Deals & development · 10/21/2026
A 35-story residential building is planned for Chelsea
Developer Lipa Engel plans a 35-story residential building in Chelsea, Crain's New York reports. The project would include 78 units of housing and a 30-foot backyard. The article excerpt does not give an address, timeline or details on rents or affordable units.
Reported by Crain's New YorkRead the original ↗
What happened
A 35-story residential building is planned for Chelsea in Manhattan. New York YIMBY reported on October 21, 2026 that permits have been filed for the tower at 212 West 29th Street, between Seventh and Eighth Avenues. Crain's New York covered the same project later that day.
Both outlets say the building would have 78 units of housing and a 30-foot backyard, or rear yard. Lipa Engel is the person behind the project. Crain's calls it Engel's project, and YIMBY says Engel is listed as owner on the filings.
YIMBY adds more detail. The tower would rise 353 feet. The 78 homes would average 564 square feet, and the building would have a cellar. A four-story building now stands on the site, and demolition permits for it were filed the month before. YIMBY says no completion date has been announced.
Key facts
- Address
- 212 West 29th Street, between Seventh and Eighth Avenues, Chelsea, Manhattan
- Height
- 35 stories, 353 feet (per New York YIMBY)
- Units
- 78 residential units
- Average unit size
- 564 square feet (per New York YIMBY)
- Owner
- Lipa Engel
- Other features
- Cellar and a 30-foot rear yard
- Existing building
- Four-story building; demolition permits filed the month before (per New York YIMBY)
- Completion date
- Not announced
What it means
Tenants and voucher holders
This adds 78 homes in Chelsea, but the reports do not say whether any units will be affordable or income-restricted. Without a completion date, it is not an option for anyone looking for housing now.
Landlords
The project shows a developer filing to replace a small four-story building with a 78-unit tower on a midblock Chelsea site. With an average unit size of 564 square feet, the units would be on the small side.
Caseworkers
There is nothing to act on yet. The material does not mention affordable units, a housing lottery, or voucher acceptance.
The highlights
- The project is from developer Lipa Engel.
- The building would have 78 units of housing.
- Plans include a 30-foot backyard.
Why it matters Landlords
A new 78-unit tower adds rental or sale supply in Chelsea, a market Manhattan landlords watch for competition and pricing.
Not known yet
- Whether any units will be affordable or income-restricted, and at what rents
- When construction will start and finish
- Whether anyone lives in the existing four-story building, and what happens to them
- The unit mix, and whether the units will be rentals or condos
Background
In New York City, filing building or demolition permits is an early step and does not mean a project has been approved or will be built on a set schedule. New building plans are reviewed by the Department of Buildings (DOB). When a new building includes income-restricted units, those apartments are usually rented through the city's Housing Connect lottery, overseen by HPD. Applicants must meet the income limits and household-size rules listed for each building.
Also drawn from: Permits Filed for 35-Story Tower at 212 West 29th Street in Chelsea, Manhattan (New York YIMBY)
Summary written by Bulwark from Crain's New York’s reporting. The original story is at crainsnewyork.com. This is general information, not legal advice.
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