Full demolition permits have been filed for the six-story building at 251 West 91st Street, on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. The site currently houses a 14,650 square foot mixed-use building built in 1910, with 20 residential units and three commercial storefronts.
It is unclear what plans are in store for the 2,775 square foot lot, as no new building permits have been filed yet. James Patterson of Ancora Engineering PLLC is listed as the applicant of record.
Located between Broadway and West End Avenue in the Upper West Side neighborhood, the 96th Street subway station is four blocks north and serviced by the 1, 2, and 3 trains. The site is also two blocks east of Riverside Park.
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This looks like a beautiful, solid mid block building.
Let me guess – on a stretch of Broadway dominated by brick and masonry buildings many with architectural detail and cornices, this new development will no doubt be a stark steel and glass modernist rectangle so that rather than fitting into the context of the built environment it will draw attention to itself and stick out like a sore thumb. With progress like this, no wonder so many people prefer to preserve the past.
In most American cities – say Milwaukee – this building would certainly be its neighborhood’s BEST building. Why is this “demolition crime” being allowed?
Well said
F*** Capitalism and Emperialism
Oh brother. Also, that’s not how you spell imperialism.
These comments are hilarious. This building is old and charming. It is not unique, in any way and the combination of its’ corner location makes it very appealing for a new high-density redevelopment. My guess is the buyer here is also looking to acquire the other low buildings facing Broadway. We could be looking at a sizable new development that I’m sure will be very high quality. The hysterics here are over the top. Where is your activism to restore its missing cornice that’s been gone for years if it’s such an irreplaceable gem?
Not that it’s an ‘irreplaceable gem’ but a thread in a richly textured fabric and an integrated cloth.
Recent new high rises on the UWS above 85th, for the most part, have not been ‘high quality’. One possible reason that many, perhaps including the writers here, may have supported the landmarking of the UWS to support replacement of architectural details like missing cornices more likely – the efficacy of the program not at issue.
The old, tactile, masonry fabric of the city is being ripped through with sterile glass spikes everywhere. You may laugh at the laments of those who see the city they love peel like leprosy. It’s not a very civil act, but civility is also disappearing in our new city.
Is 250 W 81 St a sterile glass spike? Because that is the quality I anticipate rising here, and if that means losing this structure, I think that’s a worthy sacrifice.
My comment did not say much about the existing building as I recognize it had not been sensitively maintained (lost cornice) and sits amidst several nondescript low rise structures which all combined make for a well sized plot for redevelopment. Rather, I was anticipating that the replacement structure will be yet another example of contemporary steel and glass blandness more suited to Shanghai than NYC. The reason I believe that is because that is largely what gets built in this city nowadays — vide Hudson Yards. It is also largely true that Yimby tends to celebrate this type of “architecture” – especially supertalls.
250 West 81st Street was designed by Robert A.M. Stern who has a long association with this city, is sympathetic to historic preservation, and designs buildings that are meant to fit into their context rather than stick out. Even his supertalls look like they belong in NYC, while most of the others designed by other architects look anonymous (as in they could just as easily be in Seoul or Dubai).
250 West 81st Street is a worthy addition to the streetscape and skyline. So I totally agree: it would be great if the replacement at 251 West 91st Street is designed by Stern or someone like him and fits into the context of the neighborhood. Given the prevailing trends in NYC, however, I am skeptical that will happen.