Hell’s Kitchen Transformation Underway with Gotham West Opening
This month marks the highly anticipated opening of Gotham West, the 32-story, 554-unit luxury apartment community in Hell’s Kitchen. Surrounded by 10,000 square feet of landscaped outdoor space, Gotham West is located at 550 West 45th St. on the corner of 11th Ave., and was developed by Gotham Organization, Inc., a company no stranger to Hell’s Kitchen.
By Jeffrey Steele, Contributing Editor
New York, NY—This month marks the highly anticipated opening of Gotham West, the 32-story, 554-unit luxury apartment community in Hell’s Kitchen. Surrounded by 10,000 square feet of landscaped outdoor space, Gotham West is located at 550 West 45th St. on the corner of 11th Ave., and was developed by Gotham Organization, Inc., a company no stranger to Hell’s Kitchen.
“The Hell’s Kitchen area has changed a lot over the past 15 years since we developed our first rental building there. The neighborhood has become residential,” Melissa Pianko, executive vice president of development with Gotham Organization, tells MHN.
“Gotham West was a logical next step in the neighborhood’s evolution. Even with the development, there is still a strong demand for rental housing, particularly on the west side, north of Hudson Yards. Gotham West is walking distance for those who work in Midtown, a few blocks north of the soon-to-be-developed Hudson Yards and one block east of the Hudson River Park.”
Designed by SLCE Architects, with landscaping by Thomas Balsley Associates and interiors by SPAN Archtecture, Gotham West delivers residences graced by an array of upscale features. Quarter-sawn white oak plank flooring, custom-designed lighting and Dutch mosaic tiling are among the elegant and creative features and finishes rarely if ever experienced in a rental community.
The structure’s signature amenity is the ground-floor Gotham West Market, a block-long AvroKO-designed emporium offering an urban street culture-inspired aesthetic and indoor and outdoor dining areas. A variety of artisan vendors and eateries fill the day-and-night market, opening early and closing late.
Among common-area amenities offered by Gotham West are a 9,000-square-foot landscaped interior courtyard anchored by a serene reflecting pool, and a residents-only interior lounge overlooking the courtyard. The lounge features a game room with screening area, state-of-the-art business center, state-of-the-art demonstration kitchen, library and art gallery featuring rotating exhibits.
The amenity package includes an outdoor fireplace, a 32nd floor “Sky Terrace” with sweeping Hudson River views, fully-equipped health club, outdoor children’s play area and children‘s playroom.
Despite less than ideal climatic events, the development’s progress has been largely untroubled, Pianko reports. “We had a remarkably smooth construction period, particularly as we weathered two major storms, Irene and Sandy,” she says. “We feel really fortunate to have had it go as smoothly as it did.”
Asked what Gotham West will mean to this area of Manhattan, Pianko responds that the development fills in an historically underutilized site with new residential buildings. “What’s more, Gotham West Market, at the base of our building on 11th Ave., offers residents a day-and-night food market with eight different small restaurants in addition to a bike shop and porter.
“The market . . . offers a standout amenity to our residents, to the community and to visitors. There will be something for everyone, from ramen from Ivan Ramen Slurp Shop to sandwiches from Court Street Grocers Sandwich Shop to tapas from Seamus Mullen’s El Colmado.”
