[Jularc]

A Theater Package for Extell on West 45th


http://www.curbed.com/2007_03_Extell45th1.JPG


Monday, March 26, 2007,
by ROK88

Is Gary Barnett a theater groupie? He should have no problem getting a front row seat at any number of Broadway theaters. His Extell gang has bought up scads of those precious Theater District transferable air rights for what is reported to be a new 50-story Condo-slash-Hotel to go up right off Times Square at 131 - 139 West 45th Street. It seems three old Broadway theaters all the way across the Square have found an angel in Mr. B. And as Max Bialystock will tell you, it takes a lot of cash to put on a show. Deep pockets can come in mighty handy.


http://www.curbed.com/2007_03_Extell45th2.JPG


Extell is everywhere these days. East Side. West Side. All around the town. They're certainly no stranger to the Crossroads of Desire, with their flippin' fantastic Orion over on the Deuce. Now they've made some new friends on this side of Broadway. They cut some deals with their mid-block neighbors along West 45th for even more air rights. Now they can build high over that big bow tie down below. And when Extell's new one rises it could have some company a block over at 66 West 45th, where Enrique Norten and TEN Arquitectos have plans for another 50-story hotel-condo combo. Will these two 500 footers make beautiful music together? Let's just hope they don't hit any sour notes. Gary has enough trouble with glass as it is.


http://www.curbed.com/2007_03_Extell45th3.JPG


Copyright © 2007 Curbed

[NYguy]

when Extell's new one rises it could have some company a block over at 66 West 45th, where Enrique Norten and TEN Arquitectos have plans for another 50-story hotel-condo combo. Will these two 500 footers make beautiful music together? Let's just hope they don't hit any sour notes.

Two more 500 footers added to the city's ever growing supply...

[Jularc]

Yeah this is the other tower that is plan (or is it under construction already?:shrug:)


50-story hotel and condo tower planned for West 45th Street


http://www.cityrealty.com/graphics/uploads/1149269554_45w66.gif


02-JUN-06

A 50-story, mid-block, mixed-use tower has been designed by TEN Arquitectos to replace three low-rise buildings on West 45th Street.
Retail spaces in the buildings have recently been closed. The site consists of the 4-story building at 66 West 45th Street that housed the Vega House Chinese Restaurant, the 5-story building at 68 West 45th Street that housed Kitchen Provance, and the four-story building at 70 West 45th Street that housed Pizza Paradise.

A full-page, color rendering of the planned tower appeared today in the June, 2006 issue of New York Living Magazine in an article by Steven Cutler on Enrique Norten, the head of TEN Arquitectos. The article said that the building will have a 40-room hotel and 88 condominium apartments and that construction is expected to begin in the fall.

TEN Arquitectos has several other major projects underway in New York including One York Street in TriBeCa, Harlem Park, a mixed-use project on Park Avenue at 125th Street, and a new Library of the Visual and Performing Arts on Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn.

The article also indicated it is designed "an ultra-high-end residential tower at 11th Avenue and 24th Street overlooking the Hudson River.

The firm was founded in 1986 in Mexico City and opened an office here in 2001. It was the subject of a major exhibition at the Museum of the City of New York last year.

The rendering of the 45th Street project indicates that it will have a low-rise base that holds the street-wall on 45th Street and a set-back tower that is white with an asymmetrical fenestration pattern that includes corner windows on alternate floors. The asymmetrical fenestration pattern, which has not yet been finalized, is somewhat reminiscent of the design by Bill Pedersen of Kohn Pedersen Fox for 122 Greenwich Avenue, a residential project of Hines Interests and Aby Rosen.

The 45th Street project is two doors to the west of the Sofitel Hotel and it is across the street from the black skyscraper at 1166 Avenue of the Americas, which has a large and lushly landscaped mid-block plaza.

Further west, Extell Investment Management was recently reported by The New York Sun to be assembling a site at 131-139 West 45th Street for a luxury hotel.

