Why Nobody Can Fix New York's $600M Leaning Tower — And Nobody Will Try

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[lowbridge]

In the heart of Lower Manhattan, a 60-story glass skyscraper has been sitting abandoned and unfinished for years. It overlooks the East River. It leans three inches to the north. Glass panels have fallen off its facade. And nobody — not the developer, not the lenders, not the courts — can agree on how to fix it.

This is 161 Maiden Lane. New York City's very own Leaning Tower. A $600M luxury skyscraper that was supposed to sell 80 waterfront condos for up to $18 million each. Instead, it became one of the most expensive construction disasters in American history — and it started with a decision to save just $6 million on the foundation.

[Gay State Conservative]

I’ve heard of that one.In fact I’ve heard of a second one that’s in trouble because it’s tilting...IIRC that one isn’t far from Central Park.

[Fai Mao]

San Francisco has one like that too, only worse.

[frank ballenger]

It overlooks the East River...

And we mean overlooks. Way, way over.👀👀

[KingLudd]

Can’t they just fill one side?

[Jonty30]

Gravity makes it difficult to create a permanent solution.

Especially that has the weight and fragility of an office building.

I think the solution is to tear it down and build anew.

[higgmeister]

https://www.google.com/maps/place/161+Maiden+Ln,+New+York,+NY+10038/@40.7053165,-74.0046546,3a,75y,337.82h,142.55t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1so6a4au8CWIAoxOLp8WZX7A!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fcb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile%26w%3D900%26h%3D600%26pitch%3D-52.54972377892264%26panoid%3Do6a4au8CWIAoxOLp8WZX7A%26yaw%3D337.8239181661541!7i16384!8i8192!4m6!3m5!1s0x89c25a3dbc5f2e0b:0x4c0b2fb19bd7cad1!8m2!3d40.7055688!4d-74.0048141!16s%2Fg%2F11csgqv0s2?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI2MDgzMS4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D

[ryderann]

Give the penthouse to Mandami.

[Vigilanteman]

LOL! Or the United Nations.

[Red Badger]

Get those foam injection guys to try it!.........

[Jamestown1630]

If it topples over, isn’t that going to cost more in cleanup and lawsuits than tearing it down would?

[PROCON]

Modern problems demand modern solutions!

[SkyDancer]

Always trying the cheapest way .... meanwhile, the Empire State building has no problems and it was built during the Depression ... took eighteen months to build whereas the Freedom Tower took ten years. Bureaucracy.

[Alberta's Child]

Without even reading anything about this story I can probably guess why the building can’t be fixed: The owner of the property is bankrupt, and nobody wants to take on the unknown liability associated with a worthless building.

[T.B. Yoits]

From the article: And nobody — not the developer, not the lenders, not the courts — can agree on how to fix it.

Forget the developer, the lenders, and the courts. Put it back on the engineering firm and the prime construction contractor.

[BobL]

Nice picture, but what a waste she’ll soon have to be like the Afghan and Iranian women and comply with an Islamic dress code.

[The Duke]

Mamdani could probably bring some friends in to blow it up.

[mass55th]

That’s a safety hazard. They’ll debate until someone is killed by falling debris, or some muzzie flies a plane into it.

[citizen]

So, what was the $6 million cheapo decision?

[CaptainK]

Fascinating video. I subscribed to the channel.