Workers on the roof of the former ABC building–Extell’s future tower on Columbus Avenue–via Reddit
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Residents on West 66th and 67th Streets, between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue, say odiferous olfactory emanations, like a nasty “chemmy” burning plastic, are coming from the demolition of the former ABC campus, being developed by Extell, which bought the roughly 2.4-acre lot for $931 million in 2022. The entire site is coming down to make way for a 1,200-foot-high tower — the size of the Empire State Building without its spire. The construction has prompted complaints about dust, noise, and concerns over falling debris.
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Multiple Reddit threads were started by the same original poster to discuss the foul odor in the area. “Don’t go anywhere near 67th and Columbus if you have breathing issues,” they posted on Wednesday, September 17. “The workers are in full PPE/Hazmat-looking suits,” the user added, noting that a neighbor had an asthma attack, which they attributed to the ABC site. A follow-up post on Friday, September 19, said the smell of burning plastic was getting worse, reporting that workers were cutting sheds and pipes on the roof and burning insulation and plastic materials.
via Reddit
Councilmember Gale Brewer formally addressed the issue in a September 19 letter to Rohit T. Aggarwala, Commissioner of the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), citing the fumes, dust, and noise as a threat to residents’ quality of life and requesting immediate inspections. Brewer’s office received more than a dozen complaints regarding the foul odor. “Residents point out that their eyes and throats are burning,” Brewer wrote. “They are correctly concerned about what they are breathing.” The councilmember also detailed residents’ complaints about construction trucks illegally parked on the street for hours, creating loud noise and exhaust.
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A spokesperson for Councilmember Brewer informed ILTUWS that on Monday, September 23, the DEP’s Bureau of Environmental Compliance conducted an inspection at 155 Columbus Avenue, the technical address of the demolition site in question. These are the findings from the review by DEP, shared with us by Brewer’s office:The reported chemical smell from Friday was the result of an authorized rooftop burn that lasted one day. In addition to DEP personnel, an FDNY Fire Marshal was present. The developer is in possession of a DEP Demolition Permit (AR 300) and reassured inspectors that they are taking all steps to mitigate dust emissions, including frequently watering down the site. DEP also advised the foreman on the regulations, which he acknowledged.
ILTUWS will continue to monitor the ABC Campus area during construction. Based on the events that just transpired, we trust the community will be on alert as well. High-rises are becoming more common around here. 200 Amsterdam had a lengthy legal battle over its height, but SJP Properties eventually won in the appellate court to keep all 52 of its floors (668 feet), despite a lower court’s earlier ruling that would have forced the developer to remove about 20 of them. It was completed in 2019. The current tallest building on the Upper West Side is Extell’s 50 West 66th Street, a 70-story luxury condominium completed in 2024. It stands at 775 feet.
Extell’s plan for 155 Columbus is about one and a half times the height of 50 West 66th Street.
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