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

[londonlawyer]

This is the biggest waste ive seen ever. this block could hold a 1.5 million sf hotel or office tower, not we will get nothing of importance. The DOB should be ashamed of themself on this one

I agree. Given the office and hotel crunch, the city should use eminent domain. This block is disgusting, and it will probably never be redeveloped. If the south end of the block is redeveloped, the tower that's built will likely have a 40 story blank, north wall and will look absurd.

[pianoman11686]

Eminent domain? Why take away people's homes and businesses when you can solve the problem by increasing the zoning envelope?

You allow a larger building to be built there, and guaranteed a developer will come along, pay everyone more than what their property's worth, and put up a skyscraper. In fact, it's happening across the street.

[londonlawyer]

Eminent domain? Why take away people's homes and businesses when you can solve the problem by increasing the zoning envelope?

You allow a larger building to be built there, and guaranteed a developer will come along, pay everyone more than what their property's worth, and put up a skyscraper. In fact, it's happening across the street.

I think that increasing permissible FAR is essential, but I also support wider use of eminent domain.

[lofter1]

Given the activity / new construction in the area of 785 you (or anyone else) would be hard pressed to show the requisite "urban blight" which would allow eminent domain to be used in order to claim private property.

[kliq6]

To be honest, i think most of the blocks from 42nd to 47th on eighth ave should be taken with eminent domain and development rights sold off, thus a win win for the state. That whole area is a mess and need to be turned over, as those blocks offer some of the best development areas in the city with a subway line serving them and close to the PA

[lofter1]

Why do that ^^^ ? Development is happening on it's own and at a fairly fast clip. It's not like you would want 10+ building sites within blocks of each other to all be going up at once.

This is a working neighborhood and needs to continue to operate as it develops.

[Fabrizio]

6th Ave from 42nd to the upper 50's was in the same condition 50 years ago: an important midtown avenue lined with tenements and dumpy businesses with the only bright spot being Rockefeller Center. With time it was completely built over. Today we could learn from the mistakes made there.

8th needs a plan. I just don't see the benefit of a sliver building on this block.

[kliq6]

We are short 20-30 million sf of office space that we will need to compete with the rest of the US. Midtown is basically tapped out for sites that can hold 1 million plus sf buildings, Hudson Yards is years off and after WTC there is nothing left to build in Lower Manhattan, Eighth gives us the best options for quick fast construction.

[Peteynyc1]

Please please dont turn this area into another 6th ave. I will take colorful video porn stores, bars, restaurants, gift shops etc over stale banks anyday.

[kliq6]

Please please dont turn this area into another 6th ave. I will take colorful video porn stores, bars, restaurants, gift shops etc over stale banks anyday.

Thats plan stupid, porn shops of productive revenue producing office space, only in NY

[pianoman11686]

I think that increasing permissible FAR is essential, but I also support wider use of eminent domain.

I'd try to avoid eminent domain at all costs. It's proven to be all too often just a way for bureaucrats to extend favors to businessmen, and the people caught in the middle lose out. Meanwhile, you're also raising costs for the city, diverting tax revenue away from better investments.

In my view, it's all about lining up the incentives. If you do something to increase the potential value of land (like increasing FAR restrictions or addressing other zoning requirements), you'll have more than enough developers interested in assembling a large site. Like kliq said, 8th is one of the last prime areas for new office space, given its location and transportation.

Start by upzoning certain parcels. The small guys will eventually get bought out with offers they can't refuse, and the junk will start to disappear en masse. No real cost to the city, which profits by getting all that new, expensive office space it can tax. Everyone wins.

[Fabrizio]

Start first of all in deciding what 8th avenue should be.

That should have been done years ago. It might "be one of the last prime areas for new office space" but it also separates Hell's Kitchen (with it's own history and charm) with the Theatre District. What a waste if it develops into just another standard-issue corporate canyon.

8th has the potential to be something special. It should not develop in a haphazard chock-a-block way. But that's what's happening.

[kliq6]

Eighth should act as Third, ave, a abrupt stop to the business district of Midtown to the residential district of hells kitchen ( im a native nyer, i refuse to call it Clinton)

[Fabrizio]

And you've seen how charming 3rd is becoming.

[ASchwarz]

And you've seen how charming 3rd is becoming.

Right, because Midtown, the world's largest business district, is supposed to be charming.

Unbeliveable.