Back in September, YIMBY posted about a new building application filed for 505 West 43rd Street, a block-through project between Tenth and Eleventh Avenues in Midtown. Now, we have the reveal for the building, which is being designed by ODA and developed by El Ad Group, and will include both condominiums and affordable housing.
Per the project’s EAS statement, the development will comprise “a new platform above the Amtrak railroad right-of-way and an approximately 181,000 gross square feet (gsf) development (the ‘proposed project’) containing 160,000 gsf of residential uses consisting of approximately 107 residential units (approximately 148,614 square feet of floor area), of which approximately 26 units (or 22,492 square feet) would be permanently affordable, located in two segments.”
In terms of form, “[the] southern segment would rise to a height of 15 stories (154 feet), and the northern segment would rise to heights of 14 and 15 stories (144 feet and 154 feet). The ground floor would contain lobby, accessory recreation space, bike rooms, mechanical space and an accessory parking area containing 23 spaces.”
505 West 43rd Street, 43rd Street face, image by ODA
While the estimates are clearly “approximate,” the renderings included alongside the latest plans appear to show the design moving closer to finality, though Eran Chen’s touch here is more restrained than usual, especially compared to some of the architect’s Brooklyn projects (like 134 Vanderbilt Avenue, or 608 Franklin Avenue).
Instead, 505 West 43rd Street looks to be clad primarily in masonry. While the renderings are not perfectly clear, grey bricks seem to be the predominant material, with metal lacing the building’s envelope. And in the most atypical styling gesture of all, windows are used sparingly.
Though the project’s scope isn’t that large, its impact will be beneficial with the covering of the open rail line, which adds nothing to the neighborhood. Residential developments are blooming across surrounding blocks, with major projects including Moinian’s 605 West 42nd Street and Silverstein’s (still conceptual) West 41st Street supertall proposal currently in the works.
This mini-boom is another major reason to ask why New Yorkers must put up with the incompetent handling of the MTA, which will have direct bearing on the future of 505 West 43rd Street due to the cancellation of construction on the 7 train stop at 41st Street and 10th Avenue. Had the subway stop been built with the rest of the 7 train extension, residents at these developments would not have to walk to either 34th Street and 11th Avenue or Times Square for crosstown service.
In the meantime, permits for 505 West 43rd Street are still pending.
Talk about this project on the YIMBY Forums
For any questions, comments or feedback, email [email protected]
Subscribe to YIMBY’s daily e-mail
Follow YIMBYgram for real-time photo updates
Like YIMBY on Facebook
Follow YIMBY’s Twitter for the latest in YIMBYnews
