You Told Us is a regular feature where we highlight comments from users in the communities DNAinfo covers.
YORKVILLE — The tower hasn't been built yet, but residents are already lamenting the neighborhood they used to know.
A developer is planning to build a 30-story apartment tower on the corner of East 80th Street and Second Avenue, and locals fear that it's the latest sign of many more tall buildings to come.
Developer Icon Realty Group filed plans for the new building at 1538-1546 Second Ave. last week that includes 63 apartments, a basketball court, a yoga studio, a gym, a children's play room, a game room, a party room, a lounge and storage.
Last summer, the developer demolished a row of townhouses that were home to local restaurants in the past, like Nancy Lee's Pig Heaven, Cascabel Taqueria and Johnny Foxes.
Following news of the project, readers took to Neighborhood Square this week to express concerns about how new developments are changing the neighborhood.
► "This architecture is so classically NYC. It's the physical part of the city's history. When it's all gone and the cityscape looks like any other cityscape, what difference will it make whether one is in NYC, Dallas, Little Rock, or any other city? New York's lived, material history is one of the things that make it so unique and special," user NYC2ATX said.
► "This is the beginning of the wave of post-subway construction we should expect on 2nd Ave. The UES really, really needs better control over development here, or we will have monsters like that proposed pencil building at 180 E. 88 sprouting everywhere," LisaUES writes.
► "Enough is enough. NYC is losing its charm with these new buildings," Danteberns writes.
► "We are losing all of our businesses and culture!! Too much construction all around NYC and all that is going up are these luxury high rises? What about affordable housing. Where are our government officials? Why is all this being approved? Soon it will only be billionaires living in our city! I do not even recognize my city anymore! It's disgusting, every 5 feet is construction and they never have respect for the neighbors at all!" Kimgraff said.
► "Disgraceful, we are losing supermarkets, MOM & POP businesses, but these greedy developers keep getting their way (very suspicious how this happens?) to build higher and denser. No sun anymore, it's so crowded here on the UES, and no one sees these building as a benefit — these huge buildings are hardly priced for the middle class. WILL SOMEONE PLEASE DO SOMETHING?" Jotheodorou said.
► "There goes the neighborhood. I think it stinks. No room for all these new buildings. Traffic horrendous already because of bike lanes and Citi Bike. Plus the whole character of the neighborhood and others is changing the city into a mini Beijing. Soon we will have to wear masks!!!" Sofialoren writes.
► "The UES/Yorkville character is slowly ebbing away. Soon, it'll be known as Midtown East," Wheeler-woolsey said.
► "I think its a disgrace that they keep building these luxury apt. buildings in the neighborhood driving up the price of everything. And all the older buildings with character will eventually disappear. Who keeps giving their approval to these monstrosities? What are the community boards doing? What's going on behind closed doors?" Pouthsark said.
