The disappearance of a skyline

The newly approved plan for 15 Penn Plaza, a rival 67-story skyscraper proposed a mere two blocks west of the landmark Empire State Building, will be the end to a prominent image adored by many. Reaching a height of over 1,200 feet, the structure proposed by Vornado Realty Trust will stand a mere 30 feet shorter than its famous neighbor.

Change is inevitable, I wholeheartedly admit to that. And of course, growth is positive and the creation of jobs wonderful. It's true that NYC is a constantly growing and changing city. Buildings come and go. But we're not just talking about any ordinary building. The Empire State Building is one of the most prolific icons of New York City and American ingenuity. More of an effort should be made to conserve this great historical sight and its prominence within the New York City skyline. At least a radius larger than two blocks would have been more respectable. How about take about 20 or 30 floors off the plan? There are many ways to avoid the conflict, but when the Empire State Building's owner Anthony Malkin pleaded with the city council to at least shorten the proposed structure by a few hundred feet, his voice fell upon deaf ears.

This building is what most of us think of when we imagine New York City, just as the Eiffel Tower is an iconic symbol of Paris. Could you imagine the people of Paris allowing someone to erect a tall office building a couple of blocks away from their famous tower? Probably not. As far as the reasoning behind the lack of support from local officials and city representatives ... we'll probably never know. What is clear is that the employees who have what the Daily News reported will be around 7,000 new jobs in the enormous office complex will have the only uninterrupted view of the famous architectural landmark.

One day in the near future we can look upon the once famous skyline nostalgically longing for the day when the Empire State Building could be seen. And if a more respectable and conservation-oriented decision had been made, regulations would be enforced to preserve this building's iconic place. This was a decision meant for a much larger group of decision-makers, like the people. We instead have the beginning of the end of the most memorable skyline in the world. The developer has yet to mention when construction will begin, but the New York Post states that Vornado "would wait until it pre-signs at least one large office tenant." Although the process could take years, its existence still looms in the very near future.

Frank Lombardi and Adam Lisberg, "Empire State Building's rival skyscraper approved by City Council", NY Daily News.

Steve Cuozzo, "Vornado's Penn tower deal", New York Post.