According to records at the Department of Buildings, the buildings at 66, 68 and 70 West 45th Street, are owned by Waterscape Resort LLS, which has a New York address in care of Jump Shot Sportswear Inc., at 15 West 34th Street of which Salim Assa is a principal. Waterscape Resort acquired the three buildings late last year for more than $20 million. The planned building is "as-of-right," that is, it can be built within existing building and zoning regulations. CityRealty.com placed a call Mr. Assa today but it was not returned.


Copyright © 1994-2007 CITY REALTY

[NYguy]

Yeah this is the other tower that is plan (or is it under construction already?:shrug:)


50-story hotel and condo tower planned for West 45th Street

http://www.cityrealty.com/graphics/uploads/1149269554_45w66.gif

Not sure. It's ok though, very slender. Looks like a mutated version of 80 South Street.

[UrbanImpact]

Love it. The unique window openings is a nice touch. I wonder what color it will be.

[Dac150]

Another one. These buildings are appearing out of no-where. Love all this development, but not impressed with this particular tower. To me it's not doing much for the skyline, but I'm sure it will make it a statement in that area.

[CoolCzech]

Hmmm... slanted roof. Yet ANOTHER "Libeskind Place Holder" going up everywhere BUT the WTC in New York!

[NYguy]

To me it's not doing much for the skyline, but I'm sure it will make it a statement in that area.

Not too many buildings will alter or stand out on the Manhattan skyline, but this one will stand out in the area at least. You could catch a glimpse from surrounding blocks. But that's just the Manhattan I love.

[Jularc]

Extell plans 55-story hotel condo project on West 45th Street


http://www.cityrealty.com/graphics/uploads/1175807691_extell45.jpg


05-APR-07

The Extell Development Company is planning to erect a 55-story hotel and hotel/condo tower at 135 West 45th Street utilizing air rights transfers from three nearby legitimate theaters.

It presented its massing studies, prepared by H. Thomas O'Hara, to the zoning committee of Community Board 5 last night.

Paul D. Selver of the law firm of Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP, which represents Extell, told the committee that the new mid-block building between the Avenue of the Americas and Seventh Avenue would contain 242 hotel rooms and 171 hotel condos. He said that the hotel would be operated by the Intercontinental.

Extell has acquired the air rights for an undisclosed amount and is seeking a certificate of appropriateness from the City Planning Commission. Under the terms of the certificate, the owners of the theaters agree to deed restrictions that limit their properties' use to legitimate theater, and agree to a maintenance program for their preservation and agree to contribute $14.91 per square foot of transferred air rights to the Special Theater Subdistrict Fund.

The committee voted 8 to 2 in favor of supporting the granting of the certificate, but several members expressed outrage that the city has not yet created the Theater Subdistrict Council, which would administer the fund.

On March 12, David Karnovsky, counsel of the Department of City Planning, wrote a letter to the chairman of Community Boards 4 and 5 in which he said that his office "is working to establish the TSC consistent with the requirements of the Zoning Resolution," adding that "While the formation of the TSC has proved to be more complex than originally anticipated, we anticipate being able to convene an organizational meeting in the early spring."

The planned tower would rise from a 9,500 square foot mid-block plot. The tower would receive 8,500 square feet of air rights from the Hirschfeld Theater, 9,500 from the St. James Theater and 54,820 square feet from the Broadhurst Theater.

The transfers would essentially reduce the available transferable air rights of the Hirschfeld and St. James theaters to nothing but the Broadhurst would still have about 31,000 square feet available, Mr. Selver said.

Joyce Matz, a member of the committee, opposed the granting of a certificate because she felt that the public benefit was insufficient especially since Mr. Selver said that all three theaters are in very good condition. The developer's contribution to the fund is estimated to be about $1.1 million.

Meile Rockefeller, co-chair of the committee said she was not happy with the fact that the planned building would be as tall as buildings on avenues even though it is a mid-block property.


