Zeckendorf Towers

The massive Zeckendorf Towers residential complex paved the way for the development and emergence of Union Square and the Flatiron District and was one of the most important projects to take shape during the 1980s building boom in New York. Developed by William Zeckendorf, Jr., alongside Abraham Hirschfeld, Irwin Ackerman, and others, it is the only four-towered residential complex in the city, and it occupies a full block. Boasting a design by Davis, Brody & Associates, Zeckendorf Towers was completed in 1987 and features four 29-story towers and 645 residential units. The complex replaced various neglected low-rise buildings that once housed the S. Klein Department Store. The four towers, dubbed the Gramercy, Village, Park, and University, are completed by several hundred thousand square feet of office and retail space, and offer residents various modern amenities. The main highlight is a 14,000 square-foot outdoor green space that makes up the largest residential green roof in the city. The complex also benefits from an excellent location next to Union Square Park, offering easy access to the F, L, M, N, Q, R, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 lines via stations at 4th Avenue-15th Street and 6th Avenue-14th Street. How much does it cost to live at Zeckendorf Towers? When the project was first proposed back in the 1980s, many were skeptical about the success of a big residential complex set in the area. At the time, the surrounding area was riddled with crime, and many buildings were run-down and neglected. Developers took a risk, and Zeckendorf Towers proved a success, sparking the revitalization of Union Square and the surrounding area. Zeckendorf Towers features residential units both for rent and for sale. A 460-square-foot studio apartment recently sold for $710,000, while one-bedroom apartments ranging from 670 to 785 square feet in size tend to sell for upwards of $1 million. Studios for rent ask roughly $3,000 per month, while one-bedrooms can ask as much as $6,000 per month in rent.