Yorkville History At Risk In New Tower Plan, Preservationists Say

UPPER EAST SIDE, NY — Developers are planning to build a 37-story apartment tower on the corner of Third Avenue and East 84th Street, according to city filings, replacing a unique building that represents Yorkville's origins as a thriving German immigrant community.

Following Patch's reporting on the new permits, preservationist organization Friends of the Upper East Side released a statement arguing that the building's architectural and historic merit outweigh the need for more "luxury condominiums" in the area.

"Yorkville is not running out of luxury condominiums," the statement reads. "It is running out of affordable housing and of spaces that hold the memory of what makes us who we are."

According to the filings with the city's Department of Buildings, the new tower would replace the four-story building currently at 1491 Third Ave. and rise 510 feet over Third Avenue, yielding 120 apartments, two cellar levels, 30 parking spaces, a backyard and 18,994 square feet of designated commercial space.

The permits filed thus far are for plumbing work for the new building. Demolition permits have not been filed yet with the city, according to the Department of Buildings.

"We have heard from many, many neighbors who are concerned about the fact that there are fewer and fewer reminders of immigrant Yorkville that are remaining," Nuha Ansari, executive director of the Friends of the Upper East Side, told Patch. "Most of them pointed out the decorative work on the facade and the fact that it’s one of very few such buildings left."

Preservationists have tried twice to landmark the building, in 2015 and again in 2025, but both times were turned down by the Landmarks Preservation Commission due to renovations on the ground floors, Ansari said.

The building was designed by architect George Dress and built in 1930, constructed by Peter Doelger Inc., a major brewery founded by German immigrants.

The space originally served as a German and Irish ballroom and event space. Traces of this history can still be found on the terra cotta ornamentation with musical instrument motifs on the facade.

Though protected landmark status eludes the building, there is a free-standing clock — known as the Yorkville Clock — on the same block that is an official landmark.

The Friends of the Upper East Side maintain the clock, which has been without power and frozen in time ever since the building down the block from the Doelger building was also emptied, Ansari said.

Ansari says Friends of the Upper East Side hope to encourage the owners to save the facade of the building and ensure the clock is safe during the renovation, and can become operational again once it is reconnected to a power source.

"Yorkville sees this type of issue over and over again," Ansari said. "We hope that the new owners will pay attention to how valuable this building is and what it represents, and think about what’s good for the community and the neighborhood."

The owner of the building is Samy Mahfar, according to the filings, and the architect is Hill West Architects. Mahfar did not yet respond to a request for comment. This article will be updated if his firm responds.

The permits are being reviewed by the city, according to the Department of Buildings. No demolition, construction timeline or building design has been published yet.

For questions and tips, email Miranda.Levingston@Patch.com.