50 Trinity Place

[drcronex]

To those who have not been aware of the discussion, here are some photos of a building to be torn down on the corner of Rector and Trinity. It's a beautiful building, very generous proportions, large windows, very detailed Terra Cotta facade and there was an excellent deli on the first floor that was forced to close, after serving the neighborhood around, also thru 911. The condition of the detailed facade is very good and first floor woodwork surely may reveal some further original condition.

I am concerned that this structure will go down soon. A couple of weeks ago there was some drilling going on, they seem to have been taking core samples or finding bedrock, drilling off of the street level floor downward. I recently filed a form and sent it to Landmarks and encourage you to do the same, form originally found by Lofter1.

I opened a web page for its memory in case it goes down soon, and will try to post relevant information on this thread. It's on:

http://50trinity.blogspot.com

Any further information about this building will be of help. Thanks

dc

[lofter1]

A very sad state of affairs, that ^^^

There are a number of posts spread about various threads regarding 50 Trinity Place.

One regarding Sam Chang / McSam hotels is HERE (http://www.wirednewyork.com/forum/showpost.php?p=138665&postcount=1) .

I had posted something on this in the NYC HOTEL NEWS (http://www.wirednewyork.com/forum/showpost.php?p=147407&postcount=502) thread ...

*****



Originally Posted by drcronex http://www.wirednewyork.com/forum/images/buttons/viewpost.gif (http://www.wirednewyork.com/forum/showthread.php?p=134998#post134998)

Here is the building at 50 Trinity Place they will tear down for a hotel.




Originally Posted by Fabrizio http://www.wirednewyork.com/forum/images/buttons/viewpost.gif (http://www.wirednewyork.com/forum/showthread.php?p=135116#post135116)

50 Trinity is a corner of Paris/Rome/London and the New York we all fell in love with.

People should be picketing.


I took some pictures of this one today. The building is almost completely intact, except for some cruddy store-front infill on the first floor right at the corner of Rector / Trinity and some window infill along Rector (all of which can be remedied very easily with a proper renovation / restoration).

The rest is glorious.

How this building sat without Landmarks designation / protection for all these years is mindboggling.

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p242/Lofter1/50%20Rector/50Rector_01a.jpg

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p242/Lofter1/50%20Rector/50Rector_01d.jpg

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p242/Lofter1/50%20Rector/50Rector_01c.jpg

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p242/Lofter1/50%20Rector/50Rector_01b.jpg

[Harvick2933]

To replace this small but architecturally elegant building with a kitschy McSam hotel will be a downright disgraceful event in NYC architectural history, that's all I need to say.

[sfenn1117]

http://a810-bisweb.nyc.gov/bisweb/JobDetailsServlet?requestid=3&allisn=0001343071&allboroughname=&allnumbhous=&allstrt=

We may be too late...demolition permit filed. The new building application is for a 27 story building. It will be interesting to see a Kaufman/McSam on a corner lot...they are typically midblock.

What a shame to lose this little slice of downtown.

[tdp]

It's a wonderful looking building and a shame to lose it.

27 stories will bring in more cash, I suppose?

[lofter1]

Sure more cash, but at what price?

Here are the similar sized McSams going up just below Times Square:

http://www.therealdeal.net//issues/FEBRUARY_2007/images/1170195490.jpg

[NoyokA]

With all the progressive initiatives NYC is spearheading there needs to be an architectural integrity board as well, something that goes beyond the landmark commission and sets a certain bar for new developments, the city’s health is just as important as the health of its residents.

[stache]

Nice idea but this town is too busy prostituting itself for that kind of mindset.

[drcronex]

With all the progressive initiatives NYC is spearheading there needs to be an architectural integrity board as well, something that goes beyond the landmark commission and sets a certain bar for new developments, the city’s health is just as important as the health of its residents.
I agree. Of course there is no shortage of people saying its not possible. Whenever there is tearing down of old buildings of interest or contribution to its neighborhood, there should be a demonstration of how a new building improves its site.
Without this process there is no hope of improvements, as a discussion about quality is not going to happen at the bank investor level.

[Fahzee]

I remember talking to an Architectural Historian about a year ago, and I was very surprised to learn that he teaches part time at Columbia Business School, where he conducts lectures on how great architecture can enhance the publics perception of your business, which will lead to more investment, and more money.


I say we all chip in and buy McSam a semesters worth of one-on-one classes

[Jasonik]

At the very least they should deconstruct and sell the terra-cotta as architectural salvage. I think it would make a cool lobby or atrium if it were turned inside out, (or rather outside in).

