it will never work...the start of every great success story. stay tuned. let them finish the building before you attack it. It actually looks very much like the rendering (as much as any other building looks like it's rendering). In my view Herzog & de Meuron are creating a masterpiece at 56L. — architect on We Need to Talk About 56 Leonard

This isn't the only high rise in this part of town - there's 33 Thomas (the AT&T long lines building) and 105 Duane street. That's probably how they were able to build that high since there are 2 other high-rises a few blocks away. — HH on We Need to Talk About 56 Leonard

Such an eyesore. This is another example of architects trying to show off their personal vision with no regard for the neighborhood or the community. So sad. — David N on In the News: 56 Leonard Time-Lapse Video

Also wanted to add... that unfinished concrete is a huge disappointment for such an expensive building. — lowphat on We Need to Talk About 56 Leonard

I kept trying to figure out what the drastic difference was and you nailed it. The glass in the actual tower is so reflective compared to the renderings, it gives off that miami vibe. With that said, the tower still has a way to go. If I recall correctly, the highest glassed portion of the tower in the pictures are around floor 29 or 30. That's only half the height of the final building. Then it's about 10 floors of exposed concrete.. and then the beginning of that black netting looking part, which starts at around floor 40. — lowphat on We Need to Talk About 56 Leonard

For the record, I like a lot of the buildings in downtown Miami -- but I like them *in* downtown Miami — Erik Torkells on We Need to Talk About 56 Leonard

All, If you check the renderings carefully most of the "Jenga Fun" seems to happen above floor 50 - i.e. the top 12 or so floors where it really starts stacking around. This is what creates the rather disproportionate illusion that the whole building is stacked There is also more "Jenga Fun" in the bottom 5 floors but this is not really visible to most unless you are right outside the building. The vast majority of floors in the center (which is what most of us are seeing now) are pretty non descript. I get the "balcony" analogy but in all fairness I feel Miami is a bit unkind - would like to give it a chance to finish before we tar and feather it's hide out of town :) Developers will do what they can to make the best use of existing zoning - so the failure of zoning to control what is obviously a disproportionately high building is more a failure of the city than the developer. Wondering if we will ever see a picture of this building with even 25% of the lights on... Based on the pricing $trategy I gather most buyers will be foreign corps / investors and only "home" 1-2 times a year — Rohin on We Need to Talk About 56 Leonard

This building should never have been built. It is a middle finger to the neighborhood and the hoped for effectiveness of zoning laws. It only exists because the neighborhood was powerless to stop it. — Heide Fasnacht on We Need to Talk About 56 Leonard

There is absolutely NOTHING interesting about this building, except for the fact that it takes up air space way above other structures in the immediate vicinity and is another link in the chain of crap development choking NYC. — mhoffinator on We Need to Talk About 56 Leonard

I'm looking again....it is vaguely reminiscent of the Gehry building which narrows twice.......and then they stacked a Jenga tower on top of that. — John on We Need to Talk About 56 Leonard

I think you're right that the type of glass has a lot to do with it. I bet at night it will look much cooler (that is if anyone actually uses it as a domicile and turns their lights on...) — John on We Need to Talk About 56 Leonard

We now call this building "the 85% disappointing building" at home as it really does seem like a bait and switch. I quite prefer the plein air depiction of this building on view from the street at the New York Academy of Art to what we're ultimately getting. #disappointed — citypixie on We Need to Talk About 56 Leonard

There's no more sunlight on Leonard street. — HH on We Need to Talk About 56 Leonard

I hope they don't remove the magnificent mature Callery Pear trees from the Greenwich St. plaza. It is hard to tell from the drawings. — Huck's Mom on More Details About Citi’s New Headquarters

Though I always thought 56 Leonard was way TOO tall, I liked the building or I liked the developers' very stylish photos of the building. The quirkiness of the shape. Boy was I wrong. The photos were SO deceiving. It is ugly. And those outdoor spaces are frightening - talk about being one with the elements. I am SO sad it is in our neighborhood. I wish we could "transport" it uptown to mate with One 57! — CHWKgrl on In the News: 56 Leonard Time-Lapse Video

no, hst, you're right. the building was originally depicted as going through to worth street and getting thinner at the top. this allowed it to be more asymmetrical. also the terrace layout is not following the original rendering. the developer has removed those graphics from their site but they're still out there if you google. erik, are you allowing links? if so here's the original rendering: http://cdn-img3.streeteasy.com/nyc/image/91/40167191.jpg — josh on In the News: 56 Leonard Time-Lapse Video

the jenga part is at the bottom and the top 10 floors or so. it's an amazing building. — architect on In the News: 56 Leonard Time-Lapse Video

Frightening. A neighborhood-wrecker. And I love the way Anish Kapoor has gone from an artist to a logo. — Bruce on In the News: 56 Leonard Time-Lapse Video

the most "jenga-y" part is by far at the top. The rendering is pretty bland at the bottom, if you look closely. I think once the upper floors are poured and the middle floors get glassed, it will be more distinct. — John on In the News: 56 Leonard Time-Lapse Video

Am I missing something, or does 56 Leonard lack most of the "jenga" structure that originally featured in the buildings designs and public presentation? The building itself (and the video) is turning out to be a straight-up high rise with a balconies applied to the facade in a gently alternating pattern -- nothing like the strongly offset layers that the original design promised. The original design was fantastic; this is banal and a huge disappointment. Walking past it in the last few months, it has seemed stalled to me. Aren't there regulations that prevent such a substantial change in design? If I had bought an apartment on spec in the building, I'd be very unhappy with what it actually turned out to look like, and I can't help wondering whether this video (with its "helpful" chalk-outline finish) is meant to forestall complaining (or worse) by early buyers. — hst on In the News: 56 Leonard Time-Lapse Video

It isn't this run or that ride -- or for that matter -- this parade or that street fair. They are all colorful and add to the excitement of the city. But having one's peace and quiet disturbed every Saturday and Sunday for six months every year is a bit much. Residents deserve an occasional weekend to enjoy their own neighborhoods once in a while. I feel lucky to live downtown and am perfectly willing to share, but would like a little time to connect with my full time neighbors once in a a while. The Community Board should make an attempt to control this at least a little. — betty on Seen & Heard: Downtown Boathouse Opens Today

The AHA 5K has been around for more than 30 Years (longer than almost any resident or anyone who has works downtown. It is one of my very favorite races of the year as you get to run through the concrete canyons of the Financial District. It is another of the events that make downtown special and I have no issues with the SHORT term closing of a few streets; rush hour or no. Can't wait! :-) And I'm sure Brookfield will appreciate the thousands of people deposited on its doorsteps at dinnertime! — Anonymous on Seen & Heard: Downtown Boathouse Opens Today

Waylon. Do you ever ride in a car or airplane? Because the auto and air companies received government funds that they have no intent of ever paying back. So since you are so righteous I assume you'll be walking wherever you go. Learn the facts before posting your ignorance — Just saying on First Look: Citigroup’s New Headquarters

Isn't there a family member or friend that can provide an intervention for Lynn? It is really sad that she is sooooo unaware that her very own comments could be used against her to describe her very own single-mindedness of cobblestones. It's really, really sad. Although, I do love her book suggestions. #LynnE's(notOprah's)BookClub — Jim Smithers on In the News: Preview of the New Morton Street Middle School

Not Danny Devito? — Adam on Welcome to TweeBeCa: Special Celebrity Edition!