Demolition already underway at future site of controversial Union Square tower

Neighbors of 31 West 15th Street have long been lobbying against the construction of a new residential tower at the site, but new zoning documents finally reveal the extent of what they’re going to be dealing with. According to DNAinfo, developer Alchemy Construction is planning a 25-story, 335-foot-tall residential tower there, thanks to the air rights it acquired from the neighboring Xavier High School. Xavier is slated to take the first through sixth floors of the new building, of which the design has yet to be unveiled because the project hasn’t been officially approved by the city. Alchemy’s original proposal was rejected by the city in March, but the building’s zoning plans were approved earlier this month, and demolition of the current structure has already begun. Residents of the block, between Fifth and Sixth avenues, already launched one unsuccessful lawsuit against the project in 2008, in which they claimed it was out of scale with the size of other buildings on the street. Now they’re preparing for another battle, reportedly consulting with lawyers and lobbyists in order to block the latest plans from getting approved. [DNAinfo]