Copyright © 1994-2007 CITY REALTY.COM INC.

[ZZ-II]

great project

[NYguy]

Extell plans 55-story hotel condo project on West 45th Street


http://www.cityrealty.com/graphics/uploads/1175807691_extell45.jpg

So, it's 55 stories now. Look at the mass that surrounds it, the canyons all around.

[Antares41]

Yeah! could be pushing near 600 ft easy!

[scalziand]

Emporis lists it as 55 st & 599 ft.
http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/bu/?id=135west45street-newyorkcity-ny-usa

[NYC4Life]

The tower is listed as approved. Any word of if, and when construction might start?

[antinimby]

It already has, for a while now.

[StatenIslander237]

It already has, for a while now.

In that case, somebody get us some pictures! :banana:

[NYC4Life]

In that case, somebody get us some pictures! :banana:


For sure, I was not even aware of this tower.

[Lecom]

Great filler, adds density to an already incredibly dense and tall area of the city.

[Lecom]

Meile Rockefeller, co-chair of the committee said she was not happy with the fact that the planned building would be as tall as buildings on avenues even though it is a mid-block property.
...wow

[scalziand]

Meile Rockefeller, co-chair of the committee said she was not happy with the fact that the planned building would be as tall as buildings on avenues even though it is a mid-block property.
...wow

The same made-up problem some have with Verre.:koko:

[Complex01]

Its very slender. Looks nice...

[Antares41]

I believe foundation work is well underway for this bldg. Anyone have any pictures to confirm?

[Scruffy]

This white tower with slanted top is 70 west 45th. Not this thread
For 131-138 (135) west 45th street the only render we have is this diagram
http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z70/Scruffy66/saya/renders/1175807691_extell45.jpg

Foundations seem to be near finished. This should be moved to construction.
8/24
http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z70/Scruffy66/saya/DSC05095.jpg

http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z70/Scruffy66/saya/DSC05096.jpg

http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z70/Scruffy66/saya/DSC05098.jpg

http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z70/Scruffy66/saya/DSC05099.jpg

http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z70/Scruffy66/saya/DSC05100.jpg

[Lecom]

Scruffy, you were asking at which point do I consider something u/c. Look at this one. The rebar is already sticking out of the ground where building pillars will go, which means the underground foundations are set. Thus it's u/c. Shangri-La, on the other hand, may look like it's in a similar stage yet technically it's site prep as I didn't see any foundations there yet.

[Antares41]

Scruffy, you were asking at which point do I consider something u/c. Look at this one. The rebar is already sticking out of the ground where building pillars will go, which means the underground foundations are set. Thus it's u/c. Shangri-La, on the other hand, may look like it's in a similar stage yet technically it's site prep as I didn't see any foundations there yet.


This one been done almost a month now.

[ChicagoChicago]

The job is being cancelled on 135 W 45th St. Bonds are being returned to the Surety companies by Bovis.

[Scruffy]

I can't really be too upset, i never got a chance to see what it looked like anyways

[scalziand]

For what it's worth, here's a better render of what we missed out on:
http://img114.imageshack.us/img114/7016/135w45.jpg

http://www.slcearch.com/hospitality-entertainment/135-west-45th-street/

[Antares41]

No advance without the finance! But, I still hold out hope that this will get done eventually. I like the rendering, not a knock your socks off type of design, but it is tasteful.

[Dac150]

Oh well, nothing great but at the same time it wouldn't have been bad. I walked by the site the other day, nothing to report.

[drumz0rz]

That thing would have been extremely thin. They were trying to cram it into such a small lot.

[scalziand]

Frankly, I would prefer a stronger streetwall on this one. It's nearly setback from the street like a McSam hotel.

[scalziand]

For some reason the diagrams here still have this as u/c and not on hold or canceled. What's up with that?

[RobertWalpole]

This is proceeding.

