Mr. Gorbachev…
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What’s going on with this project?
The current building occupying the site is being demolished, but I dont believe any plans or renders have been released for what will rise in its place.
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I hope for something very large (over 1300 feet).
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Not gonna happen, it’ll most likely end up being the same size as 415 Madison Ave, a 605’ tall tower.
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Too bad, but okay
And that assumes that 405 and 417 are developed jointly. To date, there’s been nothing to indicate that that will occur.
Actually my assessment “is” only with this development in mind, on the 417 thread I mentioned that development would possibly be built to 2/3rds the size of 415 Madison Ave. The projects won’t be joined together because foundation works and excavation for 417 have already started, that wouldn’t happen if the properties were to be joined also considering this building is still undergoing demolition and will be for some time.
I really hope that these sites are combined. It would be a crime not to.
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If the projects were combined, not saying they will be, I wonder how large this could be?
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The article mentions if they were to be combined, the proposal would be more or less the same size as 425 Park Ave.
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interesting
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I would really want to understand why you believe this, as you’ve posted similar sentiment on the 417 Park Avenue thread too.
As long as they are nice designs, I don’t think it matters. Filler buildings are important too. Joining them wouldn’t make the building an automatic giant because it would still be the same square footage as the resultant 2 buildings separately. And like I mentioned to mcart, the resulting building would be more or less (erring on the lower side) the same size as 425, which itself is not tall, so if you’re looking for a tall building, joining them wouldn’t make that.
I like you and think that you’re one of the best forum members. Like me, you’ve made your point several times. I’m aware that the combined plot won’t yield a 1,200’ tower, nor do I care. However, it seems that a lot more can be done architecturally with an 800’ “full-block” site than could occur with two smaller buildings. I think that 425 Park is amazing. By contrast, a boxy building like what FX is planning on 57th or what GDS built on Broadway in NoMad would be very disappointing. Stern is the only person who could make a great 25 story box, but I don’t expect a developer to build a brick and limestone classic tower here.
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I perfectly understand that, but I feel like this reasoning or logic is somewhat misplaced.
Disregarding whether the sites are joined or not, if they were still separate, the joined building would be the same size, IE if the two buildings were only 700’, the joined would also be 700’, and I use 700, as that is “around” the height the building would be in any case, similarly how 425’s “roof” height is around 700’.
I don’t want to say that you’re not entitled to your own opinion and reasoning because you certainly are, (as architecture is completely subjective) but scale (and height) doesn’t determine the extent of a canvas for architecture. A smaller building can have much more characteristics and architecture than a large scale building (111 W 57th St vs lets say Trump World Tower, one has a much “much” more narrow footprint than the other and is vastly more architectural). Scale may be one tenet/principle of architecture, but it’s not the defining one.
It’s all just up to how the developer and the chosen architect see the site. Considering the buildings will most likely be commercial, RAMSA could still be chosen as an architect as they have worked on commercial buildings with those elements, just not to the extent as their residential work as commercial architecture normally warrants more window to wall ratio. Really all I’m saying is wait to be disappointed or not, don’t “try” to make the assumption/conclusion that the designs will be bad just based on the stance that the building could be better if the lots were one. 
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Nothing would make me happier than to see Stern build two adjacent structures like this at 405 and 417.
However, two adjacent glass boxes like FX’s proposed PoS on 57th would be sad. I’d be fine with that on 1st or 2nd Ave but not here.
Even though nothing has been issued to start any sort of excavation, I wonder why they have not atleast cleaned the 417 site up.
I checked the DOB site today for filings under 405 and 417. There haven’t been any for a long time.
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