Trinity Church files demolition plans for FiDi tower project

Despite criticism from Community Board 1, plans for a 46-story, mixed-use Financial District tower in October, Trinity Real Estate is moving ahead with the project. The Jason Pizer-led real estate arm of the Episcopal Trinity Church filed a demolition permit application to raze two properties on the site.

A six-story building at 68 Trinity Place and a 25-story building at 74 Trinity Place would be demolished to make way for the new residential and office tower spanning roughly 300,000 square feet. Trinity tapped architecture firm Pelli Clarke Pelli to design the tower last year, as previously reported. A developer has not yet been selected.

“What was turned down, as anticipated at the time, was a building plan that did not meet required rear yard setback requirements,” a Trinity spokesperson told the New York Observer. “That denial then allowed Trinity to the start the process of going to [city’s Board of Standards and Appeals] to seek a variance from those requirements to create a more efficient building. The request for that variance was supported by [Community Board 1].”

Community Board 1 had criticized the design for looking out of place among its surroundings. [NYO] — Mark Maurer