400 Fifth Avenue

[pianoman11686]

Since this building is pretty significant in its design and height, and doesn't have its own thread, I think it's appropriate to make one for it:

Far West Side & Penn Station Area Development
Approximately the area west of Fifth Avenue from 30th to 38th Street and the area west of Eighth Avenue from 40th to 28th Street.

Project #1

400 Fifth Avenue
396-400 Fifth Avenue (Fifth Avenue between West 37th and 38th Streets)
~50 stories ~600 feet
SOM/SLCE Architects
Dev-Chetrit Brothers
Residential Condominium
Proposed 2005-2007

http://www.aiany.org/designawards/2004/projects/jpegs/226a.jpg

http://www.aiany.org/designawards/2004/projects/jpegs/226b.jpg

http://www.aiany.org/designawards/2004/projects/jpegs/226c.jpg
SOM; AIANY Design Awards 2004
http://www.aiany.org/designawards/2004/projects/226.htm

http://www.pbase.com/archit_kderek2k3/image/43141033.jpg
http://www.thai3dviz.com

http://www.pbase.com/archit_kderek2k3/image/43141034.jpg


New York Daily News
What's up on Fifth?
January 24, 2005

There's a hole in the ground on Fifth Avenue not far from Lord & Taylor - and the Chetrit family is responsible for it. The real estate investors are planning a mixed-use development at 396, 398 and 400 Fifth Ave., south of W. 37th St., sources said.

The buildings at 398 and 400 Fifth have just been torn down. And a permit's been issued allowing the facade of 396 Fifth to be demolished and replaced.

People in the neighborhood got their hopes up that something really nice would be built at the site - because Trevor Davis, a high-profile builder of upscale residential towers, is listed as the property owner on city-issued demolition permits.

Davis built the elegant apartment tower at 425 Fifth, which is just across the avenue from Chetrits' project. But he's not going to be involved in the Chetrits' project, sources said.

A spokeswoman for the Chetrits did not respond to requests for comment.

All contents © 2005 Daily News, L.P.



Tower at 400 Fifth Avenue (New York City)
http://www.architects.org/emplibrary/ACF5469.pdf

designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (New York City – project team: Peter Magill
AIA, Gary Haney AIA, Stephen Apking AIA, Aybars Asci, Barbara Kalish AIA, and Nick
Holt)

The massing of this 600-ft tower acknowledges its historic predecessors in this portion of the New York skyline, but the less contextual architecture of its surface is what shows the most imagination. The facades are unpredictable fields of offset planes that take full advantage of the reflective qualities of glass. The fascination with the building’s skin produces an elegant and interesting outcome – sufficient to deserve an award in its own right – and the designers’ search for an innovative relation between the building’s perceived volume and its surface adds dimension to their achievement.


http://www.pbase.com/archit_kderek2k3/image/43141035.jpg
ESB webcam
http://live7.truelook.com/face/newface.jsp?func=live&name=/strends/esb/NorthView&pan=1.0799866&tilt=-41.5&panfov=46.7&tiltfov=36.4&overlay=default&skin=default&useapplet=true&time=1115612731595&width=640&height=480&quality=65&catalogname=catalog&zoom=1.0&imagemap.x=323&imagemap.y=398


Links:
http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?country=US&addtohistory=&formtype=address&searchtype=address&cat=&address=400%205th%20Ave&city=New%20York&state=NY&zipcode=10018%2d2700
Map

http://www.aiany.org/designawards/2004/projects/226.htm

http://www.knowledgeplex.org
Adjacent to the corner of 404 Fifth Ave. between East 37th and 38th streets is the site of two four-floor mixed-use buildings. The buildings are in the process of being demolished to make way for another luxury residential condominium development. Trevor Davis and the Chetrit Group are planning to develop the site. The new building is located across the street from Davis & Partners' 67-story mixed-use condominium at 425 Fifth Ave., which opened earlier this year.

[pianoman11686]

These are pictures of the site that I took today (8/23).

http://images.snapfish.com/3447%3A66723232%7Ffp3%3Enu%3D3259%3E846%3E28%3A%3E WSNRCG%3D3232%3B4%3A736335nu0mrj

http://images.snapfish.com/3447%3A66723232%7Ffp3%3B%3Dot%3E234%3A%3D937%3D37% 3B%3DXROQDF%3E2323%3A59827%3B37ot1lsi

http://images.snapfish.com/3447%3A66723232%7Ffp58%3Dot%3E234%3A%3D937%3D37%3B %3DXROQDF%3E2323%3A59827245ot1lsi

http://images.snapfish.com/3447%3A66723232%7Ffp47%3Dot%3E234%3A%3D937%3D37%3B %3DXROQDF%3E2323%3A59827%3B3%3Bot1lsi

[sfenn1117]

Thanks, I never even heard of this one before. That's a pretty tall building they are taking down too.

Design certainly looks interesting.

[pianoman11686]

I'm not sure they're taking the building on the corner down. The article says that a permit was issued to allow for demolition of the facade, followed by a restoration. I guess they expect construction to damage it a lot.

[NewYorkYankee]

The amount of projects in this city really does amaze me!

[djf17]

Chetrit Sells Fifth Avenue Development Site To Tessler

August 12, 2005
Joseph Chetrit has reached an agreement to sell a development site at 396-400 Fifth Ave. south of 37th St. in Manhattan to Yitzhak Tessler for about $150 million. Tessler and Chetrit are also partners on the conversion of the Windsor Park Hotel to condominiums, and 489 Fifth Ave., an office building.

Chetrit was said to be planning a condominium development at the site, some of which would be tied to a hotel. Calls to Tessler and Chetrit were not returned. A call to Trevor Davis, who may have been involved in the project, was also not returned.

[Stern]

Hopefully the project is redesigned. Something big will go here nevertheless.

[londonlawyer]

I agree. I am in the minority, but I do not like that design.

[ablarc]

Whatever they do I hope they hurry up and do it. It's hard to take pleasure in a vacant lot.

[kz1000ps]

I'm with you London. It looks like a kitchsy early '60s piece of rubbish. Perhaps the undulations might have looked nice from a few choice angles, but it just looks finicky to me.

[pianoman11686]

From http://cityrealty.com:

Demoliton activity at 400 Fifth Avenue 24-AUG-05

Two buildings have been demolished and a third is clad in construction shrouds on the northwest corner of Fifth Avenue and 36th Street.

The addresses at 396, 398 and 400 Fifth Avenue, an assemblage that Joseph Chetrit has recently agreed to sell to Yitzhak Tessler for about $150 million, according to published reports.

