First (But Not Last) Look: 1010 Park Avenue
BY: NIKOLAI FEDAK ON OCTOBER 21ST 2014 AT 7:00 AM
1010 Park Avenue and the Park Avenue Christian Church, image by Keith Goich
Extell’s plans for a new condominium tower at 1010 Park Avenue have already proven controversial, even prior to the project’s scheduled hearing at the L, which is set for today. Now, YIMBY has a rendering of the original design, which is not likely to be used.
1010 Park Avenue, image by Keith Goich
The site is complicated, hence the rendered cantilever — but even that portion of the development is a departure from buildings like 160 East 22nd Street and 217 West 57th Street. Rather than a shallow overhang, 1010 Park Avenue would sheath the neighboring Park Avenue Christian Church within a transparent wall of glass, replacing the original rectory with the new 20-story tower, designed by Keith Goich.
This would allow light to penetrate through to the church, while also integrating the old historic structure within the new condominium tower, to no ill effect. As Landmarks has already determined, the old rectory had no historic merit, and that part of the church has already been approved for demolition.
1010 Park Avenue, image by Keith Goich
Like many new buildings in New York City – especially those prone to community input – 1010 Park Avenue has been the victim of NIMBYism. The design is bold and dramatic for the landmarked Upper East Side, but relatively tame as far as mixing structures goes. The Real Deal covered the Landmarks vote for approval back in April, where a next-door neighbor complained about the new structure because it would ruin his light and, in his words, “markedly reduce the value of my apartment” (perhaps suggesting a solution to New York City’s housing crisis?).
New buildings should not be prone to the whims of selfish property or timid preservationists, and these kinds of petty concerns are partially to blame for New York’s current housing predicament.
Park Avenue Christian Church, via Google Maps
A new design for 1010 Park Avenue is likely to be presented at the LPC today; the project’s bulk will still total approximately 100,000 square feet, which will be divided between roughly 20 residences.
