Demolition Progresses At 255 East 77th Street On Manhattan’s Upper East Side

Kicking off our annual end-of-year countdown of the 31 tallest projects underway in New York is 255 East 77th Street, a forthcoming 36-story residential tower on Manhattan’s Upper East Side. Designed by Hill West Architects and developed by Naftali Group, the 475-foot-tall structure will yield 170,481 square feet with 55 units, as well as 3,861 square feet of retail space, two cellar levels, and 33 enclosed parking spaces. Alba Services is the general contractor for the property, which is alternately addressed as 1481 Second Avenue and located at the corner of Second Avenue and East 77th Street.

Recent photos show the demolition progress on the three current occupants of the plot. The structures are fully covered in scaffolding and black netting, all windows have been removed, and the upper floors of the northernmost building have already been dismantled. Green plywood boards completely obscure the ground floor of each building.

255 East 77th Street. Photo by Michael Young

Below are photographs of the site back in late September from both street level and above.

255 East 77th Street. Photo by Michael Young

No renderings have been released for 255 East 77th Street, though based on its height and its relatively low-rise surroundings, it should provide residents on the upper floors with panoramic views of the Midtown skyline. The nearest subway from the property is the Q train at the 72nd Street station along Second Avenue. Also nearby to the west is the 6 train at 77th Street and Lexington Avenue.

Demolition began this summer and the three buildings are planned to be fully razed by the summer of 2023, as noted on site. A completion date for 255 East 77th Street has yet to be announced. However, YIMBY predicts this to occur around the end of 2024 or early 2025 at the very latest.