Walking through Madison Square yesterday, I had my first real chance to look at the One Madison Park, the towering, skinny fuck-you of an apartment building on 23rd Street, and really contemplate its horrendous impudence.
I haven't been tracking this development step by step, but I'd like to know, first off, how was this allowed to be built? It is just wrong that it should stick a sharp, jagged tooth up into the otherwise perfect Madison Square skyline. The majestic and ever exciting Flatiron Building, and the lordly, dignified Art Deco Metropolitan Life clock tower are the rightful monuments of this square and have been for decades. It seems utterly indecent that this parvenu, glass telephone pole should challenge those landmarks for dominance of the area.
Look at the way One Madison Park bullies its way into the skyline, its panels of glass aimed directly at the Met Life tower in a colossal, skyscraper stare-down. Met Life hopelessly tries to ignore One Madison Park's utter rudeness, it's clockface staring resolutely ahead, but it's no use. OMP is not going to be ignored.
Where's a gale-force gust of hearty wind when you need one?
242 Fifth Avenue near 28th Street is a building that's always interested me, maybe because its easily viewed from the waiting room of my son's doctor's office. So I've spent a lot of time staring at it, wondering about the provenance of a handsome cast iron building so far from SoHo, and why it has been allowed to rust and go vacant for so many years.
The other day, as sonny boy was getting a check-up, I noticed that it had been bracketed by a sidewalk shed, and a small army of workers were busy sprucing up the slender, four-story structure.
The reason for the scrub job is most likely that the old boy in on the block, as this LoopNet listing testifies: "4 story plus full usable basement with high ceilings, elevator loft retail and office building, 20 feet wide and approx 9000 SF with additional air rights. Delivered 100% vacant, needs complete gut renovation, except for the new roof. Huge ceilings and windows with bright light."
Price: $8.7 million.
This inspired some sleuthing. The building was erected in 1892. Architect, unknown. It was home to the once great hat concern Dobbs & Co. from 1909 to 1914, after which the company moved next door to 244. (I like any building that has a history with hats.) A tailor Rupert Ryley lived and worked there roundabouts 1904. That's about it.
The last business resident was C.T. Wan & Co. It's a beautiful structure, a graceful mix of glass and iron. Bet it looks great once they're done cleaning it up.
Posts
All Comments
