Fordham has been constructing a new law school and dormitory on 62nd street between Amsterdam Avenue and Columbus, and the exterior is now complete. The new building, which is scheduled to open to students in Fall 2014, is located just across from Lincoln Center and its sweeping off-white design complements the look of the performing arts center.
The law school is on the first nine floors of the building, and the rest will be used as a dorm for up to 430 students, according to Gotham Construction. Fordham says its campus (between 60th and 62nd, from Amsterdam to Columbus) now squeezes 8,000 students into a set of buildings meant for 3,500.
A private development is going up next to the school. After buying land from Fordham, real estate company Glenwood is building an apartment tower adjacent to the school along Amsterdam Avenue. The building at 160 West 62nd street is expected to rise to 54 stories and include 339 rental apartments. Two-bedrooms will reportedly be priced at about $10,000 a month when they start leasing next year.
The tower, which looms over Amsterdam Avenue, has continued to progress since we took the photos below a couple of weeks ago. For those worried about overcrowding in the neighborhood (this area already has the highest electricity use in the entire city and overcrowded schools), this will add quite a bit of density. And Glenwood will soon build another large apartment tower on 60th.
Residents at a nearby condo sued the school to stop construction of the towers, but lost.
Fordham will continue to expand and modernize its campus, but the timeline for it is still unclear. One site plan shows new 27 and 33-story buildings on Columbus. Eventually, Fordham will also add public space, spokesman Bob Howe told us.
“The later phase of development includes the use of the Columbus Avenue frontage along the sidewalk as publicly accessible open space with a park-like environment and food service kiosk where the existing surface parking is now located (this will be developed within three years of the opening of the new Law School). Ultimately, the existing Law School Building (the building at 140 W. 62nd Street) would be demolished as well. In the interim, this space will remain in place until the end of phase II as swing space for all the program relocations as needed during construction.”
Below, check out the Fordham site plan and some more photos.
The Glenwood tower, seen from the North on Amsterdam.
Yup, definitely narrow Amsterdam with a bike lane.
(“…the tower…looms over Amsterdam Avenue…for those worried about overcrowding in the neighborhood [this area already has the highest electricity use in the entire city and overcrowded schools], this will add quite a bit of density. And Glenwood will soon build another large apartment tower on 60th…”)
What disgusting example of overcrowding in a limited space. Fordham is destroying its campus. It will be way too dense and ugly. Why would they want rental units in their campus?
PS. Good luck getting $10,000 a month for a 2 BR on Amsterdam opposite a dangerous little ghetto.
If you are referring to Amsterdam Houses, this is not a dangerous ghetto. I walk through its tree-covered allees all the time, including late at night. It’s a safe and attractive complex that adds more to our neighborhoods than this looming luxury rental will.
2 bedrooms for $10,000 – Please explain how and why someone would pay that ??
Every time a school like Fordam, Columbia or NYU builds another massive building or takes over another block that is another property off the tax rolls! When are NYers going to wake up to the fact that millions of dollars are being list from the tax base throughh non profit tax breaks and other benefits non profits receive. Combine that with the tax breaks granted to developers and we can see what middle class and working class residents are being priced out of the market. Someone has to pay the property taxes!
It’s outrageous that NYC, in catering to the financial interests of developers, lacks regulations entitling residents to light and air. Fordham’s avariciousness brings us back to the days of tenements where many people’s views consisted of air shafts. Hopefully, the new mayor will consider the interests of residents and encourage the enactment of light easements.
Nana said:
“PS. Good luck getting $10,000 a month for a 2 BR on Amsterdam opposite a dangerous little ghetto.”
I assume you are speaking about Amsterdam Houses? this is the sort of ignorant, (not very veiled) racist, and classist remark that appears in the comments section of this sight all too often. very offensive. go talk to the thousands of people who live there and see if they consider it “a dangerous little ghetto.”
Bruce, here you are! always the champion of the left!
You are the own who plays the race card on this site (not sight).
How come you never have a comment when a crime is reported here? oh yea… we know….
your friend Westsider – not the author of this blog , but your neighbor….
Regarding some of the recent comments on the Rag – the tone is getting too contentious. Disgree, sure – but personal callouts do nothing for me. I feel this new construction is as cold as digits and I cannot imagine familes putting down roots here. And roots are what defines a neighborhood. That’s how I feel and I welcome those who feel differently, but not via Rush Limbaughish personal attacks.
Anyone notice that Bruce Ratner has not yet broken ground on all the affordable housing he promised brooklyn as a pre-condition for being given a sweetheart land deal for Barclays Center?