Sotawall just posted a new listing for it as "In Progress," and Extell filed new permits with the DOB last week on 21 Sept. 2010.

http://www.sotawall.com/portfolio/United%20States/135w45th-c3ec/

http://a810-bisweb.nyc.gov/bisweb/JobsQueryByNumberServlet?requestid=2&passjobnumber=104844180&passdocnumber=04

[hunser]

:previous: thanks for posting that. do you know the height?

EDIT: http://buildingdb.ctbuh.org/?do=building&building_id=2227 says 182.58 meter / 599.02 feet

[Jeff15D]

This project will most likely be starting (again) by the end of November. The tower crane will be going up before the crane moratorium sometime in the middle of November.

:tup:

[Dac150]

^^^Source for that information?

[SkyscrapersOfNewYork]

great news,a nice new addition for Midtown. though im surprised to see this one begin to start up again,i was expecting it to be cancelled.

[scalziand]

Color me pleasantly surprised that this is still going forward.

[Zerton]

The blind wall is unattractive.

[RobertWalpole]

I agree. Extell's Dr. Jeckyll/Mr. Hyde spilt personality comes through. They spare no expense on W57th and yet go cheap here.

[Dac150]

Still waiting on an official source that this project is commencing forward.

[BStyles]

I agree. Extell's Dr. Jeckyll/Mr. Hyde spilt personality comes through. They spare no expense on W57th and yet go cheap here.

Yet it looks great on the UN Secretariat Tower.

[Zerton]

Yet it looks great on the UN Secretariat Tower.

That's white marble, this will most likely be painted concrete. Now if it was also white marble I'd have less of a problem with it.

[Jeff15D]

I work for the company that does the erection and pours the concrete. I was also one of the engineers on the job this time last year when we brought it to ground level.

The drawings are being worked on as we speak. According to the powers that be, the crane has to go in before the holidays or it has to wait till after the new year. That will not make the bosses happy to wait that long, since the job is essentially ready to resume.

[tommaso]

What's the story on this one here?

[RobertWalpole]

I read on May 24, 2011 that Extell is selling this site.

[yankeesfan1000]

This has been stalled for a while, so I'll believe this is moving forward when I see some cranes on site, but for what it's worth...

45th Street hotel to get built despite sale of site: Barnett

July 29, 2011 06:45PM
By Katherine Clarke

"Development's 50-story hotel project at 131-139 West 45th Street will go ahead despite the company having sold off 11 commercial property lots in Midtown for approximately $125.16 million, including the hotel site, Extell President Gary Barnett told The Real Deal.

The 50-story condominium and hotel project will proceed, he said..."

http://therealdeal.com/newyork/articles/extell-s-45th-street-hotel-will-go-ahead-despite-sale-of-site-gary-barnett

[StatenIslander237]

I walked by the site tonight...there's a sign up labeling the project 135 West 45th Street, and there's the base of a crane in front of the site. Perhaps it will begin soon? :tup:

[yankeesfan1000]

Just walked by the crane is several stories high, at least five, and there were workers on site. SI237, how tall was the crane when you saw it?

Looks like this is in fact resuming. Anyone have an idea on height?

[kickser]

According to the thread title on SSC, it will be 600 feet or 183m tall. Quiet tall if you ask me.

[yankeesfan1000]

Thanks kickser. This will be very slender, unfortunately because of its location it won't add much to the skyline outside of just sheer density. Can't complain though, another 600 footer can't hurt.

[yankeesfan1000]

Can we have the title to include the 600 foot height?

Posted by econ_time (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=83091292&postcount=14) on SSC:

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6067/6065874817_bafb5ccc04_b.jpg

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6210/6066419538_f080c4d9e5_b.jpg

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6062/6066419632_72bc9b688c_b.jpg

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6087/6066419820_a96157fef1_b.jpg

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6203/6066419914_36b82cd6de_b.jpg

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6181/6065875441_2104b41da1_b.jpg

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6187/6065875595_bf02586e93_b.jpg

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6076/6066420272_e3c2a48102_b.jpg

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6088/6066420452_c826dfc3c6_z.jpg

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6088/6066420808_cd9bda7a8e_z.jpg

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6083/6065876339_93daf0dd69_z.jpg

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6183/6066421084_b598b5892d_b.jpg

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6193/6065876663_8609c86b61_z.jpg

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6199/6066421400_6fab31eb6e_b.jpg
Again all credit to econ_time (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=83091292&postcount=14) on SSC.

