NEW YORK | 625 Madison Ave | ~800 FT | 34 FLOORS

[NYguy]

Originally Posted by ChiND

It's interesting that Related stresses the lack of a height limit on this tower. It clearly will be an office tower, but I wonder how tall it will be.



https://www.related.com/our-company/properties/625-madison-avenue

That was a reference to the mixed-use residential tower planned for the site. The same still stands, though an office tower would offer less height, for obvious reasons.

[ChiND]

Originally Posted by NYguy

That was a reference to the mixed-use residential tower planned for the site. The same still stands, though an office tower would offer less height, for obvious reasons.

Yes. I wonder how tall an office tower would be. I suspect that under normal circumstances, it would be 800 to 850 feet tall, but Related might try to make an icon given the enormous rents that this will command. I hope that we get a great Foster tower (like 270 and 350 Park) and not a dud like 50 HY.

[NYguy]

It would depend on if they acquire approvals to build a larger tower (as SL Green had contemplated) or just build as of right. I’m still not convinced they are building office until they move forward with it.

[ChiND]

Originally Posted by NYguy

It would depend on if they acquire approvals to build a larger tower (as SL Green had contemplated) or just build as of right. I’m still not convinced they are buikding office until they move forward with it.

But the information on the site’s construction boards are new, and they state that it will be an office tower designed by Foster. This comports with what Visser said in late November.

[NYguy]

https://nypost.com/2026/01/08/business/kathy-wylde-eyes-new-gig-with-saudis-sovereign-wealth-fund/

NYC power broker Kathryn Wylde eyes new gig with Saudi Arabia’s $1T sovereign wealth fund

By James Franey
Published Jan. 8, 2026

New York City power broker Kathryn Wylde has held talks to join Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund as a lobbyist and consultant for the oil-rich Persian Gulf kingdom, The Post has learned.

Two sources close to the situation said the well-connected 79-year-old is eyeing a post with Riyadh’s $1 trillion Public Investment Fund, and that discussions took place over the holiday period.

.....It is unclear what new projects for the Big Apple the Saudis — led by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, known as MBS — are planning, but PIF holds investments in tech, real estate and sports, including a majority stake in English soccer giant Newcastle United.

Last year, PIF partnered with Related Companies on a planned 1,200-foot tower in Midtown Manhattan at 625 Madison Ave. The fund has invested $200 million so far and plans to hold a two-thirds stake in the site, with total development costs expected to exceed $1 billion.

“PIF is involved in everything. They are invested in everything from real estate to finance in the United States. She’s connected, and if they hire her, then they are just adding to their capabilities and their connections in the US,” a Wall Street investor, speaking on condition of anonymity, told The Post.

[NYguy]

January 9, 2026


BOLD words from Related, with not so much as a rendering. We'll see what they are up to here, eventually.

[NYguy]

The Gensler plan begins to be revealed. Early filings suggests this information may not be complete.



847,000 sf filing




497,000 sf covered












Waiting further updates, diagrams.



Earlier SL Green information suggest this could reach the larger size via city approvals (which haven't happened yet). If so, we won't see the full filing until then.

[ChiND]

Foster has come through with 270 and 350 Park. I hope that his winning streak comes through here. Assuming that this tower will be at least 800 feet tall, it will be very visible on the skyline in this location.

[The New York Lion]

So a 676 foot tall office tower is the max? Or could the update be a much larger Tower?

[NYguy]

In looking over those documents, I missed the most important piece. They WILL in fact be using a transit bonus, to build above the 15 FAR. That means the filings for the full building aren't complete yet, and the height/floor numbers will increase.

[Crawford]

I hope this is at least a supertall, or near-supertall. The transit bonus has been recently upgraded and can be quite substantial.

I really would have preferred the 1,300 ft. mixed-use version, but oh, well.

[ssh]

Title was changed a bit prematurely, no?

[NYguy]

Originally Posted by ssh

Title was changed a bit prematurely, no?

We go with what they give us. It can always be adjusted when the time comes.

[Zapatan]

Man that's disappointing but certainly expected these days.

I hope it does indeed end up at least a little taller.

[NYguy]

Originally Posted by Zapatan

Man that's disappointing but certainly expected these days.

I hope it does indeed end up at least a little taller.

Just read what's being posted.

[Zapatan]

Originally Posted by NYguy

Just read what's being posted.

I'm aware the height and floors could increase but by how much?

1,250+ feet would have been great, seems it'll get nowhere near there though.

[ChiND]

The rendering of the residential tower, while not completely clear, showed a stick with an austere facade. I’m glad it’s not being built. I’m eager to see what Foster comes up with. Also, I suspect that it will be at least 900 feet tall. The rents on the upper floors will be astronomical, and Related will likely want the views from the upper floors to be well above the GM Building.

Something this mediocre should not hold a very prominent place on the skyline.

[NYguy]

Somewhere, right now, there's a preliminary rendering of the Foster/Gensler designed office tower. Maybe even a model. Somebody, somewhere, should leak it.



JANUARY 19, 2026

[ChiND]

I'd love to see a version of 15 Penn rise here. I think that this tower is beautiful, though the location for the 15 Penn proposal is presently vile.

[Sky88]

That tower is ugly, it looks like a pile of boxes. It could be better. I hope it's not an office tower...