It was supposed to transform a corner of Harlem with two tall residential towers featuring hundreds of apartments — at a time when housing is badly needed all over the city.

But developers of the project, dubbed One45, were unable to sway Councilwoman Kristin Richardson Jordan, who demanded more housing and greater affordability for a project that required rezoning approval from the City Council.

“I’ll say that I really regret that that vibrant corner is now gonna be home to an abandoned lot,” said Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine.

What You Need To Know

  • The latest version of the project included 458 affordable apartments

  • Developers didn't get the support of Harlem Councilwoman Kristin Richardson Jordan

  • One45 needed the City Council to allow a rezoning of the lot on the corner of 145th Street and Lenox Avenue

  • Reverend Al Sharpton had pulled a proposed Civil Rights Museum from the project earlier this month

The latest proposal released by developers on Friday included 458 affordable units and 457 at market rates.

After voting against an earlier version of the project, Levine thought his central condition had been met.

“Most of the affordable units were targeted at people at extremely low incomes,” he said.

But many council members were ready to defer to colleague Richardson Jordan, who argued that the large number of market-rate units would bring many new non-Black residents to her district.

“Doing a big project in that space with great affordability is not impossible when we take greed out of the equation,” Richardson Jordan said in a statement. “If the developers are willing to work with me and the community on something that matches our needs better, I look forward to working with them in the future.”

The project also featured a geothermal system to provide heating and cooling for the area and a new headquarters for the Rev. Al Sharpton’s National Action Network . Earlier this month, Sharpton had pulled a proposed Civil Rights Museum from the project.

Now there are fears that unless the process of approving these projects changes, the city won’t be able to meet its housing needs.

‘’The council needs to be ready to push the envelope to create more housing and that, yes, in some cases, overturning member’s deference should be on the table,” Levine said.

Developers could still build a small, all-market-rate building without City Council approval.