Trump SoHo
Encyclopedia
Trump SoHo New York or just Trump SoHo, announced in 2006,, is a $450 million, 46 story, 391 unit hotel condominium
being constructed in SoHo
, New York City
.
in Hudson Square
, Printing District, West Soho neighborhood of New York City
, at 246 Spring Street, between Varick Street and Avenue of the Americas. Despite its name, it is located a few blocks west of the SoHo-Cast Iron Historic District, but most likely the developers hoped to capture the cachet of that nearby neighborhood. This is a region zoned for manufacturing, which precludes permanent residences. The condo-hotel
design was approved after negotiations with New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg
. As a hotel condominium
, 391 dwelling units within the building will be privately owned, but no unit may "be occupied by the same person for more than 29 days in any 36-day period, or for more than 120 days a year." When not occupied by the owner, an empty unit may be rented out as a hotel suite. The building will feature a spa, a high-end restaurant and over 12000 square feet (1,114.8 m²) of conference and banquet facilities.
The project is a collaboration between Trump, the Bayrock Group and Tamir Sapir. The building is being overseen by Donald Trump
, his children Donald Trump, Jr.
, and Ivanka Trump
, and The Apprentice
season 5 winner Sean Yazbeck
, who chose this project over the Trump International Hotel and Tower (Honolulu)
project on the June 5, 2006, Apprentice season finale. The Trumps have not invested their own capital in the project.
Design architects for the building are Handel Architects
based in New York. The interior designer is David Rockwell
of the Rockwell Group.
Columbia architecture professor Mitchell Joachim judged Trump Soho "one of the ugliest buildings in New York". The Trumps are marketing the Trump Soho hotel-condo to buyers from the United Arab Emirates. http://therealdeal.com/newyork/articles/trump-soho-marketed-to-uae-buyers
In November, 2009, the SoHo Alliance filed a legal Objection at the NYC Board of Standards and Appeals that the project is overbuilt by some 5000 square feet (464.5 m²). After a couple of hearings at the BSA and written submissions, the Objection is still having another hearing on July, 27 2010, an indication that there is substance to the Objection that it is overbuilt. The Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation
also was strongly opposed to the project. The group led protests against the building claiming it violated the zoning. They also put together a broad coalition of business and civic groups as well as elected officials and community boards from across the city to oppose approval of the Trump permits based on the zoning issue.
According to a March 29, 2010 article in The Wall Street Journal
the building is scheduled to open on April 9. At the time of the article only one-third of the 391 units were under contract and it was unclear how many of those under contract would actually close
. In 2009, only 30% of the units actually closed at Trump Hotel Las Vegas. The building's financing was troubled: Bank of America
dumped the mezzanine loan for far less than its $75 million face value
and the lenders who have $350 million in loans are working on restructuring debt with the developer.
As of November 2010, the Wall Street Journal reported that the owners of Trump SoHo were offering buyers partial refunds on their deposits if they agreed not to participate in a lawsuit alleging sales figures for the development were misrepresented. This all stems from the ‘condo-hotel’ usage which the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation
and the SoHo Alliance long argued made the project illegal, whereby the City considered the units a “transient hotel” even though they were sold to individual buyers who could live there for much if not all of the year.
The hotel will feature an outdoor, seasonal pool deck with a boccie court. Located on the same level will be the 11000 square feet (1,021.9 m²) The Spa at Trump, fitness facilities and the seasonal bar Bar d’Eau.
The external walls of each room with be made completely of double sided mirrors, giving its tenants a panoramic view of the Statue of Liberty, Hudson River, and the Manhattan skyline. The rooms are the only New York City hotel furnished by Fendi
Casa.
The 46th floor will be home to "SoHi," an event space offering New York skyline views.
. The preservation group felt that the building was too large and did not in keep with the community's character. They pushed for rezonings of the Far West Village and Hudson Square that would prevent out-of-scale projects such as this.
Construction was temporarily halted in December 2006 after workers discovered human bones. Archaeologists determined that the remains were from 19th-century burial vault
s built under the former Spring Street Presbyterian Church, which stood at the site until 1966.