[LeCom]

Beautiful building indeed, and adds a lot to the streetscape. However, this is Downtown, and much more beautiful buildings all around bit the dust in the name of progress. Shame this one could not have been incorporated into the new tower, and shame that apparently it is not being replaced by a distinguished building. Any renders of the proposed hotel btw?

[lofter1]

Search "Poon", "Chang" or "Kaufman" and no doubt you'll get the idea ... :mad:

(Although no images have been released -- which leads me to believe it will be a standard Chang POS.)

[Derek2k3]

That subway bonus pushed this one up 8 more stories.

Holiday Inn, Financial District
50 Trinity Place/ 5-9 Rector Place
35 stories
Gene Kaufman, Architect, PC
McSam Hotel Group LLC
Commercial Hotel
244 rooms
Proposed Mid 2008


Gene Kaufman, Architect, PC
http://www.gkapc.com/

The 35-story building occupies a prominent corner in the heart of the nation’s financial center. The small footprint, prohibitive for offices, is ideally suited for hotel layout, affording views over a historic churchyard. The slender tower (aspect ratio 9:1) uses perimeter poured in-place shear walls, forming a hard building. The provision of new subway entrances with grand stairs and glass elevator gains a 15,000 square foot bonus for this 244-room hotel.

[BPC]

Any developer or architect with even a miligram of taste would have incorporated that lovely facade into the new hotel design. Unfortunately, we seem to have neither here.

[BrooklynRider]

35 stories
Gene Kaufman, Architect, PC
McSam Hotel Group LLC


OH NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!

[Harvick2933]

A plain, monotoned facade with no ornamentation on it whatsoever. The only solace is that it's not decked out in a splash of "unnatural colors", but it's little solace considering the architectural loss of the existing building and the damage it'll do to the surrounding streetscape.

[ablarc]

Any developer or architect with even a miligram of taste would have incorporated that lovely facade into the new hotel design. Unfortunately, we seem to have neither here.
...and it wouldn't be hard to do. The new building's base has about the same configuration. You could even disassemble the old facade and "glue" it to the new structure.

[londonlawyer]

That subway bonus pushed this one up 8 more stories.

Holiday Inn, Financial District
50 Trinity Place/ 5-9 Rector Place
35 stories
Gene Kaufman, Architect, PC
McSam Hotel Group LLC
Commercial Hotel
244 rooms
Proposed Mid 2008


Gene Kaufman, Architect, PC
http://www.gkapc.com/

The 35-story building occupies a prominent corner in the heart of the nation’s financial center. The small footprint, prohibitive for offices, is ideally suited for hotel layout, affording views over a historic churchyard. The slender tower (aspect ratio 9:1) uses perimeter poured in-place shear walls, forming a hard building. The provision of new subway entrances with grand stairs and glass elevator gains a 15,000 square foot bonus for this 244-room hotel.

This is actually one of the best buildings by Kaufman and Chang that I've seen.

[antinimby]

^And yet, even you or I could've drawn up something better and more visually pleasing, ourselves.


...and it wouldn't be hard to do. The new building's base has about the same configuration. You could even disassemble the old facade and "glue" it to the new structure.Exactly, just like what they've done at 1 York St.:

http://img113.imageshack.us/img113/2190/1york04cst4.jpg

[lofter1]

Today at curbed (http://www.curbed.com/archives/2007/07/19/more_mcsamming_down_at_50_trinity_place.php) ...

More McSamming Down at 50 Trinity Place
Thursday, July 19, 2007, by ROK88

http://www.curbed.com/2007_07_4thAveMcSam9.JPG
[The existing 3-story building at 50 Trinity Place and the McSam 40-story plan]

As a follow-up to yesterday's report on hotel inserter Sam Chang and his insertion plan near Union Square (http://www.curbed.com/archives/2007/07/18/mcsam_goes_all_sedate_south_of_union_square.php) we have news of yet another McSam hotel project. This one is in the works downtown in an area fleetingly tagged Trinity Park (http://www.curbed.com/archives/2006/01/13/no_love_for_nobatt_try_trinity_park.php) but better described as "below the World Trade Center site" where an old but elegant beauty awaits her fate. Will she be subject to insertion? The prospects don't appear to be too good.

http://www.curbed.com/2007_07_McSam50Trinity3.JPG
[A segment of the Viele Map showing the site of 50 Trinity and Trinity Church]

