The three-story building at 2251 Broadway on the Southwest corner of 81st street will be replaced by an 18-story condominium, according to a permit application filed with the Buildings Department.
The building, developed by Alchemy Properties and the Carlyle Group will have 32 condo units and retail spaces on the first and cellar floors, according to The Real Deal. It’s also expected to have a roof deck.
Alchemy is known for transforming the top 30 floors of the Woolworth building into condos.
We broke the news last year that the building was set to be demolished.
AND THE GREED GOES ON
I agree! People who are transplants have no freakin’ clue!!!
How is this interpreted as ‘greed’.
News Flash! People who hold income-producing assets act rationally by using them to produce income.
Oh wow luxury condos and a big chain retailer. Hooray!
I almost got an apartment in that building. I saw the low building and knew that one day, it would be sold for the air rights. That would make my nice view disappear. Those poor people are about to see their nice view become a view of their neighbors.
I don’t feel bad for anyone who moves into a building knowing that someday another building might be built next door.
If you want to protect your view, move next to a cemetery.
Not to be picky –
but it’s a three (3) story building, not two.
I have to laugh at this situation. Last year I made this comment and surprise we now have grand juries. looking into the Unions, the mayor & co and their real estate buddies. You should think and checkout very carefully who you elect, not just what they say check their actual record.
https://www.westsiderag.com/2015/07/28/old-essentials-building-could-be-torn-down-sources-say
robert says: July 31, 2015 at 12:17 pm
CB are advisory, pb has not bearing on this at all.
These are mostly “as of right” buildings and there is no way to stop them.
Developers have long ago figured out that you buy the building on mon and get your permits approve tues. (Just an example) so there are no useless UWS nimby lawsuits, that although cost time and money get tossed out by Judges do to the building being as of right.
Also take a look at the NYC Campaign Finance Boards website to see were elcteds get their $$$. Considering how much NYC politicians like to yelp about developers when they are on the UWS, they sure like their $$$ in their campaign accts. Keep in mind that the construction industry in NYC employs tens of thousands of lower and middle class UNION workers.
robert says: July 29, 2015 at 11:30 am
Did a bit of digging and came up with some info which make some think that there will most certainly be an “as of right” building going up on the site. That means no amount of UWS NIMBYism will stop it.
On 02/25/15 the following was done: APPLICATION FILED FOR TAX LOT SUBDIVISION. TAX LOT 57 ON BLOCK 1228 IS BEING SUBDIVIDED TO CREATE TAX LOTS 57 AND AIR RIGHTS PARCEL 9057.
This means that the air rights for the part of the building that would be right up against the already existing building on WEA with windows on the B’way side can be tfr.
They would not have done that without a plan already in place. No developer planning work on the UWS is going to cfm anything until they have there permits, and they are perfectly within their rights to do so.
18 floors and only 32 condos. Probably will have zero full-time inhabitants.
The adjacent building is a nice rental. The rents in the apartments that are now going to be facing a construction site for a few years followed by facing a brick wall for eternity likely just dropped a lot. I’m sure Zabar’s is not happy about an extended period of major construction next door either.
I would keep an eye on the Zabars block. As the new building goes up on the lot on the southeast corner of 80th & B’way. Zabars owned that site and the one just south on it. They said they would never, ever sell, along came the right amount of $$$$ and they sold. I could see them moving into that new building even just temperalay. That would allow them to cut a deal with a developer for there current site. The deal would have the current store buildings demolished and an high-rise going up in there place. Zabars would then have a brand new state of the art store in the ground floors.
Just something to think about over the next couple of years.
Rob , , , you got it right last year. Good Call.
The current clowns running City Hall, have only made things easier for developers to build so fast. Lot of shady things going on . Payouts, kick-backs, favors , , , two buildings get erected within feet from the Firehouse on West 77 street. All that noise banging in close proximity to these Fireman who try to get some Zzzzzzzzs – I would love to know how the developer is ‘taking care’ of this firehouse. Shhhhhhhhh!
With regards to 80th & B’way, Saul & Stan, along with the Larry (Friedland) came for a tour of the project. Supposedly they don’t plan on building on 79 Street , , , yet. But you might be on to something.
This is exactly the type of location where density should be added. If you want to keep prices in check you need to add housing to keep up with demand. A 3 story building on this corner doesn’t make sense.
One of my favorite corners, now to get filled up by “quality of life” complainers and more corporate people to crowd out kids from the local public schools. Remember when that was Shakespeare books? I miss the 80’s.
How is that greed? More supply leads to lower housing costs, more real estate taxes collected for the city to pay for services, etc. Just smart business.
More supply leads to lower housing costs?! You have got to be kidding. Housing units are being built at such a pace in NYC that the DOB can’t keep up and housing costs are sky rocketing. Housing is not being built for working class or even middle class humans. This “housing” is being built to provide safe places for money to be parked…18 stories and only 32 condos. No affirdable housing there…unless you mean affordable for billionaires.
