The zentastic Sundari Lofts & Tower was the 50-unit condo building planned for the former site of Andy Warhol's legendary Factory, on Madison Avenue between 32nd and 33rd Streets. We say "was" because the project ceased to be in June 2006, and the land was sold (the Sundari website, however, lives on). Now, we have a resurrection on our hands, albeit in a different vessel. A tipster noticed some preliminary activity at the site, including a sign for Reliance Construction Group. One trip over to the RCG website and—hey now!—ladies and gentlemen, 158 Madison Avenue! Quote:
The building is a T-shape, spanning the entire block between 32nd Street and 33rd Street, with a finger reaching out to Madison Avenue. The building has a gross area of approximately 155,000 square feet with 37 residential floors and 6,000 square feet of retail space. The project is proposed to contain 103 residential units ranging in size from 540 square feet to 3,800 square feet. Amenities include a private health spa located on the cellar level complete with a hot tub, a 58-0' x 10'-0" lap pool, a Yoga center, a gymnasium and locker rooms.
A lot was made of the Sundari's strange T-shaped lot before the plug was pulled, and the portion of the building fronting Madison Avenue was pretty narrow, based on the renderings. RCG's design looks pretty chunky. Verrrrry interesting. You have our attention, 158 Madison.
UPDATE: We just heard from a representative at Ismael Leyva Architects. It turns out that, like the original Sundari design, this building is also a Leyva joint. The new plan is preliminary and the design is still going through some "architectural changes."
The Madison Avenue site as it looks now. >>
