On the contrary, there couldn't be a stronger justification for demolishing this property.

The world's biggest bank owns the property and wants to demolish it, and there's absolutely nothing preventing it from doing so (a very good thing, I may add; the existing structure is mediocre at best).

This really took me by surprise; almost unthinkable that that property would ever see the wrecking ball in my lifetime … it was renovated and LEED certified only a few years ago. I'm all for Midtown keeping up with the times, however its sad to see a staple of the area go. I thought JPMC had good thing going with the Park Avenue campus. 383 Madison houses the IB, while 270 is essentially home office / operations.

^What do you guys think of the building swap idea? Convince Chase to trade their building for one of those midrise econo-wedding cake buildings, and build there instead. The owners of the wedding cake get a bigger building in better condition that they can move their existing tenants into, with lots of room to rent to new tenants, and Chase gets a new site for their new building, in the same neighborhood- that smaller building would be faster to take down, too.

In principle, and with the intent of preserving 270 Park, I like the idea of the building swap. Some of those "wedding cake" buildings really are ugly, and I've long disliked their appearance.
Realistically I don't see it happening, but would be happy if those that be could make it work.

Five Bryant Park:

https://www.connect.media/wp-content...ia-820x510.jpg

What an architectural abortion.

I wonder if someone will find a little dancing, singing frog in the demolition debris.

If anything, though, any corporate entity trying to make, re-establish or increase its profile by going the building swap route---like a 270, 277 or 245 Park for one of these dog-eared stumps---s committing business hara-kiri. It wouldn't make any sense, anyway.

Indeed it will be interesting to see how the city deals with this in the future. These stacks of nothing aren't worth landmarking/preserving and hence not worth the time to retrofit.

I'm pretty excited about the prospect of a 1200+ foot tower rising along Park Avenue, but I'm conflicted because I do wish it was proposed for a different site. The Union Carbide Building is probably one of the more notable examples of mid-century modernist architecture. Regardless, it will be interesting to see this project materialize.

This project makes me wonder, would they ever replace the MetLife Building?

What would be the point? The existing site is perfectly located, right next to Grand Central, in the middle of the Chase "campus", and the smaller wedding cake buildings in Midtown East generally have too small footprints and insufficient zoning rights (and quite a few are landmarked).

And I can't think of a single wedding cake building with this rezoning potential. The highest development potential is only for the blocks nearest Grand Central.

This development is exactly what was intended under the rezoning. You can't build anything in this neighborhood without tearing down a huge building from another era.

IIRC, there was a series of reclad desigs put out a few years ago...I dunno if retrofitting was included therein.

Edit: Ah.......

From YIMBY, dated 3-2-16:

https://newyorkyimby.com/2016/03/met...announced.html

I doubt it. MetLife is already enormous. Under current zoning, you couldn't build a bigger building.

In a perfect world, yes. There are plenty of properties in the immediate vicinity of 270 Park with inferior architectural merit and functionality.

@Dac150;

Color me confused, here......:philosoraptor:

But I trust that you're not suggesting that Morgan swap their current digs for something that by your own description is actually worse than what they're planning to get out of...

Purchase a neighboring property in the area. Redevelop the property while maintaining normal operations at the 270. Upon completion, relocate operations from 270 to the redeveloped property and then sell 270.

How feasible that is … don't know. Just wishful thinking from a 'fan' of 270.

Whatever came of this?

I think it just fizzled out, much like the deservedly trashed proposal to re-clad and de-crown 1 Astor Plaza @ 1515 Broadway.

The best plan of the bunch in that article was (of course) ShOP's idea to simply encase the tower in new glass and somehow from that expand the floorage from within the building...?

It was a conceptual competition. There were no plans to actually reclad MetLife.

After 270 Park...

Who’s next? These 5 buildings may take advantage of the Midtown East rezoning
Pfizer, the MTA headquarters are prime contenders

By Kathryn Brenzel | February 23, 2018 03:05PM

http://s14.therealdeal.com/trd/up/20...son-Avenue.jpg
347 Madison Avenue

http://https://therealdeal.com/2018/02/23/whos-next-these-5-buildings-may-take-advantage-of-the-midtown-east-rezoning/

...And I bet you all these buildings will have cherished defenders too. You can't build anything in Midtown East without demolishing something substantial. There are almost no tenements or substandard crap in Midtown East.

None of those in that article are worth it.

Let the NIMBYS knock their socks of here if they want.

Indeed, even the well-intentioned preervationist might have a problem finding a leg to stand on.