1649 Amsterdam Avenue was initially constructed as a hotel/residence catering specifically to African American performers. The building is currently owned by Heritage Health and Housing, Inc., a minority-governed and community based organization with a mission to provide health, housing, and a wide range of social and support services. The building is currently known as the Harry Simmons Residence and is mixed-use with 140 Single Room Occupancy (SRO) units for single adults and two commercial businesses on the first floor. Harry Simmons was an African American architect, recognized primarily for designing and rehabilitating lower and middle-income housing that addressed the social needs of the inner city.
The image on the right is a proposed render of a social room found on the fourth floor. Martina Bacarella Architects' design team pays homage to and draws inspiration from the historical narratives within buildings. The team crafted murals that commemorate influential African American performers and entertainers who have made substantial contributions to the area's history.
Historic Architectural Character
1649 Amsterdam Avenue, a seven-story Beaux-Arts apartment building, was designed by George F. Pelham and built in 1901 as the Hudson Residence, and has a designated landmark status. Its light grey brick façade retains original materials from the second to seventh floors, featuring limestone surrounds and keystones on the second floor, flat-arched lintels with sculpted keystones on the third and fourth floors, and molded drip lintels on the sixth. A continuous limestone band connects the arched windows on the seventh floor. Striped awnings have been added to the non-historic storefronts, and a brick structure for the elevator and stairs was added to the roof in the 1980s. The north and south facades, though similar, differ slightly and both have painted brick bases and non-historic fire escapes. A narrow alley runs along the rear facade. The building’s Beaux-Arts style and detailed craftsmanship enhance the historic district's architectural character.
The proposed work involves converting the 7-story building that currently is a mixed-use (single room occupancy (SRO) with two retail stores on first floor) into a mixed-use commercial medical and SRO residential facility. The plan involves redistributing the building's spaces, with the first through third floors dedicated to healthcare facilities and the fourth through seventh floors remaining the existing SRO accommodations. This rearrangement will require separate entrances for the two occupancies, as well as redesigning the existing spaces on the upper floors. To improve vertical mobility and provide means of egress for the residential portion of the building, new elevators and egress stairs will be added at the south and north ends of the building. The central elevator core and stairs will remain accessible for the new medical center.
According to current NYC Building Code, certain modifications will need to be made to the building. New egress stairs have been designed by the MBA team to prevent cross-migration of the residents and the new business tenants. New bulkheads have been designed and will be added to the roof to accommodate the egress stairs at the north and south ends. To ensure compliance with modern codes, the building will undergo updates for ADA accessibility, life safety measures, vertical transportation, mechanical and electrical systems, energy efficiency, plumbing systems, sprinkler systems, and repairs to the building exterior envelope. Additionally, since work will be conducted on the roof, solar panels will be installed in accordance with the new NYC Building codes.
The façade of 1649 Amsterdam Avenue is currently undergoing restorations and repairs with interior renovations scheduled to commence within the winter of 2024.
More Information Coming Soon!