Excavation work is underway at 259 East 72nd Street, the site of a 21-story residential building on Manhattan’s Upper East Side. Designed by Peter Pennoyer with C3D Architecture as the architect of record and developed in a partnership between Rabsky Group and Chetrit Group, the 150,000-square-foot structure will yield 54 condominium units and 5,700 square feet of retail space. The project will also include an adjacent five-story annex containing four affordable housing units. The 14,000-square-foot property is alternately addressed as 1357 Second Avenue and located at the intersection of Second Avenue and East 72nd Street, with a narrow panhandle that extends south to East 71st Street.
Crews have begun unearthing the lot since our last update in early June, when a piling machine and excavator had recently arrived for the start of work after nearly three years of inactivity. The following photos show crews progressing below street level for the upcoming reinforced concrete foundations, which could begin formation before the end of summer. YIMBY expects the new superstructure to begin rising above street level early next year.
259 East 72nd Street. Photo by Michael Young.
259 East 72nd Street. Photo by Michael Young.
259 East 72nd Street. Photo by Michael Young.
259 East 72nd Street. Photo by Michael Young.
259 East 72nd Street. Photo by Michael Young.
259 East 72nd Street. Photo by Michael Young.
259 East 72nd Street. Photo by Michael Young.
259 East 72nd Street. Photo by Michael Young.
259 East 72nd Street. Photo by Michael Young.
The below images shows the narrow panhandle that extends south to East 71st Street.
259 East 72nd Street. Photo by Michael Young.
1357 Second Aevnue.
The rendering in the photo at the top of the article reflects the redesign of the project from November, a more traditional prewar-inspired look that more closely matches the context of the neighborhood. The massing incorporates numerous stepped setbacks on its upper levels lined with ornamental flourishes, creating ample space for private terraces. The building culminates in a decorative bulkhead matching the aesthetics of the façade below. The main entrance is shown tucked under a canopy along East 72nd Street, next to the wraparound ground-floor commercial frontage.
The previous design, below, had a much boxier appearance with a red brick façade and a uniform grid of rectangular windows.
252-260 East 72nd Street. Rendering courtesy of Chetrit Group.
The property was formerly occupied by a row of five-story residential buildings along Second Avenue and the St. John The Martyr Church on East 72nd Street, as seen in the below Google Street View image.
1357 Second Avenue. Image: Google
Chetrit is building the project with the help of a $235 million construction loan from G4 Capital last fall. Henry Bodek of Galaxy Capital arranged the deal.
The development site is located directly across from the subway entrance to the Q train at the 72nd Street station.
259 East 72nd Street’s anticipated completion date is slated for summer 2027, as noted on site.
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Wonder why no Architect’s name..
The architect is clearly identified
I see it now..
It’s a terrible shame what was torn down, but thank good the original design was wisely abandoned for a better retro look. The Raymond Hood inspired rendering is wonderful.
I’m glad this new building has a decent prewar inspired look than a cheap facade of PTAC windows and cold metal paneling
This one looks promising for the area and has a nice classic New York look to it
Unfortunately, the tenants next door will get AIR SHAFT VIEWS, and probably will need to use
their lights on during the day, to cope with the being in the dark? Also, might have to run
the A/C units in the windows to get any cool air?
And never in the history of New York City has this happened before…LOL
The full-floor affordable should be something.
Emory Roth would be proud but might add a few flourishes to this design. The 120 year old ad on the building next door will be covered up again. I was able to photograph it before it was partially ruined by vandals.
A building on the North side of 72nd Street cannot possibly have a panhandle South to 71st Street. 73rd Street perhaps?
This is on the south side of 72nd Street
Thank goodness for the redesign – the first design was HIDEOUS!
Any wonder why that site? It’s at the SAS 72nd Street station. Access to transit = increased housing values! Affordable housing = forget about it. And wait til SAS gets extended northward…kiss goodbye to all that NYCHA roach-riddled apt buildings.
The address has to be wrong. All odd number addresses are on the North side in Manhattan.