They call her 50 Trinity Place. She's covered in terracotta tiles and sits at the corner of Rector and Trinity, katty korner across from Trinity Church (shown above in a segment from the great Viele Map (http://www.kottke.org/plus/viele-map/) from 1865). 50 Trinity was first brought to our attention (http://www.curbed.com/archives/2007/01/23/curbedwire_hell_square_mr_rogers_and_trisomething. php) last winter. She looks like she's got a lot of life left in her. But apparently some folks think otherwise. The Landmarks Preservation Commission has declared the building to be beyond their purview, stating that "while the building may be of interest, it would have to be reassessed after the alterations have been completed". Hmmm. So, saving this one is beyond their control. But a bit of that Kaufman / Chang adaptive re-use, albeit with a touch more style here than what's shown at the Union Square project, could be just what the doctor ordered.

http://www.curbed.com/2007_07_McSam50Trinity2.JPG
[A recent response from LPC regarding the status of 50 Trinity Place]

· McSam Goes All Sedate South of Union Square (http://www.curbed.com/archives/2007/07/18/mcsam_goes_all_sedate_south_of_union_square.php) [Curbed]
· No Love for NoBatt? Try Trinity Park (http://www.curbed.com/archives/2006/01/13/no_love_for_nobatt_try_trinity_park.php) [Curbed]
· Viele Map of Manhattan (http://www.kottke.org/plus/viele-map/) [kottke.org]
· CurbedWire: ... Tri-Something (http://www.curbed.com/archives/2007/01/23/curbedwire_hell_square_mr_rogers_and_trisomething. php) [Curbed]
http://www.curbed.com/images/spacer.gif


Reader Comments (3 extant)

1.

Please stop Sam Chang!!!!
By Anonymous at July 19, 2007 12:07 PM (http://www.curbed.com/archives/2007/07/19/more_mcsamming_down_at_50_trinity_place.php#458876 )


2.

So how much longer do we have to put up with this weak disgraceful crap before some kind of design law with actual aesthetic expectations is passed?
By bryan at July 19, 2007 12:08 PM (http://www.curbed.com/archives/2007/07/19/more_mcsamming_down_at_50_trinity_place.php#458883 )


3.

I remember a cover which the Real Deal did on Sam Chang earlier this year. That's the first time I heard of him.
Chang's stuff is usually low budget and looks more like a Bronx development than a Manhattan one.
By Langley at July 19, 2007 12:08 PM (http://www.curbed.com/archives/2007/07/19/more_mcsamming_down_at_50_trinity_place.php#458885 )

[LeCom]

Well, at least the new tower isn't horrible. It's reasonably mediocre, but on Kaufman scale that statement is equal to "brilliant". It may actually turn out to be decent infill in an area of Downtown where highrises are surprisingly lacking. Shame about the current building on the site, but the outcome could've been much worse. If he put up one of his Chelsea area colorful monstrosities on such a prominent site right behind Trinity Church, in perhaps New York's most beautiful architectural neighborhood (and that's saying quite a lot), he'd have to be shot.

[drcronex]

Sorry. That drawing is the recipe of a grotesque building. I am shocked. It is completely tasteless as with a lot of the tax-deduction-whatevers going up in the area.

I live nearby and have had my eyes on the beauty and potential of 50 Trinity for about a decade. That horrible cheapo brick box in the drawing is OK only in the eyes of some hardline communist, bookburner and a blind elephant as it would clearly destroy a small relic of U.S. history.

Also, it is not for some mediocre architect talent to make the vertical "addition." It takes a really good architect to do it right.

I am really stunned at how poorly certain Americans think of their history and ready to bury the past. This little white box at 50 Trinity is an urban and architectural gem that needs immediate protection from urban vandals. I have lived in the area for about a decade and have slowly come to realize that its history has been gradually erased often by lesser quality buildings and the current inputs are putting the final nail in the coffin of the area. Until recently 50 trinity had a very popular store/deli with needed food service for the neighborhood. Little is now left of actual privately owned sidewalk level businesses, and the remaining neighborhood is fragile, with an all out invasion of cookie cutter dormitory style apartment building renovations or hotels for non-residents going up where old buildings stood. These dormitory style apartments are advertised by liars as "luxury apartments" and often just rented out to people in the transient years of their lives. So there is a grey area between the apartment buildings and the hotels.
:eek:

I also sent in a complaint to Landmarks regarding the facade and building and got the same letter.

When brain activity and ambition fails, there are always cookie cutters.

[GreenwichBoy]

1/27/08 Demo work has started

[londonlawyer]

F..ing sad. NY sucks.

[lofter1]

To allow that building to be demo'd is shameful.