Mr. Chetrit and Mr. Tessler are partners in the current conversion of the formerly Helmsley Windsor Hotel on the southwest corner of the Avenue of the Americas and 58th Street to the Windsor Park condominium apartment building.

Previously published plans for 400 Fifth Avenue indicated a condominium apartment tower of about 50 stories or 600 feet designed by Peter Magill of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill that featured a very unusual façade of undulating faceted elements and slightly angled windows. The tower in that plan would be setback on a base that held to the building line on Fifth Avenue.

Mr. Chetrit’s office said today he was out-of-town until next week. Mr. Magill was also out-of-town, but Kim Van Holsbeke of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill indicated that the previously published plans were still active in terms of general massing but details were being reviewed because of the change in ownership.

The tower would be the latest new high-rise building to be erected within a few blocks of the Empire State Building, which has for decades stood in splendid isolation. Its site is across the avenue from 425 Fifth Avenue, a quite tall, yellow-and-white, apartment tower and it is three blocks north of 325 Fifth Avenue, a 50-story condominium apartment building now in construction.

[BrooklynRider]

I would be a nice site for a hotel.

[RJW]

Wow, pretty tall for its location. I don't think I like it either. All I can think of is Barcelona when looking at it.

[ablarc]

Wow, pretty tall for its location. I don't think I like it either. All I can think of is Barcelona when looking at it.
Tall is good. Barcelona is good.

[Fabrizio]

Barcelona is great. I think this building looks chic. Look at the photo up above, together with the Empire State. All is right with the world. And I like the haute-couture fru-fru sculpturing. Very fine.

[RJW]

I did not mean to imply that there is anything wrong with Barcelona or height. This building’s facade is just not speaking to me – sometimes hard to tell from mock ups and drawings though - so I say… when in doubt, wait and see. Funny thing is, when I first saw a drawing of the Westin, it was black and white and I thought great - nice form - then they built it.

[jeffpark]

why dosint tessler knock down the building on the s/w corner of fifth and 37th street and make it a whloe block development

[jeffpark]

:) :) why dosint tessler knock down the building on the s/w corner of fifth and 37th street and make it a whloe block development

[antinimby]

Site cleared for mixed-use tower at 400 Fifth Avenue 27-DEC-05

www.cityrealty.com

http://www.cityrealty.com/graphics/uploads/1135705785_fif400c.gif

The mid-rise, commercial building at 396 Fifth Avenue has been recently demolished, completing the clearing of the site for the development of a major mixed-use tower at 400 Fifth Avenue on the northwest corner at 36th Street. Two mid-block, mid-rise buildings at 398 and 400 Fifth Avenue were previously demolished.

The full site was acquired recently by Tessler Developments LLC from The Chetrit Group.

Yitzchak Tessler of Tessler Development Company told CityRealty.com today that plans for the site have not yet been finalized but should be by March. He said the project will contain residential condominiums and a hotel and that it will require public reviews.

He said that his company was reviewing previously published plans for the site by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill. When asked whether Gwathmey Siegel & Associates might become involved since he has used them on the Windsor Park residential development at 100 West 58th Street and a residential project planned for 240 Park Avenue South, he again said simply that plans are being “reviewed.”

Tessler Development’s other projects in the city have included 150 Nassau Street and 66 Leonard Street and the Bryant Park Hotel.

Previously published plans, shown at the right, for 400 Fifth Avenue indicated a condominium apartment tower of about 50 stories or 600 feet designed by Peter Magill of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill that featured a very unusual façade of undulating faceted elements and slightly angled windows. The tower in that plan would be setback on a base that held to the building line on Fifth Avenue.

The tower would be the latest new high-rise building to be erected within a few blocks of the Empire State Building, which has for decades stood in splendid isolation. Its site is two blocks south from 425 Fifth Avenue, a quite tall, yellow-and-white, apartment tower and it is three blocks north of 325 Fifth Avenue, a 50-story condominium apartment building now in construction.

[krulltime]

Not much on this one yet...


February 15, 2006:


http://i.pbase.com/o4/55/435155/1/56185298.IMG_7483.jpg

[finnman69]

it's almost like two different buildings which is NOT a good thing. Same effect the Cooper Union building by Guathmey is disjointed from it's base.

If you are going to carry a theme through, incorporate the tower skin with the base.

Design 101.

[krulltime]

From the top of the Empire State Building. March 1, 2006:


http://i.pbase.com/o4/55/435155/1/56706055.22.JPG

[antinimby]

Shouldn't there be a hole in the ground by now?

[londonlawyer]

Shouldn't there be a hole in the ground by now?

I hope that the delay is because they're redesigning the building. I hate that facade.

[krulltime]

THEY TAKE THE FIFTH


March 8, 2006 -- BETWEEN THE BRICKS

A pre-assembled vacant site in the fashion swath of Fifth Avenue is hitting the market through Darcy Stacom and her CB Richard Ellis team.

The 400 Fifth Ave. site on the northwest corner of 36th Street is being sold by the joint venture of Lehman Bros. and Yitzak Tessler.

It's also ready to plunge skyward to 550,000 gross feet and down two levels for a garage.

"You have a clean slate and it's ready to roll," said Stacom.

It can support 190,000 feet of hotel uses, along with residential or even offices.

Because the venture already includes air rights from 404 Fifth Ave., the landmarked Tiffany Building across the street, and the sloping land, its view corridor stretches to the Atlantic Ocean, Stacom told us.

Pricing may approach $400 a foot - which is what Stacom obtained from Madison Equities for the Hearst hotel site at 55th and Eighth Avenue - another busy developer believes it will go for more and could hit $500 a foot.

"There's not a lot out there for land," he advised.

Stacom and Bill Shanahan have also added Jeff Dauray from the D.C. hospitality company Molinaro Koger as a full partner to their team.


Copyright 2006 NYP Holdings, Inc.

[MidtownGuy]

I really liked the facade on that plan, I thought the texture was nice. So many smooth glass skins in the city, for me it is always refreshing to see new architecture making use of texture, especially to dress up an otherwise boring box.

[antinimby]

So what this is telling us is that the project is still on hold while it's being placed for sale to another developer? How long will this take? And how much longer will the next developer take to even get started?

Btw Midtown, this just means that the design that you see will likely change and that rendering will no longer be valid. Seeing that it was done by SOM, this may not be a bad thing.

[jeffpark]

Tessler bought the development site from CHETRIT GROUP
(They are partners with him in other developments)
In the end of the summer for $150 million
That’s around $270 a BSF

And he wants now around $400 a foot (HE WILL GET MORE LIKE $450 A FOOT) $225 million

THAT MEANS HE IS MAKING $75 MILLION NOT BAD

[lofter1]

Any idea what the Chetrit Group paid -- and how long ago?

