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By Matt Chaban 8/29/12 11:38am

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What to Do With New York’s Ugliest Building, 375 Pearl Street

William Weber is quickly becoming The Observer’s favorite architectural dreamer. The former Curbed intern most recently gave us his vision for a much bigger Midtown (courtesy the coming rezoning), and now he has tackled the city’s ugliest building, 375 Pearl Street.

Even though the concrete monolith is now a data center and not offices or apartments—which would actually necessitate something attractive—Mr. Weber has come up with a simple solution, adding a swooping façade to the building that might just be affordable and practical. Call it a gift to the city and a beacon of tech’s can-do spirit. Read More

By Matt Chaban 6/08/11 3:06pm

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Lipstick on a Bunker: 375 Pearl Bought by Seattle Data Centrists

Well, it looks like New York’s ugliest building is staying that way.

Once upon a time, when the days could still be described as heady, Taconic Properties bought 375 Pearl Street—the old New York Telephone monstrosity turned Verizon sentinel overlooking the Brooklyn Bridge—paying $172 million. Things are decidedly less heady for downtown real estate—well, sort of—so Taconic’s plans for a glassy new office tower were shattered.

Not to worry, for the frothy tech sector has come to the rescue. Read More

By Matt Chaban 12/01/10 4:34pm

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The Ugliest Building in Town Is for Sale

Many people consider 375 Pearl Street the ugliest building in New York. It is not only its blank concrete facade that people so detest but also its ruinous effect on the downtown skyline. Just north of the Brooklyn Bridge, the 32-story tower has no tall neighbors to hide it, sticking out like a sore thumb, Read More