YIMBY recently sat down with Larry Silverstein to discuss his firm’s upcoming projects, as well as the status of the World Trade Center’s last remaining office supertall-to-be, at 200 Greenwich Street. With 3,000 new rental units in the works and Norman Foster’s design still on the table for Two World Trade Center, the scope of work Mr. Silverstein is undertaking is also now expanding into Journal Square and Queens.
YIMBY in bold.
Will Two World Trade Center be complete by 2025?
I believe so. Someone’s going to come along.
What are the chances we see the Foster design instead of the BIG Plan?
Well, we now have two designs to choose from. They’re very different. Someone’s going to come along, we have a choice of two fantastic plans to show, and whichever that occupant prefers is the one we will build.
BIG’s 200 Greenwich, composite by Jose Hernandez for YIMBY, image originally by Joe Woolhead
So Foster’s can still happen?
Yes.
What projects are you working on at the moment?
A lot. Well, Mercedes Benz is moving forward. We have a significant project in the works in Queens. We have something similar going in Journal Square. So Queens, Journal Square, also residential high rise rental housing. We have about 2,500, maybe 3,000 rental units in the works.
Is the market shifting towards high-density towers?
As the area grows, as more people come into it, lots of young people getting entry level jobs need a place to live as close to their work as possible. So two PATH station stops and you’re in Journal Square, that’s not bad from Manhattan. Twelve or fifteen minutes and you’re in Journal Square, it’s pretty convenient.
You’ve read about our acquisition of the ABC project over on the West Side in the Lincoln Center area. That’s a pretty damn exciting opportunity that’s shaping up. Disney will stay in possession of their campus for 5 years, 3.5 years for their non-campus stuff. That’ll happen over a ten year period, so, it’s going to keep us busy. You put all these things together, there’s a lot going on.
Larry Silverstein in the lobby of 3 World Trade Center, image by Andrew Campbell Nelson
Outside of your projects right now what’s your favorite new development?
My favorite would be Mercedes Benz.
514 Eleventh Avenue — image from VisualHouse, design likely outdated
That’s not yours.
I’d say my favorite… I look at Mr. Macklowe’s building, and I wouldn’t say it’s my favorite, but it’s very noticeable. Then again, you’ve got a whole range of other buildings in Manhattan that have gone up recently. There’s a lot of interesting stuff. Do I have any particular favorite? No.
432 Park Avenue from 53 West 53rd Street, image by Andrew Campbell Nelson
What neighborhood needs zoning reform the most?
That’s an endless discussion.
Do you think the impending demolition of the Union Carbide Building at 270 Park Avenue is a good step forward for Midtown East or a waste of raw materials?
It’s a terrific step forward. You’re getting new construction, demolition of an old building that was beautifully done, the architect was SOM and Gordon Bunshaft.
Do you think reforming the state cap on residential housing could help realize more legitimately affordable high-rise housing at market rates in the city’s core neighborhoods?
If you want to increase the FAR capability, provide for greater density, that’s always beneficial. It certainly would help in terms of gaining rental instead of condo housing.
What’s your overall sentiment for 2018 and beyond?
I think the city continues to be the recipient of significant amounts of investment capital from all over the world. Money keeps coming, and it’s amazing to see the magnitude of what’s coming in, it’s huge. So what it says, is America is the most desirable place for money. The first city they come to? New York. When they finish looking at New York, they go to other places — Washington, Boston, Miami, San Francisco, other locations. Maybe Chicago a little bit. The coastal cities are the ones that benefit most, but New York is number one, and I think it will stay that way through 2018 and beyond.
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Please pardon me for using your space: Threaten me by its heights but progress must come first.
Please pardon me for using your space: Will we see a super tall at the Mercedes site?
Hahaha, good one.
Oh please let it be the Foster design. Please!!!
The diamond shaped roof would be just an amazing addition to the skyline. The Ingels design is just another box…a pile of them.
Agree 100%!
If the actual building matches the rendering, and doesn’t get dumbed down, then for sure the Foster + Partners would make for an exciting addition to our city’s iconic skyline – unlike the the emerging forest of incredibly FUGLY supertalls emerging in Hudson Yards where all but one (35), are vying to be crowned the Fugliest Supertall ever built anywhere.
Say “Yes!” to Foster’s beautiful diamond; “No!” to yet another Fugly box that Rupert Murdoch wanted for his since abandoned plans to move his toxic media empire downtown to the WTC site – and bring on the “WOW!!!” ???
Perhaps SILVERSTEIN PROPERTIES has other irons in the fire. Surely they cannot be lacking for proposals. What will tenants best respond to as Floor Plan Layout possibilities? What Cladding will best reduce WIND FRICTION drag for Structural Economy? Larry Silverstein and his team are all top flight performers, his aim and theirs is always Excellence.