We found another rendering via
New York YIMBY of the Whole Foods building rising on Lenox and 125th Street which shows all of the major tenants in the rendering. The notable supermarket has always been the anchor retailer alongside Burlington Coat Factory and American Eagle but Olive Garden is quite new. It is definitely an eclectic offering of big brands and uptown will have quite a mix of chain stores on its main commercial corridor once things finish up in a year or so.
Wow! Thanks for posting this. It looks awesome. Can't wait for it to arrive.
ReplyDeleteNot a huge fan of Olive Garden, but I'm just excited for the Whole Foods. There aren't a ton of healthy food options on Lenox at the moment.
Looking at this most recent rendering of the Whole Foods building, I am struck for the first time how inappropriate the Lenox Ave. facade is. I realize the same could be said of the west facade north of 125th. But that does not justify the same mistake.
ReplyDeleteThe stretch of Lenox below 125th, for at least 8 blocks, is an unbroken procession of period architecture. I live nearby, and it has been a joy to see at all times. Most especially, when the noon sun rakes across the facades.
The new building's garish commercial facade and signage that will broadcast the presence of several national chains of middling interest, are a painful assault on this unique architecture. A modest respect for contextualism on the Lenox facade would have gone a long way, and I hope it is not too late in the game for us to point it out.
Agree! It was the first thing I thought of when I saw the picture of the vendor filled rendering of what the building will look like. I thought "where is the historical society or some kind of community board". Excited to see the wholefoods, but wish it looked like NYC and not so sterile.
DeleteI hope wal-mart stays away!
so true Jim. agree.
ReplyDeleteI am all for development - but lets go for some quality architecture and design. Its worth the extra money.
I'm so sick of all these commercial stores. Nothing is unique anymore just big boring America. Ho hum.
ReplyDeleteThis is one project that I am excited about that is happening in the central Harlem community. This project will bring much needed jobs for our youth and foot traffic for our street vendors. I really like this
ReplyDeleteI disagree. We need to embrace change, even if it alters the architectural norm. Manhattan's architecture on its own is eclectic and diverse. Our first (and IMO only) thoughts should be "I can't wait for Whole Foods!" .
ReplyDeleteWith you on that Jim.
ReplyDeleteI'm with Jim. This is awful. There is no reason for it to look this garish. Nice to have a Whole Foods but why so tacky.
ReplyDeleteWell said Jim,
ReplyDeleteLenox Ave has a stunning street scape unparalleled in Manhattan, let’s not give that up too easily.
This could be improved with a contextual brick or stucco brownstone façade with a cornice and window details, not too hard to do.
If anyone remembers, this corner used to have a handsome brick building wrapping around the north and east of this block.
On a positive note, WFM will be great for Harlem.
I'm with Anonymous 2:00pm. Burlington Coat Factory? Olive Garden? Yeah, I was really sitting around thinking, You know, what Harlem needs is a Burlington Coat Factory. Whole Foods, I'll take: maybe it will force some of the other supermarkets in Harlem to up their game. But the rest does indeed sound like "more boring America" as the poster put it. And the building looks very drab.
ReplyDeletewestsider - I remember the old building. I get sad every time I walk by that corner.
ReplyDeleteIt was a beautiful building with marble pillars on the stoop and a very attractive cornice that wrapped the building from Lenox around to 125th!
DeleteI am generally okay with the nationals adopting 125th street as "boring america" . You must realize they redlined this place for decades, so its a major change that they recognize the buying power and plain good business to be here. Not to mention the much needed jobs and taxes.
ReplyDeleteThat said, yes, we could use far better buildings AND more adaptive re-use of the current existing buildings. The return of Blumsteins emporium? or at least its building.
Yes, Whole Foods is great, but would have been better had they kept the old building and built around it. a few dollars more , but worth it . and they did that in Gowanus.
Sorry, but this is way better than the empty lot we've been looking at for years. Should be even taller.
ReplyDeletewho oversees the design activity for Harlem--does the Harlem community have any input in the thougth process..
ReplyDelete