While the West Side is home to most of New York’s large and vacant development sites, Midtown East also features one such plot of land. The site was formerly owned by Con Edison, and has since been bought by real estate developer Sheldon Solow. The site’s plans don’t quite rival the Hudson Yards, but they’re substantial nonetheless.
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| Con-Edison Redevelopment Pre-Height Chop, Image from the New York Times |
As proposed back in the 2000s, Solow hoped to build several towers in the 600 foot plus range, which would have altered New York’s skyline along the East River quite dramatically. The entire complex would have comprised of six residential towers and one commercial, with the tallest soaring to 718 feet.
What was ultimately approved by the city after a compromise was a project of stumpy 35 to 50 story buildings, none of which will make an impact on the skyline.
Luckily, the Recession occurred just as permission was granted for the project to begin construction. The cost of the development–supposedly in the $4 billion range–ensured it fell victim to the credit crunch, just like the vast majority of proposed buildings in New York did.
Naturally, the project’s size and scope make developing it difficult in the new economic climate. Although New York’s economy has mostly recovered, the Con-Ed redevelopment faces significant competition that can deliver units at a much lower cost. The most notable example is Hudson Yards, which Related will soon be building.
Even with the intense competition, the size of the Con-Ed plot means that development will eventually occur. Recently, Solow listed a parcel of the Con-Ed site for sale. Plans already exist for two residential towers on the plot, rising 37 and 47 stories.
Perhaps piecemeal construction is the only way the Con-Ed site will ultimately be completed, given the enormous price-tag for the entire site’s development. That would hopefully result in a final project that differs from the renderings released so far, which show a monotonous forest of glass buildings.
Instead of bulky, unseemly, and banal development, each individual piece that’s sold off could feature designs by different architects. At least the possibility would exist for more attractive buildings. After all, shouldn’t the site’s prime Midtown location merit the work of a first-class architect, like Robert Stern?
The credit crunch may have been the best thing to happen to the Con-Ed site, as the aging master-plan becomes more and more obsolete and unlikely to be built as time continues to pass. Taller towers would definitely be welcome, especially if the facades could use materials like limestone. Instead of squat buildings, soaring skyscrapers would also preserve views for existing residents behind the towers.
Why can’t NIMBYs recognize win-win scenarios? Opposing height means more bulk, which generally translates to more unsightly buildings. Hopefully the ultimate outcome at the Con-Ed site will be visually pleasing, but Solow’s taste in design as well as NIMBY demands have made it much more likely that whatever does rise will be an eyesore on the skyline.
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