Looks to be a technicality with this city layoff rule. Don’t want to have to give big payouts to the staff. I guess opening this thing at what is almost certainly not going to break even is more favorable to them than the terms of the employee payouts? Pretty shameless but wouldn’t expect anything less from a big hotel operator
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Jeffries is another potential tenant here. Its 500k sf lease at 520 Madison expires in 2029.
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So what does the reopening mean for the new tower construction?
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It doesn’t mean anything. Hotels that didn’t reopen had huge financial liabilities to former employees if they didn’t reopen. Since this is still in the approval process and actual demo is at least a year away, they decided to reopen for now.
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Nothing. It will be open until demolition starts, and will not interfere at all. The only reason it’s even open at all is explained above^
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Council Hearing tomorrow. Not Vote. They have until the first week of December to vote on it. Don’t worry, this is going to pass easily.
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I only care about the transportation improvements and the 1642 foot height. Will these be approved?
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- The rest of the building is great as well. As much as I love height, it just being tall doesn’t make it a good building.
- Yeah, they’ll be approved. All reviews have been on the full scope of the project, they can’t just decide they only want parts of it.
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I would agree on the height if this weren’t at the critical 500 meter mark. It can’t be built shorter than 1642.
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Well then you can be happy. They’re not going to downsize it, if only so they can claim the 500 meter mark. I know their was discourse going on about it being only 1,500 ft or something but that was all based on inaccurate renderings, and pics of the mast of the building.
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How did the meeting go?
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By Steve Cuozzo
November 21, 2021
Quote:
Modern dance, film screenings and perhaps knitting classes will enliven the outdoor scene at 175 Park Ave., the cloudbusting skyscraper that’s proposed to replace the widely unloved Grand Hyatt Hotel on East 42nd Street.
The fun fests are planned for public-accessible terraces on three sides of the tower. But first, there has to be a tower. Although completion isn’t scheduled until 2030, the fate of the $3 billion-plus project will likely be decided next month.
That’s when developers RXR Realty and TF Cornerstone expect their plans for the mammoth project designed by Skidmore Owings & Merrill to go to the full City Council for approval. The City Planning Commission has already blessed the project, which is to rise to 1,646 feet and 83 stories. It would have 2.1 million square feet of offices, a 453,000-square-foot Hyatt-operated hotel and 10,000 square feet of retail.
The plan is currently being studied by the Council’s zoning committee, which is expected to green-light it before it goes to the full body for a vote. The public review is necessary under East Midtown zoning rules, which allow much larger towers than were previously permitted but which require developers to contribute significant public and transit amenities.
Quote:
It wasn’t clear when demolition would start on the Grand Hyatt, a 1970s glass-curtain wall structure with a tacky overhang that Donald Trump inflicted over the East 42nd Street sidewalk.
Nor is it known yet how much the developers will pay for the pedestrian/transit upgrades and what they’ll all be. But one feature will be the conversion of a “short loop” of abandoned subway track beneath Grand Central Terminal into a direct underground connection between new LIRR platforms and subways.
The outdoor terraces are to total 25,000 square feet — more than the 10,000 square feet required by zoning. Situated along the tower’s western, Lexington Avenue and northern sides. They’ll be landscaped by James Corner Field Operations of High Line fame.
Quote:
The Public Art Fund and global consulting firm Lord Cultural Resources have been tapped to advise on the terrace programming. Project reps told Realty Check that ideas under consideration include modern dance, experimental theater, poetry readings, comedy, film screening, and music performances. Interactive events will include dance lessons, knitting classes and fashion shows.
To narrow down the terrace happenings, the developers along with Council member Keith Powers will form a program-advisory board to include representatives of the Council, Manhattan borough president and Community Board 5.
TF Cornerstone senior vice-president and director of planning Jon McMillan said the developer “worked closely with Powers to develop inclusive arts and cultural programming.”
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The article clearly states 1646 feet tall, but the render clearly shows 1486 feet. Why is that?
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The height is yet to be decided but it is going to be somewhere in between 1400 - 1600 (+/-) feet tall.
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New York doesn’t need another 1400 footer. They need to go big or go home. It’s time for an American city to get a 500m roof height building.
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I agree and this project can be it. We just need to sit and wait.
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The latest documents said the height is “approximately 1642 feet”. We have no reason to doubt that figure. Yes, the current renders show the tower slightly undersized, but that’s probably just to make it look more palatable to the LPC, Council, NIMBY groups, etc who get to weigh in on this development during the approvals process. Once everything is in order and construction begins perhaps they’ll release more renders with the accurate height.
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The render isn’t an accurate depiction. The building will be between 1,642 to 1,646.
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