On January 14, 2008, formwork
collapsed during a concrete pour, killing one worker. Yuriy Vanchytskyy, an immigrant from the Ukraine
employed by DiFama Concrete, fell from the 42nd floor and was decapitated; three other workers were injured. The Department of Buildings
halted work on the project and the contractor, Bovis Lend Lease
, was issued four violations. Investigators subsequently determined that the wooden formwork
did not meet industry standards. The stop-work order, which only applied to the building's upper floors, was later lifted on August 22.
Condo-hotel
A condo hotel, also known as a hotel-condo or a Condotel, is a building used as both a condominium and a hotel.Condo hotels are typically high-rise buildings developed and operated as luxury hotels, usually in major cities and resorts. These hotels have condominium units which allow someone to own...
being constructed in SoHo
SoHo
SoHo is a neighborhood in Lower Manhattan, New York City, notable for being the location of many artists' lofts and art galleries, and also, more recently, for the wide variety of stores and shops ranging from trendy boutiques to outlets of upscale national and international chain stores...
, New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.
Overview
The building is located two blocks from the Manhattan entrance of the Holland TunnelHolland Tunnel
The Holland Tunnel is a highway tunnel under the Hudson River connecting the island of Manhattan in New York City with Jersey City, New Jersey at Interstate 78 on the mainland. Unusual for an American public works project, it is not named for a government official, politician, or local hero or...
in Hudson Square
Hudson Square
What was Hudson Square is now St. John's Park and is in TriBeCa , not in the Printing District or South Village. This Manhattan neighborhood, less known as West SoHo is generally bounded by West Houston Street to the north, Canal Street to the south, 6th Avenue to the east and the Hudson River to...
, Printing District, West Soho neighborhood of New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, at 246 Spring Street, between Varick Street and Avenue of the Americas. Despite its name, it is located a few blocks west of the SoHo-Cast Iron Historic District, but most likely the developers hoped to capture the cachet of that nearby neighborhood. This is a region zoned for manufacturing, which precludes permanent residences. The condo-hotel
Condo-hotel
A condo hotel, also known as a hotel-condo or a Condotel, is a building used as both a condominium and a hotel.Condo hotels are typically high-rise buildings developed and operated as luxury hotels, usually in major cities and resorts. These hotels have condominium units which allow someone to own...
design was approved after negotiations with New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg
Michael Bloomberg
Michael Rubens Bloomberg is the current Mayor of New York City. With a net worth of $19.5 billion in 2011, he is also the 12th-richest person in the United States...
. As a hotel condominium
Condo-hotel
A condo hotel, also known as a hotel-condo or a Condotel, is a building used as both a condominium and a hotel.Condo hotels are typically high-rise buildings developed and operated as luxury hotels, usually in major cities and resorts. These hotels have condominium units which allow someone to own...
, 391 dwelling units within the building will be privately owned, but no unit may "be occupied by the same person for more than 29 days in any 36-day period, or for more than 120 days a year." When not occupied by the owner, an empty unit may be rented out as a hotel suite. The building will feature a spa, a high-end restaurant and over 12000 square feet (1,114.8 m²) of conference and banquet facilities.
The project is a collaboration between Trump, the Bayrock Group and Tamir Sapir. The building is being overseen by Donald Trump
Donald Trump
Donald John Trump, Sr. is an American business magnate, television personality and author. He is the chairman and president of The Trump Organization and the founder of Trump Entertainment Resorts. Trump's extravagant lifestyle, outspoken manner and role on the NBC reality show The Apprentice have...
, his children Donald Trump, Jr.
Donald Trump, Jr.
Donald "Don" John Trump, Jr. is an American businessman who is the first child of real estate developer Donald J. Trump and Ivana Trump. He currently works along with his sister Ivanka Trump and brother Eric Trump in the position of Executive Vice President at The Trump Organization...
, and Ivanka Trump
Ivanka Trump
Ivanka Marie Trump is an American businesswoman, socialite, heiress, and fashion model. The daughter of Ivana and Donald Trump, she is Executive Vice President of Development & Acquisitions at The Trump Organization...
