New York’s Flatiron Building Will Be Converted Into Luxury Apartments
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6 months ago
The landmark is starting a new life
From Battersea Power Station to the Old War Office, many of London’s historic buildings are being converted into luxury homes – and the same is true of New York, as the city’s famous Flatiron Building will soon be converted into condos.
NYC’s Flatiron Building Is Being Converted Into Luxury Apartments
Image: Unsplash
Standing proudly at 175 Fifth Avenue in Manhattan is the Flatiron Building: an instantly recognisable landmark and a quintessential symbol of New York City. Completed in 1902, the 22-storey building was one of the city’s first skyscrapers, and initially served as the headquarters of the Fuller Company, a construction firm. (It was first named the Fuller Building, but became known as the Flatiron Building thanks to its triangular shape.) In the next few years, however, the landmark will take on a new life as a collection of luxury apartments.
The building’s owners announced the conversion after residential developer The Brodsky Organisation purchased a share of the development. The Brodsky Organisation will be at the helm of the transformation, renovating each unit either to sell or rent. The owners have stated that the project is expected to take approximately three years to complete – it may be a year before approval is granted by New York’s Department of City Planning, and the demolition and construction involved could take a further two years.
Image: Unsplash
Despite its illustrious history, the Flatiron Building has been empty since its sole office tenant, Macmillan Publishers, vacated in 2019. While a mysterious buyer swept in to bid $190 million on the property earlier this year, they abandoned the proceedings without paying a cent. The announcement of the redevelopment, then, goes some way to dust the cobwebs from this towering skyscraper.
Though the process may be lengthy, the transformation of the Flatiron Building represents an intriguing new chapter of New York real estate. Future residents will stake a claim on the city’s history, just as they form part of its future. Never mind the rather puzzling prospect of furnishing a triangular apartment, of course – who wouldn’t want to live inside a landmark?
