Latest luxury rental on the Lower East Side has three floors of ‘micro-units’

A big new residential development on the Lower East Side is going small. When it opens this spring, the 30-story 55 Suffolk Street will offer three floors of “micro-units,” apartments that measure between 315 and 350 square feet and feature space-saving built-in furniture and storage. Developed by the Gotham Organization, the building, dubbed The Suffolk, includes 378 total residences, indoor and outdoor amenities, and a new home for the Chinese-American Planning Council. This week, the building released a teaser site and 6sqft got a first look at the unique new development.

The Suffolk; Rendering courtesy of Dattner Architects

The Suffolk is part of Gotham Organization’s Broome Street Development, which includes a second mixed-use tower The Norfolk at 60 Norfolk Street. The mixed-use development is rising on the former site of the landmarked Beth Hamedrash Hagodol synagogue, which was destroyed in a fire in 2017.

The Chinese-American Planning Council (CPC) owns the parking lot where the Suffolk is being constructed and is leasing the land to Gotham. The tower includes community facility space for the CPC.

Designed by Dattner Architects with interiors by JG Neukomm Architecture, the Suffolk features a facade of brick with metal detailing and contains a mix of micro-units and studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom “traditional” residences.

The tiny apartments, which will take up three floors of the building, are part of a new concept by Gotham called Abode by Gotham. Each unit measures between 315 and 350 square feet and includes a built-in Murphy bed, sofa, and storage. According to a press release, residents of Abode by Gotham homes have access to the amenities within the building “under a club membership,” in addition to a dedicated lounge, chef’s kitchen, and laundry facilities.

The standard apartments come with perks like built-in appliances, an in-unit washer-dryer, custom finishes, and views of lower Manhattan.

“We set out to design a building that would offer the best of modern living while embracing the rich history and varied culture of the Lower East Side,” David Picket, president at Gotham Organization, said. “Like all of our buildings, The Suffolk serves as both an homage to the neighborhood and a modern oasis for our future tenants.”

This lounge is designated for mico-unit residents; Rendering by Conway and Partners

Co-working lounge at The Suffolk; Rendering by Conway and Partners

Amenities at The Suffolk include a rooftop pool, an outdoor terrace with lounge seats and fire pits, co-working spaces and conference rooms, and a fitness club with a yoga studio. The building also offers a personal concierge, a package room, storage, and a bike room.

Pricing for the units will be released in the coming weeks. The Suffolk is expected to open this spring.

The second tower in the mixed-use development is The Norfolk, a 16-story tower with 115 apartments that are permanently affordable for seniors. The building contains a new worship space and cultural heritage center for the Beth Hamedrash Hagodol synagogue.

In total, the Broome Street development includes 493 new rental apartments, community space, and 18,000 square feet of retail space.

RELATED: 

• At former LES synagogue site, lottery opens for 86 affordable senior units, from $654/month
• Designs revealed for major mixed-use project on Lower East Side synagogue site

All renderings courtesy of Conway and Partners