Billionaire Gets OK To Construct Penthouse Atop UWS Building: See It

UPPER WEST SIDE, NY — Score another one for the billionaire.

A saga that has played out for nearly two years on the Upper West Side appears to be coming to an end as Bill Ackman was approved at the end of last week to build a new penthouse on top of his Upper West Side home.

After scaling down the penthouse's design and changing its look from a previous Community Board 7 meeting, the Landmarks Preservation Commission, in its most recent meeting on May 3, granted Ackman approval to build his rooftop addition atop 6-16 W 77th St.

Here's a look at the different designs submitted throughout the process and the eventually approved version.

The design exterior was changed from glass to "gray steel meant to better blend in with its surroundings."

It is also no longer visible from the street level.

Ackman bought the apartment in 2018 and has lived on the Upper West Side since 1992.

"We love the site. We love the Upper West Side," he said at an UWS community board meeting in November. "My wife and I wanted to raise our new family here, we have a two-and-a-half-year-old child. Our approach here was to build something that would be additive to the neighborhood."

Ackman's previous design was approved at that meeting 25 to seven, but some Upper West Siders spoke strongly against the plan.

"The immodesty of the penthouse apartment is disturbing, it uses the 6-16 building as a strap for a platform temple to a titan," a CB7 board member said. "It stares at humanity and wildlife beneath."

The community board also suggested to Ackman that he downsize his plans for the Landmarks Preservation Commission submission, which he did.

The new structure will replace a penthouse there now, described by many as a pink box.

You can check out the full Landmarks Preservation Commission conversation around the approved application below. It starts at the 39:27 mark.