New zoning diagrams reveal two potential supertall designs for 655 Madison Avenue, a proposed 74-story mixed-use skyscraper on Manhattan’s Upper East Side. Developed by Extell and designed by Beyer Blinder Belle, the 1,162-foot-tall structure is planned to span 764,698 square feet and yield an undisclosed number of condominium units along with lower-level office and retail space. Extell is currently seeking approval from the City Planning Commission (CPC) for the project, which would rise from the corner of Madison Avenue and East 60th Street.
Demolition began this spring on the existing occupant of the property and could potentially conclude by early 2026.
The first design, pictured above, showcases the with-action massing that is contingent on CPC approval of requested zoning changes. The plan would produce a largely monolithic rectangular structure with three setbacks, including one at the 408-foot mark on the eastern elevation. This setback would create an air gap between the project and the abutting 781-foot-tall 520 Park Avenue residential skyscraper from Robert A. M. Stern Architects. The bulk of the building is shown devoted to residential use, with 13 office floors on the lower levels of the tower and four floors of retail in the podium. Separate entrances for the residential and office components are shown located along East 60th Street.
If the CPC does not grant Extell’s proposed zoning amendments, the developer could construct the below design as-of-right. This alternative would directly abut the entirety of 520 Park Avenue’s western elevation but feature a more multifaceted massing on its northern, southern, and western faces. Most prominently, the design would result in a slimmer tower profile on the uppermost levels and would rise 117 feet higher than the with-action proposal, reaching a pinnacle of 1,279 feet. This scheme would devote 17 floors to office use on the lower stories, which would also incorporate numerous setbacks.
Regardless of the outcome, residents of 520 Park Avenue would suffer minimal long-term impact from the adjacency of 655 Madison Avenue, as the skyscraper’s western face is largely devoted to the structure’s core and covered in faux windows.
655 Madison Avenue. Developed by Extell.
The below plan previews the configuration of the ground-floor programming, outlining the division of the retail space along with the residential and office lobbies. The retail component is shown with a narrow panhandle extension to the north for deliveries along East 61st Street.
655 Madison Avenue. Developed by Extell.
Here we see a more zoomed out diagram showing the scale of 655 Madison Avenue with more of its surroundings looking northeast.
655 Madison Avenue. Developed by Extell.
Finally, the table below shows what a timeline of construction could look like if work on the new 655 Madison Avenue were to break ground this fall. Although this has not been confirmed to be the official schedule, it provides an idea of how long each stage of construction can last once the supertall project gets underway.
655 Madison Avenue’s timeline of construction.
At the time of our last update, Fashion brand Chanel was contemplating a $450 million purchase of the nearly 65,000 square feet of upcoming retail space in the building’s podium. The deal has yet to be finalized.
Extell’s Gary Barnett purchased the property from William Equities for around $160 million in October 2024. Tyko Capital, which is backed by Elliott Investment Management, financed the acquisition.
The nearest subways from the development are the N, R, and W trains at the 5th Avenue–59th Street and Lexington Avenue-59th Street stations, as well as the F and Q trains at the Lexington Avenue-63rd Street station.
A construction timeline for the new tower at 655 Madison Avenue has yet to be announced.
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I wouldn’t call it minimal impacts… most of the northern windows on the west side are real windows and some of the southern too. Especially on the more expensive higher floors. Just the middle windows are all faux.
Anyhow… kinda funny even the ultra rich get their lot line windows covered up sometimes.
Arguably midtown. I don’t really care what they put up there. Go for the higher density so these people use up less space somewhere else.
Well… it was going to happen one day. Knowing Extell almost exclusively designs boring glass boxes, I prefer the massing of the no-action design.
Certainly, can have a supertall here.
Hopefully it’s done with building trades union labor. NYC needs to keep using union labor to build this city.Non union building is really hurting us out there trying to maintain an honest career.
“residents of 520 Park Avenue would suffer minimal long-term impact”
Shedding approximately zero tears for the 35 billionaires in this building who probably haven’t even visited their cash parking space.
what kinda stupid rich ppl park their cash paying 2% for tax + HOA + insurance, not to mention mansion tax and one of the lowest appreciation rate among big cities in the whole world? If I were a billionaire I’d park in single family homes in FL or CA
No action preferred. BBB can’t be trusted with a slab.
Is the also a 90 story building going up one block south on SE corner of Madison and 59th by related or vornado?
Beyer Blinder Belle better not mess up with such a huge building like this!
