1982: Trump Tower, tallest concrete building, topped off
The topping-off ceremony of Trump Tower, at 725 Fifth Avenue and 56th Street, was celebrated July 26. At the time of its completion, the 58-story, 700-foot skyscraper was the tallest concrete building in the world; it required 90,000 tons of concrete and 4,000 tons of steel-reinforcing rods to build. Seven hundred guests were invited to the event, including Mayor Ed Koch and Governor Hugh Carey.
Donald Trump was able to build such a large building without violating zoning laws by constructing a through-block arcade and an atrium, borrowing air rights from neighboring Tiffany & Co. The mixed-use retail, office and residential building was worth $100 million when it opened in 1983.
Today, Trump resides in the building’s three-story penthouse, which is estimated to be worth $50 million, making it one of the highest-valued condos in New York City. While it was discovered at the turn of the century that reinforced concrete was a cheaper alternative to steel construction, the possible height of concrete structures remained limited until around the mid-1970s, when advancements in structural engineering allowed reinforced concrete to support full-fledged skyscrapers.
1977: New York City loses power
In mid-July of 1977, New York’s blackout was followed by widespread looting and arson. In the aftermath of the massive power failure, commercial property owners all over the city struggled to retain tenants.
Citywide there were 1,037 fires, and 1,616 stores suffered from looting. Most leases provided for rent abatement in the case of a fire, but not when there had been looting and no structural damage. Landlords were responsible for restoring floors, ceilings and storefronts, and filing insurance claims.
A study published by the U.S. Department of Energy’s systems control division in July 1978 estimated that economic costs directly or indirectly attributable to the blackout exceeded $350 million; looting and arson accounted for almost half this figure.
The city’s Office of Economic Development set up neighborhood assistance teams in all five boroughs to provide incentives for businesses to stay. Many businesses were also covered by federal crime-insurance policies under a government-subsidized program established in 1971 by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The program offered crime-insurance coverage at a cost of $40 to $80 per year, about half the commercial prices.
A historical exhibit called “Up From Flames: Mapping the Recovery of Bushwick 1977-2007” documents the neighborhood’s recovery from the blackout to the present. The exhibit shows at the Brooklyn Historical Society until August 26.
1937: New railroad promotes growth west of Ninth Ave
Seventy years ago this month, the New York Central Railroad completed a track running between 10th and 11th avenues, from 60th to 35th streets, marking the beginning of the far West Side of Manhattan’s transformation into one of the city’s most important industrial areas. The tracks spurred the construction of at least five industrial building projects between 11th and 10th avenues.
In a July 4 New York Times article entitled “New Plans Rise Along Rail Route,” W.E. Phelps, special engineer of the land and tax department of the New York Central Railroad, estimated that the new plants had an aggregate value of $200 million.
The New York Central purchased a 12-story warehouse at 35th Street and 11th Avenue from R.H. Macy & Co., then converted the building into a multi-tenant warehouse and train depot. They rented out 11 floors with 8,000 square feet of storage space each and redesigned the lower levels to hold five rail cars.
Along the line, the Sheffield Farms milk depot was built between 10th and 11th avenues and 56th and 57th streets. Whitehead Metal Products Company and the Metal Purchasing Company both built train-friendly plants in the area, as did the Cudahy Packing Company.