M
idtown’s tallest building, 350 Park Ave., has received a unanimous 48‑0 City Council vote, a rare endorsement from a body that usually resists large projects. The 1,600‑foot tower will eclipse the JPMorgan Chase headquarters at 270 Park Ave. by 200 feet and will become the new skyline icon.

    The development is a personal venture of billionaire Ken Griffin, who partners with private developer Rudin and public Vornado Realty Trust. Griffin’s own firms, Citadel and Citadel Securities, will anchor the complex, occupying 850,000 sq ft of the 1.7 million‑sq‑ft total. The tower will be all‑electric, environmentally conscious and designed with wellness in mind.

    Foster + Partners, the architects behind the JPMorgan tower and 425 Park Ave., will shape the new structure. The project, in planning for six years, was enabled by recent rezoning that allows larger office buildings in East Midtown, a district once dominated by smaller, older structures. To secure the site, developers purchased $150 million in air rights from St. Patrick’s Cathedral and St. Bart’s Church and will contribute $35 million to the city for pedestrian and public improvements.

    Demolition of the three existing buildings will begin early next year, with construction slated to finish in 2032. The tower will occupy a full block of Park Avenue between East 51st and 52nd Streets, extending onto adjacent side streets. A block‑long public plaza will front the building, with a fine‑dining restaurant on 52nd Street and a café on 51st Street.

    Vornado’s executive vice‑president noted that the project’s success hinges on having anchor tenants and equity partners—roles filled by Vornado, Rudin, and Griffin. The Council’s approval reflects confidence in the tower’s economic and community benefits.

    Griffin’s spokesperson thanked the Council, especially Member Keith Powers and the City Planning Commission, for their constructive feedback and leadership throughout the approval process.