I've lived on the Lower East Side for about six years, but I've heard about SPURA from my family since I was a little kid. Finally, the largest plot of contiguous undeveloped land in Manhattan (that's not Central Park) is being developed right down the street from where I live, and they just launched a flashy new website.
Yes, it's full of renderings, and yes, I have mixed feelings about what this development will do to the LES, speeding up the already rapid gentrification of downtown Manhattan, but hopefully this will bring more vibrancy, opportunity and capital to the neighborhood, and it's been a long time coming... The website boast six acres of retail, office, residential real estate (both 1000 affordable apartments and market rate), plus shops, restaurants, a movie theater, park space, gardens, cultural attractions, transportation, and more. You can sign up for periodic updates here.
Construction begins 2015 (real estate development in 2017) and the entire project is scheduled for completion by 2023.
