In 1986, developer Related Companies ("Related") bought the Postmodern office building at 625 Madison Avenue and renovated it to the exacting standards they bring to their residential projects. Nearly 40 years later, history is repeating itself to some degree: Related purchased the building back from SL Green for $632.5 million in May 2024. But rather than renovate the building this time, demolition work is now underway. The full teardown is expected to take approximately nine months, at which time a soaring new tower can rise on the site.
At approximately 1,240 feet tall, the new building is about as tall as the Empire State Building without the antenna. According to a section drawing included with the zoning diagram, it will feature two floors of commercial space (likely high-end retail, given its tony address), four club floors, a high-ceilinged sky garden, and 101 luxury condos from floors 12-66. Future residents can be assured of 360-degree views of Central Park and the Manhattan skyline.
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Zoning diagram for 625 Madison Avenue (NYC Department of Buildings)
This represents the latest plan for the new tower at 625 Madison Avenue. In July 2024, shortly after Related bought the building, they floated the idea of a tower with residential, retail, and hospitality components. But in July 2025, when Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund announced plans to take a two-thirds stake in the project, having already invested approximately $200 million into it, the possibility of an office component was floated. If that were the case, a new anchor tenant would have big shoes to fill. 625 Madison Avenue was built as the headquarters for Nabisco in 1956, and Related's renovation attracted cosmetics giant Revlon.
625 Madison Avenue, summer 2025 (CityRealty)
625 Madison Avenue detail (CityRealty)
625 Madison Avenue is set to be the tallest building on the Upper East Side. However, it is located on an extremely porous boundary between Midtown East and the Upper East Side. Many consider the Upper East Side to start on the north side of East 59th Street, and 625 Madison Avenue is on the southeast side. Either way, it is located in close proximity to Central Park, high-end shopping on Fifth and Madison Avenues, and fine dining.
It is also located a short distance from 655 Madison Avenue, another office tower being demolished to make way for a soaring new tower by Extell Development. There has been much ado about 655 Madison Avenue's height, but it is actually set to be the smaller building of the two. 625 Madison Avenue would outstrip it by approximately 100 feet.
It is also located a short distance from 655 Madison Avenue, another office tower being demolished to make way for a soaring new tower by Extell Development. There has been much ado about 655 Madison Avenue's height, but it is actually set to be the smaller building of the two. 625 Madison Avenue would outstrip it by approximately 100 feet.
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