Extell Halts Central Park Tower Work Due To Coronavirus: Report

MIDTOWN MANHATTAN, NY — Developers of the largest planned residential tower in New York City are self-enforcing a construction stoppage due to safety concerns presented by the spread of coronavirus, according to reports.

Extell Development is halting construction at the site of its Central Park Tower — a 1,550-feet-tall luxury condo building on a stretch of West 57th Street known as Billionaire's Row — Commercial Observer first reported. The development firm will not suspend construction at sites for its active developments in Brooklyn or New Jersey, according to the report.

A spokesperson for Extell did not respond to Patch's request for comment on why work was stopped at Central Park Tower, but not at other development sites.

New York City construction projects have largely gone uninterrupted by the outbreak of coronavirus, even as city and state officials enacted measures to close and restrict non-essential businesses such as bars, barber sops and restaurants. Government officials are encouraging all New Yorkers to engage in social distancing by staying home when able and staying at least six feet away from others while in public. These regulations are largely impossible to enforce at the city's still-active worksites, the New York Times reported.

Extell's Central Park Tower topped out in September at 1,550 feet, making it the tallest apartment building in both New York City and the rest of the world. The tower's roof height exceeds both One World Trade Center and Chicago's Willis Tower. Extell Development's new building will contain 179 condos which are expected to sell for about $4 billion combined. Sales launched at the beginning of 2019. Remaining work such as facade installation and interior work was expected to be complete sometime in 2020.

In addition to halting construction at Central Park Tower, Extell is shutting down is sales and leasing offices for the duration of the coronavirus outbreak, Commercial Observer reported.

Read the full Commercial Observer report here.