| PROGRESS Some mourn the destruction of an old building. In neighborhoods so dense, one reliable structure, serving multiple purposes, can impact many lives daily for years. There is excitement, however, in observing the incredible creative process that is new construction. When an old building is razed, windows of adjacent dwellings have a view of the street they have not enjoyed in years, as well as a front row seat to the process. Each step brings closer the finale of this well choreographed production, and once completed, the unobstructed view is gone forever. On the corner of 74th Street and Second Avenue in New York's Upper East Side, neighbors will miss a popular Bagel shop, and relocated friends. For future - a luxury residence. New Yorkers appreciate older buildings for their history, as well as their affordable function. However, when loss of integrity requires replacement, it's only healthy to embrace that which serves tomorrow. The monitoring of progress has been pleasant, as the site is always kept clean and safe, and workers are as pleasantly polite as they are industrious. This page is an effort to share with neighbors what they may have missed along the way. |
| These windows enjoy a rare and temporary view. |
| March - May 2007 |
| September 7, 2007 was a BIG day on Second Ave. Seating on a long, brick planter wall across the street from the site was all taken. Standing room only on the wide sidewalk. A mobile crane was used to assemble the construction crane piece by piece. Traffic was snarled a bit, but the audience was spellbound for hours. |
| by October 10, 2007 |
| WELL DONE ! |
| November 14, 2007 |
| See how much progress was made by October 2, 2007. |
| First glimpse of the Architect's vision. |
| First photos taken through a soon-remedied hole in the wall. |
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| by December 6, 2007 |
| by December 18, 2007 |
| by January 10, 2008 |
| View from E 75th St |
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| by January 18, 2008 |
A number of photos may appear very similar. Angles, outlines and shadows produced by each construction phase - in bright sun or cloudy day - are at once alike and distinct, and produce contrasting effects. The photos are also meant to capture the “buzz” of the surrounding city and it’s people, as they routinely pass by this rising tower. Even the supporting equipment and materials form fleeting designs against the urban landscape. Every few days, a phase of construction is completed. As walls and windows are installed, our view is progressively limited. It’s a gift to have this amazing process of engineering and seemingly synergistic cooperation happening so close to home. |
| by January 30, 2008 |
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| Men at work and Progress through mid-February 2008 |
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| Our new "Neighbor" becomes more beautiful each day. As you can see, the site is always neat and well-attended by a hard-working, polite and cheerful crew - so life on Second Avenue goes on with very little disruption. Below are photos taken near the end of March and on the 9th of April, 2008. |
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| Photos below, taken April 12, 2008 from a nearby rooftop, show building progress as well as the relationship of our wonderful, functioning, older structures to the shiny newcomer. |
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| Taken April 14, 2008 - a slightly sunnier day. |
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| Below are photos taken from April 15 through May 3, 2008. More spectacular every day. |
| Click here to see Men at Work |
| Photos below show progress from early May through the first of June 2008. The mirrored facade offers a magnificent reflection of the surrounding area. |
| On June 8, 2008 - it appears that only 2 floors remain unenclosed with windows. Temperatures have been lingering in the 90-degree range, yet progress continues. |
| June 12, 2008. Only one more floor awaits the windows. |
| And by June 17, the top floor is finished. On such a day, the building nearly disappears in the clouds and cloud reflections. |