Pfizer Building News (7/29/26)
At least 43rd Street is back open? At least?
Well it’s been just over three weeks since the sorta-panic around the potential-collapse of the Pfizer building.
My big selfish realization was how important that section of 43rd Street is to me. From sprinting down the block to Grand Central, to seeing all of the adorable children regularly headed to the playground, to keeping my car-dodging skills sharp in front of the Avis store, it’s a pipeline.
I’m glad it’s back but don’t think every time I walk down there I’m not looking up and ready to duck for cover. I don’t trust it and while I appreciate the Mayor keeping us informed and assured, my lack of faith in the builders and building inspectors keeps me on edge.
So, I’ve relied on strong reporting to keep me in the know. Here are some of the best articles I’ve read…
• The New York Times article is a good place to start to understand what actually happened with the building, the renovation, the beams, and the lack of reinforcements.
• Then head over to this Gothamist article, and discover that the build plans were not peer-reviewed.
• This article from HousingWire seems to put the blame on ‘workers’ which is a strange turn of phrase. The article itself says that it’s about the contractor, not office-to-residential, but still… blaming “workers” seems kind of messed up.
• Oh yeah, and the guy who founded the firm involved in the inspections was fired by the city in the 80s for throwing cocaine parties in his office. Marone a mi.
• Another great Gothamist article about how the builder’s finances are a mess. It is not unreasonable to expect 43rd Street to be a disaster for a number of years. Related note: Who the hell is going to want to live there now?
• This New Yorker article is behind the paywall, but is an interesting look at how this might affect the office-to-residential plans. We do need to alleviate the housing crisis, but… well, I have some doubts about the altruism of the people involved.
• And on the same office-to-residential conversions subject, Kimberly Adams interviewed City Comptroller Mark Levine over at Marketplace.
My final thoughts? Keep your eyes on the buildings and trust your instincts when a building site doesn’t exactly feel safe.
Gigantic s/o to my partner who, for the last year, has refused to walk under the scaffolding surrounding the building because “something felt off about it.” Trust your instincts, my dear Tudor City residents.
Stay safe out there!
-TCV