Workers reach the top of 644 E. 14th St.; future of building next door still in limbo 1 year later

Workers have reached the top at 644 14th St., the 24-story residential building on the SW corner of Avenue C. 

A newly arrived American flag now sits near the very top of the structure...

The 234-foot-tall building, going as 14+C, will include 197 residential units, "a state-of-the-art fitness room," a yoga studio, and a rooftop deck. Information about the number of "affordable" units included in 14+C, one of the stipulations for being allowed to build a more extensive (by nine floors) building, has not been made public. 

Last November, as we first reported, residents of the neighboring 5-story building at 642 E. 14th St. — many in rent-stabilized units — were abruptly vacated after foundation work next door reportedly destabilized the building.

Ahead of the first anniversary of the vacate order, The New York Times published a feature on the trauma of being abruptly told to leave their homes. In the past year, 642's tenants have been allowed back inside twice to retrieve possessions — but only smaller items that they could carry. (So, no furniture.)

There's still a pending demoliton permit to take down No. 642. 

To the Times: 

"These tenants will never be moving back into this building," said Adam Leitman Bailey, who is president of the law firm representing the landlords. "This is a building that needs to be demolished." 

He provided reports from three engineers, supporting the landlord's legal claim that the costs to make necessary repairs are more than the value of the building after the repairs are made. The tenants have engineers’ reports, too, with decidedly different findings. 

The housing judge will eventually decide which reports can be trusted. In the meantime, the Department of Buildings has a hold on the application to demolish the building. 

Second Avenue Deli owner Jeremy Lebewohl is reported to be the owner of the building. 644's developer, Madison Realty Capital, told the Times that "the landlord had neglected the property and did not support Madison's efforts to make the building structurally sound."