w 86 @ wea

I talked to a doorman across the street from that construction project, and he said the project is stalled because the community is protesting the construction of a garage. The following newsletter indicates a 21 story condo is planned: http://www.livablenewyork.org/newsletters/Mar-Apr_06.pdf

Yes, it's a new condo development at 531 West End Avenue. See below for more info:

A 21 story condo high rise is planned for the site at the south west corner of West End Avenue and West 86th Street.

4 small buildings that occupied the site: 537 West End Avenue; 535 West End Avenue; 533 West End Avenue and 300 West 86th Street were purchased and demolished by Extell Corporation (Ariel, Avery, Rushmore, Orion)

The site is zoned for a 21 story building. According to my sources a 65 unit 21 story condo is to be constructed at the site. The adjacent buildings are 14 and 15 storys.

Diagonally across the street at the North east corner of West End and 86th Street, The Church of St. Paul and St. Andrew had tried for many years to have their Landmark status overturned by claiming hardship so they could raze the church and build a high rise that would give the tax-exempt church a multi-million dollar real estate win fall.

The church turned down $6 million in air rights from the developer of The Boulevard at 2373 Broadway back in 1988. $6 million wasn't enough for their "mission" They wanted much more.

Fortunately for the neighborhood the church lost all their battles to revoke their landmark status. They claimed "hardship" but the community offered to help repair the church. Congregation Bnai Jeshurun ultimately rescued the church. Bnai Jeshurun's growing congregation needed additional space. For the past 10 years Bnai Jeshurun has been renting the church for Shabbat services and for Jewish holidays.

Here's a more recent article from wirednewyork.:com

06-NOV-06

Demolition has started at 531 West End Avenue between 85th and 86th Streets where IMICO West End LLC., of which David Rothstein is an executive vice president, plans a new 20-story residential condominium building.

The new building, which is a project of Extell Development, will have 34 units and 30 parking spaces in an attended garage.

According to an offering plan filed in July for testing purposes with the New York State Attorney General’s Office, the project would have a purchase price offering of $274,105,000.

There would be four studio units of 615 to 725 square feet on the second floor, larger units above the second floor and “penthouse” units on floors 16 through 21 which would seven-bedroom units with seven-and-a-half baths with 6,275 square feet priced at $11,600,000 to $12,100,000.

The building will have a landscaped courtyard, a recreation room a fitness center with a swimming pool, and a game room. It would have 100 feet of frontage on 86th Street.

Also there are many community services run out of the church mentioned above -- the West Side Campaign Against Hunger Pantry for one. http://www.wscah.org/

It's within the new UWS hight regulation, I think. Do you know if it affects any buildings on w 86?