[jeffpark]

Any idea what the Chetrit Group paid -- and how long ago?
the chetrit group put the whole deal together, with the air rights from the buildings they own across the street and the building to the north,

before the air rights that they put together and getting all the tenets out of this now demolished buildings/development site the site was just another lot with old buildings on it with tenets that its value is not based on BSF so the question is not really a question

[krulltime]

NYPOST: GIMME SHELTER


This just in...

A new luxury hotel condominium and retail complex will soon be rising on Fifth Avenue.

We've learned that a major international developer based in Italy has just bought the property at 400 Fifth Ave. from Lehman Brothers to construct a 56-story building at the northwest corner of Fifth Avenue and 36th Street.

The buyers, Bi & Di Real Estate SpA, outbid many of the city's top developers, with an offer of approximately $200 million.

Lehman had already commissioned plans created for the project by Gwathmey Siegel, before they opted to put it on the market.

Current plans for the complex, which will comprise 520,858 square feet, calls for over 145,000 square feet of hotel space and 323,000 square feet of residential property that will occupy floors 18 to 56. The group has already developed many resorts, offices and other such projects around the world. And this will be its first venture in the U.S.

"We're now in the process of selecting a luxury hotel group that will complement the upscale residences," says real-estate mogul Howard Lorber. The chairman of Prudential Douglas Elliman and super-broker Dolly Lenz represented the buyers in the acquisition and will be exclusively marketing the property.


Copyright 2006 NYP Holdings, Inc.

[BrooklynRider]

That's great news and a good location for a hotel. When was the last time a hotel opened on Fifth Ave?

[jeffpark]

Originally the development was spouse to include 404 fifth (the building on the s/w corner of 37th street) and it was suppose to be w whole block font development

12 October 1998
Crain's New York Business

“An investor group led by landlord Prince Management bought 404 Fifth Ave. from an affiliate of Murray Hill Properties Corp. for $16 million.
The buyers were willing to pay a handsome $175 a square foot for the 91,000-square-foot Class B building because they already own two adjacent properties, 398 and 400 fifth. When added together, the three make up a development site where a 250,000-square-foot building could be constructed, says Ron Cohen, a senior managing director of Insignia/ESG Capital Advisors, who brokered the sale.
The property, at the southwest corner of 37th Street, is zoned for residential, office, hotel or retail”..


So why does int JOE CHETRIT sell (to the poeple that just bought it from TESSLER) 404 fifth to make way for a much larger development that will go on 5th Ave from 36th to 37th Street, so why don’t they tear 404 FIFTH AVENUE,

[jeffpark]

So why does int JOE CHETRIT sell 404 (to the poeple that just bought it 396,398,400 FIFTH.

[antinimby]

http://img143.imageshack.us/img143/2466/400fifth5hr.jpg

http://www.gwathmey-siegel.com/news/index.html

[jeffpark]

the way the market is going on now i dont think that it will be built as condos, they will put an OFFICE building there instead, with maybe some part of it a hotel, and i just hope they can buy the last buildng (from CHETRIT) on the s/w corner of 5th & 37th Street, to make a whole block front development that will go along 5th Ave from 36th to 37th Street.

[ablarc]

i just hope they can buy the last buildng (from CHETRIT) on the s/w corner of 5th & 37th Street, to make a whole block front development that will go along 5th Ave from 36th to 37th Street.
Why do you like whole block front developments so much? There are exceptions (ESB, TWC), but mosty I find them quite deadly (6th Avenue, Water Street).

[londonlawyer]

http://img143.imageshack.us/img143/2466/400fifth5hr.jpg

http://www.gwathmey-siegel.com/news/index.html

In the syntax of our esteemed colleague, JeffPark, this building looks kind of RETARDED (or at least MUNDANE).

[kz1000ps]

I'm not sure whether I like the first design better or the second. At least with the initial proposal you wouldn't exactly know what to EXPECT of the finished product until you're physically right there, for the better or worse. But, in the syntax of Londonlawyer, I just know this new one will be all-around
CRAP. :D

[pianoman11686]

^You guys definitely have the fonts down. Now you just gotta work on the grammar/sentence (de)construction a bit.

I forgot that Gwathmey assumed design of this building. I rather liked the original SOM design. This one just looks deliberately awkward, yet it's still a box. Will this stretch of 5th ever get a well-designed building?

[lofter1]

The really-retarded HSBC (http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/bu/?id=114589) building on 5th / 40th (arch.: Eli Attia Architects (http://www.emporis.com/en/cd/cm/?id=100895) ) -- which so awkwardly surrounds Republic Bank Building (http://www.thecityreview.com/repub.html) -- starts the bad-building stretch that we're stuck with from 42nd St. and on south to 34th:

http://www.thecityreview.com/repub1.gif

http://www.thecityreview.com/repub10.gif

http://www.thecityreview.com/repub3.gif

[investordude]

I actually think both of these buildings, 320 Fifth and the HSBC building, are nice. What do you dislike about them?

And for certain, they are better than what the government would come up with if granted the right to review. Historically preserved neighborhoods look good because most of the buildings in them, by definition, where built by the goodness of private interestes before the government got so involved with property rights this century. Private interests care about their property and make their buildings attractive because that increases their economic value. I don't see anything great about newer buildings that have been "government approved" in these places compared to the buildings going up around ESB.

Just look at the Con Ed site to see what happens to beautiful building designs when the government gets involved.

[londonlawyer]

I'm not sure whether I like the first design better or the second. At least with the initial proposal you wouldn't exactly know what to EXPECT of the finished product until you're physically right there, for the better or worse. But, in the syntax of Londonlawyer, I just know this new one will be all-around
CRAP. :D

I'm afraid that I will get into the HABIT of writing like this and mistakenly submit papers to COURT with funny font.

P.S.: Jeffpark -- Please take no offense. It's all in good fun like when people call me "the crapmeister," a nickname I happen to like.

[lofter1]

I actually think both of these buildings, 320 Fifth and the HSBC building, are nice. What do you dislike about them?

The older Knox Building / Republic Bank is a beauty.

The HSBC tower is IMO just an oddly-colored, awkward wall of staggered glass whose purpose seems to be to squeeze out every square inch of buildable space allowed under zoning. The 5th Avenue facade is typical 80's thin veneer of stone slabs.

Perhaps with the technology available at the time this was as good as it could be -- I'm no architect [ :o ] but I can imagine a far better structure that would both enhance the Knox Building and sit better at what is essentially the SE corner of Bryant Park.

