Preparations have begun for demolition at 3041 Broadway, aka 100 Claremont Avenue, to clear the way for a 42-story mixed-use condominium designed by Robert A. M. Stern Architects. Located between West 120th and 122nd Streets in Morningside Heights among the historic Union Theological Seminary complex, the project is being developed by L&M Development Partners and Lendlease, with SLCE Architects as the architect of record.
Photos show scaffolding covering the structure to be demolished. An adjacent structure’s windows are also boarded up and an exterior hoist is affixed to its curtain wall.
The black netting and scaffolding for the building on the site of 3041 Broadway. Photo by Michael Young
Photo by Michael Young
Photo by Michael Young
The new building will use 350,000 square feet of air rights and will most likely be on par or slightly taller than the neighboring Riverside Church spire, which has long stood supreme in height over the neighborhood. Residents of 3041 Broadway will be afforded views of the George Washington Bridge, the Hudson River, and Midtown to the south. The structure will contain a mix of private condominiums and institutional space that includes new offices, faculty housing, and classrooms.
A diagram seen on the YIMBY forums shows that a majority of the massing will rise from the block’s inner courtyard, and the main entrance will be located along Claremont Avenue.
Diagram of the future footprint for 3041 Broadway, seen on the YIMBY forums
The closest subway is the 1 train at the 125th Street station to the north at the corner of Broadway and West 125th Street. Riverside Park is only one street away to the west, and the Columbia University campus is a short walk to the south.
A completion date for 3041 Broadway has not been announced yet.
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It’s a sin the historic stone building is being destroyed for the wealthy. There at least should have been a way to save the walls and incorporate it into a new building.
Agree with David. Just awful to see this architecture demolished.
“It’s a sin the historic stone building is being destroyed for the wealthy.”
I don’t know how “historic” the building is, other than its design, but those who think that every building that people think “historic” should be saved should be the first ones to step up and contribute time and money to the present owners in order to maintain it.
Saddling an owner of a building with massive new responsibilities and debt in order placate a small group of nouveau “historians” (often with the backing of the government) is borderline socialism, in that a property owner essentially loses “RTI” of his own property.
I grew up playing basketball on the court in the basement of Riverside Church ( some great NBA players,like Lew Alcindor, before he became Kareem did also )..the Riverside Church spire should always be the tallest structure in the neighborhood..but I’m being naive.
Good lord! Is anything respectable anymore in this city?? Where is “historical preservation” folks to stop this destruction?? Who is charge? This entire neighborhood exuded culture, serenity and history. At the very least, the developer should have been forced to keep the facade, if not the cloistered courtyard……. I cannot believe this is happening–and so quietly. Where are the papers to scream over this? Sighhhhhh
This did not happen quietly – the current project has been in the news for years and the seminary has been floating similar plans for decades. The boarded-up corner building is being restored with part of the $100 million the seminary got for its air rights. The seminary has stated the condo tower will not overshadow Riverside church. All that said, the project is intrusive and the damage to the seminary campus will be irreversible.
The Chapel in which I have been attending services for over 22 years, the beloved Lampman Chapel, has been destroyed as well in this misbegotten development. The courtyard is unique in the city, the quality of which will be greatly diminished by the intrusion of the bulk of the building. It is understood that Union Theological Seminary proceeded with this to save their institution, but in doing so they have forever destroyed what makes the institution architecturally whole. It remains to be seen how shortsighted this strategy will be. To have destroyed the architecture rather than preserve it for future generations to enjoy, in what ever capacity, to essentially band-aid an institution, is without question a reflection of the lack of vision of the UT board and trustees. The fact that were allowed to do so, as only a portion of the building complex is landmarked, is a gross oversight of the Landmarks Preservation Commission.
My sister got married in that chaple. What a gem of serene architecture. what can historic and artistic lamentation do when faced with uncaring, “me, me, now, now” crowd staffing our “historic preservation” (read, historic looting body), being in charge? we lament the loss of Penn Station and others: loss is being perpetrated on us right now, left and right. sigh…
Wow, that is crazy destruction. God is gonna be mad when he finds out.
