Renderings for the futuristic Solar Carve at 40-56 Tenth Avenue first surfaced three years ago, long before the city shot down a variance that would’ve allowed the developer to build bigger on a rather challenging site in Meatpacking. William Gottlieb Real Estate finally got approval for the office tower last year, and last week, they filed new building applications for the project next to the High Line.
The plans don’t tell us much, but they do say the building will top out at 12 stories and 190 feet. It’ll host 116,205 square feet of commercial space, including two floors of retail topped by 10 floors of office space. The second floor will have a terrace, which will presumably be accessible for the office tenants above.
Jeanne Gang’s Studio/Gang Architects, based in Chicago, will still design the project. The shape of the building appears to have changed somewhat, but in general, it looks a bit more traditional and less wedge-shaped.
40 10th Avenue, rendering by Studio/Gang Architects
Originally, Gottlieb had asked the Board of Standards and Appeals if he could build 34% larger than zoning typically allows. At the time, the firm claimed it needed the extra floor area because the site was unusually shaped and the High Line covered 10% of the property. Preservationists opposed the extra bulk, and the BSA ultimately disapproved the application. Gottlieb got a greenlight for the project on its fourth try, by requesting only setback and height modifications.
The site at the corner of 13th Street and 10th Avenue measures 23,541 square feet. It’s still home to a fairly decrepit three-story warehouse, and demolition plans haven’t been filed yet.
Gottlieb is partnering with Aurora Capital Associates to develop the building.
Although Meatpacking is an ideal neighborhood for office development, a combination of landmarking and restrictive zoning make it quite difficult to build or expand office space there. Meanwhile, the city is helping subsidize new office buildings a few avenues east in Union Square, where it just released a request for proposals to redevelop the old P.C. Richards store.
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Well, there goes the view.