785 Eighth Avenue - 40-story Condo - Theater District - by Ismael Leyva Architects

[antinimby]

Save the smart one liners, Fabrizio. Good way to deflect from the fact that you still have yet to make a good point against slivers other than they make a place look third world, which is debatable even in itself.

Common sense tells you that if a developer is not forced to build wide, there would be less need to raze as many properties.

This very development here, 785 Eighth is a very good case in point. Instead of razing all the adjacent lowrises, only one was razed.

If there was a sliver ban here, half the block would have been gone and replaced by a dumb base with a gym and a bank branch.

[Fabrizio]

Antinimby: you made the following claims:

"Well, nowadays (in part due to the sliver ban on the UES?) that church wouldn't even be there because it would get razed along with the rest of the block for a dumb tower with an overgrown base."

You then claim that the plots at 74th & 2nd and the plots at E.86th street were assembled because the builders could not build "The Sliver Way".

You can't just make such claims on this forum and not back it up.

My comments about 211 Madison are about asthetics... and that IS debatable...asthetics are a matter of opinion.

Yours are not.

[antinimby]

Fabrizio, your whole argument is based on whether my example was or was not a result of the ban of slivers but I'm telling you that is irrelevant.

What is relevant is that the sliver ban essentially produces the same effect as those examples I used.

There is no way you or anyone can prove otherwise. Logic just tells you that if you are not allowed to build on a small footprint, then you are going to have to build on a larger footprint.

And how do assemble a large footprint? Raze more properties.

How's this in any way working to save brownstones, the original intention of the ban, as you claimed?

[Fabrizio]

Whew.

Ok. You win.

74th & 2nd and the plots at E.86th street were assembled because the builders could not build "The Sliver Way".

You heard it here folks.

[stache]

I think it depends on the building, weather a particular sliver looks third world or not.

[ZippyTheChimp]

Real estate is complex, but I think a big reason a developer puts up a sliver is because he can't get his hands on adjoining property.

Residential buildings are subject to the same construction rules: it costs more to build higher.

[Fabrizio]

It's just gruesome. What WILL be the future of the other plots on that block? Would law allow you to build another one right next door?

Man look at that rendering. I see rickshaws and street vendors selling noodles.

[Citytect]

It's an ugly design. That bothers me. The fact that it's a sliver building doesn't.

[pianoman11686]

A citywide ban on any one type of building is just stupid.

I see rickshaws and street vendors selling noodles.

Haha, all those bus tourists have to eat something, don't they?

[ablarc]

I'm with antinimby. Bring on the slivers.

More variety, less demolitions, better proportions, smaller footprints, better scale.

[lofter1]

Would law allow you to build another one right next door?

They can't build one right next door -- this one got the air rights from the lots to the south and west -- and the building on the corner lot to the north will be hard pressed to grab enough air rights to go very high at all.

But the lot 25' to the south could go up just as high ...

[lofter1]

Bring on the slivers.

... better proportions ...

Can't agree with you on that point.

[BrooklynRider]

This will be one to watch when a Category 3 or 4 hurricane hits Manhattan.

[kliq6]

It's just gruesome. What WILL be the future of the other plots on that block? Would law allow you to build another one right next door?

Man look at that rendering. I see rickshaws and street vendors selling noodles.

It screws up the whole lot, youll get nothing good for this site. I cant believe they would approve this when that lot in that area should have a full block development. Boston Properties are trying to buy air rights from that bloack already to build there office tower on 45th street

[MidtownGuy]

I'm with antinimby. Bring on the slivers.

More variety, less demolitions, better proportions, smaller footprints, better scale.

And I concur!
Why is "full block development" always a good thing? The neighborhood is actually better with less of that. Unless you're in real estate.