Rumblings & Bumblings: Are Sundari's 15 Minutes Up?
Tuesday, February 14, 2006, by Joshua
[Hey gang! This edition of R&B goes out to all the lovers. Please find below actual questions ISO that special someone to provide mind-blowing answers. Do get in touch -- in the comments below or at tips@curbed.com. xoxo.]
1) Murray Hill: "We hear a rumor that the planned Andy Warhol condo project at Madison and 32nd [the Sundari Lofts & Tower, rendered right] ran out of money and is kaput. they recently finished the demolition, and it is now an empty lot. any truth to that?"
2) East Village: "Any word on what is being built on E. 4th St between Cooper Square and Lafayette St? It appears that one owner owns all the lots from the Old Merchants Museum on 4th St all the way east to the corner of Cooper Square/Bowery."
3) Manhattan Valley: "Does anyone know what's happening at Amsterdam and 100th? The one story building currently there is slowly emptying out. At the last remaining business, a Tae Kwan Do school, I asked the manager what was happening and he said it was being torn down this summer for a new development. Rumor has it that Extell is putting up something, but what? Ariel Far East?"
4) Chelsea: "There seem to be no recent postings on what is to happen with the vacant lot on 6th ave between 24th and 25th. All tenants in the small building located on the corner of 25th & 6 Ave have vacated and scaffolding went up about a month or so ago. Looks as if building will be torn down. Anyone have the scoop?"
5) Upper East Side: "hello there! we were walking up second avenue today and noticed a bunch of dilapidated buildings that looked like they'd be coming down right around 79th st and 2nd. one of them was on the south east corner, and the other one was betwen 2nd and 1st at 80th we think, right next to the north fork bank. are there going to be new developments there? it looks like it ..."
6) Carnegie Hill: "Any word on what the retail is going to be at the new development on the corner of 96th & Madison?" BONUS: "The bodega on the northwest corner of 97th & Park closed. An upscale new tenant could do wonders to clean up the corner . . ."
I don't think Sundari's out of money, but what a story if that were true -- bad news for Andrew Heiberger, as this is his major project w. his new company (Buttonwood Development). I'd heard their sales office was closed at the end of last year, and they would re-open this year, but haven't checked in on it -- apparently it was something to do with permit problems.
Would the Second Ave demolition have anything to do with the fabled subway? Some friends of mine who live in the area seem to actually believe it's going to happen.
Re: Item 3. I don't know about Amsterdam and 100th, but the stretch of one story buildings on the superblock between 97th and 100th on Columbus is apparently being replaced by a high rise sometime soon. Petitions were circulating to stop the non-renewal of commercial leases, though I don't see how anyone can think that area doesn't need a major shot in the arm. It's a commercial wasteland.
#4 in Chelase/6th Ave is a big condo tower. There is a rendering of it on the web somehwere. Try Wired New York forum.
79/2nd will be Condos
The are building where North Fork Bank is now (they are relocating them to 77th & 3rd during construction), and just to the South, where "Oak Smith & Jones" furniture store was.
I live in the building next door to the ones coming down on 79th & 2nd. In addition to the 5 story building that has already been razed, the building that the North Fork bank is in is also coming down. We've been told that an 18 story co-op is going up on those lots.
So I am 75% sure the Chelsea lot is Lux condos. The property was/is owned by ConEd and the story was some power substation, but I believe that was quashed by the community and now oft loudly heralded, oft sadly unfulfilling Lux Condos/Apts for.
re: East 4th Street. The parking lot west of Bowery to the Skidmore House is being developed, and Skidmore House (which is the currently derelict twin of Merchants) is going to be restored - suppossedly to a 1-family residence. The lot between Skidmore & Merchants (actually the 2 lots mid-block) are where the water tunnel access is and might someday become a pocket park.
re: East 4th Street. The parking lot west of Bowery to the Skidmore House is being developed, and Skidmore House (which is the currently derelict twin of Merchants) is going to be restored - suppossedly to a 1-family residence. The lot between Skidmore & Merchants (actually the 2 lots mid-block) are where the water tunnel access is and might someday become a pocket park. The development is in the review process before the Community Boards - last iteration was something around 13 stories.
