In a delicate foundation condition such as this site, it is best to use a ‘pile drillng/boring’ method as opposed to a ‘pile driving’ method. That is my layman’s general understand from a brief review on line and looking at this type of illustration showing the options for this foundation. My guess is they did do the ‘drilling’ option - but still ran into problems with undermining the neighboring buildings.
Bored piles in general are more frequently used in NYC than driven piles. Driven piles are never used in tight quarters because of the vibrations they cause and are more used in open lot scenarios.
I see then, the better method was used. I wonder if the site foundation could have been done without causing damage to the neighboring buildings. The NIMBY opposition wanted this building preserved for it’s ‘historic’ significance.
If this building next door can not be restored, and this stop work order results in more years of delay: this will be a very unfortunate turn of events. It has already been years since the first stages of this project: way too long already IMHO.
If this boondoggle was somehow foreseeable: the NIMBY route would have been the better choice. This will be one to watch.
When this project was proposed to the Landmark Preservation Committee; I guess the natural response was “ I can’t say no”. Celeste Holm was one of the former (and famous) residents at 14 Fifth Avenue.
Celeste Holm musical Oklahoma “I Cain’t Say No,”
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This area is really beautiful. I think that there will be potent demand for this building.
This view/daylight will be compromised when this building is finished. I am wondering if this project will be going forward as planned: asking for a friend… 
I think it is going forward - there as a lot of activity today. What exactly was the problem with the foundation work? I think the were ‘pile driving’ - not pile drilling. See above graphic on foundation machine options.
My friend who lives in the building across the street told me she felt the building “shaking” and hearing a loud “bang, bang, bang” sound all day - that sounds like Pile Driving to me… 
There is the ancient Minetta Lane creek, running under this site: maybe that is part of the issue…??
Inquiring minds need to know…???
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I need to correct something I posted above. I found out that there is NOT “pile driving” taking place - the method is called “foundation drilling”. The bang, bang, bang sound heard sometimes is the result of ‘shaking out’ water/debris inside the drilling pipes: it is not the sound of ‘pile driving’ that one may naturally assume.
It looks like this project is back on track; we will soon have another RAM Architectural Masterpiece. 
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Pretty surprising to see this above ground. Have the neighbors moved back in their apartments?
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Title should shift to UC.
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You can zoom in right to where the creek runs -
That cool map above shows where the ‘creek’ runs under the construction site. There is also a lot of soft ‘marsh’ land in the area. On the map above posted by stache - it is called 'Minetta Streem"
Interesting to see that this “creeK” is also referred too as a “stream” or a “brook” depending on which historic map you are viewing.
EXCERPT -
In 1820, the decision was made to fill in and cover the creek. Although the creek would be gone from the surface, its source was not rain water, but underground springs. Thus, the creek would keep flowing underground and possibly still does today. There has been a lot of anecdotal evidence over the years to support this such as construction digs finding fresh flowing water and basements flooding.
One thing we can’t control is water. It does whatever it wants.
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How clean do you reckon Manhattan spring water is?
Manhattan gets its water from upstate reservoirs anyway,
If you’re getting water directly from a spring it’s probably pretty clean.
During the drought years, they would run a pipe over the sidewalk on Church St. and fill the sanitation street washers from the spring under 32 Ave of the Americas.
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