The Colonnade, 347 West 57th Street: Review and Ratings

Review of 347 West 57th Street by Carter Horsley

When this tower was erected between Eighth and Ninth Avenues in 1982, this section of 57th Street was not particularly exciting. Although Columbus Circle and a major entrance to Central Park was only a short walk away, Eighth Avenue was fairly run-down and unappealing. It would not be until the late 1980's that significant new development such as Central Park Place at the Eighth Avenue corner and several mixed-use towers further east would rejuvenate this famous cross-town boulevard.

In the late 1990's, moreover, the incredible renaissance of Times Square changed the complexion of the west Midtown area and at the same time the Lincoln Center district exploded with new construction and retail activity.

As a result, this neighborhood is one of the most interesting and vibrant in the city now and is likely to improve even more whenever the controversial and long-delayed redevelopment of the New York Coliseum site at Columbus Circle gets underway.

In addition to being a short walk from both Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center, this building is very close to one of the few major computer stores in the city, a major newsstand, one of the larger Radio Shack stores, and one of its larger, non-chain bookstores. In 1998, a new supermarket opened on West 57th Street, one of the traditionally "absent" features of midtown living.

This quite attractive, 42-story, midblock tower has 273 condominium apartments, many with balconies and interesting views. The tower is set back deeply from 57th Street in its own narrow plaza. Such plazas are not really necessary on major cross-town streets, but the harm here to the streetscape is minimal.

The building was designed by Philip Birnbaum for Rose Associates.