I’m sure the same would have been said by some about what is now the Chelsea historic district a couple blocks south (in which I have now lived 25 years). Today, we are grateful they didn’t bulldoze even more of the neighborhood for centrally-planned projects. Chelsea had a poor public reputation as late as the 1990s, and vestiges of 20th Century “decay” (some of which was just utilitarian adaptation) can still be spotted if you look for them.
Regardless, there were plenty of people who disagreed that the area condemned for Penn South was a slum at all. In the end, few of the 7,000+ people who lived on those blocks got to live in the new Penn South. Rather, they were metaphorically bulldozed. Housing density dropped (Penn South is relatively low density housing). In retrospect, it seems that Penn South was a lateral move with a lot of externalities. It’s here now, and I stroll through it daily, and I hope it stays, but it was probably not the best option at the time, just an option that suited some particular interests.
It’s pretty much the same footprint as the building it replaced. I think they may be building out closer to the lot line (a Penn South sidewalk) in the westerly direction, whereas the previous structure had a loading bay setup. I suspect stories above the ground floor retail level are all L-shaped or U-shaped.
The color & texture of brick is always aesthetically pleasing.
Those large single pane windows deep set from the surface will be a great feature for the apartment interiors. One large ‘picture window’ without any of the obstructions you get with double-hung ( or multi-pane windows) is a real WOW factor when looking out from the interior. The deep-set glass also adds to the great view by eliminating the glare from the sun; by putting much of the glass into a shadow.
However, I do not think these are “floor-to-ceiling” windows as describe in the YIMBY artice: my guess is they are simply ‘oversized’ punch windows.
Excerpt from YIMBY article - Crews have enclosed much of the reinforced concrete superstructure in metal frame studs, insulation boards, and the grid of rectangular floor-to-ceiling windows since our …
They aren’t “true” floor to ceiling windows, they are 18" off the floor as is standard.
Pane is still being used in the wrong context here, the correct term that should be being used is lite, that is what refers to the number of glass divisions, not panes, which refers to the layers. Single pane windows are not used anywhere anymore because they can’t be insulated. IE, your double-hung window would have 2 lites, and/or more if there are muntins or more mullions etc.
Some of the windows here are double lite windows, but every single window is definitely double or triple paned.
