NEW YORK | 80 South Street | 1,436 FT | 113 FLOORS

[MAC123]

Originally Posted by DCReid

That side of the downtown waterfront already has three fat buildings, which in my opinion, detract from the skyline. I don't think it needs another, but I would tend to agree that that several parcels should be combined for a larger footprint. I also agree that a taller building than 1 WTC would not look great here, and I think that is wishful thinking anyway.

Wishful thinking that a developer would propose that in NYC ofc, but not wishful thinking that it could actually go up on this site. The site could easily accommodate a tower several hundred feet taller than 1 WTC's roof without any alterations from the current status. Now add more air rights, a spire, architectural crowns, there's a lot of ways to get there.

[Busy Bee]

Originally Posted by MAC123

Why would you ever wanna see an 800 fter here? It would literally disappear.

Because I'm not a height stroker. And a sub-1000' tower here would aid in a graceful downtown skyline in a way that something much taller, throwing off its balance, would not. And I care much more about that than a single building.

[Zapatan]

Height isn't everything but something 1,250+ would make a real impact here.

[TREPYE]

Originally Posted by SD_Phil

Reminds me, vaguely, of the Calatrava design:

Image Source

A blast from the past.

Oh, what could have been. Yeah it was perhaps a little to aristocratic, but man it would been an amazing visual addition to the DT skyline.

If only Schiame could have pulled this off.....

[NYguy]

Originally Posted by ChiND

I completely agree. The adjacent lots leading to John Street also should be incorporated into this project.


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Everything directly north of this site is in the historic district, including that parking lot. That’s why the development rights were assembled here. That’s why anything built here will be so tall. Even combining with the failed 1 Seaport development would yield something as tall, since that sight comes with its own development rights.

[ChiND]

Originally Posted by NYguy

Everything directly north of this site is in the historic district, including that parking lot. That’s why the development rights were assembled here. That’s why anything built here will be so tall. Even combining with the failed 1 Seaport development would yield something as tall, since that sight comes with its own development rights.

Thanks

9 14 49 33 50

[streetscaper]

Originally Posted by Busy Bee

Because I'm not a height stroker. And a sub-1000' tower here would aid in a graceful downtown skyline in a way that something much taller, throwing off its balance, would not. And I care much more about that than a single building.

absolutely agree

[NYguy]

Here's a better look at the site in relation to the historic district. You can see the "crater" were 250 Water Street will rise (eventually).
That would have been a great addition at it's full height, but of course the NIMBYs sank it.



https://media.gettyimages.com/id/2267265...IpIw3KFuYW522bJV2FNKsOJTOeWKNHu8ly67Vkw=







80 South Street, however, will rise outside of the historic district. It will be an as-of-right mixed-use tower, with none of the NIMBY shenanigans.

[NYguy]

The longer that “leaning” tower of the seaport continues to stand as is, the longer this will take to develop.



https://commercialobserver.com/2026/08/kpc-oceanwide-plaza-graffiti-towers-downtown-la-supertall/

KPC Group’s Oceanwide Plaza Bet Started With a Supertall Dream for Manhattan
Senior partner John Petty says that the Downtown L.A. project, also known as the 'Graffiti Towers,' is part and parcel of a firm that’s long had sky-high development ambitions


BY PATRICK SISSON
AUGUST 28, 2026

….. Petty, who has worked for Chaudhuri for the last 15 years, said Chaudhuri had told him years ago that building a supertall building in Manhattan was “on his bucket list.” The search for such an opportunity is what initially led KPC to Oceanwide, the firm originally building the tower project in Downtown L.A.

Petty had discovered that during Oceanwide’s 2015-2016 buying spree, the company purchased a development site at 80 South Street in Lower Manhattan from the then-Howard Hughes Corporation for $390 million, and even purchased some additional air rights it never was able to utilize. The site was long seen as an ideal spot for a skyscraper, with an excellent Lower Manhattan location and unobstructed waterfront views.

Once Petty found out about the opportunity in 2020, he flew to New York City to check it out. At that point, DW Partners, a hard money lender, had already recouped the property after Oceanwide had defaulted on a loan.

KPC went into escrow for the property.

But the opportunity fell apart. An adjacent property at 161 Maiden Lane was found to be leaning toward the 80 South Street property. Lawyers warned Petty that if it continued to lean and passed the property line, it would open up a litany of legal actions that would delay and bog down any project. KPC backed out and took its money out of escrow.

But that interest in a potential deal for an Oceanwide property also led KPC to look at the Oceanwide Plaza site in Los Angeles. It’s not Chaudhuri’s New York City dream, but it is a lot closer to home.

“We’re getting a little bit of Manhattan without having to go to Manhattan,” said Petty.

[Zapatan]

I wonder what will happen to 161 Maiden Lane, really hope they do something about it as it'll continue being an eyesore if left unfinished. Haven't heard anything in a long time regarding that one.

Hope this bad boy breaks 15-1600 feet if ever built.

[Busy Bee]

It needs to be taken down. Bite the bullet, take the loss. It's just some concrete and steel rods. Whatever goes up in its place can be built with actual proper foundations.

[NYguy]

Originally Posted by Busy Bee

It needs to be taken down. Bite the bullet, take the loss. It's just some concrete and steel rods. Whatever goes up in its place can be built with actual proper foundations.

It’s affecting the surrounding area, so I wish the City would condemn the site, so it can be taken down. I would prefer the lot combined with 80 South St.