A series of new preliminary renderings has been released for Monitor Point, an ambitious three-tower residential development planned for 40-56 Quay Street along the southern edge of Greenpoint, Brooklyn. The project, designed by FXCollaborative and developed by Gotham Organization, will feature towers reaching heights of 600, 450, and 230 feet, collectively providing 1,150 rental apartments. Of these units, 288 will be designated as affordable housing for families earning around 60 percent of the area median income.
The development will encompass much more than residential space, incorporating ground-floor retail areas, a new home for the Greenpoint Monitor Museum, and an expansive waterfront esplanade. The property boundaries are defined by Quay Street to the north, Franklin Street to the east, and the Bushwick Inlet along the southern and western edges, creating a prime waterfront location with Manhattan skyline views.
The main rendering showcases the two tallest towers from a northern perspective, revealing cohesive architectural design featuring floor-to-ceiling glass facades and staggered grids of green-tinted paneling with distinctive rounded corners. Both structures incorporate numerous setbacks throughout their heights, each topped with extensive landscaping elements. The towers are crowned with bulkheads featuring curved edges that complement the overall aesthetic of the building forms below.
The architectural layout shows the two tallest structures positioned 40 feet apart, rising 56 and 41 stories respectively from a shared podium base. The third building, standing 21 stories at 230 feet tall, will be located 108 feet to the east at 56 Quay Street. Site diagrams highlight the new waterfront space in green within designated boundaries, emphasizing the project's commitment to public access and recreational areas.
The waterfront esplanade, designed by landscape architecture firm SCAPE, promises stunning views of the Manhattan skyline across the East River. Construction work on the Bushwick Inlet transformation has already begun, with portions of the shoreline within the 40 Quay Street site boundaries having partially opened during summer 2024. The public space will be elevated several feet above water level to provide enhanced protection against coastal flooding and storm surges, addressing climate resilience concerns.
Currently, the development site is occupied primarily by a facility housing the MTA's Division of Station Operations, along with two low-rise commercial structures located at 7-23 Franklin Street. The project will operate under a 99-year land lease agreement with the MTA, with lease proceeds contributing revenue to the transit authority's capital improvement program. As part of the development process, the existing MTA facility will be relocated to another site in nearby Williamsburg.
The affordable housing component will serve individuals and families earning approximately 60 percent of the area median income, equivalent to $87,480 annually for a three-person household. Under this affordability structure, a two-bedroom unit is projected to rent for roughly $2,187 per month, providing much-needed housing options in the rapidly developing Greenpoint neighborhood.
Transportation access will be provided primarily through the G train at Nassau Avenue station, located at the intersection of Nassau and Manhattan Avenues. This subway connection will link residents to the broader New York City transit network, facilitating commutes to Manhattan and other boroughs.
Monitor Point is scheduled to enter the Uniform Land Use Review Process in the coming weeks, with certification expected before the end of this year. This regulatory process will allow for public input and city planning review before final approvals are granted for this significant waterfront development project.
