461 Fifth Avenue

History

In the late nineteenth century, 461 Fifth Avenue was the residence of the Misses Furniss, who were known for hosting musicals and other social functions. They had acquired the address from a J. M. Bixby sometime after 1873.

Sometime between 1911 and 1915, the private house was replaced with an eleven-story office building, which in 1945 was renovated to become a Lane Bryant store. By 1988 the Lane Bryant building was demolished.

The current structure was built in 1988 by a Japanese-lead development group using a design by Raul de Armas of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill. Within a year of completion, the building had a 90% occupancy rate and had spurred a building boom in the Fifth Avenue area. By 1992 it was fully leased. The first floor shopping level was occupied by a Pier 1 Imports until 2007, when it was leased to BCBGMAXAZRIA.

The building was sold to its current owner, SL Green Realty, in 2003 for $62.3 million.

Architecture

The building uses modern materials, creating a stone-finish look, as well as a setback at the base, which is at the same height as older buildings in the neighborhood. The building is also noted architecturally for its combination of a 10-story 19th-century base, which mirrors nearby older buildings, and an 18-story post-modern tower.

The exterior uses a pre-cast concrete finish to mimic the appearance of limestone and has a copper mansard roof similar to other buildings in the area.

References

References

1. "461 5th Avenue". Emporis.com.
2. (2009). "461 Fifth Avenue". Skyscraper Source Media Inc.
3. Patriarch. (1895-12-22). "Society". New York Times.
4. (1873-07-31). "The Assessed Valuation.; The Work of the Supervisors' Committee Yesterday.". New York Times.
5. (1911-06-18). "Recent Demolition of Windsor Arcade Calls Attention to Fifth Avenue Changes". New York Times.
6. (1930-05-02). "Silk House Takes Broadway Floor.". New York Times.
7. (1945-11-08). "Store Alteration to Cost $200,000; Architects File Plans for New Home of Lane Bryant on Fifth Ave.". New York Times.
8. McCain, Mark. (1987-10-07). "Real Estate; 8 Blocks Of 5th Ave. Awakening". New York Times.
9. Fletcher, Tom. "461 Fifth Avenue Bldg". nyc-architecture.com.
10. Horsley, Carter B.. "461 Fifth Avenue". The City Review.
11. Lyons, Richard D.. (1990-01-17). "Real Estate; A New Face For Stretch Of Fifth Ave.". New York Times.
12. (1992-12-02). "461 5th Ave. 100% occupied with tenants such as the State Bank of South Australia.". Hagedorn Publication.
13. McCain, Mark. (1988-10-30). "Commercial Property: The Grand Central Area; Landlords Set Up a Special Tax to Upgrade District". New York Times.
14. (2007-03-07). "BCBG leases 14,000 s/f at 461 Fifth Avenue.". Hagedorn Publication.
15. (July 21, 2003). "SL Green Realty Corp. Announces Agreement to Acquire 461 Fifth Avenue for $62.3 Million". [[Business Wire]].
16. (2009). "461 Fifth Avenue, Manhattan, NY". SL Green Realty Corp.
17. (2009). "About 461 Fifth Avenue". Red Hand, L.L.C.