Money parked? More like money laundered. It’s happening all over Manhattan with these high-rise Condos. Check out who is buying all of these condos.
https://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/08/nyregion/the-hidden-money-buying-up-new-york-real-estate.html
https://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/14/us/us-will-track-secret-buyers-of-luxury-real-estate.html?_r=0
yes to new development!
Nice news for the neighborhood – looking forward to seeing what the new building looks like. Hopefully it will have more pizazz (or charm) than the one going up across the street. Can’t wait until Shakespeare & Co. moves back into the retail space!
Good for the local and regional economy. Jobs for many who will be in the construction and move-in phases. Additional customers for local restaurants, grocery stores and service businesses afterwards.
This “air rights” crap has got to stop. The limit for the site is 12 stories, period. No more swapping additional height from adjacent lots. It should be, “you can go up to 12 stories on lots adjacent Broadway. Have we not learned anything from the twin monstrosities on 100th st? (You can see them from LaGuardia … and even from that far away they still look awful)
Nice to see some development come to the Upper West Side. The area has been so stagnant while the rest of the city booms with interesting new buildings, restaurants etc. Most of the new buildings going up on the UWS have been pretty nice looking and replaced a lot of the ugly eyesores that some people seem to think are nice just because they are old. The only negative I have seen is when the nice new buildings lease retail spaces to banks, drug stores and sleepys. That totally detracts from the streetscape and the overall look of the building.
Those old buildings can also be hazards to tenants and surrounding community. Here’s a long list:
*Poorly constructed
*Renovated illegally and below standard
*Non compliance with modern building codes and ADA needs
*Not fireproof
*Not earthquake resistant
*Sagging floors and deteriorating structure
*Deteriorating facades
*Deteriorating interior walls and finishes
*Sinking foundations
*Shared structural walls with adjoining properties
*Old utilities and services
*May contain lead and asbestos and other environmental hazards
*Vermin infested (mice, rats, roaches, bed bugs, spiders etc.)
*High energy users
*Poorly insulated
*Kitchens and bathrooms out of date
*Inefficient and out of date interior layouts
*In the winter old facades can accumulate ice and snow requiring emergency response
Many of the old buildings are not suited for modern residential uses, appliances and furniture. Buying new furnishings can be difficult to deliver. Retrofitting building can also be difficult with existing tenants. Many landlords will not spend the money unless forced to do so. This is also true for some of the more contemporary buildings.
Recent fires in old buildings have required massive responses by emergency personnel. Displacing residents and businesses for days or even permanently. Environmental costs such as air pollution and large amounts of water were needed to put out a fire.
Constructing new buildings is smart and desirable. New structures can be trimmed and facades aged to satisfy landmarking and lessen visual impact on surroundings.
You are 100% correct.
Many of these old buildings are decrepit, rundown and ugly because they are stuffed with rent-regulated tenants. The landlords who own these buildings either can’t collect the money to properly maintain them or they have no economic incentive to properly maintain them.
Most of these buildings should have been torn down years ago and replaced with safer buildings that could house more people efficiently.
However, they can’t be torn down because it is next to impossible to evict rent regulated tenants.
TPTB (The Powers That Be) really need to get the ball rolling with a timeline for an upgrade at the 79th Street subway station. Exits are stretched beyond capacity now and there should be a timeline for compliance with the ADA. The law’s more than 25 years old – if it were a person, it would be voting and could have served in the US military. Will be more and more essential as we welcome seniors ageing in place and open up these large new residential developments.
Why would they want to upgrade subway stations. They are cutting subway service and they can’t keep the stations we have clean.
The folks who move into these new buildings do not use the subway and any kids would not be caught dead in the NYC public schools. The next thing that needs to be addressed is the run-down Riverside Hotel down alongside Riverside Drive. Check out the videos on YouTube that feature that scary place.
I am beyond concerned about the lack of infrastructure regarding this building and the new one going up on the corner of Broadway and 80th. The lack of grocery stores is already tragic. I cannot imagine the impact this will have in the neighbohood. Of course the 79th St, subway stop is already a joke. I realize these are done deals, but if there were something to do about installing an appropriate grocery venue would relieve worries of current residents.
I live two short blocks away and am not concerned in the least about grocery access. I can go to Fairway, Citarella, Westside Market, Trader Joe’s in under 4-8 minutes and to two different Whole Foods in 15 minutes. I can also go online to Fresh Direct and Amazon Pantry and have anything I need/want delivered. There are also bodegas even closer for when I must have Ben and Jerry’s in a minute. I do wish some of these development projects would include additional subway entrances/exits as right now 79th is too crowded at peak hours to be efficient
18 stories; 32 condos? that’s maybe 2 or less apartments per floor. When there’s an affordable housing shortage? Who is going to be able to afford to live there? Do they get garage space too?