If BBB designs something similar to what they’ve presented for 200 East 75th Street (still under construction), this development could compliment RAMSA’s 520 Park Ave. Maybe I’m being too optimistic?
I would like to see something like that from them with this supertall
This is hardly UES, really midtown east, so basically…whatever.
Yes it is the Upper East Side. Do you not know how to read a map? It starts above East 59th Street
Perhaps, but I’m referring to the general feel of that particular location- which seems to be a more appropriate setting for a boxy super-tall than even 10 blocks north.
I would never think of the Pierre, Sherry-Netherland, or Bloomingdale’s as being associated in Midtown. They are Upper East Side icons.
Hey Stanley, you still haven’t responded to the comment section on 450 11th Avenue and Lumen from earlier this week. Where did you learn to avoid scrutiny and accountability, Ted Cruz? ✈️🇲🇽🇬🇷
I will never respond to personal attacks. It just encourages the name-callers and other unsavory types on this platform to continue their wicked ways.
Well if that isn’t the pot calling the kettle black.
Being the one that insinuates a level of incompetence, false facts, and slander, and then playing the victim by blaming everyone else for your actions…
So immature and ‘wicked’ of you to do Stanley.
So why do you still troll the website and not understand that Yimby clearly explained the blank lot line walls of 450 11th Avenue in the past (and this past Monday’s article)? Seems like you’ve been trying to instigate drama for no reason when the answers are literally right in front of you! All you had to do was read, is that hard for you?
And you’re still avoiding that topic and giving the runaround like a coward.
So you CAN respond back to comments…what a shocker Stanley!
But I still see no effort and reason why it’s so hard to learn about the Long Island City street numbering system, or why you think Yimby has a do a better job at reporting about the blank walls of 450 11th Avenue when they’ve explained it time and time again in past articles 🤦🏼♀️
Once again, Stanley goes silent and deflects criticism when asked about his antics on Yimby. What a coward that can’t even answer a simple question.
Nice to see that you still drive people insane with your one-sentence comments!
With Extell, this will just be another pile of dull, tax shelter.
Oh man I hope this doesn’t become another skinny glass pencil tower. We already have Central Park Tower for that
Well yes, the ‘as of right’ design will be a pencil tower over its 800′ Mark. But if the bottom part integrates with 520 Park, and with its western setbacks, it has a chance to be pretty good..
Without Action > With Action. The latter looks too big and bulky and lacks setbacks
So is the west side of 520 Park Avenue all fake windows or something? I’m sure the developer would not have wasted the opportunity to let residents get a more direct view looking at Central Park
The developers must have known this was going to happen. They specifically designed the building to not have direct park views. Many of the windows are decorative to avoid a blank wall facing Central Park. That side has the elevator core. But upper units have corner windows- maybe in the hopes whatever was built wouldn’t infringe? IDK. But the building was designed and marketed with partial CP views hence the emphasis on a Park Avenue address when in fact it’s on 60th street.
Maybe, maybe not. But, I think Zeckendorf and the engineers had no choice but to sacrifice the west side of the building for the core. Given how the lot is relatively narrow, and they implemented a cantilever on the eastern side of 520 Park Avenue. No way they could construct a core on the east side of the tower.
The Zeckendorfs are defendants in a lawsuit brought by a purchasers of a penthouse. The plaintiffs are claiming that they were not properly informed of the potential of losing their Park views. It seems like a ridiculous lawsuit as the perspective specifically addressed that issue.
So now we will have this supertall on the Upper East Side by Extell, while they also propose the 1,200-foot supertall on the Upper West Side at ABC Studios. And of course Central Park Tower. They’re anchoring the three sides of Central Park like a giant chess board.
Here we go again! Just another super-tall for the very wealthy to park their money in NY City. Will it ever stop – not in my lifetime so long as money and bragging rights exist among the very rich.
I think the No-Action building massing look so much better! Classic setback design that’s synonymous with New York City.
That’s going to be a substantial addition to the Manhattan skyline, and for the Upper East Side!! Plus the other supertall that will go up at 625 Madison Avenue
Are all those little 3 story buildings being demolished for this also?
I think so.. thats the bad part
also – Upper East Side – starts at 59th St.
Every NYer knows that..
No loss the office building.
but the little side street buildings are what make the area civilized.
I remember midtown East Side – 50s, between the major buildings on the avenues had. surviving townhouses that housed restaurants and small businesses. Very few are left.
I predict with new mayor taxes are doubled or tripled on these luxury apartments.
Agree w/D Wendell. No action much better. “pencil towers are much better than glass blocks
Why are buildings getting taller but have fewer floors?