[Stern]

http://img143.imageshack.us/img143/2466/400fifth5hr.jpg

http://www.gwathmey-siegel.com/news/index.html

Another Gwathmey-Siegel design that came at me from left field. This firm tries too hard but doesn’t have the sound design principles to make a design exciting and as a congruous whole. Here we have a box, no thought there. The façade is particularly disconcerting, the windows remind me of the Delorian or some other 1970’s space theme. My problem is not so much with the passé treatment as it is that the windows are sandwiched between Art Deco inspired limestone spandrels. Top it off with a Chanin-Building inspired top and you get the impression that Gwathmey-Siegel really has no idea what the hell they are doing. My impression is that they know what they’re doing but they have no direction or vision, instead they take elements and mix and match them, postmodernism truly at its worst. Following their most recent additions, I have lost all respect for Gwathmey-Siegel and they have become one of my least favorite firms in NYC.

[kz1000ps]

the windows remind me of the Delorian or some other 1970’s space theme.

I thought the exact same thing when I first saw it. It looks like something that would be on the cover of an Alan Parsons Project album circa 1976.

[antinimby]

Community Board approves air rights transfer for 400 Fifth Avenue


http://www.cityrealty.com/graphics/uploads/1160767150_fif400xxs.jpg


13-OCT-06

The planned mixed-use tower at 400 Fifth Avenue on the northwest corner at 36th Street took a giant step forward last night when Community Board 5 passed a resolution that endorsed transfer of development rights to the site.

The board voted 27 to 10 with 1 abstention last night to approve a resolution requesting the Landmarks Preservation Commission to issue a report to the City Planning Commission authorizing the transfer of 173,000 square feet of development rights from the former Tiffany Building at 401 Fifth Avenue, a landmark, to a new building planned at 400 Fifth Avenue in exchange for a preservation plan and continued maintenance plan for the landmark building.

The proposed tower will be 631 feet 10 inches tall including a 40-foot-high mechanical space at the top of the building which will have a ribbed crown that flares outward slightly and will be illuminated at night. The tower will be setback on an 11-story base.

Michael T. Sillerman, the co-chair of the land-use department at the law firm of Kramer, Levin, Naftalis & Frankel LLP, who represented the developer at the meeting, told the board that the base of the proposed tower will have a luxury hotel that will occupy floors 4 through 16. Floors 17 through 56 will have corner windows, unlike the lower floors, and they will contain about 360 condominium apartments. The hotel is anticipated to have almost 200 rooms.

Mr. Sillerman said that “an additional icing on the cake” is that the developer is giving an easement to the Landmarks Conservancy to oversee the maintenance program for 401 Fifth Avenue. He also noted that the 21.6 F.A.R. (floor-to-area ratio) of the proposed tower does not produce a building much taller than an as-of-right development with “wedding-cake” setbacks.

The 57-story skyscraper has been designed by Gwathmey Siegel & Associates for Bi & Di Real Estate SpA, which acquired the site in May from Tessler Developments LLC and Lehman Brothers. Tessler and Lehman had, in fact, commissioned Gwathmey Siegel to design the project. Bi & Di Real Estate SpA is based in Italy and has developed offices and resorts in Europe and Cuba and this is its first project in the United States.

The site has been cleared for several months and had been acquired by Tessler Developments LLC from The Chetrit Group for about $150 million.

A previous design for the site was prepared The Chetrit Group by Peter Magill of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill and that called for a low-rise based topped by a rectilinear tower of about 50 stories with a highly textured façade of undulating faceted elements and slightly angled windows. The Community Board had voted against the proposed air-rights transfers in 2004 and 2005 when presented by previous owners.

The new design retains the general massing of the previous design but makes more contextual gestures in its base to the surrounding buildings on both sides of the avenue that are quite similar in their Italian Palazzo-style architecture. The new design is also much more contextual with its own base and with the façades of the Empire State Building, two blocks to the south.

The new design also differs from the old design in that its corner is rounded, a treatment that Gwathmey Siegel & Associates has also employed in its design of a planned new residential building at 240 Park Avenue South.

The landmarks committee of the community board had voted to approve the resolution by a vote of 5 to 4 and the co-chairs of the committee, Layla Law Gisiko and Joyce Matz, both voted against it and argued strongly against it at the board’s full meeting. Ms. Gisiko expressed dissatisfaction with the rounded corner and noted that the landmark building already has a “preservation plan” in effect. Ms. Matz claimed that the planned tower is too big.

The project is expected to come up for review in the future before the board’s zoning committee.


Copyright © 1994-2006 CITY REALTY.COM INC.

[antinimby]

Ms. Gisiko expressed dissatisfaction with the rounded corner and noted that the landmark building already has a “preservation plan” in effect. Ms. Matz claimed that the planned tower is too big.Two clueless board members. I guess that is the criterion to becoming one.

The rounded corner on that base is what makes it more interesting than without it.

630 feet is now considered "too big" smack-dabbed in Midtown. Amazing.

[londonlawyer]

It seems that Astor Place was the architectural equivalent of a "one hit wonder" for this firm. The buildings on Greenwich Street, Park Avenue South and this one are decent at best. Nevertheless, I prefer it to the old design.

[NYatKNIGHT]

Is it......yellow?

[pianoman11686]

Interestingly enough, I find One Astor Place to be pretty dreadful, and this building to be far superior.

The previous renderings that were posted a page earlier had me irked. I did not like the treatment of the windows, but it doesn't seem like that design facet carried on to this version.

I love the treatment of the base - understated and contextual. The setback is at almost the perfect height, and the tower looks well-proportioned. Best of all, it's got that post-Modern flare at the top, which works wonders for the building's verticality. I definitely think Gwathmey took some cues from Graves' project up the street.

All in all, this building gets an A from me.

[londonlawyer]

It would be nice if the facade is limestone, but I am sure that it's tan brick.

[pianoman11686]

I think we'll have to wait and see more detailed renderings. But if they use the same type of yellow-tanish brick that's used on 425 Fifth, I think it will come out looking good.

[krulltime]

So the crown will be illuminated at night! That is awesome. I think is in a cool location and good height and will certainly be seen from distances. This is a nicer welcome to the area than that new tower across from the Empire State Building.

[TREPYE]

http://www.cityrealty.com/graphics/uploads/1160767150_fif400xxs.jpg



A pleasant surprize and finally a residential that is designed way above expectations. I think it has a tasteful base, a very nice facade and an awesome crown. Looks like its gonna go well with the ESB. A welcomed addition to the NYC skyline. :)

[sfenn1117]

Very contextual, which is not a bad thing here. A classy building for classy 5th ave. Another 325 5th would be awful.....so this is refreshing to see. Well done.

