Testimony Andrew Hollweck, Vice President New York Building Congress at a Public Hearing of Manhatta
Published on Sep 5, 2012 by
The New York Building Congress is pleased to support the Durst Organization’s innovative proposal to build a new residential building on 57th Street and 12th Avenue.
The Building Congress is a membership organization comprised of leaders in the design, construction, and real estate industry. One of our core objectives is to encourage infrastructure investment and economic development.
The Durst Organization has a well-deserved reputation for quality development and civic responsibility. In that vein, Durst’s plan for 625 West 57th will vitally change the streetscape of this community, in a part of Manhattan that has not benefitted from investment and quality development the way other areas have.
The thoughtfully planned and elegantly designed building will include up to 750 new rental residences and add a distinctive landmark to the City. On the most practical level, the project brings economic activity and vital investment to an underutilized part of the Midtown central business district.
The finished building will also add significant ground-level retail to the neighborhood, activating the sidewalk and helping to knit the revitalized waterfront to the City center. Moreover, existing businesses should benefit from the construction activity and, later, the residents who will patronize them.
The project comes at an important time for the building industry. New starts for residential construction are still far below their peak of the previous decade. Construction employment has fallen considerably as a result. 625 West 57th will result in hundreds of skilled construction jobs and help sustain the modest rebound we are seeing in residential development. Notably, the development of
rental housing is also becoming less common, though it remains a critical component of the City’s housing market.
Finally, the Durst Organization has committed to implementing the New York Building Foundation’s "Construction for a Livable City" checklist of community-friendly construction management practices. The CLC checklist asks builders to commit to maintaining a clean, well-ordered worksite, to consider the impacts of construction work on neighboring businesses and residents, and to communicate with the community to address key concerns.
We believe that Construction for a Livable City – if widely adopted – could truly dramatically improve the relationship between the construction industry and its neighbors.
The Building Congress urges Community Board 4 to support the Durst Organization’s proposal for 625 West 57th Street. The plan promises to create jobs, spur economic development, and create a unique building to anchor an emerging part of Manhattan.
The New York Building Congress is pleased to support the Durst Organization’s innovative proposal to build a new residential building on 57th Street and 12th Avenue.
The Building Congress is a membership organization comprised of leaders in the design, construction, and real estate industry. One of our core objectives is to encourage infrastructure investment and economic development.
The Durst Organization has a well-deserved reputation for quality development and civic responsibility. In that vein, Durst’s plan for 625 West 57th will vitally change the streetscape of this community, in a part of Manhattan that has not benefitted from investment and quality development the way other areas have.
The thoughtfully planned and elegantly designed building will include up to 750 new rental residences and add a distinctive landmark to the City. On the most practical level, the project brings economic activity and vital investment to an underutilized part of the Midtown central business district.
The finished building will also add significant ground-level retail to the neighborhood, activating the sidewalk and helping to knit the revitalized waterfront to the City center. Moreover, existing businesses should benefit from the construction activity and, later, the residents who will patronize them.
The project comes at an important time for the building industry. New starts for residential construction are still far below their peak of the previous decade. Construction employment has fallen considerably as a result. 625 West 57th will result in hundreds of skilled construction jobs and help sustain the modest rebound we are seeing in residential development. Notably, the development of
rental housing is also becoming less common, though it remains a critical component of the City’s housing market.
Finally, the Durst Organization has committed to implementing the New York Building Foundation’s "Construction for a Livable City" checklist of community-friendly construction management practices. The CLC checklist asks builders to commit to maintaining a clean, well-ordered worksite, to consider the impacts of construction work on neighboring businesses and residents, and to communicate with the community to address key concerns.
We believe that Construction for a Livable City – if widely adopted – could truly dramatically improve the relationship between the construction industry and its neighbors.
The Building Congress urges Community Board 4 to support the Durst Organization’s proposal for 625 West 57th Street. The plan promises to create jobs, spur economic development, and create a unique building to anchor an emerging part of Manhattan.
The New York Building Congress is pleased to support the Durst Organization’s innovative proposal to build a new residential building on 57th Street and 12th Avenue.
The Building Congress is a membership organization comprised of leaders in the design, construction, and real estate industry. One of our core objectives is to encourage infrastructure investment and economic development.
The Durst Organization has a well-deserved reputation for quality development and civic responsibility. In that vein, Durst’s plan for 625 West 57th will vitally change the streetscape of this community, in a part of Manhattan that has not benefitted from investment and quality development the way other areas have.
The thoughtfully planned and elegantly designed building will include up to 750 new rental residences and add a distinctive landmark to the City. On the most practical level, the project brings economic activity and vital investment to an underutilized part of the Midtown central business district.
The finished building will also add significant ground-level retail to the neighborhood, activating the sidewalk and helping to knit the revitalized waterfront to the City center. Moreover, existing businesses should benefit from the construction activity and, later, the residents who will patronize them.
The project comes at an important time for the building industry. New starts for residential construction are still far below their peak of the previous decade. Construction employment has fallen considerably as a result. 625 West 57th will result in hundreds of skilled construction jobs and help sustain the modest rebound we are seeing in residential development. Notably, the development of
rental housing is also becoming less common, though it remains a critical component of the City’s housing market.
Finally, the Durst Organization has committed to implementing the New York Building Foundation’s "Construction for a Livable City" checklist of community-friendly construction management practices. The CLC checklist asks builders to commit to maintaining a clean, well-ordered worksite, to consider the impacts of construction work on neighboring businesses and residents, and to communicate with the community to address key concerns.
We believe that Construction for a Livable City – if widely adopted – could truly dramatically improve the relationship between the construction industry and its neighbors.
The Building Congress urges Community Board 4 to support the Durst Organization’s proposal for 625 West 57th Street. The plan promises to create jobs, spur economic development, and create a unique building to anchor an emerging part of Manhattan.