107 West 57th St - 35 story tower

[londonlawyer]

The May 12, 2005 edition of the New York Post reported that a small building housing the Ritz Fur Shop was sold to developers who plan to raze it and build a new apartment tower with retail that could rise to 35 stories.

I can't figure out exactly where this is. According to Mapquest, it is between 5th and 6th (though closer to 6th). There's a little crappy building between Mangia and Rue 57 with a small vacant lot next to it. I wonder if that's the site. Does anyone know?

[mkeit]

On the north side of 57th St-with the furs in the window!!

[londonlawyer]

Is it between 5th and 6th? How big is the building?

I hope that the little crappy building and lot on the south side of the street get redeveloped.

[Derek2k3]

Ritz Furs is between 6th and 7th.
The Russian Tea Room site is also supposedly to be developed into a hotel.
Also, another project between 5th and 6th has been revived. It's going to be
a 25 story tower by Fox & Fowle. (52 West 57th Street)

[Eugenius]

The hundreds digit of a street address denotes how many avenue blocks East or West of 5th Ave. the building is located. Buildings numbering less than 100 are between 5th and 6th, 100-199 are between 6th and 7th, and so on.

This building is obviously between 6th and 7th, Mapquest notwithstanding.

[londonlawyer]

Ritz Furs is between 6th and 7th.
The Russian Tea Room site is also supposedly to be developed into a hotel.
Also, another project between 5th and 6th has been revived. It's going to be
a 25 story tower by Fox & Fowle. (52 West 57th Street)

Thanks, Derek. Is the Fox & Fowle project on the site that I referred to earlier? Is there any information about it?

[londonlawyer]

Ritz Furs is between 6th and 7th.
The Russian Tea Room site is also supposedly to be developed into a hotel.
Also, another project between 5th and 6th has been revived. It's going to be
a 25 story tower by Fox & Fowle. (52 West 57th Street)

By the way, how do you know that this was revived?

[londonlawyer]

The hundreds digit of a street address denotes how many avenue blocks East or West of 5th Ave. the building is located. Buildings numbering less than 100 are between 5th and 6th, 100-199 are between 6th and 7th, and so on.

This building is obviously between 6th and 7th, Mapquest notwithstanding.

Interesting. I didn't know that.

[Stern]

NYPOST:

RITZ FUR SHOP TO GO

By LOIS WEISS

The tiny Ritz Fur Shop at 107 W. 57th St. is becoming a victim of the real estate market. The spot down the block from Carnegie Hall, where a gal could get a classy fur castoff from a society lady, is being sold to developers by its long-time family owners for what sources say is just shy of $25 million.

Carlton Advisory Services, whose executives Brendan Sullivan and Charles Kerecz arranged a six-month loan for $28 million towards the purchase of the building and the air rights, say the new owners will tear it down.

A 35-story project of 82,202 square feet with 37 tower residential units, three lower floors of office space and street level retail space could take its place.

[londonlawyer]

Thanks for posting the article, Stern.

[Derek2k3]

In a Hot Market, All the City Is a Condominium
by Michael Stoler
June 23, 2005 (http://www.firstamny.com/stoler_6_23_05.aspx)

"Extell recently bought the one-story Ritz Furs shop on 57th Street between Sixth and Seventh avenues, as well as the transferable air rights. It plans to demolish the building and construct a 37-story condominium tower."

[Edward]

Ritz Fur Shop at 107 West 57th Street. 18 December 2005.

http://www.wirednewyork.com/real_estate/107w57/107w57th.jpg

[lofter1]

Lots of lot-line windows on the Steinway building to the left ...

[lofter1]

More on the Steinway Building ...

Address: 111 W. 57th Street
Architect: Warren & Wetmore (http://www.emporis.com/en/cd/cm/?id=100356)
Built: 1925
Floors: 15

The Interior ( http://www.steinwayhall.com/ ):

The Rotunda:
http://www.steinwayhall.com/images/center_piano1.jpg

Steinway Hall is recognized as the ultimate destination
for everyone who loves the piano. The moment you walk
through its doors, you are welcomed to a celebration of
Steinway & Sons history and heritage, and the incomparable
sound of Steinway pianos. Overhead, a dramatic two-story
rotunda features a spectacular domed ceiling handpainted
by Paul Arndt, one of many renowned artists including
Rockwell Kent, N.C. Wyeth and Charles Chambers, whose
works are showcased throughout Steinway Hall.