It is sacrilegious to destroy our beloved institution. I spent 36 years working there. Always loved the place?????
Is nothing sacred?
yes, MONEY and bribes
Looks great. Stern’s buildings always look excellent.
To the crybabies whining about “boo hoo its too tall” and “I used to go to racquetball practice near there and I say it sucks!”….get over yourselves. New York is always changing and building up. Move to Ohio if you like cow pastures.
I was appalled at first but this church is desperately in need of money to survive and maintain its aging buildings ($100m+). Based on the zoning diagram filed with the DOB it appears the demolition of the existing building is limited to a relatively small structure between the refectory and Knox Hall and the condo would largely go up in the courtyard. It’s devastating to see a condo for the rich go up in the middle of the sacred ground but am not sure how else the church could come up with that much money.
Very sad that this is being destroyed.
Lot of upset people commenting before a little research. An earlier article stated that $100 Million in profit would go toward needed renovation of the existing structures. This appears to be a win, win for the school and the developer.
doctor, heal thyself. do some research yourself. the entire courtyard and the serene cloisters are gone. the seminary is just a dead facade and not air of sanctity/serenity that its Gothic revival interior imparted. now you have the monster stick stuck into its heart, keeping part of the facade of the dead edifice. no wonder they do this things to us and the posterity, having folks actually defending their action
Friends now living in Santa Fe used to live in that building which served as faculty housing for Union Theological. This could have been a more modest expansion that provided what NYC desperately needs: housing for young professionals not making megabucks in finance, law or tech who are living the City in droves. Instead it will be one more tower for the super-rich looking for a NYC pied-a-terre, and perhaps buying through an LLC.
Let me see – a fine old stone building is being demolished for a new, undistinguished “faux classical” high rise?
Robert A M Stern should be embarrassed – both by this case of architectural vandalism and the total mediocrity of his uninspired designs.
My heart aches! This is despicable! Columbia has no shame!! Foreign oligarchs own the United States of America! Twenty-years-ago this neighborhood was undesirable, but Columbia University thieves sat quiet and patiently bided their time.
No Carol, it is NOT foreign oligarchs. “Fault lies in ourselves”m wrote Shakespeare, “not in our stars.” We bring disasters upon ourself with our greed. No one can force us into it if we said no. Columbia has NEVER had any shame. I studied there. It is a giant real estate company, using higher education as a “not for profit” facade to hide its profits and historic-artistic malfeasance.
I agree that the new building is too tall for the neighborhood generally and for the site in particular. But to be clear, the building with the boarded-up windows (Hastings Hall) is being renovated, not demolished. It’s not even adjacent to the site of the new tower. The much smaller building that’s coming down is stylistically different from the rest of the collegiate-gothic campus.
No Sir. The chapel, part of the cloister, and the seren atrium/courtyard is gone. Lets raise our heads from the sand and see the storm all around us, shall we?
Truly disturbing. We celebrated in that space and it is gothic, incredibly beautiful. From, the 1800s I assume. What is wrong with the people who made this decision? Greed. Nothing but greed and stupidity. There must have been another solution for supporting UTS than to sell out and destroy this historic building. It is a crime. They should be held accountable.
attack of the NIMBY’s. let capitalism work and stop making developer’s out to be the bad guys.
People need housing.
This comment by the YIMBY NYC writer, i.e. “Photos show scaffolding covering the structure to be demolished. An adjacent structure’s windows are also boarded up and an exterior hoist is affixed to its curtain wall.”, is partly to blame for the confusion about what, exactly, is being torn down and what is being renovated. Maybe the writer could clarify that? The boarded-up building is being renovated, apparently – not knocked down. What is the name of the smaller building being destroyed? Details matter, especially in reporting on what is a very sensitive site.
And the chapel, the serene courtyard, the cloisters–or the sacred air and the natural setting? Or are they just the “collateral damage” in your opinion?
And what if the ducks who called the courtyard their home?
🙁