[Derek2k3]

From that rendering it looks like it belongs in Trump Place. Hopefully the zig-zagged window pattern will be more apparent in reality. Otherwise, ::yawn::

[NYguy]

630 feet is now considered "too big" smack-dabbed in Midtown. Amazing.

I tell you, these people should be shipped off to Alaska.

[Stern]

Gwathmey Siegel & Associates are now the basement of architects in my opinion. This building has no direction and doesn’t work as a whole, the base looks like a cheap hotel. The shaft is unforgiving and bland and the crown is cartoonish and as bad as the very worst of Michael Graves. Here is a base (cheap mediocrity), shaft (bland to the utmost degree), and a cartoon crown (plopped on top of a dull shaft with no relation whatsoever).

Grade, F.

[lofter1]

From that rendering it looks like it belongs in Trump Place. Hopefully the zig-zagged window pattern will be more apparent in reality.

You'll be able to look up the ladies' skirts with those windows ^^^

[Bob]

Not thrilled with the massing, the base, or the top. Of course, I'm a deco fanatic, and envision that a few tweaks here or there might make it acceptable to me in that style of architecture. The top needs revision, certainly.

[ablarc]

I definitely think Gwathmey took some cues from Graves' project up the street.
Yup, it has that touch of Graves. I like the building, just as I like the one by Graves:

http://66.230.220.70/images/post/graynewyork/0007.JPG
Michael Graves.

Gwathmey's crown is particularly Gravesian. But cover it with your hand, and you'll find the rest is Gwathmey's usual uneasy blend of orthodox modernism with deco touches grafted on.

Graves is a better designer.

[lofter1]

Landmarks HEARING (http://www.nyc.gov/html/lpc/downloads/pdf/calendar/10_31_06.pdf) regarding 400 5th Avenue scheduled for Tuesday 10.31.06 ...

***

[ablarc]

“Application is to amend MOU 06-0896, which permitted the transfer of development rights from the Tiffany Building to a receiving site across Fifth Avenue, pursuant to Section 74-79 of the Zoning Resolution by modifying the design of the new building on the receiving site.”

So they want to change Gwathmey’s design by leveraging the air rights transfer approval.

What changes do they want? No, don’t tell me…they want to reduce the height. Then they want to tone down the crown.

Oh, they want a Kondylis. Right?

[NYguy]

What changes do they want? No, don’t tell me…they want to reduce the height.

End the end, that's what they all want. I'm convinced there are some people who would have all buildings in Manhattan over 20 stories demolished or banned outright if they could.

[Zoe]

When it says "The proposed tower will be 631 feet 10 inches tall including a 40-foot-high mechanical space at the top of the building", Does this mean the building will be 671 feet? Or is this sentence just confusing me and the height is 631 ft?

[aural iNK]

631 feet includes the space at the top... so 631 total.

[Kroy Wen]

From that rendering it looks like it belongs in Trump Place.
^My initial reaction, to a word. It looks like a Kondylis with a rather forced flute at top. I rather like the base- but then it too reminds me of a fussy version of (can't think of the name- E90's on Lex, completed three, four years ago..)

[pianoman11686]

From http://cityrealty.com/new_developments:

Landmarks Commission holds hearing on 400 Fifth Avenue 31-OCT-06

http://www.cityrealty.com/graphics/uploads/1162337131_fif400zzz.jpg

The Landmarks Preservation Commission held a hearing this afternoon on the planned mixed-use tower at 400 Fifth Avenue on the northwest corner at 36th Street.

Most of the commissioners were supportive of the application asking the preservation commission to issue a report to the City Planning Commission authorizing the transfer of 173,000 square feet of development rights from the former Tiffany Building at 401 Fifth Avenue, a landmark, in exchange for a preservation plan and continued maintenance plan for it, but were critical of the curved corner of the base of the planned new tower as not being “harmonious.”

The proposed, 57-story skyscraper has been designed by Gwathmey Siegel & Associates for Bi & Di Real Estate SpA, which acquired the site in May from Tessler Developments LLC and Lehman Brothers. Tessler and Lehman had, in fact, commissioned Gwathmey Siegel to design the project. Bi & Di Real Estate SpA is based in Italy and has developed offices and resorts in Europe and Cuba and this is its first project in the United States.

The site has been cleared for several months and had been acquired by Tessler Developments LLC from The Chetrit Group for about $150 million.

A previous design for the site was prepared The Chetrit Group by Peter Magill of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill and that called for a low-rise based topped by a rectilinear tower of about 50 stories with a highly textured façade of undulating faceted elements and slightly angled windows. Community Board 5 passed a resolution October 13 endorsing the transfer by a vote of 27 to 10 with one abstention. Charles Gwathmey, the architect, told the commission near the end of the hearing that he was thinking in the past week of “reworking” the corner.

Chairman Robert B. Tierney closed the hearing and asked the applicant to meet with the commission’s staff and come back in two weeks.

The proposed tower will be 631 feet 10 inches tall including a 40-foot-high mechanical space at the top of the building which will have a ribbed crown that flares outward slightly and will be illuminated at night. The tower will be setback on a limestone-clad, 11-story base.

Michael T. Sillerman, the co-chair of the land-use department at the law firm of Kramer, Levin, Naftalis & Frankel LLP, who represented the developer at the meeting, told the commission that the base of the proposed tower will have a luxury hotel that will occupy floors 4 through 16. Mr. Sillerman said that “an additional icing on the cake” is that the developer is giving an easement to the New York Landmarks Conservancy to oversee the maintenance program for 401 Fifth Avenue.

A statement read by the Historic Districts Council at the commission today urged rejection of the proposal, noting that “Its height alone, of course, sets 400 Fifth Avenue apartment from neighboring structures, and nothing in the proposed design attempts to bridge this gap. Instead, the proposal seems to attempt to draw comparisons between 400 Fifth Avenue and its taller neighbor, the Empire State Building.”

Mr. Gwathmey subsequently remarked that “context is larger than across the street,” and other members of his team pointed out that the height of the building’s base and its cornice relate closely not only to the Tiffany Building, but to the landmark building immediately to the north at 404 Fifth Avenue and directly across 36th Street to the south at 396 Fifth Avenue.

Furthermore, Mr. Sillerman noted that the applicant plans to seek a variance to permit it have a lower cornice that projects more than four feet from the building.

Roger Lang, speaking for The New York Landmarks Conservancy, found the base’s curved corner a “distraction,” but said that “a simple, sheer tower on a compatible podium is the most successful in respecting the Empire State Building…[and that] “the vertical striations and prominent mullions in the fenestration enhance this harmony.”

