Architects Reveal Details For 13-Story UES Development

UPPER EAST SIDE, NY — Developers behind a planned 13-story retail and residential tower on the Upper East Side revealed details about the new building at the city Landmarks Preservation Commission this week.

SL Green Realty Corp. will redevelop an existing four-story retail building on Madison Avenue between East 65th and 66th streets into a 13-story building that will contain 19 apartment units and commercial space, according to development plans filed with the city Department of Buildings.

The development site is located within the boundaries of the Upper East Side Historic District, which means any work must be approved by the city Landmarks Preservation Commission. The architecture firm COOKFOX, which designed the proposed building, explained how the new development takes inspiration from other buildings within the historic district.

Architects designed the building using elements inspired by nearby buildings such as the Temple Emanu-El, 45 E. 66th St. and The Carlton House on East 61st Street, according to materials presented to the LPC this week. The development's use of corner windows on Madison Avenues follows the precedent of 45 E. 66th St. and the use of setbacks with horizontal setbacks is similar to the Carlton House, architects said.

The new building will rise 189-feet-tall and yield 86,198 square feet of development space, according to building plans. The average apartment unit will be about 3,516 square feet large, which indicates luxury condominiums are in the works.

Planned residential amenities include laundry facilities, storage rooms, bicycle storage, pet grooming rooms, a library and a fitness center.

A 19,387-square-foot retail space will occupy areas of the development's cellar, first and second floors, according to building plans. The current building on the development site is home to a 25,000-square-foot Giorgio Armani store, and plans presented at the LPC indicate the fashion brand will stay on as a tenant following the redevelopment.