Landmarks to hear new mixed-use development in Tribeca designed by Morris Adjmi

By CityRealty Staff | From Great Listings Monday, September 14, 2020

All renderings credit of Morris Adjmi Architects and UALNY

Tomorrow the Landmarks Preservation Commission will hold a hearing to review the restoration of an Italianate-style marble and cast-iron building at 315 Broadway and for a ground-up residential tower next door at 317 broadway. Back in 2018, a McDonald’s restaurant at the corner of Broadway and Thomas Street shuttereds to make way for a new 20-story development whose construction applications were filed late last year.

According to the presentation to be seen by Landmarks tomorrow, the landmarked cast-iron building will have its marble facade repointed, a non-original fire escape removed, windows replaced, and best of all, have its unsightly ground floor storefront restored with wood frames and cast-iron columns/ornamentation.

United American Land is spearheading the repositioning of 315-317 Broadway, and have already successfully rehabilitated several historic properties in lower Manhattan. Recently, the developer with Greenberg Farrow Architects restored 319 Broadway, an 1869 cast-iron building originally designed by D.& J. Jardine. 319 and 317 Broadway were once known as “The Thomas Twins” for their complementing cast-iron facades but sadly, mid-century barbarians razed and replaced the southern twin in 1971 for a non-descript single-story McDonald's restaurant.

New York Hosspital in 1791 (Credit: New-York Historical Society)

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The 'Thomas Twins' at 317 and 319 Broadway (Bernice Abbott)

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The next chapter of the site, whose illustrious history spans from being part of the grounds of New York Hospital to being eyed for a 150-story-tall super-skyscraper, will be a 20-story high-rise designed by the well-respected office of Morris Adjmi Architects.

The new building will share a merged zoning lot with a restored 319 Broadway. The rather narrow leg that extends to Broadway will rise 14 stories, while the bulk of the tower will be recessed to the rear and rise to a height of 20 stories, 210 feet.

Looking southwest near the corner of Worth and Broadway

The two components of the tower are to have different facade treatments. The taller section will be clad in gray terrazzo/brick and its fenestration will mimic the rhythm of the 1869 Italianate building in front. The shorter section will be clad in orange-toned brick and have corbelled window surrounds as has been featured in other Morris Adjmi projects.

According to applications, the new tower will hold 76 apartments with two to five units per floor, and a ground-floor retail space. There will be a gym, package room, bike storage, and a communal terrace/lounge on the 15th floor. Rentals seem likely and the project will join other recent rental buildings such as The Saranac at the corner of Worth and Broadway and 88 Leonard managed by Rose. The restored 315 Broadway will retain its use as a commercial building and will hold five floors of office space and a retail store on the ground-floor.