[NYguy]

https://w42st.com/post/cuny-plans-to...als-push-back/

CUNY Plans to Sell Long-Vacant Hell’s Kitchen Building — But Elected Officials Push Back





by Phil O'Brien
5/2/2025

The notoriously shed-shrouded building at 450 W41st Street — recently dubbed the “Worst in Hell’s Kitchen” in the Sheddies awards — is back in the spotlight as CUNY moves to sell the long-vacant site. But local elected officials are pushing back, demanding that the property finally be used for affordable housing instead of falling to luxury development.

Councilmember Erik Bottcher, backed by Congressman Jerrold Nadler, Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine, State Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal and Assemblymember Tony Simone, issued a joint statement expressing concern over the planned sale. “This location has long been recognized as a critical opportunity to deliver deeply affordable homes in a neighborhood where so many are struggling to stay,” they said. “Any future redevelopment must prioritize affordable housing.”

The six-story, City-owned building between 9th and 10th Avenues has been empty since 2014. Originally constructed in 1957 as a warehouse and later used by Voorhees Technical Institute and Hunter College’s MFA program, the site has seen decades of stalled plans and unrealized potential. A 2008 architectural study estimated nearly $58 million would be needed just to make it viable.

Now, CUNY has listed the 28,966 square-foot site for sale, pitching it as a rare large-scale development opportunity in one of Manhattan’s most in-demand neighborhoods. With 160 feet of frontage on W40th Street and 133 feet on W41st Street, the property offers a substantial 216,260 buildable square feet for residential or community facility use — or 169,848 square feet for commercial development.

The listing notes additional floor area is available through the Hudson Yards District Improvement Bonus and Inclusionary Housing programs, offering flexibility to developers interested in mixed use or high-density residential projects.

Sales materials emphasize the site’s location at the confluence of “Midtown West Clinton and Hudson Yards”, touting strong rental market fundamentals and generous tax incentives. Potential buyers are enticed by programs like 467-m, 485-x and the City of Yes for Housing Opportunity, which offer zoning flexibility and long-term tax relief in exchange for including affordable housing.

With nearby buildings like 555TEN and The Maybury commanding monthly rents of $4,600 for studios to over $9,000 for two-bedrooms, the marketing paints 450 W41st as a prime target for luxury redevelopment — but community leaders aren’t buying it, at least, not without a public benefit.

The building was included in Manhattan Community Board 4’s 2022 Affordable Housing Plan, which envisioned up to 239 permanently affordable apartments on the site.

Now, elected officials say they plan to meet with CUNY and members of Manhattan Community Board 4 to discuss the future of the site.