The tallest skyscraper on the Upper West Side want to cut in half

The nearly completed 203-meter tower at 200 Amsterdam Avenue is considered the highest on the Upper West Side in New York. However, she may lose her status due to a court decision. This publication writes New York Post.

Manhattan Supreme Court Justice W. Frank Perry made a shocking decision: the city must revoke the tower’s permission and developers must remove an as yet undetermined number of floors. This is due to the fact that the design allegedly goes beyond zoning, the message says.

The developers - a joint venture between SJP Properties and Mitsui Fudosan America - said they plan to "actively" appeal the decision. But if it comes into force, more than 20 floors could be demolished. The lawyer representing the plaintiffs estimated that this is half of the 55-story tower. “This is probably about half of the building that needs to be destroyed. This is the best score so far, ”said attorney Richard Emery.

The court decision does not indicate the exact number of floors that will need to be demolished.

On the subject: $ 98 Million Penthouse Breaks New York Real Estate Record

“I can only say that it can be many (floors. - Ed.), ”Said Elizabeth Goldstein, president of the Municipal Arts Society, one of two nonprofit organizations that has sued developers.

Groups successfully argued that the 200 Amsterdam Avenue was built on a 39-sided site that abused zoning rules to maximize its height. According to Emery, they are now waiting for a final court decision: when it comes into force, it will become clear how much of the current zoning section will become illegitimate, which will determine the new legal height of the building.

Developers' lawyer Scott Mollen said they were "fully following the law" and longstanding interpretations of zoning. “Buildings throughout the city were built using partial tax lots,” he said. "And based on that decision, questions are now being raised about their certificates of settlement."

The defendants hope to win the appeal within a few months. However, according to Emery, the ruling is already having an important impact on investors. “Lenders and developers are now in a less secure position when they are immersed in a complex project,” he added.

Developers noted that the partial destruction of the tower could be a "loss" for New Yorkers. They added that “the retroactive application of new interpretations of the city’s zoning to previously approved projects undermines the stability of the regulatory environment necessary to support investments critical to the New York City’s economy, tax base, housing and services.”

About the tower

200 Amsterdam is a residential skyscraper atop the Upper West Side in Manhattan, New York. Previously, a synagogue was located on this site. When completed, the tower will contain 112 condominiums. The building is currently the tallest building on the Upper West Side since completion in August 2019.