New African Themed Condos in New York City
One new trend in New York condominiums can be seen in the heart of Harlem. New condos with themed interior decoration and architectural design have started to pop up in New York City, such as The Kalahari condominiums on West 116th Street in Harlem. When these condominiums are completed they'll include an African theme that designers hope will symbolize the strong economic and social strength found in the neighborhood of Harlem. The Kalahari condos have a planned completion date in December of 2007.
The interior design choices of these New York condominiums will feature bamboo floors, glass showers and a fitness center within the complex. The front walls of the new condos will be covered in decorations that are inspired by South African Ndebele tribal designs. The symbols used to decorate the columns of these New York condominiums will be West African icons that represent wisdom, unity and perseverance. A sculpture by El Anatsui, an artist from Ghana, will also hang in the lobby. This trend in design for new condos is meant to coincide with the spirit of the neighborhood where the condos are located. This is very important for condominium developers in Harlem, which is currently experiencing what some are calling a “second renaissance.” The developers of these new condos, Full Spectrum of New York, have used the African-inspired design to represent Harlem. “It is an environment,” said Jack Travis, a cultural design consultant who worked with Fred Schwartz, the design architect for the Kalahari. “It is a small urban plan. And it is in a black community, which begs, desperately, for a cultural identity of buildings and spaces that reflect the notions and intentions of the people in the community.”
Close to half of these New York condominiums will be set aside for moderate-income buyers. This is not always the case in New York City, where Manhattan condos can cost millions of dollars. A family of four with a household income between $63,800 and $131,165 will be able to qualify for one of the subsidized condos. A nonprofit organization called StreetSquash, which gives academic tutoring and squash instruction to children in Harlem, will spend approximately $9 million on a community center in the rear of the building as well. New York City is often the first city to set national trends, which might also be the case with these New York condominiums. The Kalahari aims to be a condominium complex that embodies the spirit of Harlem in the 21st century. New condos with themes that coordinate with the neighborhood identity may start popping up all over the nation as a result.
