Hochul announces plan for $1.35B mixed-use project with 1,400 new homes across from the Javits Center

Gov. Kathy Hochul announced on Thursday that a $1.35 billion mixed-use development with nearly 1,400 new homes will be built across from the Javits Center. The governor tapped a partnership of developers called the Hudson Boulevard Collective to develop “Site K” at 418 11th Avenue. The project includes a 72-story residential tower and a 28-story hotel, along with a five-story podium that will hold a permanent home for the Climate Museum and community facilities. Thanks to recent zoning reforms, the development will be the first in New York City in over 60 years to exceed the 12-floor area ratio (FAR), allowing for more housing to be built.

Bounded by 35th and 36th Streets, and 11th Avenue and Hudson Boulevard West, Site K is one of the last remaining state-owned parcels in Manhattan. Under former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, the state issued a request for proposals in March 2021 to develop the site, inviting submissions for commercial or mixed-use projects with a particular emphasis on hotels designed to complement the adjacent convention center.

In the summer of 2023, Hochul reissued the RFP with a new mandate for housing at the site, instead of offices.

Hudson Boulevard Collective—comprised of BRP Companies, BXP, The Moinian Group, and Urbane Development—will transform the site into “HDSN” (pronounced “Hudson”).

“The development of Site K represents a pivotal moment in the evolution of Manhattan’s Far West Side. This proposed project will deliver vital affordable housing and catalyze economic growth through a dynamic mix of residential, cultural, and hospitality uses,” Hope Knight, president, CEO, and commissioner of Empire State Development, said.

“Through this innovative public-private partnership with the Hudson Boulevard Collective, we are advancing sustainable, community-focused development that will strengthen New York’s future and demonstrate what’s possible when government and industry work together to serve our communities.”

The 72-story east tower will deliver 1,349 apartments, including 404 permanently affordable units for New Yorkers earning up to 130 percent of the area median income (AMI) and workforce housing for those earning 60 percent of the AMI.

The apartments will be available in studio, one-bedroom, two-bedroom, and three-bedroom layouts, each featuring in-unit washers and dryers and central heating and cooling.

The 28-story west tower will feature a 455-room full-service hotel with amenities designed to support the Javits Center, including ballroom space, meeting rooms, pre-function areas, food and beverage venues, flexible informal meeting spaces, a fitness center, and outdoor amenities such as a rooftop terrace overlooking the Hudson River.

A five-story podium connecting the towers will act as a hub for cultural, educational, and community facilities. It will be anchored by the permanent home of The Climate Museum, North America’s leading museum focused on climate change and climate solutions.

The museum will host ClimateTech programming, offering support to entrepreneurs by providing manufacturing planning resources, mentorship programs, and workshop spaces dedicated to developing innovative climate solutions.

“As the first museum in the United States dedicated to climate change, we are excited to announce that we will now have a permanent home,” Miranda Massie, Founder and Director of the Climate Museum, said.

“Our exhibitions have already inspired waves of civic action. This permanent, year-round space will make our signature, interactive arts and cultural programming more accessible to more people. Ultimately, this means more climate dialogue and action–moving us closer to a safe and just future.”

The community hub will also promote workforce development and wellness through two key partnerships. Emma’s Torch, the Brooklyn-based non-profit that provides culinary training and job placement services to refugees, asylees, and survivors of human trafficking, is set to operate a 4,000-square-foot restaurant and training facility.

A 60,300-square-foot Life Time fitness and wellness center will provide health and wellness programming across four floors, featuring an outdoor swimming pool and a roof terrace. These amenities will be available to both residents and the public.

HDSN will target LEED Gold certification by incorporating energy-efficient building systems and water management practices, such as greywater recycling and stormwater reuse for irrigation. The Climate Museum will also pursue Living Building Challenge Certification and net-zero carbon emissions.

The project is expected to generate thousands of construction jobs over its development, as well as hundreds of permanent positions across hospitality, retail, cultural institutions, and building operations.

HDSN will be sponsored by the NY Convention Center Development Corporation, a subsidiary of Empire State Development, and will be reviewed under the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) and presented for public review and comment before final approval.

According to The Real Deal, the residential tower will have a FAR of 18, which is made possible because of a state law amended by legislatures this year that had limited the FAR to 12. Since it’s located on state-owned land, HDSN will go through a general project plan process.

Last year, Hochul asked state agencies to find vacant properties across the city that could be redeveloped into affordable housing. This includes several closed prisons across the state, including two in New York City: the Bayview Correctional Facility in Chelsea and the Lincoln Correctional Facility in Harlem.

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