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    New MoMA tower, reduced by 200 feet, approved

    Special Permits  •  Midtown, Manhattan

    Hines Interests’ proposed tower at 53 West 53rd Street. Image: Ateliers Jean Nouvel.

    Commission expressed doubts about whether Jean Nouvel-designed tower should equal Empire State Building. On September 9, 2009, the City Planning Commission approved a modified version of Hines Interests’ proposal to build an 85-story, 1,250-foot tall mixed-used building, which would reach the Empire State Building’s height below its antenna, adjacent to the Museum of Modern Art complex at 53 West 53rd Street in Midtown, Manhattan. The 19,615 sq.ft. through-block site is located in the Special Midtown District, and portions of its zoning lot are within four zoning districts: the C5-2.5, C5-3, C5-P, and C6-6 districts. The MoMA complex, the landmarked St. Thomas Church, the American Folk Art Museum, and the Museum Tower condominiums are all located on the project’s zoning lot.

    Hines’ proposal called for a 658,306 sq.ft. tower that would include museum, hotel, and residential uses. MoMA would create a 51,949 sq.ft. gallery and exhibition space on the second through fifth floor that would connect internally to its neighboring building. A hotel would occupy floors eight through 17, providing 147,945 sq.ft. of space for approximately 167 rooms, and floors 19 through 81 would provide 458,412 sq.ft. of residential space. The hotel’s lobby would occupy the ground floor, and it would use the cellar-space as a restaurant. Hines would build a residential entrance on West 54th Street. (read more…)

    Tags : 53 West 53rd Street, Hines Interests, Jean Nouvel, MoMA complex
    Date:10/15/2009
    Category : City Planning Commission
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    Proposed MoMA skyscraper generates opposition

    Air rights transfer  •  Midtown, Manhattan

    Jean Nouvel-designed tower requires air rights transfer from two nearby landmarks. The University Club, located on the corner of West 54th Street and Fifth Avenue, and St. Thomas Church, located at West 53rd Street and Fifth Avenue, sought Landmarks’ approval for the sale of their developable air rights to Hines Realty. The sale would allow Hines to construct a 75-story mixed-use tower in the vacant mid-block lot adjacent to the Museum of Modern Art. The tower would house MoMA galleries, a restaurant, a hotel, and residential apartments.

    St. Thomas argued that proceeds from the sale would go towards an ongoing stained-glass restoration project, while the University Club claimed that the sale would help mitigate costs related to structural damage in its basement and ground floor.

    Jean Nouvel testified that the tower would be consistent with the City’s history of skyscrapers and bring energy to the neighborhood, creating a sense of lightness to the existing, low-lying MoMA building. Hines representatives echoed Nouvel’s testimony by providing renderings that they claimed showed that the proposed tower would not cast shadows on neighboring landmarks. (read more…)

    Tags : 1 West 54th St., 678 Fifth Ave., Hines Realty, Jean Nouvel, Manhattan Community Board 5, St. Thomas Church and Parish House, The Municipal Art Society, the University Club
    Date:06/15/2008
    Category : Landmarks Preservation Commission
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    MoMA skyscraper approved

    Air rights transfer  •  Midtown, Manhattan

    Hines Realty won approval from Landmarks to construct a 75-story tower in Midtown Manhattan. Image: Ateliers Jean Nouvel.

    Commissioners approve proposal, but require additional preservation work for the University Club.

    On May 13, 2008, Landmarks voted unanimously to allow Hines Realty to purchase developable air rights from two landmarks: the University Club, located on the corner of West 54th Street and Fifth Avenue; and St. Thomas Church, located at West 53rd Street and Fifth Avenue. The purchase will allow Hines to construct a 75-story mixed-use tower in the vacant mid-block lot adjacent to the Museum of Modern Art. Designed by Jean Nouvel, the tower would be occupied by MoMA galleries, a restaurant, a hotel, and apartments.

    Following a lengthy public hearing on April 8, 2008, at which elected officials and local residents raised concerns over the impact of the large-scale development on nearby landmarks and traffic congestion in Midtown, Landmarks held another hearing on May 13th to allow the applicants and MoMA to respond. 5 CityLand 60 (May 15, 2008).

    Representing MoMA, Michael Sillerman of Kramer Levin emphasized that the proposal fulfills the zoning resolution’s requirements governing such a sale. Specifically, that the new building must be of a design that creates a “harmonious relationship” with the landmarked building selling its developable air rights. Sillerman argued that the proposed tower would not significantly impact St. Thomas Church or the University Club in any adverse fashion and is, therefore, legally sufficient. (read more…)

    Tags : Hines Realty, Jean Nouvel, Museum of Modern Art, St. Thomas Church, the University Club
    Date:06/15/2008
    Category : Landmarks Preservation Commission
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