The Chelsea lot is being developed by LCOR (the project was mentioned in the Real Deal one month) They must still be negotiating terms with Con Ed for purchase of the site. Also, they must have closed on the purchase of the small building on the corner.
E. 80th between First and Second Ave ? ? ? I live on that block, what do you mean?
E. 80th between First and Second Ave ? ? ? I live on that block, what do you mean?
What's happening at 72nd and First?
Regarding #14, The whole blockfront from 71st to 72nd street - is being torn down by one of Hospitals on York Avenue - Bedpan Alley creeps East....Its a shame , that block was a reminder of what the neighborhood used to look like. Had nice little restuarants and shops - plus light and air. How come no one in the Community fought to save it, or the church at 67th st? Does anyone over there give a Shit? Landmark whats left before its too late
Regarding #6
Bank of America took 700SF for an ATM store. The 1200SF on the corner is still available. No food is allowed.
#15 - - as an Upper Eastside for 30 years, I agree with you. Between NYU, Memorial Sloan Kettering and Cornell Med., they are gradually taking over the city and destroying our neighborhoods with their multi-story ugly glass and chrome towers. I know they serve a great medical purpose, but more consideration should go to those of us that have to look at these buildings, from the outside, 24/7.
#17 - Why are looking looking at the outside of buildings 24/7 ??
That bodega on 97th was a really great place. They would sell me King Cobra when I was in 8th grade, a favor they extended to many Hunter College High School students. The guys who hung out there were also pretty awesome.
I don't mind that there are new buildings going up in bedpan alley and I certainly don't think that they are taking over the city. Maybe people feel that way because they are sensitive to any little change. In the whole scheme of things its a benefit. People are always more comfortable with the present. 50 years from now when some of these buildings are going to be torn down, there are going to be the same type of people complaining that "their neighborhood" is going to be deprived of "landmarked buildings" also. If you are going to landmark those buidings you might as well landmark the whole city because those buildings are nothing special. Change happens, accept it or not.
I don't mind that there are new buildings going up in bedpan alley and I certainly don't think that they are taking over the city. Maybe people feel that way because they are sensitive to any little change. In the whole scheme of things its a benefit. People are always more comfortable with the present. 50 years from now when some of these buildings are going to be torn down, there are going to be the same type of people complaining that "their neighborhood" is going to be deprived of "landmarked buildings" also. If you are going to landmark those buidings you might as well landmark the whole city because those buildings are nothing special. Change happens, accept it or not.
I don't mind that there are new buildings going up in bedpan alley and I certainly don't think that they are taking over the city. Maybe people feel that way because they are sensitive to any little change. In the whole scheme of things its a benefit. People are always more comfortable with the present. 50 years from now when some of these buildings are going to be torn down, there are going to be the same type of people complaining that "their neighborhood" is going to be deprived of "landmarked buildings" also. If you are going to landmark those buidings you might as well landmark the whole city because those buildings are nothing special. Change happens, accept it or not.
I don't mind that there are new buildings going up in bedpan alley and I certainly don't think that they are taking over the city. Maybe people feel that way because they are sensitive to any little change. In the whole scheme of things its a benefit. People are always more comfortable with the present. 50 years from now when some of these buildings are going to be torn down, there are going to be the same type of people complaining that "their neighborhood" is going to be deprived of "landmarked buildings" also. If you are going to landmark those buidings you might as well landmark the whole city because those buildings are nothing special. Change happens, accept it or not.
I live across from the Sundari Lofts and as per the doorman the lot is now for sale for $25 million and he hasn't seen any work going on there in a few weeks.
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