Plans are in motion to convert a high-rise office building near Grand Central Terminal into a residential complex. This endeavor is poised to be one of the most significant of its kind in New York City.
The building at 235 East 42nd Street, previously the headquarters of the pharmaceutical giant Pfizer, is being transformed into over 1,600 apartments. Gensler, the architecture firm overseeing the project, states it will be the largest residential conversion in the city’s history.
On Tuesday, construction workers discovered a compromised steel beam on the 21st floor. The Fire Department reported buckling in two support columns and sagging on several floors. This led to the evacuation of construction workers, adjacent buildings, and a nearby school. Roads around the project site were temporarily closed as a precaution.
The developer, MetroLoft, in partnership with David Werner Real Estate, acknowledged issues with the building. They are collaborating with the Buildings Department to assess the situation comprehensively.
In a Tuesday afternoon news conference, Mayor Zohran Mamdani confirmed that the 37-floor structure remains unstable.
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