161 Maiden Lane, Residential skyscraper in Financial District, Manhattan, US
161 Maiden Lane is an unfinished 60-story, 670-foot (200 m) residential tower on the East River in the Financial District, designed by Hill West Architects with interiors by Groves & Co. Its glass curtain wall, porte-cochère and planned spa, fitness center and infinity pool belong to a building that leans three inches (76 mm) to the north. As of 2024 only half of the finishes, including windows, were installed.
Construction started in 2015 with plans for approximately 80 luxury residential units intended for the site. Structural complications emerged early in the building process, forcing developers and contractors into legal disputes that halted progress on the tower.
The tower's nickname, the Leaning Tower of New York, comes from its three-inch tilt to the north, caused by soil improvement instead of deep pilings. The name One Seaport was dropped after Jack Resnick & Sons sued over confusion with its One Seaport Plaza at 199 Water Street. The site was a parking lot at the end of Maiden Lane before construction.
The unfinished tower stands behind construction fencing at the end of Maiden Lane, with the Franklin D. Roosevelt East River Drive viaduct passing between it and the waterfront. It is best viewed from the South Street Seaport area or from public streets to the south and west. The site has been under court-ordered receivership since June 2021, and no public access is possible.
The tower leans three inches (76 mm) north because its foundation used soil improvement instead of deep pilings, a choice meant to save US$6 million. The site was a parking lot at the end of Maiden Lane before construction, and the bedrock lies about 155 feet (47 m) below ground.
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