Two years ago, Gary Barnett's Extell Development moved to demolish ten buildings centered around the northwest corner of Fifth Avenue and 47th Street in the Diamond District. While much of the development site has been cleared, Extell's plans remain unknown.
Recently, the visual gurus at BYENCORE posted a rendering showing a glass-clad tower rising from Extell's assemblage. The image shows the 11-floor corner office building at 576 Fifth Avenue in the foreground and the Extell-developed International Gem Tower in the background. The shown tower would have large floor plates ideal for offices, a sizeable cantilever, and projecting fins giving the facade a crystalline appearance. The architect and specific details of the design are unknown.
It is estimated that zoning allows for a tower north of 300,000 square feet. In 2016, the New York Post reported that Extell may be considering an "internal" shopping mall within the project's podium and an apartment tower or hotel rising above. With 2018's crowded and lackluster residential market, it wouldn't be farfetched to assume offices could be in play — the site is the center of Midtown after all and a stone's throw from Rockefeller Center.
Demolished buildings at the site include 562-564 Fifth Avenue and 3-13 West 46th Street. The 47th Street frontage Extell owns has yet to be cleared. (September 2018, CityRealty)
Related Articles
Future New York
Brick is Back: NYC developments revive the warmth of masonry; See Morris Adjmi's new design for 277 Canal Street
Friday, June 19, 2026
Coney Island
Knicks in Five: 35 NYC condo and rental buildings with basketball courts
Thursday, June 18, 2026
Future New York
Price Cuts: Baz Luhrmann’s Gramercy townhouse slashed by $7M; New discounts at Brooklyn and Queens’ tallest towers
Thursday, June 18, 2026
New Jersey
Willow House: Boutique rental in Hoboken's resurgent North End launches with two months free rent
Thursday, June 18, 2026
Future New York
NYC Contracts: $80M trophy penthouse signed at 80 Clarkson; One High Line's last penthouse finds a buyer
Tuesday, June 16, 2026
Future New York
What's old is new again: Mass timber construction in NYC as Timberburg readies to launch sales
Tuesday, June 16, 2026
Future New York
Manhattan sales include Emmy-winning producer's CPW co-op; Closings begin at The Willow
Tuesday, June 16, 2026
Future New York
6sqft delivers the latest on real estate, architecture, and design, straight from New York City.
