A long-empty slice of Frederick Douglass Boulevard is finally getting attention: permits are in for a 13-story mixed-use building at 2132 Frederick Douglass Boulevard in Harlem, filling the vacant lot between West 115th and West 116th Streets. Plans call for roughly 88 apartments stacked above ground-floor retail in a concrete-based structure expected to rise about 135 feet. The owner on the application is listed as David Rabizadeh of Joseph Development LLC, and the site sits a quick block from the 116th Street subway station that serves the B and C lines.
According to New York YIMBY, the project is slated to span about 64,933 square feet in total, with roughly 60,567 square feet for residential use and 4,366 square feet set aside for commercial space. That works out to an average apartment size near 688 square feet. The filing names Avinash Malhotra of AKM Architects LLP as the architect of record and details a cellar level, a penthouse, a second-floor rooftop terrace and a 35-foot rear yard.
Site and zoning details
Property records from LoopNet show the parcel (APN 1831-0002) covers about 0.23 acres, is identified as Lot 2 and sits in zoning district R8A. That combination of lot size and zoning lines up with the proposed 13-story massing. The filings also indicate demolition permits may not be necessary, since the land is currently vacant.
Where it fits in Harlem's growth
The Frederick Douglass Boulevard stretch has been in the development spotlight for years, with new buildings and fresh storefronts steadily changing the corridor. The Frederick Douglass Boulevard Alliance describes the avenue as a growing mixed-use commercial corridor, and this project slots neatly into that narrative. Local organizations and elected officials typically keep close tabs on permit filings and Department of Buildings job notices to gauge construction timelines, ground-floor retail plans and any potential community-review steps. For this site, the next milestones to watch include DOB job filings, financing notices and any submissions to the community board as the application moves ahead.
