G
ainsborough Studios, a 16‑story landmarked co‑op at 222 Central Park South, has filed a lawsuit against Vornado Realty Trust, the developer of the 70‑story 220 Central Park South tower. The suit seeks $3 million in repairs for damage that the studio alleges was caused by the tower’s construction, which began in 2014. Vornado, which promised to cover all such damage, is now refusing to pay, according to Gainsborough’s attorney Peter Salzler.
The tower, designed by Robert A.M. Stern Architects, sits on an L‑shaped lot that wraps around the studio’s two sides. Its 18‑story villa section and 70‑story supertall portion replaced a postwar apartment building demolished in 2012. Excavation for the tower required blasting a massive pit through bedrock, creating a 50‑foot‑deep shaft beneath the sidewalk. By the end of 2014, the studio’s structure had shifted almost an inch at the top, and subsequent work caused foundation cracks, broken windows, damaged skylights, clogged HVAC, and harm to its historic façade.
Gainsborough’s residents, including long‑time tenant Donald Denton, have endured scaffolding and ongoing repairs. Denton has complained that Vornado made large profits—nearly $3.5 billion in sales and $1.5 billion in construction costs—while leaving the studio to shoulder costly fixes. Vornado’s lawyer, Thomas Cerussi, has denied responsibility, arguing that any damage resulted from third‑party actions.
The dispute centers on a legal access agreement signed in 2008 and 2014 that allowed Vornado to encroach on adjacent property during construction. The agreement included compensation for damage and inconvenience, but Gainsborough claims Vornado has not honored its obligations. Workers at 220 used the studio’s roof as a staging area, causing leaks and further damage that still troubles residents.
Gainsborough, originally built as a live‑work space for artists, remains a 20‑unit co‑op with double‑height north‑facing windows. Its units sell between $1 million and $3.6 million. In contrast, 220 Central Park South houses 118 luxury condominiums, with a 6,000‑square‑foot unit listed at $87.5 million and several of the city’s most expensive sales, including an $82.5 million transaction in 2025.
Despite Vornado’s reputation as a successful developer, Gainsborough’s board president Tod Williams and other residents feel the tower’s construction was conducted with little regard for the neighboring building. Williams, whose architectural firm occupies the studio’s ground floor, described the blasts and constant noise as traumatic, requiring noise‑canceling headphones for over a year.
The lawsuit claims that the $3 million sought is a negligible fraction of Vornado’s profits, yet the developer has abandoned its contractual duty to reimburse Gainsborough for construction‑related damage. The case is pending in the Manhattan Supreme Court.
