Plans have been informally unveiled for the re-development of the Roseland Ballroom, at 239 West 52nd Street, with renderings from Cetra/Ruddy depicting the former ice skating rink’s 59-story and approximately 468,000 square foot replacement; the project’s developer is Algin Management. The NY Post had details on the redevelopment back in November, and cropped images appeared yesterday.
239 West 52nd Street from the northeast — image from Cetra/Ruddy
The mixed-use building will have a futuristic and dynamic form, defined by undulating curves and wide, open windows; below, the base cascades to the street, opening up the lower retail levels. 239 West 52nd’s exterior will be punctuated by extrusions that give the project a ‘Jetsons’-esque quality. Most importantly, balconies are barely noticeable, concealed within the cladding’s web, which appears to be composed of concrete or metal.
239 West 52nd Street — image from Cetra/Ruddy
Though Cetra/Ruddy leaves their page on the development un-named, comparing the massing of the greyed-out buildings with 239 West 52nd Street’s neighbors on Google Earth reveals a perfect match. The vicinity saw a major boom beginning in 2012, with three projects completed two blocks to the north — at 1717 Broadway, 237 West 54th Street, and 250 West 55th Street — and yet another new tower will add to the neighborhood’s verticality.
239 West 52nd Street — image from Cetra/Ruddy
Despite standing 59 floors, it does not appear that 239 West 52nd Street will make a significant impact on the skyline. The building should be approximately 650 feet tall, which is shorter than many neighbors; views to the West will be mostly unobstructed, but from the East, the skyscraper will be all but invisible. The project will have 426 apartments in total, including a four bedroom penthouse.
239 West 52nd Street — image from Cetra/Ruddy
Overall, Roseland’s replacement will be a major net gain for the neighborhood; the ballroom sat empty much of the time, while 239 West 52nd promises to engage with the street 24/7, adding to the pedestrian vibrancy of Midtown West. Per Cetra/Ruddy, retail will occupy the first three floors of the base, and a “rooftop veranda will offer all residents an outdoor pool and lounge overlooking both Central Park to the North and Midtown Manhattan to the South.”
No completion date has been announced, but demolition of the existing structure should be imminent; permits for a sidewalk shed were issued earlier this month.
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