[hella good]

i like the idea of the zig zagged facade

[antinimby]

Meanwhile, the site still sits empty as seen in this pic (http://wirednewyork.com/forum/showpost.php?p=137630&postcount=1690) posted by Derek2k3 in the 1BP thread.

http://img409.imageshack.us/img409/736/5aveconstructionuu4.jpg

[krulltime]

From The New York Sun, Land Prices May Land Hard in 2007 (http://www.nysun.com/article/45832?page_no=1)

Specifically, a developer from Rome who purchased the vacant site at 400 Fifth Ave. on the west side of 36th Street, which was earmarked for a residential condominium, is now planning a 550,000 square foot mixed-use development with retail on the first and second floors and in the basement, a hotel component, and condominium units above.

[Derek2k3]

From Tessler Developments.
http://www.tesslerdevelopments.com

[londonlawyer]

I recall that the landmarks comission criticized the rounded corner, but I think that it looks quite nice.

[lofter1]

The band of stone at the top of the rounded section seems way heavy ...

[Fabrizio]

heavy and kind of nude.

( that street level corner looks nice though)

[jeffpark]

the new owners should BUY the building next door to the north at
"404 Fifth Avenue" from the Chetrit Family and make one lage Blockfront development site along 5th Avenue from 36th to 37th Street

404 Fifth Ave.
New York, NY </B>http://www.mrofficespace.com/ob/pix//mh/md453cs1176.jpg

[londonlawyer]

That's a very nice building. No one should raze it.

[pianoman11686]

I really like the building's appearance as a whole. It's very solid-looking, unlike the vast majority of post-war highrises. I'm not worried about the top either: think about how many new residentials have completely botched the top with a half-assed attempt to hide the mechanicals. At least this one does it with some style.

The one major complaint: what's with the slanted windows?

[antinimby]

Looks like that last rendering will not be the final version.

What a shame.

That rounded corner is what I liked best because it's a change of pace from the usual squared corner on most buildings in this city.

...but were critical of the curved corner of the base of the planned new tower as not being “harmonious.”

Charles Gwathmey, the architect, told the commission near the end of the hearing that he was thinking in the past week of “reworking” the corner.

Roger Lang, speaking for The New York Landmarks Conservancy, found the base’s curved corner a “distraction,”

[sfenn1117]

Gwathmey-Siegel's website has been updated:

Looks like the rounded corner has been changed, and it is less dramatic now. However, while it's a conventional and traditional design, I still think it is top notch and has excellent massing, and a nice crown. It will fit in so much better than 325 5th.

http://i11.tinypic.com/2i8bpe1.jpg

http://i15.tinypic.com/2itixqs.jpg

http://i10.tinypic.com/4i4709d.jpg

http://i10.tinypic.com/2va1o44.jpg

http://i17.tinypic.com/2z9i5oi.jpg

http://i12.tinypic.com/2zsb5mx.jpg

http://www.gwathmey-siegel.com/portfolio/proj_detail.php?job_id=200604

[antinimby]

I'm glad he didn't get rid of the rounded sections on the upper portions of the base. Apparently, they were just talking about the first floor.

The groundfloor, while no longer completely rounded, is still thankfully not squared-cornered but chamfered, a very nice compromise.

He did it all very skillfully--a rarity in this city nowadays.

On another note, which entrance will be for the hotel portion and which will be for the residential portion?

[ramvid01]

This seems to be a clear improvement over the previous iteration. I definitely like this new base and it seems to flow much better into the tower. Even the tower part feels less redundant than the previous rendering and the crown still looks good. I hope this gets approved and starts construction soon.

[TREPYE]

http://i15.tinypic.com/2itixqs.jpg

http://i10.tinypic.com/4i4709d.jpg





http://i12.tinypic.com/2zsb5mx.jpg

http://www.gwathmey-siegel.com/portfolio/proj_detail.php?job_id=200604

That is phat looking crown and the sloped windows are kinda cool too! :D This is a residential done right. It will be a nice little complement to the ESB aarea. ;)

[londonlawyer]

This building looks nice. I wonder if the facade is limestone. Also, does anyone know if the crown is composed of frosted glass and will be lit from within at night?

[MidtownGuy]

It definitely looks solid and lit from the outside.

Pity about the rounded corner at the bottom. It was quite handsome before, now it is quite unremarkable. I do not agree with the other poster that the base in this iteration is an improvement. The flow isn't better, it's inferior. So elegant before, and now it's a very boring base actually. But, I guess I should be greatful for the slightest deviation from the rectangle.

[antinimby]

This building looks nice. I wonder if the facade is limestone.Yes, it is limestone.

Also, does anyone know if the crown is composed of frosted glass and will be lit from within at night?No to both.

[londonlawyer]

It definitely looks solid and lit from the outside.

Pity about the rounded corner at the bottom. It was quite handsome before, now it is quite unremarkable. I do not agree with the other poster that the base in this iteration is an improvement. The flow isn't better, it's inferior. So elegant before, and now it's a very boring base actually. But, I guess I should be greatful for the slightest deviation from the rectangle.


I agree. I preferred the original base, but this is still very nice. Hopefully, the idiots on the local board won't demand further changes.

PS: Does anyone know why the Landmarks Preservation Commission has a say with respect to this tower? Is it within a historic district? If it is, how is the owner of the nearby L&T building allowed to raze the beautiful annex on the building's north end?

[londonlawyer]

Yes, it is limestone....

This will be an awesome building.

[antinimby]

^ Not if you asked the Historic Districts Council:
A statement read by the Historic Districts Council at the commission today urged rejection of the proposal, noting that “Its height alone, of course, sets 400 Fifth Avenue apartment from neighboring structures, and nothing in the proposed design attempts to bridge this gap. Instead, the proposal seems to attempt to draw comparisons between 400 Fifth Avenue and its taller neighbor, the Empire State Building.”

Meanwhile, McSams continue to spring up like weeds with nary a word from anyone.

[londonlawyer]

^ Not if you asked the Historic Districts Council:


Meanwhile, McSams continue to spring up like weeds and there's nary a word from anyone.

Did the HDC permit the demolition of the L&T annex?

[antinimby]

So far, all we've heard is silence...but you can bet if someone proposed a 50-story in it's place, then you can bet everyone and their uncle will be out in full force to object to it.

[londonlawyer]

So far, all we've heard is silence...but you can bet if someone proposed a 50-story in it's place, then you can bet everyone and their uncle will be out in full force to object to it.

It's a crime that the annex will be razed at all. It's magnificent. Its demolition will demonstrate that Tierney is a huge putz.

[sfenn1117]

This tower needed approval from the Landmarks commission because it is using air rights from an individual landmark....I believe 404 Fifth. It is amazing though that 630 feet is considered too tall. Even at this height, the ESB will completely dwarf it, and it will hardly make an impression in the skyline.

