The current Venezuelan consulate on East 51st Street is supposed to be incorporated into Harry Macklowe’s proposed Tower Fifth skyscraper, and any sale seems to have escaped complications from US sanctions.
Looking out, the lobby will frame the side entrance of St. Patrick’s Cathedral, which is also selling some air rights.
The site now hosts a few of the Midtown buildings that have not been landmarked, including the consulate.
Venezuela is still in turmoil, and the US has imposed economic and financial sanctions on the country and is pushing for President Nicolás Maduro to step down. In March, reports say, leaders of the US-backed opposition broke the locks and took control of the building — which appeared abandoned. The consulate in Washington was taken by the opposition in May.
Macklowe, now sailing on his yacht in Europe, responded to a request about Venezuela and possible US government issues by emailing it’s “done.”
Since Macklowe has been assembling the site for years, despite a sale not yet being publicly recorded, it appears the wily developer lined up all his bricks prior to any sanctions.
The adjacent 5 E. 51 St. is already owned by Macklowe, who obtained permits to demolish the small building, as YIMBY reported this week.
But renderings of Macklowe’s office building show the lobby of the Gensler design includes the site of the consulate at 9 E. 51st St.
To create the tower that will stretch mid-block through to East 52nd Street, Macklowe also purchased 12 E. 52nd St. in 2016 for $32 million. Records show he is also in contract to buy 14 E. 52nd St., with that sale scheduled to close before June 30.
If approved by all the powers that need be, the proposed 1.3- million-square-foot tower will have an observatory, food hall, glass galleria spanning the block, an auditorium and offices. Stay tuned.
