Demolition preparations are underway at 1655 First Avenue, the site of a forthcoming 23-story residential building on Manhattan’s Upper East Side. Designed by S. Wieder Architect for Cheskel Schwimmer of Chess Builders LLC, the 235-foot-tall structure will span 145,086 square feet and yield 99 condominium units with an average scope of 1,419 square feet, as well as 4,543 square feet of ground-floor commercial space, a cellar level, and a 30-foot-long rear yard. The property sits at the corner of First Avenue and East 86th Street.
Recent photographs show wooden sidewalk fencing assembled around the ground floor of two abutting buildings along East 86th Street and a row of four four-story residential structures along First Avenue. All six buildings have had their windows removed as interior gutting is underway. Crews are also in the process of dismantling the fire escapes and other workers were seen hauling crates of scrap away from the site. Scaffolding and netting will soon envelop the buildings as demolition begins in earnest, a process which will likely take most of winter to accomplish.
Photo by Michael Young
Photo by Michael Young
Photo by Michael Young
Photo by Michael Young
Photo by Michael Young
Photo by Michael Young
Photo by Michael Young
The nearest subway from the development is the Q train at the 86th Street station to the west along Second Avenue.
No renderings have been released for the new building, nor has any information emerged regarding the construction timeline or list of potential amenities.
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I guess I’ll leave the building to be constructed to my imagination. An artist/computer rendering would have been nice if available. This building can only be a positive in its future location. Why is EVERY building going up a condominium? Lots of housing is being constructed, mainly for the affluent.
“Every” building?? WRONG!!! There’s a thing called Rental units too and your statement is complete BS
Like did you not see yimby’s 8am post from today and yesterday? It literally says it’s a rental building
In one of those building a horrible murder took place so glad to see it getting torn down
Hopefully some the remaining old buildings along this stretch will survive.
If they can boot the holdout there’ll be a twin across 86th!
Always loved that buildings – especially around the holidays when the flower shop would look so festive. Over the new buildings – these apartments were so cool and the corner had such a nice old vibe. It’s shame – especially considering the hot mess across 86th that has been an eyesore for years.
Condos get built because the price of land makes rental development marginally profitable at best. Add to that the fact that the onerous laws the city and state impose on landlords lower the value of the rentals. It just makes more business sense to build condos that can be sole for tippy top dollar.
The dismantling of Yorkville block by block so the spoiled wealthy can live on the upper Eastside. None of the generational people who were the heart and soul of this neighborhood can live here anymore. The affordable housing that the city brags about disqualifies you every which way so they can rent their apartments at ‘affordable’ prices of $3k to the people that make 300k.
That’s a new spelling of S. Wieder
I’m less worried about condos, and more worried about an empty pit for the next 5-10 years, like the plot across the street.
There are subway stations around, no matter where the development takes place. So convenience that can be touched: Thanks.
Are there plans still pending for a Trader Joe’s to go in at 86 and 1st avenue??
Into haunted house movies drDave? Really! What’s being lost are more of the ground floor businesses that we have depended on, and what may be rent controlled or stabilized walk ups. Yes, more affordable, non- public housing gone.
This would be a great area for the city to up-zone to the new R12 density. This site sits at the intersection of 2 wide streets, and is the same block as the subway entrance/exit.
Amazing if a Trader Joe’s went in there. How can we push for that to happen?
I recently learned from a podcast produced by Trader Joe’s that, while they appreciate the enthusiasm, writing in to them to ask for a store near you has zero impact on their decision as to where new stores go. Alas. Because I would totally join in with you on a campaign to get a Trader Joe’s at this intersection.
I’m curious about where all the middle income tenants have relocated too, as every new Upper East side building seems only designed for super rich. They generally don’t ride the subway, and the new stores that spring up in their wake mostly have prices that are not conducive for midrange salaried people ( who were the backbone of the glorious neighborhood I moved into 55 years ago) to shop in them.