The Gallery:
http://www.steinwayhall.com/images/welcome.jpg

Just beyond, a gallery celebrates five generations
of Steinway memorabilia, including design innovations,
awards, and even "fan mail" from luminaries like Paderewski,
Rachmaninoff and Thomas Edison. The basement of
Steinway Hall is home to the legendary piano bank,
where for more than 75 years, music’s most
accomplished concert artists have selected
their Steinway concert grand pianos prior
to performing.


A great link to a NY Times series on Steinway & Sons (lots of interative features): http://www.nytimes.com/ref/nyregion/PIANO_INDEX.html


RECENT NEWS: XM Opens New York Studios and Offices
Washington-based XM Satellite Radio opened midtown Manhattan broadcast studios and offices, creating a New York City base where it will produce specific shows and showcase talent. The New York City studio facility will be interconnected with XM's 80-plus-studio broadcast center in Washington. XM's 5,000-square-foot facility on the fifth floor of the Economist Building, at 111 W. 57th Street between 6th and 7th Avenues, will feature talk studios, production studios and several offices, with accommodations for 10 staff. The complex will begin broadcasting signal next Monday. The stately stone building has a long music history. Formerly known as the Steinway Building, it still houses the headquarters of the famed piano maker.

Great link to another one of Warren & Wetmore's masterpieces, the NY Yacht Club: http://mysite.verizon.net/vze3bss6/

***

[antinimby]

Nice. Another one of NY's hidden treasures. Deserves a better neighbor than a second-hand coat store.

[Fabrizio]

Believe it or not the Ritz is a NYC insitution...it´s where all of the society ladies sold their fur coats after the season ended or put their things into storage. It was/is a thrift shop with Park avenue ladies and celebrities supplying the goods. If I´m not mistaken it was once in another location on 57th street in a small art-deco style building.

http://www.furs.com/FUR/FurAge221.html

[pianoman11686]

RITZ SITE GETS A RITZY PRICE: $52M

lois.weiss@nypost.com

October 4, 2006 -- BARRY Sternlicht's Starwood Capital Group has gobbled up the now vacant Ritz site at 105-07 W. 57th St. for a whopping $52 million.

The narrow site next to the Buckingham Hotel may be destined for a new Crillon, the French boutique hotel and residence brand Starwood is launching led by its flagship Hotel de Crillon in Paris.

In January, Starwood said it was targeting the city and while reps confirmed the purchase they declined comment on the exact plans.

The sellers, entities of Investcorp and Ceebraid-Signal, were going to build a new tower full of lavish condos and ritz it up, just as they had done at Palm Beach's Brazilian Court.

They paid $23 million to the family that owned the Ritz fur shop, and another $8.75 million to adjacent property owner Sam Domb for development rights but never moved forward.

Copyright 2006 NYP Holdings, Inc.

[LeCom]

Notice how the Ritz store has washed out remains of the "Ritz Building" signage. Funny to see that shed trying to run with the big boys next door, with a fancy title proclaiming its name.

[lofter1]

That "furs' link above doesn't take you to the Ritz any more ... now it takes you to this:

http://www.furs.com/images/main_image.jpg

[stache]

He's wearing quite a bit of makeup for the beach -

[Peteynyc1]

^^ I created that look, and obviously this guy just stole it. You've probably seen me strutting through Central Park with that same outfit.

[pianoman11686]

Well, at least there's some sign of activity here. A construction wall has been put up:

http://images14.fotki.com/v363/fileL9L9/4d522/1/1072585/4470849/NewYorkJanuary023.jpg

[lofter1]

Pianoman: Not sure why but all the pics you've posted in your latest posts are showing up as the dreaded "x" ... :confused:

[Derek2k3]

We must have the worse luck...

I think this was the schematic design before the the site was sold off to Starwood. Starwood's design won't be close to being this tall since all these units were double-height.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1423/1234871983_2bbb7b194d_o.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1177/1234807541_40c9d18084_o.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1101/1234807527_162b808d69_o.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1270/1234807517_0fd439cad2_o.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1205/1234807513_1675c2f716_o.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1300/1234807545_4479ba2d31_o.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1129/1234807557_5c638b7ac1_o.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1182/1235672402_237566af36_o.jpg

[ablarc]

^ That would have been a beauty.