, and The Apprentice
The Apprentice (U.S. TV series)
The Apprentice is an American reality television show hosted by real estate magnate, businessman and television personality Donald Trump, created by Mark Burnett and broadcast on NBC...
season 5 winner Sean Yazbeck
Sean Yazbeck
Sean Yazbeck is the winner of the fifth season of the reality show, The Apprentice, where candidates compete in several tasks on a 15-week "job interview" for a position in one of Donald Trump's companies...
, who chose this project over the Trump International Hotel and Tower (Honolulu)
Trump International Hotel and Tower (Honolulu)
Trump International Hotel and Tower at Waikiki Beach Walk or Trump Tower Waikiki is a tall, tower with about 460 hotel-condo units in the Waikiki area of the City and County of Honolulu, Hawaii, United States. The building includes parking, retail and dining space, as well as a library, wine...
project on the June 5, 2006, Apprentice season finale. The Trumps have not invested their own capital in the project.
Design architects for the building are Handel Architects
Handel Architects
Handel Architects LLP is an architecture firm that was founded in New York City in 1994. Led by Partner Gary Handel, the firm has offices in New York City, San Francisco, Hong Kong and Abu Dhabi. The firm is composed of five Partners: Gary Handel, Blake Middleton, Glenn Rescalvo, Frank Fusaro, and...
based in New York. The interior designer is David Rockwell
David Rockwell
David Rockwell is an American architect and designer, who is the founder and CEO of Rockwell Group, based in New York with satellite offices in Madrid and Dubai. Rockwell has long been fascinated with immersive environments.-Early life and education:...
of the Rockwell Group.
Columbia architecture professor Mitchell Joachim judged Trump Soho "one of the ugliest buildings in New York". The Trumps are marketing the Trump Soho hotel-condo to buyers from the United Arab Emirates. http://therealdeal.com/newyork/articles/trump-soho-marketed-to-uae-buyers
In November, 2009, the SoHo Alliance filed a legal Objection at the NYC Board of Standards and Appeals that the project is overbuilt by some 5000 square feet (464.5 m²). After a couple of hearings at the BSA and written submissions, the Objection is still having another hearing on July, 27 2010, an indication that there is substance to the Objection that it is overbuilt. The Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation
Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation
The Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation is a non-profit organization that seeks to preserve the architectural heritage and cultural history of several neighborhoods of New York City: Greenwich Village, the East Village, the Far West Village, the South Village, Gansevoort Market,...
also was strongly opposed to the project. The group led protests against the building claiming it violated the zoning. They also put together a broad coalition of business and civic groups as well as elected officials and community boards from across the city to oppose approval of the Trump permits based on the zoning issue.
According to a March 29, 2010 article in The Wall Street Journal
The Wall Street Journal
The Wall Street Journal is an American English-language international daily newspaper. It is published in New York City by Dow Jones & Company, a division of News Corporation, along with the Asian and European editions of the Journal....
the building is scheduled to open on April 9. At the time of the article only one-third of the 391 units were under contract and it was unclear how many of those under contract would actually close
Closing (real estate)
Closing is the final step in executing a real estate transaction.The closing date is set during the negotiation phase, and is usually several weeks after the offer is formally accepted. On the closing date, the parties consummate the purchase contract, and ownership of the property is transferred...
. In 2009, only 30% of the units actually closed at Trump Hotel Las Vegas. The building's financing was troubled: Bank of America
Bank of America
Bank of America Corporation, an American multinational banking and financial services corporation, is the second largest bank holding company in the United States by assets, and the fourth largest bank in the U.S. by market capitalization. The bank is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina...
dumped the mezzanine loan for far less than its $75 million face value
Face value
The Face value is the value of a coin, stamp or paper money, as printed on the coin, stamp or bill itself by the minting authority. While the face value usually refers to the true value of the coin, stamp or bill in question it can sometimes be largely symbolic, as is often the case with bullion...
and the lenders who have $350 million in loans are working on restructuring debt with the developer.