If the pieces there are trashed rather than salvaged then that would be doubly sad.

[antinimby]

McScum.

[MidtownGuy]

This is totally disgusting.
Every day another beauty destroyed, every day neighborhoods losing more
food service and independent businesses.
That little gem was lovely, and now a featurelsss glass base will defile that corner.
What a disgrace. What a poor society. I hate this.:mad::mad::mad:

[antinimby]

It's a Kaufman McScam, it won't be glass. It'll be bricks, the ugliest and cheapest ones available.

[krulltime]

Some cute little building destroyed and then just a tall red brick boring tower in its place. So bad.

[MidtownGuy]

It's really insanity. In such cases of obvious beauty the developer should be required to work the historical facade into the project. It's a solution to accommodating the press of new development and at the same time saving our heritage.
It would have given his cheap and crappy tower some dignity, at least at the street level. Some different design choices in the tower, not very expensive, could have made it work.

[lofter1]

btw: Nice number of posts, krulltime:

Posts: 4,099


:D

[krulltime]

Why? What does it mean! :eek:

[antinimby]

MidtownGuy, you were correct. The base will be glass. I had forgotten about this sorry little number (can anyone blame me?).

Either way, it's still a McSuck.

http://wirednewyork.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=3972&d=1176588525

[lofter1]

Why? What does it mean! :eek:

That is for me to know and for you to find out :cool:

[BrooklynLove]

i just need to step back and take a breath sometimes when thinking about the massive scale of change in the financial district over the past 25 years. craziness.

curiosity re this buidling drove me to check out the records on the syms building, it seeming inevitable that building would end up in the hands of a developer. actually turns out that syms owns the building and just this month acquired excess FAR from its neighbor to the north in order to do an expansion, so it looks as if syms is staying put for the time being. unless of course they grabbed these rights in order to form a more attactive package for sale to a developer ...

[drcronex]

Well, the building is gone! I had sent landmarks a letter as well, last year, and got the same cookie cutter letter as lofter. Some months later I was pushed out of my nearby loft through exorbitant rent increases. Some mafia type character now owns the building. Went down to my old hood (for 10 years) yesterday and was saddened to see that the 50 Trinity neighbor is entirely gone. And along with it a craftsmanship that will NOT be repeated.
http://bp3.blogger.com/_5jiBThpPMWk/R_do_7j7JuI/AAAAAAAAAJc/CE6MolXXkMA/s1600-h/z50+trinity.jpg
Clearly this is a testament to the stupidity of the people who live on this land, isn´t it?

Corruption, greed and incompetence -and neighborhoods, neighbors and other people do not matter much at all.

Muchless pieces of American history seem to be irrelevant.

Speaking of Syms, it sits on land where 7 buildings stood, 100 years ago.

[BrooklynLove]

insult to injury that the nearby recently built box housing george's diner is one of the ugliest buildings in all 5 boros.

[drcronex]

insult to injury that the nearby recently built box housing george's diner is one of the ugliest buildings in all 5 boros.
Yes. Agree. It will be outdone by a 26 story poverty box at exorbitant rates.

[brianac]

April 11, 2008

Rector Street Weeknight Closures

http://www.lowermanhattan.info/images/news/041108_50Trinity_160.jpg The closure will continue on weeknights for approximately three weeks Beginning Monday, April 14th, Rector Street will be closed between Trinity and Greenwich from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. The closure will continue on weeknights for approximately three weeks, and allows 50 Trinity Place (http://www.lowermanhattan.info/construction/project_updates/50_trinity_place_68395.aspx) crews to safely complete demolition. Emergency access and sidewalks will be maintained. The site is the future home of a 28-story hotel under development by McSam Hotel Group. It is expected to open in 2009.

LowerMannhattan.info

[lofter1]

Will Chang's financial dilemna (http://www.wirednewyork.com/forum/showpost.php?p=224602&postcount=169) save us from the dreary tower planned for this site?

[BrooklynLove]

more likely to just slow it down

[lofter1]

A McSam going up SLOWER than usual?!?

Completion date: 2027

[BrooklynLove]

something like that :)

[Optimus Prime]

A McSam going up SLOWER than usual?!?

Completion date: 2027

Maybe Chang wants to try to set a record for most DOB violations on one construction site. ;)

[Derek2k3]

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4017/4685374997_415f0d6312_b.jpg

[londonlawyer]

50 Trinity is one of the sites that I suggested the Mosque should move to. I was enraged when that beautiful terra cotta building was razed.

[ZippyTheChimp]

The 50 Trinity lot is much smaller.