Iconic buildings that met the wrecking ball in 2014

With the end of the year comes the end of many famous structures in the city. From brownstones in Park Slope to a late 19th-century office building in NoMad to the final razing of an artists’ stronghold in Long Island City, many of the city’s iconic buildings are coming down. The Real Deal rounded up some of the buildings that have met — or are about to meet — the wrecking ball to make way for new developments.

The former 5Pointz in Long Island City

5Pointz, Long Island City

The long-term graffiti mecca in Long Island City is no more. The building came down this year to make way for Jerry Wolkoff’s new development at the site. Wolkoff, who is developing the site with his company G&M Realty, is planning to build two residential towers that will bring roughly 1,000 apartments to the site. The colorful building was whitewashed last year.

From left: 3-7 West 29th Street and 8-14 West 30th Street (Inset: Ziel Feldman)

Bancroft Building, NoMad

Ziel Feldman’s HFZ Capital is looking to build a 350,000-square-foot mixed-use building at the location of the Bancroft Building at 3-7 West 29th Street.  The iconic 10-story office building was built in 1896 and once housed photographer Alfred Stieglitz’s Camera Club of New York. (The camera club has moved to West 37th Street).

Demolition of the Domino Sugar Factory (credit: Max Touhey)

Domino Sugar Factory, Williamsburg

Demolition of the iconic industrial complex on the Brooklyn waterfront started in October to make way for Two Trees Management Company’s $2 billion multiple mixed-use towers at the Williamsburg location. Bin Structure, the Boiler House and more structures were also taken down. Two Trees got the necessary approvals to demolish the buildings in 2013. The developer bought the Domino Sugar site in 2012 for $185 million.

The Former Roseland Ballroom On West 52nd Street

Roseland Ballroom, Midtown 

Lady Gaga was the last performer to ever grace Roseland Ballroom’s stage in March of this year. The historic music venue at 239 West 52nd Street was demolished to make way for Algin Management’s 50-story, 450,000-square-foot mixed-use building. Roseland Ballroom occupied the entire block. Cetra/Ruddy will design the new tower at the site.

From left: Early rendering of 68-74 Trinity Place (Credit: Pelli Clarke Pelli) and existing buildings

74 Trinity Place, Financial District

Trinity Real Estate, the real estate arm of the Episcopal Trinity Church, is looking to build a 46-story tower at this location. Two properties at the site will have to be demolished to allow for the development: a six-story building at 68 Trinity Place and a 25-story building at 74 Trinity Place.

Rizzoli Bookstore at 31 West 57th Street

Rizzoli Bookstore

A permit to demolish the 109-year-old building that housed the Rizzoli bookstore on West 57th Street was approved in May, despite efforts by preservationists to save the historic building. The LeFrak family and Vornado Realty Trust are planning a new development at 31 West 57th Street. A high-rise condominium is slated to go up on the site.

Rendering of New York Methodist Hospital’s expansion

Methodist Hospital Expansion, Park Slope

To the dismay of local residents, the city granted the New York Methodist Hospital the necessary zoning variance to build a 500,000-square-foot extention to its facility. In order to add ambulatory care to the facility, more than a dozen townhouse-style buildings on **5th and 6th** streets as well as Eighth Avenue will have to be demolished.

Mount Manresa, Staten Island

Mount Manresa, Staten Island

The Savo Brothers development firm is looking to build a 250-unit condominium project at the location of this Jesuit retreat on Staten Island. Demolition of the location, however, was put on hold earlier this month, according to the Staten Island Advance, after problems with asbestos. The developers will have to notify surrounding residents about their plans before the demolition can proceed, the newspaper reported.