740 Eighth Ave. (@ 46th) - Related

[lofter1]

This red one on the corner was being encased with scaffolding today.

It could be a goner by the end of the month ...

[spatulashack]

Ugh I live literally right across the street from this mess and it makes me very sad. There are so many other stretches of 8th Avenue with buildings in far worse shape that could have been cleared to make way for whatever hideous and boring tower this will be. The only reason all of this doesn't fill me with rage is because 8th Avenue is a horrible tourist trap of crappy stores and restaurants that no New Yorker would ever step foot in. If any of this madness was happening on beautiful and bustling 9th Avenue, I would be crying myself to sleep. 9th Avenue is part of the much stricter Hell's Kitchen zoning laws right? To me 9th Avenue is a perfect mix of everything and encompasses what I love about New York. It has mom and pop stores next to trendy bars, dive bars next to gay clubs, porn stores across from expensive residential buildings, and greasy and cheap chinese restaurants next to expensive french restaurants. It's as if everyone is living in perfect harmony. There is something for anyone and everyone. Mind you, in 10 years 9th Avenue could become like Chelsea is today but as of now, it's perfect.

[lofter1]

Ninth Avenue is somewhat protected -- not as an Historic District but by low-height zoning.

[LeCom]

At least the tower will block out Marriot Marquis' butt-ugly back side.

[lofter1]

That's what I love about NYers ^

We can always find the bright side

[antinimby]

There are so many other stretches of 8th Avenue with buildings in far worse shape that could have been cleared to make way for whatever hideous and boring tower this will be.

Also don't forget their tendency to sport banks and pharmacies on their ground floors.

It isn't enough for them to be ugly and boring up top but they've also got to kill off whatever street vibe there used to be, too.

[Fabrizio]

That parking lot shown above has been there forever. Believe it or not, it was used as a set for a musical number with Michael Jackson in the movie "The Wiz".

They shipped in all sorts of junk and closed it off. It wasn't as big as it is now, there were other buildings... it was all very run-down.

(I tried to join in, but the cops were so mean)

http://youtube.com/watch?v=11-sI8f2rXE


----

[ablarc]

Ninth Avenue is somewhat protected -- not as an Historic District but by low-height zoning.

Will that prevent assembly of say half a block --or a whole-- for a groundscraper?

Wouldn't that do more harm than a demure-footprint miniature skyscraper like the Cooper Square Hotel?

Why does zoning not limit a development's footprint in a sensitive place like Ninth Avenue?

If they can limit height, they can limit footprint.

Limit development to the assembly of no more than two adjacent parcels.

[lofter1]

Not sure if there are any limitations on footprint ^

If anyone would be kind enough to slog through the NYC Zoning Resolution (www.nyc.gov > City Planning) and then report the findings here it would be greatly appreciated

[spatulashack]

Also don't forget their tendency to sport banks and pharmacies on their ground floors.

It isn't enough for them to be ugly and boring up top but they've also got to kill off whatever street vibe there used to be, too.

This is quite true although I will say that if the, "street vibe" on that stretch of 8th Avenue was killed off, it wouldn't be too big of a loss. The sleazy and edgy vibe (which was at least interesting) left long ago and was replaced by simple overpriced trashy bars that screw over tourists who have no idea that if they walk one avenue over, they'll get a true slice of New York for a better price. However, I will say that what's happening in Chelsea on 8th Avenue is sad. If ONE more bank opens in that gayborhood I swear I'll flip out.

[Stroika]

^^ Given that those soul-strangling corner ATM huts are nothing but high-priced advertisements, would there be fewer of them if there was laxer regulations on billboards? I'd much rather see a big Chase billboard on every 3rd building, perhaps with an ATM tucked into the wall beneath it, than have every 3rd corner occupied by a Chase store.

I can't believe this method of having thousands of "branches" is economically feasible, though. Like 8 years of housing inflation, I imagine the banks will at some point see their profits plateau and drastically curtail the number of corner ATM stations.

[lofter1]

Destructoporn: Digging a Hole for 740 Eighth Avenue

... the red-brick hotel at the southeast corner of Eighth Avenue and West 46th Street
will be coming down as well. That old place was once the Hotel Fulton, where rooms
could be had for as little as 60 cents a night.

The old Hotel Fulton entombed ...













740 8th

[Tectonic]

They destroy these buildings so fast, it will be gone soon.

[Derek2k3]

They better not be demolishing these buildings just to remove controversy.

I hope they are planning to start construction right away and not going to leave us with an empty site or a hole in the ground for months.

[lofter1]

There will be a hole in the ground for at least one year -- it takes that long, if not longer, to dig a foundation and get it ready for a building to rise.