Demolition Progresses at 255 East 77th Street on Manhattan’s Upper East Side

255 East 77th Street. Photo by Michael Young

Kicking off our annual end-of-year countdown of the 31 tallest projects underway in New York is 255 East 77th Street, a forthcoming 36-story residential tower on Manhattan’s Upper East Side. Designed by Hill West Architects and developed by Naftali Group, the 475-foot-tall structure will yield 170,481 square feet with 55 units, as well as 3,861 square feet of retail space, two cellar levels, and 33 enclosed parking spaces. Alba Services is the general contractor for the property, which is alternately addressed as 1481 Second Avenue and located at the corner of Second Avenue and East 77th Street.

Recent photos show the demolition progress on the three current occupants of the plot. The structures are fully covered in scaffolding and black netting, all windows have been removed, and the upper floors of the northernmost building have already been dismantled. Green plywood boards completely obscure the ground floor of each building.

255 East 77th Street. Photo by Michael Young

255 East 77th Street. Photo by Michael Young

255 East 77th Street. Photo by Michael Young

Below are photographs of the site back in late September from both street level and above.

255 East 77th Street. Photo by Michael Young

255 East 77th Street. Photo by Michael Young

255 East 77th Street. Photo by Michael Young

255 East 77th Street. Photo by Michael Young

255 East 77th Street. Photo by Michael Young

255 East 77th Street. Photo by Michael Young

No renderings have been released for 255 East 77th Street, though based on its height and its relatively low-rise surroundings, it should provide residents on the upper floors with panoramic views of the Midtown skyline. The nearest subway from the property is the Q train at the 72nd Street station along Second Avenue. Also nearby to the west is the 6 train at 77th Street and Lexington Avenue.

Demolition began this summer and the three buildings are planned to be fully razed by the summer of 2023, as noted on site. A completion date for 255 East 77th Street has yet to be announced. However, YIMBY predicts this to occur around the end of 2024 or early 2025 at the very latest.

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26 Comments on "Demolition Progresses at 255 East 77th Street on Manhattan’s Upper East Side"

  1. Cheesemaster200 | December 1, 2022 at 8:19 am | Reply

    I predict this will still be an empty lot in early 2025.

  2. David : Sent From Heaven. | December 1, 2022 at 8:23 am | Reply

    Very often I have seen the stages before construction begins, no need to search on Google because these photos are already described. Close to each other, and next of the buildings is currently in the grip of demolition: Thanks to Michael Young.

  3. tear down nyc history and it’s low rise century old tenement buildings to put up an out of context piece of crap building.
    So sad and all about Greed Greed.

    • Dude we don’t even know what it’s going to look like! Naftali Group is producing some really nice buildings in the Upper East Side (200 East 83rd Street, The Bellemont, The Benson) so don’t be so cynically quick to judge…

      • The Benson is hideous but I like 200

      • Guesser, can you seriously please tone down your level of criticism? There’s not even a building yet, so save your judgement for waaaaay into the future. Only making yourself look bad by what you’ve been spewing on Yimby

        • sorry but anytime you tear down low rise century old buildings and kick people out of their long time residences to build a huge out of context building for rich people is wrong to me
          it’s a mistake

    • Lost or maybe you can’t read? This is YIMBY, Yes In My Back Yard. Not sure if there’s a NIMBY newsletter but maybe you could start one. The key to success, find a need and fill it. Get to work!

      • Guesser, cities need to change to stay alive. They are living, breathing organisms that will be here long after us. Not every old building is worth saving. New buildings may not be in the context you idealize, but they are certainly within the context of a modern, growing city.

        • cities are not living breathing organisms?!
          The people that live in those cities are!
          Greedy developers kicking out long time residents to demolish low rise century old tenement buildings that are a part of NYC history to build these huge behemoths for ultra rich people is very sad IMO

        • Steveo
          I guarantee if a skyscraper was being built where you live you would change from a YIMBY to a NMBY in approximately 1 minute.
          I would bet my house on it.
          HYPOCRITE

      • sorry but you guys need to hear from someone who is outside your bubble.
        This is a free country and i can post my opinions .
        I’m not attacking anyone

      • chipmaker
        you are such a hypocrite.
        you comment on behemoth out of context buildings on this site YIMBY BUT I GUARANTEE YOU IF ONE OF THESE SKYSCRAPERS WAS BEING BUILT WHERE YOU LIVE YOU WOULD BECOME A NIMBY IN 30 SECONDS!
        I WOULD BET MY LIFE ON IT

    • Guesser, for the love of God, your comments are getting to the point where it’s more of a harassment than an opinion. It’s not humoring anyone and becoming kitsch…

      • Harassment ? for stating my opinions?
        Give me a break
        I’m not posting to humor anyone but to state what I feel.
        Just my opinions
        That’s it, i’m not attacking anyone
        I couldn’t give a care less if you disagree with me, that’s your opinion and I have mine

      • Steveo
        I guarantee if a skyscraper was being built where you live you would change from a YIMBY to a NMBY in approximately 1 minute.
        I would bet my house on it.
        HYPOCRITE

        • A few days ago you made it clear that “you are not attacking anyone.”

          So what do you call this that you’re doing, replying to every comment and calling people a HYPOCRITE in big angry capital letters?

  4. It’s incredible how the Yorkville neighborhood is being transformed. It’s like there’s a new high rise going up on every other block!!

    • Clearly developers believe the long-term future is very bright. But for the time being, the tremendous amount of empty retail store space tells a different story.

  5. Based on the footprint and height, this is going to be quite a nice size building. So for all those who don’t like the trend toward tall skinny skyscrapers, this should be good news. Hope you’re able to post a rendering soon.

  6. It’s that time again; the Countdown is back!

  7. The thing that stands out the most in those photos is the hideous midblock sliver building on east 78th street that Bettina Equities built in the 1980s. How many of those did they build on the ues before the sliver law got written?

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