New Tower Soars Above the Competition

Some units have already been sold in a new Manhattan building designed by architectural firm Herzog & de Meuron

By: John Noble

Even during a housing slump, New York City stands to inherit one of the tallest residential buildings ever. The new building, at 56 Leonard Street in TriBeCa will be one of the 15 tallest buildings in the city. At 57 stories high, the tower will rise far above other buildings in the area, most of which are subject to a 120 foot height restriction.

The building is being erected on the site of the former Mendik Library of the New York Law School, and requires no regulatory approval. The building is expected to house 145 apartments, including several large penthouse units. At its base will sit a large sculpture by famed artist Anish Kapoor.

However, while the building will be in the top 15 as of its completion in 2010, it will soon after be dwarfed by other projects in the city. Three of the four towers of the new World Trade Center site will extend over 1,000 feet into the air, with the Freedom Tower alone topping out at nearly 1,800 feet. Other residential buildings will soon dwarf the new TriBeCa development, as well. 99 Church St, the new Silverstein development, will rise over 900 feet, and be 80 stories tall; the new Frank Gehry designed tower at 8 Spruce Street will top out at 867 feet and 76 stories.

While these new towers are going to be spectacular, to be sure, “In 20 years, this is going to look like a brownstone,” says NYU professor of urban policy and planning Mitchell Moss. He calls the tower, “...quite modest...”