Midtown West’s mini-boom is taking a pause, as construction wraps up on the neighborhood’s three most visible projects. Work is mostly complete at 250 West 55th and 1717 Broadway, and work would have been mostly done at One57 if it weren’t for the Hurricane Sandy crane collapse, but even One57 should be finished soon.
As construction on the first wave of projects wraps up, a second round is on the way. The most noteworthy will be Extell’s 225 West 57th, which will appear to the left of One57 in the below photos. It will also dwarf One57, rising over 500 feet taller. 220 Central Park South will also be visible, though its height remains unconfirmed.
Compared to last June—photos from the same perspective—the skyline has gotten significantly more modern, especially with the installation of 250 West 55th’s shimmering facade. Northern Midtown is getting the same glassy aura as Times Square, minus the excessive tourism. With the addition of 225 West 57th and its 280,000 square foot Nordstrom flagship, that could change in a big way—5th Avenue is finally getting a legitimate rival, with obvious thanks to 57th Street’s new notoriety as the city’s ‘billionaire belt‘.
Southern views will also see dramatic changes, as the Hudson Yards boom is about to begin. All parts of the skyline are now evolving, another confirmation that New York’s construction industry is finally back from the dead.
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| Northeast View, Midtown West |
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| Midtown West Skyline |
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| Southeast View, Midtown |
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| Southern View, 42nd Street Corridor & the future Hudson Yards |
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Hello, where are you taking these photos from?
It would be helpful if you publish a guide on the best location to watch NY skyscrapers. I’ll be there this june and I love skyscrapers. The last time I was there was really a “duh”, because the best location we could get is ESB and 30 rock, which is not unique.
Thanks!
Hi!
Sorry for the delayed reply–these are from a friend’s building on 52nd and 10th. Unfortunately most residential/commercial buildings in New York have tight security so getting into these locations requires ‘inside’ help, but ground-based locations are also great. Best examples from the top of my head are all along the Hudson River from both the NYC and the NJ sides, especially across from the WTC in Jersey City.
Sheep’s Meadow in Central Park is also a great location for photographing the Midtown skyline, as you can see most buildings without obstruction.
Other than those, I would try hotels that have elevated/outdoor bars/restaurants, which offer unconventional and easy access for skyline photography. Not certain, but I anticipate the new Marriotts at 1717 Broadway will have a rooftop space that could be great for this. As long as an establishment is commercial space where they want you to spend $$, security/forbidding access is not a concern.
Hope this helped!