Hughes Ave. Apartments tops off; Meltzer/Mandl designs apartments

Real Estate Weekly, July 29, 1998

"We're bullish on The Bronx," said Fine of Atlantic, a Manhattan-based company that specializes in affordable housing and assisted-living facilities. "This is the first of three developments we've undertaken in The Bronx this year, and we're looking at a number of other opportunities to develop quality housing in The Bronx and the metropolitan New York area." The company's senior housing projects are in Manhattan, Westchester and Connecticut.

With renting expected to begin in late November, Hughes Avenue Apartments features 36 studios and 36 two-bedroom apartments, ranging in size from 450 to 850 square feet. Rents are expected to he between $400 and $650.

"Hughes Avenue Apartments will be an exciting place to live," said Marvin H. Meltzer, AIA, a principal in Meltzer/Mandl. "We provided an innovative solution for this unusual 200-foot deep site, which creates a usable inner courtyard space. It will be a great place to escape and relax."

The street and courtyard facades will have a variety of brick and dry-vit colors, adding another dimension to otherwise flat surfaces.

"Our philosophy is to use simple, straightforward materials to keep construction costs down, while using our skills as designers to create quality architecture," Meltzer said. "When this development is completed, it will once again show that you don't need extravagant budgets to produce something powerful."

"We are extremely pleased with the speed of construction," said David Mandl, RA, a principal in Meltzer/Mandl. "The schedule was a driving issue from the beginning of the development. In just 10 weeks, we were able to go from starting construction drawings to getting approvals from The Bronx Building Department. We are continuing right on track - perhaps even a bit ahead of schedule."

Marvin Meltzer is no stranger to designing for the affordable housing market. Four years ago, Melrose Court, a South Bronx affordable housing development, was completed. Today, Meltzer's design for it remains distinguished for bringing quality architecture to - and stretching the envelope for designing - this type of housing. (In 1994, it was named by the National Association of Home Builders as the best affordable multi-family housing project in the United States.)

Atlantic Development worked with Fleet Bank to arrange the financing for Hughes Avenue Apartments.

Meltzer/Mandl Architects, P.C. designs innovative urban housing, including new construction and major rehabilitation, conversion and landmark preservation projects, primarily in the luxury condo, rental and assisted-living markets.