Like so many places in this fascinating city, this listing comes with some interesting history: Known today as Bryant Park Place, the primarily residential co-op building at 32 West 40th Street was once the clubhouse of the Engineers’ Club. Founded by Andrew Carnegie in 1907, members included–in addition to Carnegie himself–Thomas Edison, President Herbert Hoover, H.H. Westinghouse and Nikola Tesla, who was honored here upon receiving the Edison Medal in 1917 and enjoyed feeding the pigeons in the park across the street.

Units 1A and 1K currently comprise a commercial listing–with residential possibilities if you’re willing to do your homework. The property–two connected co-op units–is for sale for $3.1 million, and also for rent at $14K a month (in the latter case it would make a pretty impressive HQ for that hot new startup–and since there’s a small kitchen, those all-nighters won’t be a problem). Buyers may need to unwind some red tape, but according to the listing, residential conversion is possible along with some serious subsequent upside.

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Bryant Park is one of the city’s most cherished spaces, providing a much-needed oasis from the stone and glass canyons of Midtown. But debuting in 2017, a mixed-use tower will grant home buyers their first opportunity to purchase condos directly alongside the ten-acre respite.

Simply named the Bryant, the 200,000-square-foot building at 16 West 40th Street will house 57 condo units perched 200 feet above a five-star boutique hotel within the tower’s lower levels. The 32-story, 361-foot-high building is being developed by the very-active HFZ Capital, led by Ziel Friedman, and is designed by renowned British architect David Chipperfield, with Stonehill & Taylor serving as the architects of record.

More details ahead

An updated rendering of a ground-up, mixed-use tower along the south side of Bryant Park has been revealed on HFZ Capital Group’s website. The storied site at 20 West 40th Street was acquired by HFZ after Fortieth St. Partners defaulted on a $44 million loan back in 2010.

According to HFZ’s project page, the development will include a 5-star hotel, restaurant and bar, and residential condominiums. Construction permits filed last month specify that the hotel-design experts Stonehill & Taylor are the architects of record.

Additional details on the project

This week, we’ve got a well-rounded roster of events for you, spanning from sticker art to rare architecture to dance and film. Pay a visit to one of our fair city’s oft forgotten boroughs and sail the high seas on over to Staten Island for Saturday’s take over, which will transform Artist Alley into a festival of live art making, drinks, and music.

Next week, break out the picnic blanket and catch a free summer flick in Midtown’s best park, or wake yourself up with not only a coffee and fresh juice, but a raging (pre-work) dance party. Treat your architectural side to a private tour of very private sites—the newly renovated United Nations chambers or the closed-to-the-public lobby of the Woolworth building—and then finish the week off by satiating your inner modern art nerd with the contemporary abstractions of Carly Ivan Garcia.

All the best events here

• The Grace Building Refinanced: Bryant Park’s neighbor has just been evaluated for nearly 3x its previous appraisal, leaving its owners with some fat pockets. NASDAQ has the details on this incredible refinancing.
• Manhattan Leases More Gym Space: New York City’s gotta keep it tight and right. The Real Deal has the real… deal on the increased demand for gym space in the Big Apple.
• Passes for 9/11 Memorial Are No More: The 9/11 Memorial is officially open. The New York Times has more info on this quiet development.
• Condos Stack Up in Downtown Manhattan: Downtown Manhattan is bouncing back from the Housing Market Crash of 2008 and the Wall Street Journal has the details.
• Samsung to Bring Biometric Security to Low-End Phones: Bad news for all the criminals out there. Samsung is looking at bringing iris protection to all of its phones… even the cheaper ones.
• The Houses That Catsimatidis Bought: The grocery store mogul’s company is set to break ground on their 3rd building this year. The Brownstoner has more info.
• 16 Women to Watch in NY Tech: Crain’s NY spotlights a group of headline-worthy women for their work and contributions to society.
• What Could Have Been: New York YIMBY reveals Oppenheim Architecture + Design’s vision for 514 Eleventh Avenue, and it looks much like Rem Koolhas’ design for the CCTV headquarters in China. 

Images: Samsung Phone (left), Women in NY Tech (right)