(Reminds me a bit of Calatrava and Sciame's project Downtown.)

[econ_tim]

the tetris tower

[Citytect]

Can we call that concept design a sliver building? And, if so, would the reaction to this sliver be different from the sliver going up on Eighth Avenue? I know some people universally have a distaste for sliver buildings. But could a thoughtfully designed sliver building change minds?

[alonzo-ny]

Is there no chance the new developer would build something similar, or even buy the old design?

[Fabrizio]

slivers: I would bet that the reaction would be much different.

Peter Marino has a huge international following (due to his interior design work), is very respected, has impeccable taste. He does not do junk.

The press would call this one a "slim tower".

[Derek2k3]

Is there no chance the new developer would build something similar, or even buy the old design?


Well, Starwood develops hotels, so it's safe to assume there will be no double height spaces...thus it will be half as tall.

[Skylimitone]

There's something rising around this address, has this project started?

[lofter1]

DOB shows NOTHING NEW HERE (http://a810-bisweb.nyc.gov/bisweb/JobsQueryByLocationServlet?requestid=1&allbin=1023729&allstrt=WEST+++57+STREET&allnumbhous=107) since the Demo in 2006

[Skylimitone]

Here is the building I saw on 57th
http://img524.imageshack.us/img524/9236/dsc06463yv8.th.jpg (http://img524.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc06463yv8.jpg)

http://img521.imageshack.us/img521/3726/dsc06465sn7.th.jpg (http://img521.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc06465sn7.jpg)

[lofter1]

That ^ is the new Hilton Club project (http://www.wirednewyork.com/forum/showpost.php?p=173579&postcount=83) on the south side of West 57th, yes?

New Building On 57th Street (on the site of Shelly's Steakhouse) (http://www.wirednewyork.com/forum/showthread.php?t=8112&highlight=57th)

[antinimby]

Why is there such a huge, ugly gap between this new building and the white brick building to its right?

Is the current state architecture in this city that atrociously inept and bad?

[Skylimitone]

That ^ is the new Hilton Club project (http://www.wirednewyork.com/forum/showpost.php?p=173579&postcount=83) on the south side of West 57th, yes?

New Building On 57th Street (on the site of Shelly's Steakhouse) (http://www.wirednewyork.com/forum/showthread.php?t=8112&highlight=57th)

Yeah its on the south side.
On the other side there's a huge empty spot opposite Carnegie Hall & Metropolitan Tower.

[Stroika]

Antinimby:

When this garbage is being called a "masterpiece," yes, it is that bad.

http://www.nypost.com/seven/02052008/business/midtown_masterpiece_101977.htm

Prison time is needed for something like that.

[lofter1]

Why is there such a huge, ugly gap between this new building and the white brick building to its right?

My guess would be that the gap is due to a service alley on the property of the white brick building; such alleys which were often included in apartment buildings pre-1960.

Can't imagine in this day and age that such space would not be built upon.

[londonlawyer]

I heard that the delay is accounted for the fact that the Carillon Hotel that will build on this site recently acquired the adjacent Steinway masterpiece and is configuring how to add that old gem to the project.

http://www.wirednewyork.com/real_estate/107w57/107w57th.jpg

[MidtownGuy]

From the NY Post articleThe most closely watched office tenant in town is Newsweek, which must soon exit beat-up 1775 Broadway - which owner Joseph Moinian plans to re-clad and reposition as a Class-A office address


Cuozzo is despicable. This guy is a total jerk with the way he frames things by his choice of words. In the same article, he calls the Boston Properties project a masterpiece. This guy is a complete mental case.

[londonlawyer]

I agree. He and Weiss (also psycho) are part of the "Axis of Evil" (i.e., Macklowe, Solow, Zuckerman, Moinian and Chang).

[Skylimitone]

"Axis of Evil" lol.

[londonlawyer]

Thanks.

[krulltime]

Alright! This one is recently posted on 3D-Win (http://www.3d-win.com/web/bbs/list_new.php?bbs_id=exteriorB), will this be what is getting built now?

http://www.pbase.com/image/93718946.jpg

[londonlawyer]

The glass is rising on the Hilton time share across the street.

[Derek2k3]

Talk about watered-down.
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1177/1234807541_40c9d18084_o.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/image/93718946.jpg
3D-Win (http://www.3d-win.com/web/bbs/list_new.php?bbs_id=exteriorB)