NEW YORK | 270 Park Ave | 1,389 FT | 57 FLOORS

[Sky88]

270 belongs to JPMorgan Chase and the bank can decide to do what it wants. But it would be interesting to understand which towers, in the area, could be demolished in the future.

[chris08876]

^^^^^

I'll tell ya which tower has the most potential out of any site in the city. Its 2 Pennsylvania Plaza, which is the tower connected to MSG. If there was ever a site for a mega tall, that would be it. There have been renovation plans floated around for that tower, but I'd like to see it demo'd in the future, in place of a city defining tower. BIG had a plan for the tower, but still, lipstick on a pig.

Hopefully down the line Vornado will aim for a new tower.

[Fvn]

Originally Posted by chris08876

^^^^^

I'll tell ya which tower has the most potential out of any site in the city. Its 2 Pennsylvania Plaza, which is the tower connected to MSG. If there was ever a site for a mega tall, that would be it. There have been renovation plans floated around for that tower, but I'd like to see it demo'd in the future, in place of a city defining tower. BIG had a plan for the tower, but still, lipstick on a pig.

Hopefully down the line Vornado will aim for a new tower.

IIRC SHoP proposed a redesign/redevelopment of that block a few years back?

[Crawford]

Originally Posted by PhyllisJerry71

there is absolutely no way to justify the demolition of this building.

On the contrary, there couldn't be a stronger justification for demolishing this property.

The world's biggest bank owns the property and wants to demolish it, and there's absolutely nothing preventing it from doing so (a very good thing, I may add; the existing structure is mediocre at best).

[Submariner]

A woman designed an underutilized, 70 year old box, and that’s the reason it must be saved?

[WhatTheHeck5205]

Originally Posted by Submariner

A woman designed an underutilized, 70 year old box, and that’s the reason it must be saved?

No, but it’s a convenient excuse, isn’t it?

On a serious note, I and several others have already explained in detail why this building can and should be preserved over the countless midrise econo-wedding-cakes the Midtown East rezoning was actually meant to replace, without significantly impacting the neighborhood’s viability as a world-class business district. If some of you are too caught up in your height-above-all-else mentality to even consider those arguments, however, then we’re just going to have to agree to disagree.

[Amanita]

I think that the plan is to reclad 2 Penn, giving it a drastic makeover, give One Penn a more modest facelift (I don't think they're planning to change its looks too much, just spiff it up some), and eventually connect the two buildings into one big complex.

Somebody in the comments section of an article I read suggested that Chase offer the owners of 277 Park Avenue a trade- I don't think 277 would be up for it, as that building is still owned by the family who built it (Stahl), and judging by how beautifully maintained it is, I think they're quite proud of it and intend to keep it around. (Personally, I also like 277, it makes a nice counterpart to 270, they look like a pinstriped couple facing each other across the avenue)

But I like the idea somebody else here offered, a variation on that building swap idea. Chase could make a trade with the owners of one of those early post war wedding cake buildings that others have mentioned, and build their new tower there instead. Somebody gets the keys to beautiful and recently refitted LEED Platinum skyscraper, Chase gets a new piece of property occupied by a smaller building which would probably cost a lot less to take down, 270 gets a new lease on life, and we get a new supertall to gush over, everybody wins. I'd be all for it.

[Dac150]

This really took me by surprise; almost unthinkable that that property would ever see the wrecking ball in my lifetime … it was renovated and LEED certified only a few years ago. I'm all for Midtown keeping up with the times, however its sad to see a staple of the area go. I thought JPMC had good thing going with the Park Avenue campus. 383 Madison houses the IB, while 270 is essentially home office / operations.

[Amanita]

^What do you guys think of the building swap idea? Convince Chase to trade their building for one of those midrise econo-wedding cake buildings, and build there instead. The owners of the wedding cake get a bigger building in better condition that they can move their existing tenants into, with lots of room to rent to new tenants, and Chase gets a new site for their new building, in the same neighborhood- that smaller building would be faster to take down, too.

[Crawford]

Originally Posted by Amanita

^What do you guys think of the building swap idea?

What would be the point? The existing site is perfectly located, right next to Grand Central, in the middle of the Chase "campus", and the smaller wedding cake buildings in Midtown East generally have too small footprints and insufficient zoning rights (and quite a few are landmarked).

And I can't think of a single wedding cake building with this rezoning potential. The highest development potential is only for the blocks nearest Grand Central.

This development is exactly what was intended under the rezoning. You can't build anything in this neighborhood without tearing down a huge building from another era.

[Dac150]

Originally Posted by Amanita

^What do you guys think of the building swap idea?

In a perfect world, yes. There are plenty of properties in the immediate vicinity of 270 Park with inferior architectural merit and functionality.

[DrNest]

In principle, and with the intent of preserving 270 Park, I like the idea of the building swap. Some of those "wedding cake" buildings really are ugly, and I've long disliked their appearance.
Realistically I don't see it happening, but would be happy if those that be could make it work.

[Submariner]

Originally Posted by DrNest

In principle, and with the intent of preserving 270 Park, I like the idea of the building swap. Some of those "wedding cake" buildings really are ugly, and I've long disliked their appearance.
Realistically I don't see it happening, but would be happy if those that be could make it work.

Five Bryant Park:



What an architectural abortion.

[dc_denizen]

I wonder if someone will find a little dancing, singing frog in the demolition debris.

[sbarn]

I'm pretty excited about the prospect of a 1200+ foot tower rising along Park Avenue, but I'm conflicted because I do wish it was proposed for a different site. The Union Carbide Building is probably one of the more notable examples of mid-century modernist architecture. Regardless, it will be interesting to see this project materialize.

This project makes me wonder, would they ever replace the MetLife Building?

[Crawford]

Originally Posted by sbarn

This project makes me wonder, would they ever replace the MetLife Building?

I doubt it. MetLife is already enormous. Under current zoning, you couldn't build a bigger building.

[CanesFan]

Originally Posted by dc_denizen

I wonder if someone will find a little dancing, singing frog in the demolition debris.

This might be the best comment I've read on this website.

[Prezrezc]

If anything, though, any corporate entity trying to make, re-establish or increase its profile by going the building swap route---like a 270, 277 or 245 Park for one of these dog-eared stumps---s committing business hara-kiri. It wouldn't make any sense, anyway.

Indeed it will be interesting to see how the city deals with this in the future. These stacks of nothing aren't worth landmarking/preserving and hence not worth the time to retrofit.

[Prezrezc]

IIRC, there was a series of reclad desigs put out a few years ago...I dunno if retrofitting was included therein.

Edit: Ah.......

From YIMBY, dated 3-2-16:

https://newyorkyimby.com/2016/03/met...announced.html

[Submariner]

Originally Posted by Prezrezc

IIRC, there was a series of reclad desigs put out a few years ago...I dunno if retrofitting was included therein.

Edit: Ah.......

From YIMBY, dated 3-2-16:

https://newyorkyimby.com/2016/03/met...announced.html

Whatever came of this?