The downtown architects have a rather distinguishable look since they designed 2280 FDB, SoHa 118, The Lenox along with a slightly different color 88 Morningside but these developments mostly are similar in their overall look: LINK. There is only one big project over 20 story in the GF55 portfolio (the 21-story Elliott at lower photo) currently being built in Chelsea so one might imagine that the corner building with the mix of bricks, metal and glass will be similar to the one planned for South Harlem. Check our original post for this proposed building that still has not been approved: LINK
That rendering looks rather large for what is ultimately a pretty narrow plot. I'm not sure how they could fit 8 windows (I think I count 8) fronting Manhattan Ave.
ReplyDeleteWhat's most perplexing about the rendering is that they've diminished / edited out the 'Towers on the Park' buildings down the block -- which are in fact taller.
ReplyDeleteGiven that they're going through an approval process where a small but vocal element will no doubt protest that it is too large, it seems rather odd that they would intentionally obscure the fact that the tower will be going up alongside even taller buildings.
Note to others who (like myself) may be inclined to glance over a critical detail or two: The rendering above is of a building in Chelsea.
ReplyDeleteI believe this rendering is of the building on Ninth Ave and 27th Street. Looking West on 27th.
ReplyDeleteThe lower photo is of the Elliott in Chelsea and not the corner of Morningside Park. Seeing that all mid-size buildings by GF55 look the same, the sketch is just being used as a speculative look at what is in store. The 110th Street side is definitely deep enough for 10 windows while the Manhattan Avenue portion will probably be reduced.
ReplyDeleteAs regards this site, let's recall that it occupies what the designers of Morningside Park imagined as a green patch of continuity with Central Park. Also, the old Ninth Ave, elevated ended its famous S-Curve right there.
ReplyDeleteJonathan, I'd be interested in seeing any evidence that Olmsted and Vaux saw the site for this building as a green patch. It is not shown this way in either their 1873 plan or their revised plan of 1887. Both plans can be compared at this link . As far as I know, to the extent that they may have mentioned a connection they would have been referring to the tree lined Cathedral Parkway, not a more formal park to park connection. In fact according to the information quoted on page six of the report linked to above, Olmsted believed that Morningside needed to be treated quite differently from Central Park so as not to seem a "weak pendant of the older more important ground".
ReplyDeleteAlso, the Ninth Ave. elevated S curve had its mid not end point over 110th Street (Cathedral Parkway) near this site but not "right there".
The station and its connection to the platform appear east of this corner plot in this photo.
NYC Morningside is right indeed as regards the S-Curve--for some reason in my mind I had mistakenly imagined the elevated running up Manhattan Avenue, when of course it crossed over Manhattan Avenue and then curved up Eighth Avenue.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the correction.
As for the green space connecting Central and Morningside parks, it was to the best of recollection (which we now doubt quite vigorously...) part of a preliminary vision that didn't make it into the 1873 plan.