Developers, ESB Butt Heads Over 15 Penn Plaza

This artist's rendering provided by Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects shows the proposed 15 Penn Plaza, center, rising 67-stories in Midtown Manhattan, just 34 feet shorter than the Empire State Building at left. The City Council is scheduled to vote on the project Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2010. (Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects)

At a hearing with the zoning and franchises subcommittee of the City Council yesterday, Vornado Realty Trust, the developers behind the proposed 1,200 ft. 15 Penn Plaza, and Empire State Building owner Anthony Malkin made their cases to the committee.

David Greenbaum of Vornado Realty Trust insisted they were in no way attempting to take away from the glory of the Empire State Building, "We love the [Empire State] building, they love the building, New York City loves the building, we respect the building. We do not think that somehow the building is in any way blocked, defaced by having another major building in the skyline of New York." He also accused Malkin Holdings of producing inaccurate renderings of what the new building would look like. But according to Malkin, there can only be one.

"This is a size 22 foot in a size 12 shoe. It’s too bloody big," Malkin raged at the meeting. And according to a poll he commissioned, 71% of New Yorkers said the skyscraper would degrade the city's skyline. But Greenbaum accused Malkin of whining over the inevitable. "The fact is, New York City's skyline has never stopped changing, and I certainly hope it never will."

Though Malkin suggested capping the new tower at 825 feet, folks on the Empire State Building observation deck told AP yesterday the new tower would be a crime against the city's aesthetics. One said the lower tower "would still be no good, because I like to look down at the streets of New York," while another just remarked, "Wow! Wouldn't that be sad!" Final approval for the new tower could be decided by the committee by as early as Wednesday.

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By Jaya Saxena in News on August 24, 2010 10:53 AM

Comments [rss]

Pålægpåtoppenafsmørrebrød

It's fine if it isn't going to be a big featureless erect glass penis.

Reflect

Sound like im jealous that your penis is bigger or distracting from my rather bulbous penis..

Built it.. Lookes nice cant be on. Top forever ESB

Someone got unfairly used to being the highest said WTC...

Bike Rider

how about we rebuild the fuckin trade center already

Rob

Huh, huh, he said Butt Head.

RichardWEA

A bloated, bulbous, obese version of 20 Exchange Place. Nothing new under the sun.

BreatheRhetoric

It looks exactly like the Goldman building in Jersey City.

longacre

I was thinking the same thing.

LeoNYC

I hate it when a bunch of politicians decide what should and should not be built. After all, in the 1930s when some of best buildings got built, the whole concept of approvals was almost non-existent. Should we not build any really tall buildings anymore so not to distract from the "wonderful view" of the Empire State? I say, let the markets decide how tall the buildings should be and what gets built, unless some of the truly important or historical buildings are affected.

mocanlagunas

A redbull flying race between the buildings would be nice...

Mordicai

The last thing we need in this city are more jobs. Heavens to betsy, heavens forfend we start building skyscrapers. Nothing ruins a skyline quite like awesome skyscrapers. Blech, if I wanted to be surrounded by skyscrapers I'd move to the city. Give me Wal-marts & strip malls, give me parking lots & dammit whatever you do, don't try to build new things!

John_Matrix

this thing looks like a vagina and a penis at the same time.

i've got no objections to building up the skyline, but this thing is just mediocre and generic.

mocanlagunas

Agree with you. Build something beautiful...

JZ-man

They should probably build a mosque there instead.

Think2wice

"It’s too bloody big,"

"The ESB is too bloody big!" said the Chrysler Building.

JayNYC

I REALLY want to hear from Bloomberg on this, especially since he has veto power... he who speaks of tolerance and injects himself into construction debates. If he's got the balls to oppose it, I'm going to enjoy the beating he'll take from people.

BUILD IT! It's gorgeous.

BillyShears

The fruit bowl in your place is filled with nothing but apples and oranges, isn't it?

dept54321

Ha!

eflash

he typically seems all in favor of change, i don't see him opposing this.

also, i agree, BUILD IT!

FelixtheCat & Christine Quinn'

He votes in favor of change?? yes when the change benefits him such as changing term limits against the will of the people. Bloomberg should veto this project to be consistent. he refuses to ban the NYC horse drawn carriage industry because it thinks it is a LANDMARK and a Tourist attraction. Horses are living beings not LANDMARKS. Empire state bldg is a landmark and tourists do come to the city for the empire state bldg.