Despite boasting one of the world’s most iconic skylines, Manhattan has been the silent host to an embarrassing construction fiasco for nearly a decade.
Unofficially nicknamed ‘The Leaning Tower of FiDi,’ a doomsday skyscraper near Wall Street has plagued the lucrative midtown Manhattan real estate market.
The $300 million project turned into a disaster when developers realized the building had a 3-inch lean, leading to a tumultuous spiral of legal battles, architectural scrap, and even the death of a builder.
The luxury skyscraper, nicknamed 1 Seaport, was once one of the most lucrative real estate deals in the city, with prospective residents scrambling to secure their condos, which reportedly cost up to $20 million, after being promised luxurious amenities including a health spa, fitness center, and infinity pool. Prospective tenants were even offered a luxury yacht service at no additional cost.
But while it maintains a prime real estate site on lower Manhattan’s East River, a single occupant still can’t enjoy the view over the waterfront after intermittent construction last halted in 2020.
The One Seaport structure, pictured, has been suspended since 2020 amid mountain lawsuits and numerous controversies.
The unfinished skyscraper was meant to be among the most luxurious in New York, but it has been an eyesore on the skyline for nearly a decade.
As early as 2007, developers had been racing to add to the view of lower Manhattan, joining other structures including One World Trade Center and the Chrystler Building.
After years of negotiations, construction giant Fortis Property Group bought the land in 2013 for $64 million, their ambitions seemingly coming to fruition when work on the skyscraper officially began in July 2015. The hefty sum was earmarked for generating big profits, with 80 condominiums estimated to sell for a total of $272 million.
But the development hit its first snag when a problem with its foundations reportedly caused the skyscraper to lean around 8cm to the north, according to Commercial Observer.
Pizzarotti LLC, the building’s contractor, launched a lawsuit against the developer, which was promptly countersued by Fortis when the two clashed over the doomed skyscraper.
While most foundations in large cities like Manhattan are built using a “piling” method to carefully excavate and shore up the ground, thereby protecting the foundations of surrounding buildings, those who worked on the project reportedly took a different approach.
Instead, they reportedly decided to use a “soil improvement” technique, in which chemicals are used to improve the strength of the foundation. Fortis, however, has claimed that Pizzarotti insufficiently inspected the project, resulting in a ‘slight misalignment’.
As construction progressed, the foundation technique reportedly caused the property to ‘sit’ at an angle, leading to a number of issues that have yet to be resolved. Fortis claims that the misalignment has no impact on the safety of the structure.
Years later, impressive images of the structure of New York YIMBY reveal that the development remains a skeleton of its great potential, where luxury apartments are left open and million-dollar amenities have yet to be installed.
The 670-foot skyscraper has been left to rot as it looms over Manhattan’s East River.
The development remains a skeleton of what was once great potential, where luxury apartments are left open and million-dollar amenities have yet to be installed.
Residents were promised luxurious amenities including a spa, gym, infinity pool, and even luxury yacht service at no additional cost.
Along with the more pressing problem of the skyscraper’s unfortunate tilt, the development has been plagued by a series of scandals during its decade of struggle.
In 2015, developer Jack Resnick & Sons, who owns a building just two blocks away called One Seaport Plaza, also sued Fortis after they named the building One Seaport, prompting the building to change its name to a number ‘1’.
And over the years, the resulting controversies and legal delays have been a disaster for the skyscraper, which once inspired hopes of being among the most luxurious in the area.
Between January and September 2017, the New York City Department of Buildings slapped Pizzarotti with ten building code violations, according to Observer.
Then, with construction still underway, horror struck in 2017 when a father of five plummeted 27 stories to his death while working on the skyscraper.
Juan Chonillo, 43, was on the 29th floor of the skyscraper when he fell onto the scaffolding in the street. Although Department of Buildings officials said the harness had not been buckled, the tragedy caused construction to halt for several months.
Juan Chonillo, pictured, died when he fell from the 29th floor of the skyscraper while working on the structure in 2017
When work resumed in January 2018, improperly placed construction netting brought it to a standstill once more, and the Department of Buildings issued several stop-work orders during the month, reports the royal deal.
And a year after Chonillo’s tragic death, a crane operator allegedly caused significant damage after breaking construction materials on the 34th floor, hurling concrete onto the street.
Despite the cheapest apartment costing more than $1.3 million, the building sold half of its available units in a matter of months, after stunning preliminary sales launched in April 2016.
By the time the flashing skyscraper was officially completed in September 2018, 78 of the building’s 98 condominiums were already off the market.
Amid hostile accusations about the lack of progress, Pizzarotti filed a lawsuit against Fortis in March 2019 over the 8cm tilt to the north.
The problem, which was first noticed by a subcontractor in April 2018, reportedly caused difficulties installing the glass curtain wall, with further security fears including faulty windows and even waterproofing failure.
The building’s developer has insisted that despite being incomplete for nearly a decade, it still maintains plans to finish the towering skyscraper.
At one point, almost all of the luxurious condominiums were
On hold since late 2020 and with an uncertain future, the 200,000-square-foot structure remains in limbo.
The only work that has reportedly been carried out is Pizzarotti’s replacement as general contractor, Ray Builders, who designed another glass curtain wall to accommodate the striking slope.
But in July 2020, Ray Builders halted construction again after claiming that Fortis failed to pay its workers, before resigning as a contractor.
Bank Leumi, who allegedly provided Fortis with a $90 million construction loan for the doomed skyscraper in June 2016, was later blamed by Fortis for nonpayment in another lawsuit filed in August 2020, alleging the bank failed to comply. honor part of your loan agreement.
At the end of the year, the bank tried to foreclose on its loan for the skyscraper, according to PincusCoand from February 2021, all but six of the condo buyers had canceled their contracts.
In a statement to DailyMail.com, Fortis said he remains determined to finish the ill-fated skyscraper, saying he “continues to work with all stakeholders to end legal issues so we can resume work on the building.”
“The foundation at Maiden Lane was approved and recommended over other alternatives and was also approved by Pizzarotti before signing the construction management agreement with Fortis or raising a hammer on the project,” the company added.
With several legal disputes still ongoing among the many lenders and builders involved in the project, Fortis added that it remains committed to completing it, adding: “We look forward to resolving these legal issues, taking appropriate corrective action, completing the building, and having residents enjoy this great property.’
But for now, Big Apple residents are sticking with the unfinished structure looming near other landmarks, including the 9/11 Memorial and One World Trade Center. And amid numerous lawsuits and legal challenges upholding its failures, the monstrosity remains unfinished, staining the iconic Manhattan skyline for all to see.
Pizzarotti LLC has been contacted for comment.