We stumbled upon the New York State Archives image library last night, and dug up these old photos of Manhattan, all from the year 1916. That year New York City was the largest Metropolitan area in America, with a population of 5 million and growing, it was experiencing a building boom. At the time, it was home to the world's tallest skyscraper: the Woolworth Building (built in 1913). That year, New York passed the first zoning law in the county, "and because New Yorkers did not want to cap the height of skyscrapers, they decided that they would regulate the shape of skyscrapers. The idea was that that light and air would reach the sidewalk... the height that you could build up to depended upon the width of the street on which your building was located."
Flashback: Growing Manhattan, 1916
NYC's Building Boom is Over
The NY Times writes the obituary for NYC's building boom. The Building Trades Employers’ Association's data shows that $5 billion in projects, including "luxury high-rise buildings, office renovations for major banks and new hospital wings," has been canceled or delayed due to the credit crunch. Developers are having a hard time looking for loans—though some projects are still eagerly anticipated, like ones along the High Line from Jean Nouvel and Annabelle Selldorf—and others who do have loans are having trouble paying them back. One developer "who has built roughly 4,500 condos and moderate-income housing units in all five boroughs..is shifting his attention to projects like housing for the elderly on Staten Island, which the government seems willing to finance."
East 91st Street Crane Was Struck by Lightning in 2007
As the Department of Buildings, Manhattan DA's office, and OSHA investigate the fatal May 30 crane collapse at East 91st Street and First Avenue, the crane's history continues to be a focus.
Allegedly Corrupt Top Crane Official Has No Comment
Yesterday, the assistant chief inspector for cranes was arrested and charged with accepting bribes "to falsify inspection reports and overlook unqualified operators." Upon leaving court, James Delayo, 60, who is a 26-year veteran of the Department of Buildings, did not respond to when a street sweeper asked him "if he felt responsible" for the fatal crane collapses in recent months.
Fatally Fulfilled Expectations in Crane Collapse
Friday's fatal crane collapse at East 91st St. and First Avenue was a horrible shock, but the sad truth is that neighborhood residents had been worried about the crane for a while.
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