East Harlem building's proposed balconies spark community controversy

EAST HARLEM (WABC) -- A proposed eight-story apartment building that will take over a vacant lot on Pleasant Avenue just off East 118th Street in East Harlem is causing controversy in the neighborhood.

The rendering of the high-rise depicts balconies in pink and blue, which has sparked a debate among community members as to whether or not the building will be colorful and creative or just a painful eyesore.

HAP Investment Developers is in charge of the building plans. Workers plan to break ground at the roughly 15,000 square foot site next week.

Fighting the proposal are more than 1,100 area residents who have signed a petition protesting the project. Not only are the color designs a concern, but so too are the building procedures that threaten neighboring homes.

"When you have a developer that's going to start digging 14 to 15 feet just to make their basement, that's going to cause problems with the structural integrity of the surrounding buildings," East Harlem community member Mark Pagano said. "Many of the buildings here are 80 years old or more."

Area resident Eugene Rodriguez has a backyard that butts right up against where the building will end. He's worried that when construction begins, he'll experience the same thing he's felt when other new buildings have gone up on the avenue.

"The house is always shaking," he said. "It's 100 years old."

HAP insists the design of the building has not been finalized, and that it is open to considering other looks. Residents are just hoping any new plans aren't as unpleasant as the current one.