The Real Deal gets straight with Manhattan’s 'Leaning Tower of FiDi'

2023-03-13T11:43:00-04:00

You’ve heard of the Leaning Tower of Pisa, but did you know New York has its very own leaning tower? Manhattan’s “Leaning Tower of FiDi,” developed by Fortis Property Group, has this dubious distinction: It is tilting by three inches to the north, and has been beset by numerous construction delays, disputes with lenders and more. How did this engineering blunder ever come to pass?

One Seaport (aka “161 Maiden Lane”) is now the subject of a contentious lawsuit between Fortis and the project’s construction engineer Pizzarotti. Pizzarotti claims the developers are at fault owing to shoddy preparatory work on its foundation, which left the tower at risk for catastrophic failures for portions of its facade, structural concrete, and even elevators.

Construction has since stalled out as various solutions are proffered. If it is ever actually completed, its 80 luxury units could be filled with tenants lured by yacht rental offers. A rather high-end incentive for the wealthy in a city where their opposites face their own daily risks caused by different forms of structural neglect and incompetence.

Faulty foundation blamed for leaning 60-story One Seaport tower in Manhattan

2019-04-26T14:57:00-04:00

Construction at One Seaport, aka 161 Maiden Lane, has been noticeably paused for the past several months. [...] new reports have revealed the 670-foot-tall building is actually leaning three inches to the north, leading to a series of legal disputes between Fortis Property Group, LLC, the developer, and Pizzarotti LLC, the current contractor. The project is being designed by Hill West Architects while Groves & Co is serving as the interior designer.

"It remains unclear how this will affect the plans for 80 South Street directly next door," writes Michael Young for New York YIMBY about the unclear fate of the 670-foot-tall tower which structurally topped out last September. "There is a question of whether One Seaport should remain standing or be demolished for imposing a safety concern for the surrounding area and the possible construction of the adjacent supertall."

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The Real Deal gets straight with Manhattan’s 'Leaning Tower of FiDi'

Faulty foundation blamed for leaning 60-story One Seaport tower in Manhattan