A new rendering has been revealed for 985 Fifth Avenue, a proposed 20-story residential tower on Manhattan’s Upper East Side. Designed by Studio Sofield and developed by former Governor Eliot Spitzer of Spitzer Enterprises, the 264-foot-tall structure will yield 26 condominium units. SLCE Architects is the architect of record for the project, which is located near the corner of East 79th Street and Fifth Avenue.
The new rendering above shows a slightly taller iteration of the previous 19-story design below. The structure will feature a prewar-inspired aesthetic with limestone cladding surrounding a symmetrical fenestration of large windows. The main setback has been raised up one story, followed by a second setback three floors above, with corner cuts leading to a multifaceted crown. The new design appears to feature simplified ornamentation, particularly on the upper cornices and bulkhead.
The outdated design for 985 Fifth Avenue. Designed by Studio Sofield and SLCE Architects.
The outdated design for 985 Fifth Avenue. Designed by Studio Sofield and SLCE Architects.
The outdated design for 985 Fifth Avenue. Designed by Studio Sofield and SLCE Architects.
Another new rendering below shows the view looking from the Metropolitan Museumof Art.
The new design for 985 Fifth Avenue. Designed by Studio Sofield and SLCE Architects.
The site is currently occupied by a 25-story, 255-foot-tall rental structure designed by Wechsler & Schimenti and built by Eliot’s father Bernard Spitzer in 1969, as seen in the following Google Street View image. The Landmarks Preservation Commission approved the building’s demolition in October 2023.
985 Fifth Avenue. Image via Google Maps.
The design was augmented under the “City of Yes” zoning overhaul, which allowed the developer to add one additional floor, or roughly 12,500 more square feet. Spitzer Enterprises will also pay into an affordable housing fund that would create offsite affordable housing within half a mile of 985 Fifth Avenue. A Community Board 8 subcommittee on October 20 voted overwhelmingly in favor of the new design changes.
The nearest subway from the development site is the 6 train at the 77th Street station along Lexington Avenue. The property is located just steps south of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Initial plans before the design revisions targeted a 2028 completion date. An updated construction timeline has yet to be announced.
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It seems any modern style building on Fifth Ave. by the park will be replaced. Seeing buildings erected within one’s lifetime removed makes one feel old. However, the new design is a far better fit than the old. Perhaps the city should establish a “limestone district” along Fifth.
Agree, We are just replacing buildings with buildings. Better use of money to build something new.
its not your money.
or your property.
thanks
What a waste of capital . Build new buildings elsewhere. Hopefully Spitzer has been brought under control . It sounds like such an idiotic project. Remember he was married with children got caught in escapades .
No
Get a clue
Wouldn’t you think the Spitzer family could think of something better than to demolish a perfectly good building on 5th avenue that, perhaps needed some modernization, with a more “trendy” design in view of our acute housing shortages?
No developer would think of putting affordable housing on a street as prestigious as Fifth Avenue, especially facing Central Park.
If you didn’t know better, you’d think you were looking at another RAMSA design. The developers and architects see what works, why mess with success?
One unusual thing, in the new rendering there seems to be a small darker section that bridges over from the top of the corner building to just a bit over the top of 985, very odd, or am I just seeing things..
It also appears to be slightly taller. Definitely an improvement all around.
People complaining about stuff like this project are stupifying. The entire history of the city is demolishing 40 year oldbuildings and building something better in their place.
Looks good to me
You don’t use that location to correct a housing shortage
Completely agree. This is also a huge aesthetic improvement! The housing shortage will not be solved on Fifth Avenue. That is some serious delusion above!
Some of the people on here are really misguided. Well intentioned maybe but unreasonable and a bit untethered to reality.
See the silly comment above by RP.
Another nice upgrade along 5th Ave. Not sure why anyone is complaining, especially when the proposal is a pre-war inspired replacement of an uninspiring 1970’s slab of windows and concrete. Sounds like Spitzer is taking the profit he just banked further down the street and putting it to go use!
And let’s not forget all the construction and manufacturing jobs this will create. Big win!
Whether or not you like these mid-century designs, these buildings replaced smaller buildings, or huge houses for just one family. Now there will be fewer units as the ultra-wealthy want bigger houses again to display that wealth to the world. The shear amount of wasted resources going to landfill and new resources required to replace these buildings further demonstrates how wrong our economic system is while we continue to destroy Nature and the climate. Hating the poor and worshiping the wealthy is anything but our supposedly Christian-founded nation.
Is this really the website for your class warfare?
You are not entitled to to anything from anyone.
the Y stands for YES, after all.
Next you are gonna demand “affordable” (subsidized) housing on Fifth Avenue.
I say, restore the old gorgeous gilded age mansion that this same developer’s dad tour down for this bland 70s – and yes tear down the corner one too. Another insult to our city and mansion they tour down for it.
Looks like my comments (addressing David) were removed, but I agree 100% with you Nick. In fact, this development will provide jobs to construction workers and hundreds of American manufactures (windows, doors, hardware, plumbing supplies, flooring materials, etc). The added tax revenue from all of this, can and will support affordable housing.
I don’t understand how David doesn’t see this as a huge win!
I compliment Spitzer’sview of the future, I think it’s an excellent improvement to what’s currently there.
Another nice addition to Fifth Avenue, like the one proposed at 785!
Wondered if the detailed cornice on the adjacent building to the left will be “shaved” to
allow this new tower to fit against it? Or is it on the lot line?
Oops… I meant 800 Fifth Avenue…
Now take down the milk carton next door for more great architecture.
Site of the Brokaw mansions, destroyed by 1960s urbicide. Improvement over what’s there, but no way rectifies what Spitzer’s dad did.
Temu RAMSA
Would look better with more muntins on the windows