By Gus Saltonstall
The first major development in the future of the former ABC 7 campus on the Upper West Side came last Friday, when Extell Development submitted plans to the city for a permit to put up a 25-story building at 37 West 66th Street, Department of Buildings records show.
The address is part of the former ABC 7 campus that covers the square block of West 66th to 67th streets, between Columbus and Central Park West. In recent months, demolition work has taken place to clear the site and make way for new development.
Extell Development bought the site in 2022 for around $930 million.
The plans filed on Friday propose a 25-story mixed-use building that would be 355-feet tall, with 384,962 square feet for residential space and 192,481 square feet for commercial space.
The new Upper West Side building would have 58 units, which as outlined by New York YIMBY, indicates condos based on the average of 1,218 square feet per unit, according to the permit request.
Much has been made in recent months about a project the size of the Empire State building getting constructed at this former ABC 7 site. This 25-story building does not appear to be that.
Extell Development and its chairman Gary Barnett have never stated the specific number of buildings they plan to construct on this site. In May of this year, Barnett went in front of the Upper West Side Community Board 7 and expressed his openness to constructing two buildings within the site that would include some affordable housing, and would be separate from a luxury, residential high-rise that would also be built.
Due to the current zoning regulations that cover the former ABC site, Extell is not required to build affordable housing or present its plans to the city, because the site was previously cut out of a nearby Upper West Side Historic District and the Lincoln Square Special District.
From the permit filed on Friday, it’s not clear whether this 25-story building will include any affordable housing, though the planned size of units indicates a condominium building.
Extell Development did not return West Side Rag’s request for comment.
“A lack of information,” Upper West Side New York City Councilmember Gale Brewer told the Rag when asked about the new building permit. “Information on this has not been shared and it should have been.”
The Rag will update this story if we learn more.
Subscribe to West Side Rag’s FREE email newsletter here. And you can Support the Rag here.
Based on the presentation, the special zoning district seems to bifurcate at least one building (and lots) currently on the site.
I feel like this special zoning district (which was intended for commercial use, not residential) needs to be examined a bit more to clarify what’s permitted. If Extel is permitted to build, so be it — but they seem to also be asking for exceptions when it doesn’t suit them.
They (and the City) need to decide if they are going to have their cake or eat it. Can’t be both though.
When they first starting building the monstrosity on the south side of 66th St didn’t they also say that would be around 28 stories tall?
so sad 🙁
As was once said about Gary Barnett “he builds the ugliest buildings in NYC”
Great news! Need about 10,000 more buildings like this.
Simply doing the math of what Extell paid for the site tells you that the second tower will need to be the size of the Empire State Building for them to make it work financially. The 58 units in the 25-story building would never cover the cost of even the land!
The plan is for 2 super tall’s on this site not including the one already built
Could the Rag do a piece explaining what power or authority our city council members or any electeds for that matter have with respect to what gets built? They seem to cry for affordable housing and make this their platform when running, but then when the buildings go up, it often seems like it’s beyond their control. I’m starting to get bored with the housing problem that never gets solved? It can’t just be condos, luxury rentals, or homeless shelters. Where does the buck stop? Or are we expecting Developers to do the right thing out of altruism?
The article states that Extell bought the site for $930M. Obviously, they need to charge a lot for the apartments to recoup this $930M.
Excel paid so much for this site because there is a very limited amount of space to build on the UWS. However, it doesn’t have to be this way. The UWS is full of old, run down buildings that should have been torn down decades ago and replaced with modern and efficient buildings that can accommodate more tenants. This would obviously increase supply and decrease costs (whether to purchase or rent).
Unfortunately, most of these old buildings are rent regulated and they can’t be torn down because the tenants are not allowed to be removed.
So the root of this affordable housing crisis lies in rent regulation. This is something all of our elected officials are in favor of.
Other problem is infrastructure its older then the buildings
If developers cannot charge market rent for lower-rent apartments, why would they build such apartments?
No builder is going to build Lower cost housing now that they won’t won’t be able to charge market rent
Seems like a reasonably sized building.
Oh no! Must it be so tall? I’m crying!
Tall buildings?! In Manhattan?! Oh the horror!!
Don’t be fooled. Barnett and Extell are the biggest liars in the world. Always have been.
This 25-story building is essentially a “sop” – for now. The other building will definitely be a “super tall” of the type he has built on 57th Street.
And “affordable” units? That’ also laughable. “Affordable” for whom? I guarantee that not one person who truly needs “affordable” housing will be be able to afford it.
This is all just more of Barnett/Extell’s lies, obfuscations and spin. If you believe any of it, I have a few bridges to sell you.
Your story says: “a 25-story mixed-use building that would be 355-feet tall, with 384,962 square feet for residential space and 192,481 square feet for commercial space…. the building would have 58 units,,….”
The YIMBY article says: ” The proposed 355-foot-tall development will yield 384,962 square feet, with 192,481 square feet designated for residential space and 192,481 square feet for commercial space. The building will have 158 residences, most likely condos based on the average unit scope of 1,218 square feet.
So, which is it? Numbers matter. when trying to understand how much will be “private” and how much commercial space.
Yes,Im interested in the. Building for casted on 66 and 67th Westside handicap accessible and senior along with supporting RAgs newsletter
Making the human-scaled UWS into Hudson Yards and no one seems to care. Ah me.
As usual, CB 7 is AWOL.
I live in the neighborhood and notice a strong metallic smell coming from the demolition. Is anyone monitoring the air quality coming from this site for asbestos or lead?