Despite boasting one of the most iconic skylines in the world, Manhattan has quietly played host to an embarrassing construction fiasco for almost a decade.
Unofficially dubbed ‘The Leaning Tower of FiDi’, a catastrophic high-rise near Wall Street has plagued downtown Manhattan’s lucrative property market.
The $300 million project descended into disaster when developers realized the building had a 3-inch tilt, leading to a tumultuous spiral of legal battles, architectural scraps and even the death of a builder.
The luxury skyscraper – dubbed 1 Seaport – was once one of the most lucrative real estate deals in the city, with prospective residents scrambling to secure its condos – which reportedly cost up to $20million – after being promised lavish amenities including a health spa, fitness center and infinity pool. Would-be tenants were even offered a luxury yacht service at no extra cost.
But while holding down a prime real estate spot over lower Manhattan’s East River, the view over the waterfront is yet to be enjoyed by a single occupant after the stop-start construction was last halted in 2020.
The One Seaport structure, pictured, has been on hold since 2020 amid mountain lawsuits and numerous controversies
The unfinished skyscraper was intended to be among the most luxurious in NYC, but it has been an eyesore on the skyline for almost a decade
As early as 2007, developers had been jockeying to add to the lower Manhattan vista, joining other structures including the One World Trade Center and the Chrystler Building.
After years of negotiations, construction giant Fortis Property Group bought the plot of land in 2013 for $64 million, with their ambitions seemingly coming to fruition when work on the skyscraper officially began in July 2015. The hefty sum was set to bring in huge returns, with 80 condos estimated to sell for a total of $272 million.
But the development stumbled at the first hurdle when a problem with the foundations allegedly caused the high rise to lean around 8cm to the north, according to Commercial Observer.
Pizzarotti LLC, the building’s contractor, launched a lawsuit against the developer, which was swiftly met with a counter suit from Fortis as the two went to battle over the doomed skyscraper.
While most foundations in large cities such as Manhattan are constructed using a ‘piling’ method to carefully excavate and brace the soil, therefore protecting the foundations of surrounding buildings, those who worked on the project allegedly took a different approach.
Instead, they reportedly decided to use a ‘soil improvement’ technique, where chemicals are used to improve the foundation’s strength. Fortis, however, has claimed Pizzarotti insufficiently surveyed the project, resulting in the ‘slight misalignment’.
As construction continued, the foundation technique allegedly caused the property to ‘settle’ at an angle, leading to a slate of problems that are still unresolved. Fortis claims that the misalignment has no impact on the safety of the structure.
Years on, stunning images of the structure from New York YIMBY reveal the development is still a skeleton of its once-great potential, where luxury apartments are instead left open the elements and million-dollar amenities are yet to be installed.
The 670-foot high rise has been left to rot as it looms over Manhattan’s East River
The development is still a skeleton of its once-great potential, where luxury apartments are instead left open the elements and million-dollar amenities are yet to be installed
Residents were promised lavish amenities including a health spa, fitness center, infinity pool, and even a luxury yacht service at no extra cost
Alongside the most pressing issue of the skyscraper’s unfortunate lean, the development has been hit by a number of scandals over its decade of struggle.
In 2015, developer Jack Resnick & Sons, which owns a building just two blocks away named One Seaport Plaza, also sued Fortis after they named the building One Seaport – leading the building to be rebranded with a numerical ‘1’ instead.
And through the years, ensuing controversies and legal delays have been a disaster for the high rise, which once inspired hopes of being among the most luxurious in the area.
Between January and September 2017, the New York City Department of Buildings slapped Pizzarotti with ten building code violations, according to Observer.
Then, with construction still ongoing, horror struck in 2017 when a father of five plummeted 27 stories to his death while working on the high rise.
Juan Chonillo, 43, was on the skyscraper’s 29th floor when he fell onto street scaffolding. Although Department of Buildings officials said he had not clipped in his harness, the tragedy caused construction to be halted for several months.
Juan Chonillo, pictured, fell to his death from the skyscraper’s 29th floor while working on the structure in 2017
When work got back underway in January 2018, improperly fitted construction netting brought it to a standstill yet again, with the Department of Buildings issuing several stop work orders through the month, reports The Real Deal.
And a year after Chonillo’s tragic death, a crane operator reportedly caused significant damage after smashing building materials into the 34th floor, sending concrete plummeting onto the street below.
Despite the cheapest apartment costing over $1.3 million, the building sold half its available units within months, after striking preliminary sales launched in April 2016.
By the time the on-again off-again skyscraper officially topped out by September 2018, 78 of the building’s 98 condos were already off the market.
Amid hostile finger pointing over the lack of progress, Pizzarotti launched its lawsuit against Fortis in March 2019 over the 8cm northward lean.
The issue, which was first noticed by a subcontractor in April 2018, allegedly caused difficulties when installing the glass curtain wall – with further safety fears including faulty windows even failing waterproofing.
The building’s developer has insisted that despite going uncompleted for nearly a decade, it still maintains plans to finish the towering skyscraper
At one time, almost all of the lavish condos were
On hold since late 2020, and with an uncertain future, the 200,000 square-foot structure remains in limbo.
The only work that has reportedly been carried out is by Pizzarotti’s replacement as general contractor, Ray Builders, who designed another glass curtain wall to accommodate the gaudy tilt.
But by July 2020, Ray Builders again stopped construction after claiming that Fortis failed to pay its workers, before resigning as contractor.
Bank Leumi, who reportedly gave Fortis a $90 million construction loan for the doomed skyscraper in June 2016, were subsequently blamed by Fortis for the non-payments in yet another lawsuit filed in August 2020, claiming the bank failed to follow through on part of its loan deal.
By the end of the year, the bank attempted to foreclose on its loan for the skyscraper, according to PincusCo, and as of February 2021, all but six of the condo buyers had cancelled their contracts.
In a statement to DailyMail.com, Fortis said it remains intent on finishing the ill-fated skyscraper, claiming it ‘continues to work with all stakeholders to end legal matters so we can resume work on the building.
‘The foundation at Maiden Lane was approved and recommended over other alternatives and was also approved by Pizzarotti before they signed the construction management agreement with Fortis or lifted a hammer on the project,’ the company added.
With several legal disputes still ongoing among the numerous lenders and constructors involved in the project, Fortis added it remains committed to finishing, adding: ‘We look forward to resolving these legal matters, making the appropriate remedial measures, completing the building, and having residents enjoy this great property.’
But for now, Big Apple residents are left with the unfinished structure looming nearby to other landmarks including the 9/11 memorial and the One World Trade Center. And amid numerous lawsuits and legal challenges that underpin its failings, the eyesore sits unfinished, staining the iconic Manhattan skyline for all to see.
Pizzarotti LLC have been contacted for comment.
Source: | This article originally belongs to Dailymail.co.uk