This highly unusual venture is a prototype project designed by Arquitectonica and SLCE Architects for AvalonBay Communities and Chrystie Venture Partners. It is the result of an innovative collaboration between state, city, non-profit and private organizations. The complex is situated on four non-adjacent sites located between East Second Street, Stanton Street, Bowery and Chrystie Street in New York City and involves multiple phases. In total, the mixed-use development contains over 750,000 sf of residential, retail and parking functions. Phase I involves a 450,000 sf, 15-story structure that contains a cellar, 2 floors of retail space, 12 floors of apartments containing 361 units and 3 bulkhead levels. A 42,000 sf community center(slated to house the new Chinatown YMCA) inhabits the 3-story portion of the building at the south end of the site and includes a 25 yd, 6-lane swimming pool, basketball courts, a gymnasium, a fitness center, classrooms and office spaces. Whole Foods Market occupies 42,000 sq ft of retail space on two floors. The additional three buildings that make up Phase II & Phase III are smaller and contain a variety of residential types that are divided between luxury and middle-income units. In total, the complex creates 708 new apartment units for the area and is slated to revolutionize its Lower East Side neighborhood.