[kickser]

Thanks kickser. This will be very slender, unfortunately because of its location it won't add much to the skyline outside of just sheer density. Can't complain though, another 600 footer can't hurt.

I agree with you. Towers like the International Gem tower, the one on Lexington close to the Chrysler and the white-blue tower on Bryant Park, will also only add to the density.

OT: Whats up with the project next to the Bush Tower on 42nd street btw?

[yankeesfan1000]

OT but, what's the Bryant Park Tower?

[kickser]

The tower two block s south of the recladded Verizon, now metlife building.

http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=188678&page=2

this is its thread.

[yankeesfan1000]

Ah right right, thanks for that. Midtown is on the verge of exploding. Just when you couldn't think it could get any more dense and impressive...

[Dac150]

Very exciting to see this one back in action; the density factor is truly outstanding.

[StatenIslander237]

Just walked by the crane is several stories high, at least five, and there were workers on site. SI237, how tall was the crane when you saw it?

Looks like this is in fact resuming. Anyone have an idea on height?

Well when I saw it, it was only one story high, just off the ground, and the photos show us as well...clearly something is happening ...excited! :D

[RobertWalpole]

NY esta caliente!
:hell:
http://www.nypost.com/p/news/business/extell_builds_another_midtown_hyatt_DNfGYLeJkIl9uSJXfwJWZJ

[babybackribs2314]

So it's 53 stories instead of 50? Seems like the height should be in the 600 range, perhaps 650ish with the roof element...

[scalziand]

A rooftop bar? There should be some great views from there.

[yankeesfan1000]

What are the chances the rooftop bar would be open to people not staying in the hotel though?

I'm happy enough to see this thing back u/c, but if it could be 200m that would be incredible. Certainly an exciting time in NY, Extell is on a roll.

[babybackribs2314]

Height is 550 feet,

http://www.observer.com/2011/08/slce-and-dice-extell-dumps-design-at-new-times-square-hyatt-hotel/

[sbarn]

I don't really share The Observer's feelings on this project, I think the design is pretty decent, albeit forgettable. My thoughts are that it fits in fine given the area and the building's height. Great filler adding to Midtown's mind blowing density.

[Loqy Lion]

Height is 550 feet,

http://www.observer.com/2011/08/slce-and-dice-extell-dumps-design-at-new-times-square-hyatt-hotel/

No, it's 600. Same thing happened with One57 when they said it was 953.

[yankeesfan1000]

This is above street level! And don't worry, I know this is the worst photo update in SSP history. Another 550 footer for Midtown.

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6120/6274525148_b0d3c4e2b8_z.jpg

[Danielson27]

Great!!!. It's great to see a once stalled project start construction above grade... Now if we get 56 leonard and 30 park place to do the same; hopefully we will see that in the not too distant future

[RoldanTTLB]

I have pics from the other day. I'll post them eventually.

[yankeesfan1000]

My photo.

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6116/6319029129_ba9dc60679_z.jpg

[kingcity]

My photo.

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6116/6319029129_ba9dc60679_z.jpg

nice progress!

[Danielson27]

Nice! Construction should move a lot faster now that they finishing off with those large first two floors

[babybackribs2314]

They were on floors 6-7 when I passed by today. It is racing upwards.

[yankeesfan1000]

They were on floors 6-7 when I passed by today. It is racing upwards.

Great news. I'll try and swing by today or probably tomorrow. This is an almost entirely overlooked and forgotten 600 footer.

[Obey]

Damn, another one.

