Demolition is underway at 123-141 West 57th Street, the site of a forthcoming 26-story, 185,000-square-foot office tower along Billionaires’ Row in Midtown, Manhattan. The site is located between Sixth and Seventh Avenues, surrounded by Christian de Portzamparc’s One57 and SHoP Architects‘ 111 West 57th Street. It was recently reported that Alchemy Properties and ABR Partners closed a $120 million deal to purchase the property, which was owned by Calvary Baptist Church and includes the adjacent 16-story, 153-foot-tall Salisbury Hotel. ABR Partner’s equity partner, Cain International, had brought on Security Benefit Life as the new lender. The total construction cost for the project is estimated to be roughly $350 million.
As of right now it looks like all the windows on the southern elevation facing West 57th Street have been removed and interior gutting should be well underway. A construction elevator has been attached to the brick façade, and black netting and scaffolding covers the structure. Demolition should progress throughout 2022 and we should likely see the lot come down to street level by the end of the year.
123 West 57th Street. Photo by Michael Young
123 West 57th Street. Photo by Michael Young
123 West 57th Street. Photo by Michael Young
123 West 57th Street. Photo by Michael Young
No renderings or architect have been released for the project, but we can assume that the top floors of the structure would feature Central Park views from above the row of prewar buildings that make up Central Park South. A finalized architectural height is also unclear, though YIMBY estimates it to be no more than 300 feet tall. The Calvary Baptist Church will own and occupy the lower section of the building, which will include a new auditorium.
The new office building is expected to be finished sometime in 2024.
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This is probably the most shocking and unwarranted demolition since the Bancroft Building. Unreal NY lets stuff like this happen in 2022.
Of course I know this facade from whenever, with the Christian bookstore and Gothic entry. An old health food store was nearby selling Tiger’s Milk and Uncle Sam’s umbrella was on the block, Steinway Hall and a fur storage and rental and a small Barnes and Noble on the corner of 7th. The draws were Carnegie Hall and the Automat across the street. I miss that experience, that walk, that streetscape. It’s long gone already, though, and other than it’s eccentric first level, there’s nothing special about the building. If I were the Church I would have sold without thinking I needed the Lord’s forgiveness.
nothing special? It truly was one of a kind find me another building similar to that. The limestone details and the contrast with the bright red bricks and stones, the cornice details to match the churches spire was one of a kind. its going to be replace with nothing special a very bland 500 ft tower design by the over rated BIG firm. I don’t under why we don’t save the facades on these beautiful historic buildings. They defiantly could found a way to incorporated it in a new tower. that would be a wonderful contrast.
The Bancroft Building, the Church of the Redeemer at Pacific and Fourth, and the Vanderbilt Building at Beekman and William all should have been preserved by LPC. There are plenty of undistinguished buildings in the city that won’t be missed if demolished. I guess LPC would rather fixate on windows and trim in historic districts than actually preserve great buildings, especially if a religious institution or a nonprofit is involved. Shameful!
Hey, if a dollar can be made, tear down everything.
why not incorporate this into a new tower.
Because they’re stupid.
Unfortunately, this was just bound to happen. It’s Billionaire’s Row, and every space counts. But, it’s still very sad to see.
Nope. Its nor like they are “sacrificing” this historic ediface so they can put up a 1200′ condo tower for the ultra rich and make a cool billion in profit doing so. They are building an office building that will barely break 300′. This is not justifiable in any way.
Yes—26 stories seem kinda low-ball for this real estate! And, yes, if someone gifted you a Gothic arch, wouldn’t you use it?!?