The Sky's The Limit For Midtown, FiDi

The sky is the limit for not only a select number of developers bank accounts but the buildings themselves too. These soon to be built and completed buildings defy convention as some of the city's tallest and most inventive undertakings in recent years.

Carnegie 57

Rendering of Carnegie57 Residences & Hotel

One of Extell's most daring ventures yet is Carnegie 57. At a planned 75 stories high, it will be the city's tallest residential building surpassing Trump's World Tower. Extell also plans to create the city's most high priced and luxurious apartments as well. Designed by famed French architect Christian de Portzamparc of the LVMH Tower, Carnegie 57 creators aim to complete the project by 2013. The ground floor will contain retail space while the first 20 stories will house the 210 room Park Hyatt Hotel.

Carnegie57 view from Central Park

While there are few details as of yet, Extell has spilled the beans on a few amenities. With a 63 car parking garage, screening room and fitness center, the buildings is going for large scale for its large price. Units will include duplexes and set back roofs up to the 72nd floor. With elevators going up to the 75th, many can only speculate that there will be a rooftop attraction soaring high in the sky for only the brave.

Tower Verre

Rendering of Tower Verre along 53rd

The Tower Verre, also known as MoMA Tower, is as impressive as it is difficult to get passed public opinion. While many find the sheer height and design of the building a push towards the future for Midtown, others find it obtrusive. The outcry of public opinion from both sides has helped to delay the building from even getting past the planning stages and into construction.

Lounge in proposed tower public space

The international developer, Hines, and architect of the vision machine, Jean Nouvel, are the minds behind the mixed use building. According to Hines website, the building will become the city's 3rd tallest rising up to 75 stories at 1,050 feet tall. The building will include a 100 room 7-star hotel, 100 luxury condominiums, below ground-level restaurant/lounge and the 60,000 square foot expansion to MoMA gallery space. The interesting design concept was supposedly inspired by the shape of man's finger. 

No matter what your opinion of the building itself, the one thing that is certain is that community board roadblocks will leave this empty lot next to MoMA for a while.  

Riverside Center South 

 

The Rushmore, one completed building of Riverside South

Charting the last frontier of New York, Extell plans to go hard or go home. Even though the developer has the most active number of projects in the city, they too have come face to face with the "community board" roadblock that has stalled others.

The 8 acre, 5 building project will be designed by architect Christian de Portzamparc bordering Midtown West and Upper West Side. 2 of the 5 residential buildings, The Avery and Rushmore, have already been completed. 

Outdoor space and view of Riverside Center South

In addition to the 5 buildings, Extell plans for a movie theater, 3.2 acres of park space, an elementary school, Costco, restaurants and retail space. As of yet, the project has been slightly scaled back after community complaints of a Costco.

Even though the developer has agreed to partially fund the school, add affordable units and incorporate open space, the community board was hoping for more. In addition to the agreed upon changes, Extell will be expected to entirely fund the 150,000 sq ft school space, remove one of five buildings to create less density, increase affordable from 20% for 20 years to 30% permanently and make a substantial contribution to the Miller Highway relocation.

Water walkway apart of 3.2 acre open space

Proposed changes will require at least 40 million in funding for the school alone. Many hope the developer can make it work since they are only one of the few planning for expansion in the area. The city itself will fund the development of an additional 75 acre space with 10,000 new housing units, an amphitheater, community gardens, public art, cafe terraces, boardwalk, restaurants, parking and retail space.

Beekman Tower

On the other end of town, the Beekman is one of the only buildings to go up without a hitch (almost). Despite the falling debris due to powerful winds that stalled construction, the Forest City Ratner building is set to open in early 2011.

Architect Frank O. Ghery has created a unique design for the lower Manhattan FiDi neighborhood. Rippling curves and a steel facade give to illusion of movement from as far as Brooklyn. At 77 stories tall, the tower is a stand out sight amongst the area rivaling the  nearby Woolworth building. Residences will go up to the 76 floor and supposedly a rooftop lounge or terrace will top off the building.

Not too many details have been provided about the inside of the building. There will be 903 rental units ranging from 500 to 1600 square feet. Every unit will be at market rate without incentives. Artistic wise, Ghery's inspiration comes from Baroque sculpture artist Gianlorenzo Bernini.

Towards the base of the building, a lot of talk has been going on about the new features. There will be a public elementary school on the first five floors of the building with a 4th floor outdoor play terrace. Beekman's other tenant will include NY Downtown Hospital with public underground parking and 2 public plazas.

Stay tuned for building updates and developments.