[Danielson27]

pic from today

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7023/6415654131_a4a73e9912_b.jpg

[reencharles]

Wowwww... Growing very fast! Thanks very much man!

[Oura]

Another one set back from the street, that destroys the streetwall and will show us gigantic blank walls from the sides.:rolleyes:

Just awfull.

[scalziand]

^It's not quite that bad. The bottom 2-3 floors do extend to meet the streetwall. But you're right that it's pretty sad that this is going to expose so much of teh neighboring blank walls.

[LJS]

Another one set back from the street, that destroys the streetwall and will show us gigantic blank walls from the sides.:rolleyes:

Just awfull.

Not from the distance. I think on a "canyon-shot" the set back will have little impact.

[Mike570]

Any updates here it's been a month without a pic

[reencharles]

^^

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7164/6615876341_8e82f6767c_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/7799907@N05/6615876341/)
IMG_4091.JPG (http://www.flickr.com/photos/7799907@N05/6615876341/) por denkmanttlb (http://www.flickr.com/people/7799907@N05/), no Flickr

[kingcity]

Another one set back from the street, that destroys the streetwall and will show us gigantic blank walls from the sides.:rolleyes:

Just awfull.


like this

http://www.pbase.com/image/77288441.jpg

[Danielson27]

Nice filler!...There will likely be signage on the blank wall on the side facing times square

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7154/6631245069_d2d81832a6_b.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7004/6680736437_27650dcaa1_b.jpg

[sbarn]

Its amazing how 600 feet has zero effect on the Manhattan skyline. :cool:

[NYguy]

Extell may not be done yet in the area...

http://therealdeal.com/blog/2012/01/19/extell-buys-hells-kitchen-parking-garage-for-29m/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+trdnews+%28The+Real+Deal+-+New+York+Real+Estate+News%29
Extell buys Hell’s Kitchen parking garage for $29M

http://therealdeal.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/extell-parking-pic.jpg

January 19, 2012
By Katherine Clarke

Gary Barnett’s Extell Development has purchased a 44,564-square-foot parking garage on West 44th Street for $29 million, according to public records filed with the city today. The garage, at 332 West 44th Street, was was sold by Central Parking System.

The company first put the property on the market amongst a batch of other Midtown parking sites in 2007. Those sites included 12 West 48th Street; 430 West 37th Street, 159 West 48th Street, 138 East 50th Street and 135 East 47th Street. They were initially marketed by Richard Baxter of Cushman & Wakefield, who has since moved with his New York capital markets team to Jones Lang LaSalle. It was not immediately clear if Baxter still had the listing for all the sites, including 332 west 44th Street, the sale of which closed on Dec. 1.

Combined, the sites could morph into 650,000 in buildable square feet, it was previously reported. Baxter told the Post in 2007: “The locations are so prime and so central they are almost viable to keep as garages but are also valuable as development sites.”

The site purchased by Extell is just two blocks away from the company’s 50-story hotel project at 131-139 West 45th Street...

[Duck From NY]

like this

http://www.pbase.com/image/77288441.jpg

Ew ew ew, what the hell is that?

[scalziand]

That's a genuine Sam Change/Gene Kaufman a̶b̶o̶m̶i̶n̶a̶t̶i̶o̶n̶collaboration on w39th, nicknamed the tripack.
http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/6929/tri_packfacade1.jpg
http://www.hotelchatter.com/tag/tri-pack%20hotel

[uaarkson]

Really astonishing that this was deliberately designed and built by humans. I would think autism is a hindrance to the pursuit of a degree in architecture.

[Duck From NY]

Really astonishing that this was deliberately designed and built by humans. I would think autism is a hindrance to the pursuit of a degree in architecture.

Let's be fair to autistic people. Many are savants, and all could probably design something more interesting than this garbage. Lucky we have about 1,000 taller buildings in the city.

