1425 Second Ave. (East 74th St.) - new condo

[antinimby]

This new development is on the NW corner of Second Ave. and 74th St.

Demolition permits have already been issued for 7 walk-ups currently on the site (see photo below).

Indications on the DOB permits (and from the looks of the rendering) are that SLCE are the architects.


http://img156.imageshack.us/img156/9184/1425secondip9.jpg

http://img469.imageshack.us/img469/879/1425second1je1.jpg

http://img156.imageshack.us/img156/2484/1425second2jf3.jpg

http://img296.imageshack.us/img296/9338/1425second3hx3.jpg

Renderings taken from RFK (http://www.rkf.com/listings/NEW/1425SecondAve_main.asp).

[londonlawyer]

That's a decent looking building. Are the buildings that will be razed nice ones with cornices or P's O S?

[Peteynyc1]

The buildings are already gone, were removed rather quickly. They were nothing special but added to the "charm" of second avenues small non-corp stores and unique shop scene. I read (and u can see in the rendering) that Equinox has already been secured as a major tenant with a huge new gym. I will take that over a bank at least. You can sort of see from the picture what they looked like and I am guessing they would fall into your infamous POS catagory. I bet this new building will command high $ per sq ft prices.

[ablarc]

That's a decent looking building.
Is it?

[londonlawyer]

The buildings are already gone, were removed rather quickly. They were nothing special...

Were these buildings discussed in a prior thread? I recall somewhere a discussion over the fall or summer re: buildings near the Turkish place and some other restaurants on the west side of 2nd in the 70's.

[jeffpark]

the developer is James Stanton & Victor Elmaleh of World Wide Holdings,
they in the past have developed the Milan Tower
http://wirednewyork.com/forum/showthread.php?p=24608
and http://www.wirednewyork.com/forum/showthread.php?t=10981

[MidtownGuy]

That's an extremely ugly building with no character and nothing to add in the way of streetscape or charm.
What a blind shame.
I once loved to watch glass towers rise. I thought it was the future. But the way these bases are being contrived, they are wiping out the character of New York that really matters, what happens on the street, not just in the sky.

[jeffpark]

That's an extremely ugly building with no character and nothing to add in the way of streetscape or charm.
What a blind shame.
I once loved to watch glass towers rise. I thought it was the future. But the way these bases are being contrived, they are wiping out the character of New York that really matters, what happens on the street, not just in the sky.
this is what you are going to get when the Architect is SLCE...

[krulltime]

Demolition permits have already been issued for 7 walk-ups currently on the site

They are all gone already...


February 23, 2007:

http://www.pbase.com/image/74763425.jpg

[ccdevidad]

Were these buildings discussed in a prior thread? I recall somewhere a discussion over the fall or summer re: buildings near the Turkish place and some other restaurants on the west side of 2nd in the 70's.

Wow, I just came across this thread. I live downtown now but lived at 75th and 2nd for 2 years not long ago. I can't believe half or more of that block is gone. That block was a really a nice little block, a mini restaurant row, various ethnic foods and maybe a bar. Just feels wierd to me they're all gone.

[Derek2k3]

I think the Upper East Side height limits are to blame. Since developers can't go up they build out to attain a profitable square footage. I can't believe the community hasn't become outraged yet, they must only care about height.

[lofter1]

Is there even ONE interesting building going up on the UES?

[BrooklynRider]

I fear the interesting ones are all coming down

[Peteynyc1]

Wow, I just came across this thread. I live downtown now but lived at 75th and 2nd for 2 years not long ago. I can't believe half or more of that block is gone. That block was a really a nice little block, a mini restaurant row, various ethnic foods and maybe a bar. Just feels wierd to me they're all gone.

I have lived in this area for quite a while. You a totally correct, this was one of the coolest and most colorful blocks on second ave (there arent many really). It is unfortunate to see another nice block lost and be replaced by a cold corporate-like tower. The UES already lacks decent diverse restaurant choices, and they just lost 4 or 5 more.

[antinimby]

I think the Upper East Side height limits are to blame. Since developers can't go up they build out to attain a profitable square footage. I can't believe the community hasn't become outraged yet, they must only care about height.Instead of focusing on height, city planning and misguided NIMBYs should be implementing some sort of zoning requirement that forces a developer to put back in place the same sort of businesses that were displaced for the new development.

If there were originally, let's say, two restaurants and a cafe on the site, then after construction, the retail spaces in the new building should have once again two restaurants and a cafe, not one big Wachovia bank branch instead.

But of course, in this city, something as sensible and smart as that will never happen. They'll probably just put a stop to all new developments or place an even more stringent height limit as a solution, thinking that will solve the problem.

Fools. There seems to be no shortage of them in this city.

[Derek2k3]

Is there even ONE interesting building going up on the UES?

There was one at 980 Madison, and they killed it. I attended a lecture by someone from Foster & Partners and he showed the double skinned curtain wall, the rooftop garden, and the sustainable systems of the tower. It would've been nothing short of the most progressive residential building in New York. Anyway he had quite a bit to say about New York's struggling ability to change and adapt. Historic cities all over Europe such as Coppenhagen embrace the future while still preserving the past, why people here feel that it's either or is beyond me.

