bedroom affordable units will be available to low- and middle-income families.

Founded more than 35 years ago by architect Bruce Fowle, FXFOWLE is a large and award-winning firm with offices in New York and Washington, D.C. Projects include planning and urban development as well as interior design and architecture.

Above, the southwest corner of the tower seen from the intersection of Lafayette and Flatbush Avenue. Completion on the tower is slated for some time in 2016.

250 Ashland Place Coverage [Brownstoner]
BAM North Site 1 Coverage [Brownstoner]
Rendering by FXFOWLE

Southeast corner of the tower from the intersection of Lafayette Avenue and Ashland Place.

The BAM North Site II under construction to the south of 250 Ashland Place, in front of a 2012 mural by California artist Barry McGee.

A closeup view of the Fulton Street facade with the two brick tones of maroon and light tan.

Looking up from Fulton Street.

Northwest corner of the tower and podium from the intersection of Fulton Street and Rockwell Place.

Looking east along Fulton Street with 66 Rockwell Place (center) and 250 Ashland Place (left).

A previously published rendering.