Sam Chang / McSam Hotels

[sfenn1117]

6/30

Finishing up 305


Starting to add bricks to the triplet hotels.




I didn't even want to walk around the other block to see the hotels on west 40th.

[lofter1]

McSam's new hotel project with demolition at 585 Eighth (aka 306 W. 39th) COLLAPSED during construction on the morning of Friday 6.30.oy, injuring workers there ...

WNBC



Midtown Chimney Collapses

Vivian Lee Reports

The chimney of a midtown building collapses resulting in minor injuries ...

From CURBED:

HELL'S KITCHEN—Finally, comes this news of a partial building collapse from the west '30s: "check out 2-sty renovation mid block west side of 8th ave bet w 38 and w39. chimney collapsed on workers after they took supports out. 8th ave roped off"
[CurbedWire Inbox]

[lofter1]

Will Sam Chang and his McSam gang beat out Scarano for the most STOP WORK ORDERS from DOB?

Another one for Chang at 585 Eighth ...

STOP WORK ORDER EXISTS ON THIS PROPERTY

DEBRIS / BUILDING - FALLING OR IN DANGER OF FALLING

UNSAFE DEMOLITION OPERATIONS IN PROCESS, MISSING GUARDRAILS, CHIMNEY COLLAPSED

[ablarc]

They should grow ivy on those flanking walls.

[lofter1]

But wouldn't that ^^^ get in the way of the garbage containers they'll be stacking along there

[BrooklynRider]

Considering the Gene Kaufman aesthetic, plastic ivy affixed to disheveled lattice work coated with peeling white paint would be very apropos.

[ablarc]

^ Low maintenance.

[lofter1]

The red thing at the right (it appears to be a generator of sorts) is permanently affixed out front -- they're erecting a steel frame for a little "fence" around it (more ivy on that, too?).

On the other side of the entry structure is a steep stairway that is cut into the concrete of the entry "plaza". Perhaps that will get its own little pergola (and we can ivy that, as well ).

Often these Poon / Kaufman sliver hotels have ground-level windows on either side of the entry way looking out to the plaza-ette and the street beyond. But here Poon gives us blank walls.

That is going to be one dreary little lobby in there .

[ablarc]

That is going to be one dreary little lobby in there .

Solution to that is plenty of fluorescent lights.

[lofter1]

^^^ my eyes is screamin'

[kitten]

Chang is also planning to build a hotel on the corner of Rector and Washington streets, where there is currently an empty parking deck...

[lofter1]

The Kaufman / Chang mess at 119 W 28th is nearly ready for unsuspecting tourists ...

As you approach from Sixth Avenue along W. 28th the flower district is trying to hold on ...



But Mr. Kaufman seems to think the guests need a slap in the face ...



Just think how crappy that facade will look after a NYC takes a swipe at it ...

[stache]

Well at least he pushed something out to the streetwall -

[lofter1]

And did so using a surface material that no self-respecting tagger / scratcher will be able to avoid

[NYCDOC]

I can't keep coming to this site everyday and look at these pictures and just sit by and not do anything. So I put together a letter that I think if there is enough support for on this site that I would like to send to each company listed on the chart on the preceding page that is working with the McSam Group. If these companies are discouraged from working with McSam because they first realize that what is happening is unacceptable, but also that a negative public image will be created for them by the efforts of the members of this community who are tired of this nonsense then I think maybe we will have made some contribution to making New York a better place.

So like I said, I put together this draft on behalf of the wirednewyork community. First please let me know if this is something that would be acceptable to send out using the wirednewyork name and please make all corrections/modifications that you can think of.

Dear Sir or Madam,

We are contacting you on behalf of a large number of members at the WiredNewYork.Com community. This group is comprised of people from around the world that are enthusiastic about architecture, real estate, and the preservation of the vitality of New York’s streetscape. In total, the WiredNewYork.Com community currently consists of over 10,000 registered members and about 900 active members.

It has come to our attention that your company is presently working with the McSam Hotel Group in the development of a new hotel at st in Manhattan. Unfortunately, the McSam Hotel Group has repeatedly shown an utter disregard for the New York community by developing buildings which exhibit no regard for the setting in which they are developed. They are of the lowest form of architectural design, employ the lowest grade of construction materials, and often are constructed in a manner that leads to unsafe conditions and ultimately citations by the New York Buildings Department. Although many members of the WiredNewYork.Com community are professional architects and involved in real estate and development, it does not take an the eye of an expert to be offended by the products of McSam’s work.

For the McSam Hotel Group’s buildings to scar the streets of New York is unacceptable. In working with the McSam Hotel Group to develop sites for your hotels in New York, your company is allowing this destruction of New York’s streetscape to occur. As such, we ask that you stop providing a market for the McSam hotels and work with developers who are able to integrate the capacity to create buildings that are suitable to your company’s needs while being respectful of the environment in which they are built.

It is this environment that so many of us care deeply about and for which we are prepared to work to ensure that it is not further damaged by making the broader public aware of your company’s involvement in the destruction of the New York streetscape. We hope that this will not be the case and that you can work with us to continue to develop the streets of New York with the vibrancy for which they have been known for centuries. After all, it is this energy and beauty that draws most of your customers to stay in your hotels in New York.

We invite you to visit the WiredNewYork.Com website and review some of the members’ commentaries on the McSam Hotel Group and we especially look forward to hearing your thoughts and plans going forward.

Sincerely,

The WiredNewYork.Com community