Cityspire

[Edward]

The Cityspire building (http://www.wirednewyork.com/skyscrapers/cityspire/) - the view from Top of the Rock - observation deck atop GE building in Rockefeller Center.

http://www.wirednewyork.com/skyscrapers/cityspire/cityspire_ge.jpg (http://www.wirednewyork.com/skyscrapers/cityspire/)

[TLOZ Link5]

Likely the least-known of New York's tallest buildings. A shame, though; its grouping with the Carnegie Hall and Metropolitan Towers is spectacular.

[macreator]

It's really a powerful looking tower. The triumvirate of Carnegie Hall Tower, Metropolitan Tower and CitySpire is one of the best skyscraper groupings I know of.

[TLOZ Link5]

Trivia time: Upon the building's completion, residents of nearby buildings complained of hearing a loud whistling noise -- which turned out to be the wind blowing through Cityspire's dome. For better or for worse, the problem was fixed, and the dome no longer whistles.

[BrooklynRider]

Likely the least-known of New York's tallest buildings. A shame, though; its grouping with the Carnegie Hall and Metropolitan Towers is spectacular.

I'm pretty sure it was actually taller. It exceeded the permitted height when originally completed and had to be deconstructed.

[TLOZ Link5]

I'm pretty sure it was actually taller. It exceeded the permitted height when originally completed and had to be deconstructed.

You're thinking of an apartment building somewhere on (I think) 96th Street. Cityspire did exceed its height limit, but none of it was later demolished. They compensated for what amounted to a 14-foot excess height violation by building dance studios for the Department of Cultural Affairs adjacent to the tower.

http://greatgridlock.net/NYC/nycadd.html

[Fabrizio]

This building should be ugly.

Look at it closely...take it apart: that lame orange-squeezer at the top.... the light-grey metal facing... and so on. Yet somehow it all works and manages to look great. It´s really nicely and logically proportioned. It´s even getting a patina of age that looks perfectly fine.

[lofter1]

Fabrizio, your description ^^ reminded me of something:

If memory serves, back in the day Cher lived in the Cityspire and at the time was often quoted about the weird wind noises ...

http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/feb99/images/trackscher2.gif

(talk about weird wind noises ;) )

[Fabrizio]

Cher: a friend of mind lives at the Dakota .... Cher did everything possible to get an apartment there...yet despite being a show-bizzy building, the co-op board board would not accept her!

[lofter1]

IMO the Dakota is perfect. Seems nothing more needs to be said.

[krulltime]

Cityspire is a tower that I like. But I wish it was more visible. It is sort of hiddden in the jungle of other towers near by. I really like that dome, now with the close up.

[krulltime]

Great Photo Edward! By the way I can see some of the hills afar!

[Alonzo-ny]

IMO the Dakota is perfect. Seems nothing more needs to be said.

Its hardly perfect

[stache]

Interesting thread would be "Buildings that Cher has lived in". I know she had a large loft near Astor Place in the early 90's. Plus Chastity was living on West 14th when Mommy caught her act -

[Fabrizio]

"Its hardly perfect"

Well, it is dark and gloomy. Even my friend´s facing the park. But it´s a nice dark and gloomy. I had the pleasure of visiting Gilda Radner´s on the 72nd street side at the back. That was very dark and gloomy. Lights on during the day.

[lofter1]

Dark and gloomy is great -- sounds extra perfect to me.

[BrooklynRider]

Interesting thread would be "Buildings that Cher has lived in". I know she had a large loft near Astor Place in the early 90's. Plus Chastity was living on West 14th when Mommy caught her act -

She's lived all over. She had an apartment in the old Police Headquarters Building too in Little Italy.

[BigMac]

jpaldigi on Flickr
March 24, 2007

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/156/433066150_88f4faf3e3_b.jpg

[Front_Porch]

nice shot.

ali r.
{downtown broker}

[TREPYE]

jpaldigi on Flickr
March 24, 2007

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/156/433066150_88f4faf3e3_b.jpg


This buildings is one of the biggest victims of the jungle of sub par architecture that it is surrounded with. It should be appreciated more but because of this it is not. It really has a nice set of setbacks but they cannot be noticed under any appreciable distance.

[stache]

To my eye the finish on this building has always looked kind of cheap -

[macreator]

The best "Gotham" experience in my opinion is to stand right between Carnegie Hall Tower, Metropolitan Tower, and Cityspire on 56th street between 6th and 7th, and then simply star upward. Its amazing. I'd recommend doing it on a foggy day when the top of Cityspire is wrapped in fog.

[macreator]

And, since you're in the neighborhood, stop by Burger Joint in the Parker Meridian Hotel for a good burger.

[kz1000ps]

To my eye the finish on this building has always looked kind of cheap -

I agree. Save for the pleasant shape, it may as well be any of the anonymous UES towers to have gone up at the same time.

[Fabrizio]

Give it some distance and it cuts a nice figure on the skyline. How many other recent residentials do?

http://wirednewyork.com/hotels/crowne_plaza_hotel/images/crowne_plaza_sheraton_new_york.jpg

(even nicer if you squint your eyes slightly)

[GVNY]

Yes, if you squint your eyes you can almost make it out to be a classical masterpiece.


Unfortunately, it is not.