New retail building, public plaza planned near Bryant Park

Equity Office, which owns the former Verizon tower at 1095 Sixth Avenue, is about to embark on a $27 million project that will replace the eyesores on the long-neglected south side of 42nd Street, between Sixth Avenue and Broadway, with a new retail building and public plaza. According to the Post, the three-story, glass-enclosed retail building at 124 West 42nd Street will contain 42,000 square feet — half of which will be below-grade. “We’re taking two horrible little buildings and reconfiguring them into a three-story building ideal for restaurant or entertainment use,” said Brad Mendelson of Cushman & Wakfield, who is consulting for Equity Office on the project. Those two “horrible little buildings” are currently home to the notorious Pop-Tarts pop-up shop. Construction on the new structure is slated to begin Jan. 1, with or without a future tenant, Mendelson said. The public plaza, meanwhile, will sit between 124 West 42nd Street and 1095 Sixth Avenue and will open in November. [Post]