Likely more neighbors, and more contextual buildings than if we take no action.
The existing underlying zoning of the site is for standard towers. Modelling our scenario after typical recent residential constructions in standard tower districts, George Janes & Associates created a potential scenario of what could be built as-of-right with no special permit nor community involvement.
The 75’x90′ floor plates mimic similar towers recently completed or under construction such as 111 West 57th Street and 432 Park Avenue, and envision full floor, 360-degree views for each unit. The two tower scheme will allow for oblique views of the park from both towers.
Envisioned in two phases, the “east” tower would cap out at the engineering limits of construction and elevator technology rising over 1600-feet with 14-foot standard floor to floor heights, and the “west” tower would cap out at over 1200-feet tall, with the same 14-foot standard floor to floor heights. For reference, the tallest building currently constructed on the Upper West Side (as of April 2021) is 200 Amsterdam Avenue capped at 668-feet tall. This would mean each tower could be nearly twice as tall.
In the diagram, yellow represents residential floors, and gray are presumed mechanical floors. These are represented as 25′ voids which complies with the current zoned limit but repeats them at 20-floor intervals. Should a developer wish, these could repeat every 75-feet of occupiable space, or with 14-foot tall floors, every 5-6 floors rather than every 20.
Quote:
As with the earlier “with action” scenario above, this is our “Reasonable Worst Case Development Scenario” (RWCDS) without action. Again, it is important to note that this is not a rendering nor intended to be an architectural representation but rather a massing study of what could be possible should no extension of the special district be adopted.
In both scenarios the developer retains all available Floor Area Ratio and does not loose a square inch of development potential. This action would only further direct the form of the building complying with similar neighborhood tower-on-base buildings such as 1965 Broadway (The Raymour & Flanigan/Pottery Barn building) or 1930 Broadway (The Bed, Bath & Beyond/Lululemon building). These scenarios require a specific percentage of floor area be realized below a height of 150-feet. This action still DOES NOT set a height limit.
^This could be massive, an as of right 1,600 ft residential tower? Who knows NYC may even keep the “Tallest residential tower” title from that competitor in China
I’m excited, but we need to be ready for war. The crazy Sandinistas on the UWS will fight like Hell to cut these potential towers to a fourth of that height. Not sure what they can do, though.
Although these are just massings, they set precedent for what is to come. Considering 50 W 66th going full steam ahead, the UWS will get its fair share of high rise development density in the coming years.
They’re going to have to work out or adhere to engineering requirements for these towers. Now Steinway is sounding off about building sway etc but if no one really lives there I guess it’s not a problem.
Steinway and other more recent towers almost certainly have far less building sway than in older towers. The engineering is light years better than in the older highrise supertalls like John Hancock in Chicago, where I’ve seen the toilet bowl water swish back and forth. The older towers aren’t using tuned mass dampers and the like.
Technically this isn’t a propsal. Its just a search into what could possibly be built on this specific site with the current zoning, FAR, etc. (And also it’s supposed to be fearmongering by this group, though it just gets me excited).
If a certain developer picked up this site they could turn it into some massive towers. (Maybe Extell? JDS? Possibly)
Something huge WILL happen here. Its not an if. Well unless they achieve their goal and expand their stupid zoning district. But I doubt that will happen.
If I understand it correctly, as long as that zoning district doesn’t expand to this site (like they want it to), there’s nothing they can do to stop massive towers being built here.
Anyways like I was saying this site has potential for a megatall if Extell doesn’t go for 2 towers. Who knows, maybe Extell will want to claim 4 titles this time.
Tallest in the US.
Tallest in the City
Tallest residential in the world
And first megatall in the US (also in the city)
