NEW YORK | 3 West 29th Street | 686 FT | 43 | ON HOLD

[pico44]

Some of you who are criticizing this building are posters whose opinions I enjoy and respect (one of you is a troll--you know who you are). It seems as if it is more of a location issue than a design issue with you. I agree that this building really pushes the limits of height and bulk, considering its location close to the greatest skyscraper ever built.

The greatest skyscraper that will ever be built.


.....

hmmmm

I started this post planning on making a case for great design. Safdie is an accomplished architect without a major New York commission. And this building sure does look like it might be good. The way it pixelates as it climbs. This is a vertical Habitat 67 that would be the perfect period to Safdie's career. And if you're going to build close to ESB, you better make it a masterpiece, but...

BUT...

You guys might be right. Maybe it doesn't matter that this could be one of the better designs that New York sees this decade. Maybe the Empire State Building is just too important. It makes me a little queasy to say that considering I have been conditioned to embrace and love good architecture so fiercely when it comes along. Especially considering the pile of garbage built last decade that sits immediately across Fifth Avenue from ESB.

Isn't this building an as-of-right development? So this conversation is pointless anyway. Perhaps it'll be win win, or win-lose-win. We get a beautiful new building that blocks important views of our greatest building that prompts politicians from allowing it to happen again. If I've learned anything about New York development, it usually ends up being lose lose lose. Ugh