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Group That Houses Turkish Students Planning 200-Foot Tower in Midtown East

By Shaye Weaver | April 4, 2017 3:58pm
 The Turken Foundation, a nonprofit with ties to Turkish President Recip Tayyip Erdogan, is planning a high-rise for 300 E. 41st St., according to online records.
The Turken Foundation, a nonprofit with ties to Turkish President Recip Tayyip Erdogan, is planning a high-rise for 300 E. 41st St., according to online records.
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DNAinfo/Noah Hurowitz

MIDTOWN EAST — A nonprofit that houses Turkish students in the West is planning to build a 208-foot tower on East 41st Street, records show.

The Turken Foundation, a corporation registered in Delaware that pledges to supply Turkish students with “culturally appropriate” housing, filed plans for the mixed-use apartment building with 82 units over 21 stories at 300 E. 41st St., at Second Avenue, records show.

Apartments would take up floors four through 15 and 17 through 21, with one study room on each floor and a number of bicycle-storage rooms scattered throughout. Retail space would take up the basement and first floor, according to the plans.

Perkins & Will Architects — which designed the New York City Police Academy, a number of schools across New York and the country, and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta — is the architect of record.

Last fall, the Department of Buildings approved the Turken Foundation's plans to demolish both 766 Second Ave./300 E. 41st St. (a one-story building at the corner of East 41st Street) and 302 E. 41st St. (a four-story building next door), records show.

The nonprofit, which didn't immediately return requests for comment Tuesday, bought the corner building in March 2015 for $15.5 million before spending another $2 million for 302 E. 41st St. that same day, according to Department of Building records.

It was not immediately clear if the apartments would be used to house Turkish students.

The Foundation was formed in 2014 by two Turkish groups, TURGEV and Ensar, both of which enjoy support from the Turkish government, according to reports.

The group has also tweeted in support of conservative Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. His son, Bilal Erdogan, sits on the board of TURGEV, and Ensar has received extensive support from the ruling Justice and Development Party, according to a report.