PlanNYC: 980 Madison Tower News

New Proposals for 980 Madison Ave to be Presented to LPC

2008-06-17 00:00:00

Aby Rosen and Norman Foster have scaled back their proposal for the tower to be built at 980 Madison Avenue after a veto to the group�s original proposal seventeen months ago. The new plan, which proposes a five-story residential tower and one level of penthouses rather than a 22-story tower, is set for a Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) hearing today and a Community Board 8 vote tomorrow.

Times Architecture Critic Evaluates New Design for Parke-Bernet Gallery

2008-05-14 00:00:00

After plans for a 30-story glass tower atop 980 Madison were scuttled last year, the architect has redrawn plans, which include a much lower profile that the developer hopes will be more welcomed by neighbors. The new plans involve a bronze box-like structure that will sit directly on top of the existing building. The new design is significantly shorter, which means that it will not require a zoning variance, so the only approval needed is from the Landmarks Preservation Commission. New York Times architecture critic Nicolai Ouroussoff calls the new design �more polite and less original� than the first, and notes that the lower profile is �a calculated response to the bottom-line politics of building on the Upper East Side.�

Back to Drawing Board for 980 Madison Tower, Says LPC

2007-01-17 00:00:00

The New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) ruled that developer Aby Rosen must scale down the size of a proposed 30-story tower designed by Norman Foster on the Upper East Side. Referencing the tower�s incongruence with the historical environment of the neighborhood, Commission Chairman Robert Tierney argued that placing the tower above the Parke-Bernet Galleries building on 980 Madison would be inappropriate due to height and scale. Rosen and Foster will be allowed to modify their design. Debate over the 980 Madison tower has been intense in recent months, arousing a variety of discussions among the preservation and architecture communities.

980 Madison Design up for Vote at Landmarks Commission

2007-01-15 00:00:00

On Tuesday January 16th the Landmarks Commission will vote to either approve, reject, or request modifications to the plan to develop a 22-floor story apartment building atop the Parke-Benet Building at 980 Madison. Opponents are hoping that plans will be rejected, and are concerned about the implications for future modifications to historic sites if plans are approved. Proponents support the plan as a welcome modern addition to the neighborhood�s architecture. The developer has stated that he is willing to modify the design so that it better complements the original building.

Long Architectural History Behind 980 Madison Avenue

2006-12-08 00:00:00

Developer hopes to restore the Parke-Bernet Galleries to its highly-regarded 1949 appearance as part of plan to construct a 30-floor tower on top of the building. The Landmark Commission is expected to weight the benefits of the restoration along with potential benefits or negatives of the proposed tower in deciding whether or not to approve the plan.

Design On The Upper East Side: A Debate About Modernism

2006-12-06 00:00:00

The controversial 980 Madison Tower, a 30-story addition to the Parke-Bernet building by Norman Foster, has developed into a clash between preservationists and designers. Many in the preservation community frame arguments against Foster�s towers in terms of tradition, authenticity, and history, while many in the design community in favor of the addition speak of modernism, change, and renewal.

980 Madison Tower Developer Seeks Public Support

2006-12-05 00:00:00

Aby Rosen, the developer of 980 Madison Tower, a 30-story addition to the Parke-Bernet Gallery building on the Upper East Side, is seeking public support for his controversial proposal. In the face of strong citizen opposition, Rosen has attempted to elicit support for a project that opponents believe will significantly alter the skyline of the Upper East Side. The Landmarks Preservation Commission, the city agency responsible for deciding the fate of the tower, will close the door on submissions today.

The Economic Cost Of Landmarked Buildings

2006-11-29 00:00:00

With 980 Madison Tower as a background, Edward Glaeser criticizes the preservationist movement. Glaeser maintains that the unintentional effect of overzealous building preservation is a substantial decrease in affordable housing for middle and lower-income residents. According to Glaeser, aesthetic concerns should not triumph over economic.

Criticism Of The Landmarks Preservation Commission

2006-11-26 00:00:00

Novelist Tom Wolfe writes an op-ed for the New York Times in which he expresses the view that the City�s Landmarks Preservation Commission has become little more than a rubber stamp for developers. The author cites the proposed tower atop an historic structure at 980 Madison Avenue as one project that will likely receive approval without resistance from the Commission.

A Developer Relies On His Reputation

2006-10-26 00:00:00

The developer of the proposed 30-story glass tower atop a 1950 building at 980 Madison Avenue is well known in the New York art world and is using some prominent contacts to further the cause of his latest project. According the New York Times, the developer, Aby Rosen, has established a track record of acquiring architectural touchstones like Lever House, the Seagram Building and the Gramercy Park Hotel and renovating them, at considerable effort and expense. While many neighborhood residents oppose the tower, his supporters are pointing to his track record as proof that the project will be a valuable addition to the neighborhood.

Landmarks Commission Hears Views on Foster Tower

2006-10-25 00:00:00

The Landmarks Preservation Commission held a hearing on the proposal for a 30-story tower on Madison Avenue. Critics say the Norman Foster-designed building would be out of place in the neighborhood of row houses and small buildings. Proponents say that the design is consistent with other significant pieces of modern architecture on the Upper East Side.

Community Board Says No To Tower

2006-10-19 00:00:00

The Upper East Side community board has voted against the proposed 30-story skyscraper at 980 Madison Avenue, designed by Norman Foster. The vote, while not legally binding, will be considered by city agencies in the decision-making process related to the addition to the Parke-Bernet Gallery.

Community Board Rejects Upper East Side Tower

2006-10-17 00:00:00

A community board committee voted 6-3 to reject a 30-story apartment tower designed by Norman Foster last night after Upper East Side residents expressed outrage over the project planned for 980 Madison Avenue, opposite the Carlyle Hotel.

Proposed for Madison Avenue Tower Awaits Landmark Question

2006-10-17 00:00:00

Lord Foster's firm presented designs for 980 Madison in front of a crowded community board meeting. Several neighbors spoke out against the tower. One local resident, Daniel Goldberg, said the proposal was "like a glass dagger plunged into the heart of the Upper East Side."