As of November 2010, the Wall Street Journal reported that the owners of Trump SoHo were offering buyers partial refunds on their deposits if they agreed not to participate in a lawsuit alleging sales figures for the development were misrepresented. This all stems from the ‘condo-hotel’ usage which the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation
Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation
The Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation is a non-profit organization that seeks to preserve the architectural heritage and cultural history of several neighborhoods of New York City: Greenwich Village, the East Village, the Far West Village, the South Village, Gansevoort Market,...
and the SoHo Alliance long argued made the project illegal, whereby the City considered the units a “transient hotel” even though they were sold to individual buyers who could live there for much if not all of the year.
Amenities
The developers claim that the 386000 square feet (35,860.6 m²) condo-hotel was designed to contribute to the neighborhood as well as the skyline. On the other hand, many complain that it "sticks out like a sore thumb" and is entirely inappropriate for the area. Along with the private rooms, it is expected there will be public areas, including the Quattro Gastronomia Italiana restaurant, and a public garden, two story guest lobby, Library and Bazaar, the hotel's cocktail lounge. There will also be a business center with conference and meeting rooms.The hotel will feature an outdoor, seasonal pool deck with a boccie court. Located on the same level will be the 11000 square feet (1,021.9 m²) The Spa at Trump, fitness facilities and the seasonal bar Bar d’Eau.
The external walls of each room with be made completely of double sided mirrors, giving its tenants a panoramic view of the Statue of Liberty, Hudson River, and the Manhattan skyline. The rooms are the only New York City hotel furnished by Fendi
Fendi
Fendi is an Italian high fashion house best known for its "baguette" handbags. It was launched in 1925 as a fur and leather shop in Rome, but today is a multinational luxury goods brand owned by LVMH...
Casa.
The 46th floor will be home to "SoHi," an event space offering New York skyline views.
Construction
Excavation and foundation work for the new building began in November 2006, though full city approval for the project was not granted until May 2007. The plan faced strong opposition from the Greenwich Village Society for Historic PreservationGreenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation
The Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation is a non-profit organization that seeks to preserve the architectural heritage and cultural history of several neighborhoods of New York City: Greenwich Village, the East Village, the Far West Village, the South Village, Gansevoort Market,...
. The preservation group felt that the building was too large and did not in keep with the community's character. They pushed for rezonings of the Far West Village and Hudson Square that would prevent out-of-scale projects such as this.
Construction was temporarily halted in December 2006 after workers discovered human bones. Archaeologists determined that the remains were from 19th-century burial vault
Burial vault
Burial vault may refer to:*Burial vault , protective coffin enclosure*Burial vault , underground tomb...
s built under the former Spring Street Presbyterian Church, which stood at the site until 1966.
On January 14, 2008, formwork
Formwork
Formwork is the term given to either temporary or permanent molds into which concrete or similar materials are poured. In the context of concrete construction, the falsework supports the shuttering moulds.-Formwork and concrete form types:...
collapsed during a concrete pour, killing one worker. Yuriy Vanchytskyy, an immigrant from the Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
employed by DiFama Concrete, fell from the 42nd floor and was decapitated; three other workers were injured. The Department of Buildings
New York City Department of Buildings
The New York City Department of Buildings is the branch of municipal government in New York City that enforces the City's building codes and zoning regulations, issues building permits, and inspects new and existing buildings.-History:...
halted work on the project and the contractor, Bovis Lend Lease
Bovis Lend Lease
Lend Lease Project Management & Construction is the international project management and construction division of Lend Lease Group.-History:...
, was issued four violations. Investigators subsequently determined that the wooden formwork
Formwork
Formwork is the term given to either temporary or permanent molds into which concrete or similar materials are poured. In the context of concrete construction, the falsework supports the shuttering moulds.-Formwork and concrete form types:...
did not meet industry standards. The stop-work order, which only applied to the building's upper floors, was later lifted on August 22.
External links
- Official Trump SoHo Website
- Trump SoHo Hotel Website
- Trump Organization
- Emporis.com Page
- Trump SoHo Virtual Tour on YouTubeYouTubeYouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....