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Former Kailuan Mining Bureau New English Town, Tianjin

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The Kailuan Mining Bureau was the administrative center for mining related activities at the Port of Tianjin’s British Concession. As a significantly unique Western building it became famous as a seat of activity of business, diplomatic and social events – Herbert Hoover was married there prior to his presidency. As part of their Bond Street streetscape, retail development project, Crown Acquisitions, arranged for Saks Fifth Avenue to redevelop the building as a luxury department store and the anchor for the Bond Street Shopping District. WQB Architecture PLLC/ Citiarc arranged for the lease for Crown and will be the architects for the restoration of the building.

380 Lenox Avenue New York, New York

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380 Lenox is the first privately funded luxury condominium building in Harlem, built by Uptown Partners at the corner of 129th Street and Lenox Avenue. The units, 77 in all, are both one and two‐stories, and more than one third come with generous private terraces overlooking the street. 11,000 square feet of retail space lines the sidewalk, and underground is an 88‐car parking garage. The building is designed to fit in with the large classically styled masonry buildings lining the avenue, as well as the landmarked Astor Row buildings on 130th Street. The project was featured in an article in the New York Sun in August 2006. The feasibility of the building was supported by a 421‐a tax abatement from the City of New York HPD. Construction is complete and units are sold.

OBRFC Columbus Associates 107 th Street at Columbus Avenue New York, New York

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OBRFC / Columbus Associates was formed to develop one of the last sites in NYC HPD’s Dollar Building Program. The site was composed of 3 totally “gutted” tenements which became the NYS HFA’s first 80/20 funding, with sales of a 4% LIHTC to Chevron Oil Co. OBRFC subsequently purchased a vacant lot at 965 Columbus Avenue which was developed under the Inclusionary Zoning Program, utilizing the 8% Low Income Housing Tax Credits and NYS Housing Trust Fund Infrastructure Grants. The Inclusionary Zoning Rights were sold to Millennium Partners for development of 1965 Broadway. Four additional properties on West 107 th Street were purchased from the RTC which became moderate rehabs and were subsequently refinanced under NYC HPD programs. At the end of the project, OBRFC developed 8 buildings utilizing 7 different NYC and NYS programs and transformed a previously bombed-out block to new housing for 130 families with incomes as low as 50% of AMI and as high as local market rates.

BIRR Castle Orchard Retreat Ireland

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WQB Architecture is actively involved in the development of BIRR Castle to make it a more desirable international destination.

Current attractions include:
Tourism: The Demesne, The Science Center, Killeen
Agriculture and Forestry (Dairy farm 300 hectares, Forest: Old Oaklands)
Properties and Town Sites (in the town/on the estate)
Town Shopping and Farmers Market
Outdoor and Indoor Activities

Future Enhancements:
Expanded Interactive Science Center
Killeen Farms Restaurants and Shops
BIRR Retreat – elegant retreat and culinary education experience
BIRR Golf & Sports experience
BIRR Family Resort
Event Space

361 Van Siclen Avenue, Brooklyn New York

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Zoning: R6

Lot Dimensions: 100’ x 75’

Land Use: Public Facilities and Institutions, Parking Facilities

Proposed Use: Affordable independent residences for seniors (AIRS) units, Quality Housing (QH) units, Daycare facility, Ministry space,

District: Non-Contextual District

Maximum Buildable: 36,000 SF

1490 Southern Blvd Bronx, New York

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WQB Architecture assisted Manhattan Boutique Real Estate (MBRE) and SOBRO in the preparation of the design of a building to house homeless teenagers and low income families at 1490 Southern Blvd in the Bronx. The project includes development of all rooftop outdoor spaces to promote an active lifestyle and development of a “Transformation Academy”for youth training and counseling for residents and the surrounding community. The project is part of the NYC Housing Preservation and Developments program for MWBE developers.

359 East 157th St. Bronx, New York

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Manhattan Boutique Real Estate (MBRE) and SOBRO are submitting a development proposal to the NYC Housing Preservation Development Commission for development of 359 East 157th Street in the Bronx as a community residence for homeless and low income senior citizens. The building is designed to be environmentally friendly, promote an active life style and includes an intergenerational center to provide services for the seniors and help them integrate into the surrounding community.

Sol Melia Hotel 141 West 43rd Street New York, New York

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Interactive Development Associates (IDA) and Karen Backus Associates (KBA) were selected by The Church of the Nazarene, Dream Hotels and Project Find to market the development rights (TDRs) for The Chatwal Hotel and The Woodstock Hotel in Times Square. WQB Architecture PLLC provided zoning analysis and design for the development of potential receiving sites in the immediate area. This illustrates a 290 room luxury Sol Melia Hotel at the Meyers Parking garage site which spans from West 44th to West 43rd Street.