The Richard Meier-designed 685 First Avenue has officially topped out and is on schedule for completion in 2018. Located between 39th and 40th street, the residential rental and condo combo tower rises 42-stories, 460', and features 556 residential units. The unit split will feature 448 rental units on the lower 27 floors and 148 condos from the 28th floor up, divided by a cut out on the 27th and 28th floors. Meier designed the tower with a dark glass facade to add privacy for residents from neighboring buildings and pedestrians. Amenities include a 70' pool, state-of-the-art fitness center, children’s playroom, game room, dining room, lounge, and a 110-car garage. The ground-floor will feature 2 retail spaces spread over 10,000 SF. 685 First Avenue is being developed by billionaire Sheldon Solow, who has spent the past 16 years trying to develop the property from a parking lot into a residential tower. He purchased a 9-acre site ranging from 35th street through 40th street for $630 million and planned a $4 billion redevelopment of the East River waterfront. Solow then worked to rezone the area from industrial to residential as well as spent an additional $100 million on environmental cleanup before selling off parts of the site to other developers including JDS who has since developed the American Copper Buildings designed by SHoP Architects. Solow now plans to build 5 buildings on the assemblage, 4 residential and 1 office tower which will be designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill Architects (SOM).
