The so-called Ground Zero mosque is not the only controversial building being planned here in New York City. There is a threat of a new building to rise very close to the Empire State Building at the site of the Hotel Pennsylvania on Seventh Avenue. 
Named 15 Penn Plaza, the building will be 67 stories and reach a height of 1,216 feet, bringing it close to the height of the Empire State's top floor. Depending on the vantage point of the person looking at the buildings, 15 Penn Plaza could very well block the view of the Empire State Building or be seen as almost on top of it.
Builder Steven Roth has the support of the City Planning Commission and Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer, but he is opposed by the owner of the Empire State Building, Anthony Malkin. Also many New Yorkers, including this writer, are against the idea.
Many years ago when I was looking at apartments in Astoria in Queens, New York, the real estate agents were talking about many things: lighting, spaciousness, new cabinets, new appliances, high ceilings, and renovated bathrooms. The one thing, though, that stood out was when they talked about the "unobstructed view," which meant being able to see Manhattan across the river. All the other things seemed inconsequential if I had that lovely scene to look at every day.
New Yorkers like their "unobstructed views" of the rivers to the east and west, of Central Park, or of the cityscape, most notably the Empire State Building and the Chrysler Building. We used to also have this love affair with the Twin Towers, and sometimes I catch myself still looking there for what is gone, and then I sadly remember what happened. New buildings will rise there, and we need and want that to happen. Those buildings will alter the skyline and be seen positively by most New Yorkers.
Article comments
1 - Ratman
The skyline changes... Hopefully 15 penn rises...
2 - Sony
for Gods sake its NYC,its alive,vibrant and changes! imagine if we had this same mentality in 1931,then the ESB would have never been built!let the city evolve,dont let it die! rise 15 Penn Plaza,NY's new landmark!
3 - Readman
Built it already. New York is not some painting in a museum. It's a city where - surprise - sometimes things get built.
4 - Victor Lana
Hey, I do think it should be built, but how about a discreet distance from the ESB as is the case with the Chyrsler Building?
5 - Johnson
Since when is proximity to ESB off limits? Reasons given thus far against it are silly. Vornado will build it.
6 - Victor Lana
No, Johnson, I think the reasons are very sound. Would we build something that would block the Washington Monument from any angle in DC? Would the French build something that would block the Eiffel Tower from any angle? Of course not.
This is just common sense: you do not block a landmark with a new building.
7 - simon
I've been to NYC three times in the past two years and I have to admit that the Empire State Building is my favorite. Now I'm a bit of a skyscraper enthusiast, and when I see a picture of this hulking monstrosity, three words boldly jump out at me:
"PIECE. OF. SHIT."
First of all, the building is quite bland and ultimately featureless. Nothing comparable to the elegance of the ESB.
Secondly, it could just as easily be built at least several blocks north, or several more blocks south in the Financial district, out of the way of the symbol of the City.
And thirdly, nobody wants it there. If you happen to be in NYC, ask anyone on the street what they think of this idea.
See if you're not surprised.
This is America. Our home. EVERYone should have a clean, pristine view of NYC's landmark.
Some may argue that 15 penn is progress. But it would just show that only in America is progress fueled by greed. Do NOT build 15 penn. Do NOT scar the city anymore than it has been...
Protect our nation's icons.
Preserve the Empire state Building.
8 - Victor Lana
Beautifully put, Simon. Thanks!
9 - i wish
There will always be anti progress people and always find a reason why not to build,
The building will block the view from the ESB, ok. How about, the building will ADD to the view from the ESB.
Anything anyone wants to build, skyscraper or new stadium those anti progress people will find a reason not to. If we listen to them the whole city will age and nothing will ever be build.
10 - Dr Dreadful
"New Skyscraper Will Alter New York Skyline"
Well, yes. So would a mature giant sequoia or a 1200-foot-high sculpture made out of scrapped Hummers.
Unless my recollections of my own brief time in New York are wrong, there are already plenty of locations in the city from which one cannot see the Empire State Building. It's not as if Manhattan isn't already full of skyscrapers; it's also not as if the ESB is a 9-foot-tall Port-a-Potty.
11 - Johnson
Landmark my a$$,ESB is a relic. Malkin is only concerned about preserving what little demand there is for space at his property and thwarting local competition. Don't compare ESB to the Washington Monument or the Eiffel Tower; neither one was built as a commercial property, for the purpose of providing office space in a central business district at market rents based on demand, supply, and competition.
12 - Johnson
"The Empire State Building's owner lost his bid to stop a new skyscraper from rising in the neighborhood when the New York City Council approved zoning and land use changes Wednesday that pave the way for the 1,190-foot tower."
"Council members voted overwhelmingly in favor of the project. They said New York City and its world-famous skyline cannot afford to be frozen in time and must embrace new investments."
"Mayor Michael Bloomberg also backed the project this week, dismissing Malkin's argument as delusional."
"Anybody that builds a building in New York City changes its skyline - we don't have to run around to every other owner and apologize," he said. "One guy owns a building, he'd like to have it be the only tall building - I'm sorry, that's not the real world."
I could not have said it better myself.
13 - Achmat
I think its funny they haven't built the World Trade Centers(10 Years)yet and they are focusing on building another sky scrapper. I wonder how much $$$ Mayor Bloomberg is making off this building.
Last I heard WTC was having problems finding tenants yet they want to build another one.. 60% of the high rises are sitting empty.. Let make it 80%!
14 - Victor Lana
15 Penn Plaza is an eyesore. If it were at least aesthetically pleasing, perhaps it would compliment the ESB as does the Chrysler Building.
Putting up this monolith so close to the ESB is like blocking an original Matisse with a giant clay sculpture made by a child.
15 - Olivia
Hey Victor I love your opinion! You are so right! I'm sooo going to use this in my CUNY J-School assignment! Thanks!
16 - Victor Lana
Thanks, Olivia. Looks like it's going to happen, so we will all have to accept it. 'Tis a pity, though.
17 - lensjockeyâ„¢
"I think the proposed new skyscraper that's going to rival the Empire State Building looks like the box the Empire State Building came in." â€" that was my letter, published today in The New York Daily News â€" Holly Van Voast
18 - Owen
Ok, it's a matter of progress, isn't it? Let's build a bigger one next to that relic they call Liberty statue.