Also, are you sure it's limestone? I hope it is rather than brick, and it's hard to tell just from the renderings.

[antinimby]

^The proposed tower will be 631 feet 10 inches tall including a 40-foot-high mechanical space at the top of the building which will have a ribbed crown that flares outward slightly and will be illuminated at night. The tower will be setback on a limestone-clad, 11-story base.

[sfenn1117]

lol, thanks. This should be a great tower then.

[pianoman11686]

^ Not if you asked the Historic Districts Council:


Meanwhile, McSams continue to spring up like weeds with nary a word from anyone.

So far, all we've heard is silence...but you can bet if someone proposed a 50-story in it's place, then you can bet everyone and their uncle will be out in full force to object to it.

Gotta chop down the tallest poppies first.

[Stern]

I still think this tower has all the cliches and no grace.

[Derek2k3]

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1101/874645702_5723e891c2_o.jpg
Not happy that this will block ESB.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1317/874645752_d1a52e16a3_o.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1174/874645816_052085c7d3_o.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1094/874645740_a8340b4d07_o.jpg
Beautiful building.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1018/874645686_bedf817e5a_o.jpg
Lord & Taylor

[antinimby]

There was some recent DOB (http://a810-bisweb.nyc.gov/bisweb/JobDetailsServlet?requestid=2&allisn=0001440403&allboroughname=&allnumbhous=&allstrt=) activity here and word is that some newly arrived construction equipment have been spotted on the site.

Hopefully this is a prelude to the start of some serious construction on the way.

[Stern]

I passed the site and was very surprised to see the blue construction fence was removed, in its place some small metal fencing. At the site itself there was alot of activity, construction workers, machinery. I asked one of the construction workers about the progress, he told me that its going to be a temporary bank building and that its going to be one storey. I asked what happened to the 50 storey skyscraper, he repeated bank building, one storey.

[ASchwarz]

That doesn't seem to make sense, as they have received financing for the tower. Maybe the ground floor will include a retail space for a bank, or perhaps they are clueless?

Workers often don't know what is happening. I have spoken with the Beekman (Gehry) site workers and some had no clue there was a large Gehry tower planned for the site.

[stache]

They're going with a taxpayer. Sounds like they want to wait out the next crash.

[ASchwarz]

Crash? Sounds like wishful thinking by certain people.

Why then do they have a construction loan for a tower? The loan is just weeks old.

[Stern]

Well, looks like the construction worker was right...

http://a810-bisweb.nyc.gov/bisweb/WorkPermitDataServlet?allisn=0001729259&allisn2=0001440403&allbin=1015937&requestid=2

[ASchwarz]

The permit says it's a temporary restaurant. Maybe something for the holiday crush on Fifth? Can they build a structure in a few weeks? The permit expires in a few months, so there isn't much time.

The new developers were in front of City Planning for modifications to the tower just a few weeks back, so I'm speculating that this is a holiday restaurant:
http://www.nyc.gov/html/dcp/pdf/cpc/070470.pdf

[antinimby]

Do you know how much was the construction loan or a ballpark figure? That should tell us if it was meant for the tower or for the one story bank.

It would be such a complete shame if all of this turned out to be just for a bank branch as the buildings (particularly the corner building) that was torn down was actually very nice.

[mkeit]

Under construction is a simple spread-footing foundation with no basement. There is a large number of barrels on site that suggest contaminated ground remediation.

[lofter1]

Documents which can be found on the Department of Finance website for 400 Fifth show that the site was most likely contaminated by an above-ground storage tank in a previous building -- and that remediation must take place before any building / digging can take place.

[stache]

The plot thickens!

[lofter1]

All you sleuthy types can slog through the documents by going HERE (http://a836-acris.nyc.gov/Scripts/DocSearch.dll/Detail?Doc_ID=2007051600916001) ...

Then click the "View Document" at the bottom of the page.

Once you're there the actual May 16, 2007 "Declaration" will eventually appear (it's a JAVA thing that is a bit slow to load) including a May 10, 2007 Letter (go to Page 31 of that document) from the NYC Department of Environmental Protection to City Planning which describes how the site ...
"was home to an 11-story building constructed circa 1900 and since demolished. One 10,000-gallon above-ground storage tank was identified on site for the storage of fuel oil but documentation showing proper removal/disposal has not been provided."

The same letter describes the current developer's plan to build:

"... a 57-story, 632-foot-tall mixed use building with 389 residential units and 200 hotel rooms on the upper floors ... "

[Stern]

Posted on curbed:

The construction site at the NWC of W36St & 5th Ave is housing a "temporary" Bank of America branch that will be up for just 10 days. The reported cost is $2M (the construction mgr told me $1M, but I heard otherwise). Being built by an event company. Will be 1 story and approximate 65 X 70. When I passed yesterday they were tamping down stone dust and had excavated for footings and steel.

$2 million for a temporary bank that will be open for only 10 days. None of this makes any sense.

[antinimby]

I hope that is true about the bank branch only being temporary. Sure want to see that nice Gwathmey-designed tower rise very soon.

Will add some height to an area that needs some more, especially viewing the skyline from either the east or west. Plus this tower's got a nice crown.

[mkeit]

Bank or Restaurant??

They had a full crew working late at night under floodlights. There is a tall scaffold set against the building to the north, holding the hazmat barrels. These are hidden by trees that have been placed in front of them.

[Stern]

Bank or Restaurant??

They had a full crew working late at night under floodlights. There is a tall scaffold set against the building to the north, holding the hazmat barrels. These are hidden by trees that have been placed in front of them.

A restaurant would make alot more sense, I don't like the thought of holding money in a temporary structure, perhaps in what might even be just be a glorified tent.

[scumonkey]

from curbed:
...The story is that Bank of America is planning on giving New Yorkers a very large holiday present this year in the form of a large, VERY large, gift box. A firm specializing in special events is currently working 24 hours a day, seven days a week to construct a huge "gift box" with all the trimmings. In it will be all sorts of special events for New Yorkers to enjoy during the holiday season. The big rush is on to get in completed in time for Black Friday, which a mere 15 days away. Can't wait to see how this one turns out!...

[antinimby]

We've seen this sort of temporary promotional set-up before. In fact, if you all remember just last year, Charmin did something similar (http://wirednewyork.com/forum/showthread.php?p=130928) in Times Square with their free public toilets.

The site developers probably agreed since they weren't going to do anything on this site before then anyway and they'd also make a few extra bucks in the process.

[lofter1]

This idea seems crazy.

How much foot traffic is there on Fifth above 34th?

That stretch of Fifth up to ~ 39th Street has always been pretty dead (comparitively).