[Duck From NY]

That's a genuine Sam Change/Gene Kaufman a̶b̶o̶m̶i̶n̶a̶t̶i̶o̶n̶collaboration on w39th, nicknamed the tripack.
http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/6929/tri_packfacade1.jpg
http://www.hotelchatter.com/tag/tri-pack%20hotel

Really? I'm surprised this isn't an ANDY Kaufman joke. (Andy's jokes were often meant to be funny only to him)

[aquablue]

I don't understand this obsession with bare concrete walls... actually, I find it rather disgusting and this would not happen in most world cities. If they don't cover that up I'm going to be pissed off. NY needs more emphasis on good design unless they want to make their city look like an ugly concrete mess like Sao Paolo or Tokyo.

[ginnyc]

I have a good vantage point of this project from my office in the Paramount Building on Broadway & 43rd and am happy to post periodic shots if there is interest in them. Wish I had started sooner, but couldn't due to various reasons. The lighting, weather and ability to open my window will be the biggest challenges.

My images will be collected on both my smugmug site and Google+ gallery.

Smugmug site (http://photos.slicesintime.com/Places/New-York-City/Hyatt-Times-Square-135-W-45th/21177859_txBFdD)

Google+ gallery (https://plus.google.com/photos/116818181495593250724/albums/5701282563872212001):


http://photos.slicesintime.com/Places/New-York-City/Hyatt-Times-Square-135-W-45th/i-qdLgDK2/0/L/2012-01-2409-44-18351wm-L.jpg

http://photos.slicesintime.com/Places/New-York-City/Hyatt-Times-Square-135-W-45th/i-QzgpPxM/0/L/IMG7059-L.jpg

[Duck From NY]

NY needs more emphasis on good design unless they want to make their city look like an ugly concrete mess like Sao Paolo or Tokyo.

1-4 WTC, Bank Of America, Beekman, one57. I think we're doing fine, and have been for the past 100+ years, thanks.

[aquablue]

1-4 WTC, Bank Of America, Beekman, one57. I think we're doing fine, and have been for the past 100+ years, thanks.

For the past 100 years? What about all those monstrosities that were built in the 60's and 70's? Do you want another ugly blank concrete monstrosity that looks like something from that era? I don't.

This is the 21st century and we are still building ugly concrete crap!!

I don't understand how they are allowed to leave that concrete wall bare like that for all to admire.

[JSsocal]

It might be tasteful and it might be clad in something other then concrete, but blank walls are there because of the layout of a hotel like this, this is in fact a very standard hotel layout. Most hotels have two principal sides with rooms against them with one long hallway down the middle, and the ends are usually windowless as the rooms all face in one of two directions. At least its not painted like a zebra on the side like mcsam specials.

[Duck From NY]

For the past 100 years? What about all those monstrosities that were built in the 60's and 70's? Do you want another ugly blank concrete monstrosity that looks like something from that era? I don't.

This is the 21st century and we are still building ugly concrete crap!!

I don't understand how they are allowed to leave that concrete wall bare like that for all to admire.

There are definitely some ugly boxy buildings in the city. However, that era gave us a lot of filler that provides a sort of canvas//frame/back drop for the older buildings, as well as the newer/sleeker ones. Smaller, tacky ones like this really don't matter.

Oh, and of the boxy buildings, I like One Chase Manhattan Plaza, the MetLife Building, One Astor Plaza, the General Motors Building, One New York Plaza, etc.

[yankeesfan1000]

ginnyc, thanks for the photos! You've got a perfect vantage point for them. If you wouldn't mind a photo every couple of weeks that'd be greatly appreciated. This tower doesn't get many updates as One57, Gem Tower, 250 W 55th, and 1715 Bway, are all relatively close by and are all more interesting, but this is still a solid 600 footer.

[kingcity]

i think they build completly differnt in new york. if you look how they build a skyscraper in europa or asia there is often a concept in ny the buy a plot an build a skyscraper on it.

[NYCLuver]

Great vantage point GinNYC... keep the pics coming, would love to see this one grow! You have a great office view. :D