[lofter1]

There are plenty of sites throughout the UES which don't come with the same restrictions where Foster's building could go up -- and most likely it would be even more successful if it weren't forced into a shotgun wedding with an already existing base structure. But all we get are these banal boxes.

[Derek2k3]

Here, architecture is often just used to make more money or gain public approval. Extra spending on design isn't necessary in this case and indiscriminate buyers will still snap the units up like hotcakes. Only city policy can change this, but they've been admirably focused on affordable housing, which isn't favorable for decent architecture either.

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/167/414095404_c937cdad84.jpg
Stu_Jo (http://www.flickr.com/photos/15937237@N00/414095404/)
Big hole. Underground parking?

[ablarc]

I ... lived at 75th and 2nd for 2 years not long ago. I can't believe half or more of that block is gone. That block was a really a nice little block, a mini restaurant row, various ethnic foods and maybe a bar. Just feels wierd to me they're all gone.
Can you remember some specific establishments?

Seems like a shame. I'm with Midtown Guy; I suspect I prefer what was there over what will replace it.

[londonlawyer]

I have lived in this area for quite a while. You a totally correct, this was one of the coolest and most colorful blocks on second ave (there arent many really). It is unfortunate to see another nice block lost and be replaced by a cold corporate-like tower....

Consider, however, that this tower is SUBSTANTIALLY nicer than the POS that Macklowe is developing on 53rd and Madison.

[sfenn1117]

Looks like Worldwide did put some extra money into the design....it's not SLCE

http://www.h3hc.com/projects.asp?submenuID=CURRENT&sublistNo=worldwide

I'd like to see the whole tower.

[londonlawyer]

It looks quite good in my opinion.

[krulltime]

Lots for tots at 255 East 74th Street


http://www.cityrealty.com/graphics/uploads/1174945824_74e224s.jpg


26-MAR-07

The World-Wide Holdings Corporation is developing a 30-story residential condominium building with large apartments on the northwest corner of Second Avenue at 74th Street.

The tower's entrance will be at 255 East 74th Street.

H3 Architects, of which Hugh Hardy is a principal, is designing the building, which will have 87 apartments.

The lower floors will have loft-like duplex units and several units will have "in-residence playrooms just for the kiddies." "These residences are custom designed for both empty nesters as well as growing families who need more space and crave a wide range of kid and adult-oriented amenities," according to Richard Lebow, director of marketing and sales for the World-Wide Group.

The building, which replaced several low-rise buildings that had popular restaurants, will have a 42,000-square-foot Equinox facility on the ground and second floors.

It will also have more than 2,400 square feet of facilities for "tots, tweens and teenagers, such as a toddler room with a cruising wall, a climbing tree house, a play zone for crafts and a reading area" and a game room "designed for tweens and teens will include an arcade with pin ball machines, extreme dance and basketball arcade games, as well as foosball, air hockey and table tennis" and a "1,500-square-foot outdoor 'Tot Lot' and indoor lounge, kitchenette and party room will also be available."

The building, whose plan has some slight angles, will be clad in glass and metal panels and will be 338 feet tall.

The top floor will have three penthouses and a common roof deck. The building will have a 24-hour doorman, valet/concierge services, Sub-Zero refrigerators and Miele appliances, 10-foot-high ceilings, Toto toilets, radiant heating in the master bath floors, a private outdoor garden, and some apartments will have fireplaces, balconies and terraces.

Completion is anticipated for late 2008 and prices are estimated to range from $2,500,000 to $7,000,000.

James Stanton is a member of Casa 74th Development LLC, which is part of World-Wide Holdings, the developer, which is also planned to erect an apartment house and school on on the southwest corner of Second Avenue and 57th Street. Victor Elmaleh, a well-known artist and squash player, is chairman of World-Wide, which has in recent years been involved in numerous residential conversion projects including the Steiner Building in Chelsea and 50 Murray Street, 53 Park Place, 88 Greenwich Street and 71 Broadway in Lower Manhattan and 137 Reade Street in TriBeCa.


Copyright © 1994-2007 CITY REALTY.COM INC.

[sfenn1117]

Tearing down all those walk-ups with great retail for only 87 units is just not worth it. These height limits are ridiculous....imagine a 50 story tower on half the lot. Makes more sense to me. Plus, why not upzone 2nd ave a bit in anticipation of the subway?

This tower is better than average, but will deaden that corner.

[pianoman11686]

Fat and ungainly.

[antinimby]

http://img72.imageshack.us/img72/5165/img0054dx3.jpg

[Derek2k3]

You sure get around anti, thanks for all the photos.

[antinimby]

You're very welcome. Always glad to contribute a little photo updating myself.

[antinimby]

Click on pic to enlarge

http://bp3.blogger.com/_4g75slnk7qQ/SCm0ZDA84rI/AAAAAAAAAbI/SDZjh0XXV3k/s320/255+e+74.JPG (http://bp3.blogger.com/_4g75slnk7qQ/SCm0ZDA84rI/AAAAAAAAAbI/SDZjh0XXV3k/s1600-h/255+e+74.JPG)
A Fine Blog (http://afinecompany.blogspot.com/2008/05/upper-east-side-condos-may-2008.html)