Are the marketing brains thinking that folks will say, "Ooh, ooh -- c'mon, let's go over to that new B of A on Fifth" :confused:

[stache]

They have to spend all those service charges on something...

[antinimby]

From racked.com (http://racked.com/archives/2007/11/12/bank_of_america_gift_box_to_lo.php) today:

Renderings Of BofA's "Gift Box" Pop-Up, Revealed!

Monday, November 12, 2007, by Leslie Price

http://racked.com/uploads/2007_11_giftboxrendering.jpg

Whoa—Bank of America wasn't kidding around when they decided to plop a gigantic glass and steel gift box (http://racked.com/archives/2007/11/08/big_gift_box_being_built_in_mi.php) on the corner of 36th Street and Fifth Avenue. Here's a rendering of what the thing will look like when it's completed. For fun, you can compare that with this shot of the site taken today by an obsessed reader.

http://racked.com/uploads/2007_11_giftboxsite.jpg

http://racked.com/uploads/2007_11_boagiftboxinterior.jpg

The gift box will have capacity for up to 300 people and will only be up for 10 days (!) beginning November 23rd. Here are some of the services that will be rendered there free of charge (per press materials):

· Free gift wrapping services

· Free concierge (providing access to the city's hottest tickets, tours and dining experiences)

· Free hot chocolate and coffee

· Free digital greeting cards (for Internet posting and sharing) with accompanying still shots

· Family room styled seating areas (to rest weary bones)

· Children's arts, crafts and play area (to entertain and occupy our little ones)

· Public restrooms, ATM-cash access, banking reps, daily entertainers and more

· Soup kitchen for the homeless

Just kidding about that last one! But there will be some sort of charity give-away for the Make-A-Wish foundation, so it's not solely a giant ad for BofA's BankAmericard.

[Stern]

This is the stupidest gimick I've ever seen......................The tourist will love it!!!!

[antinimby]

What doesn't make sense to me is why only for ten days, meaning it'll be up only until December 3rd and yet the holiday (shopping) season doesn't end for another three weeks until Christmas?

[alonzo-ny]

Maybe construction will get underway then for the tower?

[lofter1]

This is the stupidest gimick I've ever seen......................The tourist will love it!!!!
Stupd? Exactly.

Besides there are only about 10 tourists / hour on that stretch.

[BrooklynRider]

Betcha it becomes a new "bazaar site" following the holiday.

[antinimby]

The finished product (http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2007/11/23/nyregion/11-23BLACKFRIDAY_12.html):

http://graphics8.nytimes.com/packages/images/photo/2007/11/23/11-23BLACKFRIDAY/20867627.JPG

[antinimby]

I bring good news...this project is moving forward! New construction permits (http://a810-bisweb.nyc.gov/bisweb/JobDetailsServlet?requestid=2&allisn=0001444955&allboroughname=&allnumbhous=&allstrt=) have recently been issued.

[investordude]

antinimby, do you know who the hotel operator is? I'm curious how high end the hotel and building will be and the hotel operator might give a clue on that.

[antinimby]

Don't think the hotel operator was ever made known but the last we heard was that one was being selected and that the hotel would be "luxury", if that's any help.

[mkeit]

Red umbrellas, red tote bags and pretty good coffee. Wednesday at 5:30, there was a long line of people getting gifts wrapped.

[BrooklynRider]

This is the stupidest gimick I've ever seen......................The tourist will love it!!!!

Well, you were 100% accurate here.

[Derek2k3]

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2243/2081750752_ae2553f1d4.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id=2081750752&size=l)
robr3004 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/robr3004/)

[antinimby]

Monday's the last day for that oversized gift box. After that, it's 'put on your hard hats' because it'll be tower construction time!

[mkeit]

It is being taken apart. Rather than regular construction union workers, it is done by the Stagehands union.

[tsg03]

Do we know the next step for this project? Anyone know how they got all those Air rights? 577,000 :eek:

[antinimby]

They stole 'em. :eek:

:rolleyes:

[mkeit]

They have stared excavation for the foundation. Pavarini-McGovern is the C/M

[antinimby]

DOB NB permit (http://a810-bisweb.nyc.gov/bisweb/JobsQueryByNumberServlet?requestid=2&passjobnumber=110019266&passdocnumber=01) has been issued. From watching other projects, my guess is that the general timeline should go something like this:

- Excavation to June '08
- Foundation completed December '08
- Topping out September '09
- Completion March 2010

[Skylimitone]

05.17.08

https://community.emporis.com/images/6/2008/05/618121.jpg

[Derek2k3]

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3097/2715408617_63a0274105.jpg
Foundation work continues, I guess. The hole is pretty deep.


http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3267/2715408273_dd283fc6f3_o.jpg
Other than the ESB (which is quite setback from 5th), this will be the avenue's tallest building south of 42nd.
It'll be just taller than 425 Fifth.

[antinimby]

(click on pic for LARGER version)
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3117/2761299569_a9dcf33fff.jpg?v=0 (http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3117/2761299569_a9dcf33fff_b.jpg)
wyliepoon (http://flickr.com/photos/wyliepoon/2761299569/)

[aliendroid]

Nice building! Anything new at this construction site?

[BrooklynRider]

I urge you to be patient. Although I share your excitement over this project, new information is posted to the threads as it is learned. Pictures depend on Forum Members going out and snapping the shots.

Please refrain from bumping threads up. Like you, we all want new info. Seeing this hit the top of thread list would indicate there actually is new info. You can see how it works against us.

New reports will come in - I guarantee it.

Welcome to the forum!:)

[antinimby]

While other sites across the city have slowed down or even stopped altogether, this site is humming with activity...

http://img171.imageshack.us/img171/6728/img0242nb4.jpg

http://img58.imageshack.us/img58/3329/img0243mx3.jpg

[Shadly]

It'll be just taller than 425 Fifth.

The new building and 425 Fifth are classy. 425 has turned my head. There has got to be a nice photo with the two of them in it once it's done.

[lofter1]

The fewer pictures of 425 Fifth the better :cool:

[Antares41]

I like this building, a sigh of relief that it still moving forward.:)

[londonlawyer]

A rendering of 400 5th on Gwatmey-Siegal's website (http://www.gwathmey-siegel.com/portfolio/proj_detail.php?job_id=200604) shows the arches in the beautiful building to the south restored. It would be nice if that happens some time. The owner of this great old structure should be castrated for his desecration of this gem.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1317/874645752_d1a52e16a3_o.jpg

[stache]

I'm not sure how much of the arches are left behind that veneer.

[londonlawyer]

That's sad if they're gone.

There's a beautiful, huge, old office building on Madison in the 30's whose cornice and arches are being restored.