14 Years of Scaffolding and Stalled Redevelopment at Hell's Kitchen Building

The scaffolding at 450 W41st Street has long been an eyesore — and recently earned the dubious distinction of being named the “Worst Shed in Hell’s Kitchen” by State Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal. As the sidewalk sheds near their 14th year, we’re looking back at the history of this City-owned building and the stalled redevelopment proposals that have left it crumbling in limbo.

The six-story building, which once housed Hunter College’s Master of Fine Arts program, has stood vacant since 2014, a relic of unrealized plans and bureaucratic inertia. The most recently filed Department of Buildings (DOB) permit for the installation of a sidewalk shed was approved in June 2011, meaning the scaffolding has been up for nearly 14 years.

It was originally designed in 1957 as an industrial warehouse in the International Style, with light blue glazed bricks and horizontal bands of windows reminiscent of the McGraw Hill building, another Hell’s Kitchen landmark that has seen controversy.

The building was later repurposed for the Voorhees Technical Institute, after being acquired in 1964 from the Diana Stores Corporation, a chain of women’s apparel stores prominent in the south. The company had used the space for warehousing and executive offices before relocating to New Jersey.

Voorhees Institute, previously known as the New York Trade School, moved into the building in 1965 and served as a training ground for aspiring technicians in the building trades. In 1971, the institute became part of the New York City College of Technology, who acquired the 41st Street property along with all of the machinery, equipment and a $4 million endowment.

The Voorhees campus closed in 1979, with claims of low enrollment and high maintenance costs. At the time, students of the technical school were upset with this decision and expressed their frustrations in the March 1979 issue of the Voorhees Voice.

Reflecting on his arrival on campus from an upstate community college, Michael Pierce wrote in an article: “I was young, innocent and not ready for the shock of what was lying on the street in the downtown 41st Street area, especially after 9:40 when evening classes let out, when one was confronted by young, friendly women, who, to my dis­appointment, were more interested in my wallet than my person.”

Michael goes on to note how, during his tenure, he saw a change for the better, which he attributed to a new crop of legitimate theaters on W42nd Street between 9th and 10th Avenues, including the Nat Horne Theatre — founded by dancer Nat Horne, who still lives in the neighborhood.

Decades later, the building found new life when it was used as studio space for the Hunter College MFA program. However, the structure’s deteriorating condition proved to be a significant obstacle. A 2008 study by Calvin Wright Architecture found hazardous deficiencies that would require nearly $58 million in renovations.

With the rezoning of the neighborhood as part of the Hudson Yards redevelopment plan, officials floated the idea of leveraging the building’s development rights to finance renovations, but the effort never gained traction.

By 2014, the Voorhees Annex was vacated once again, and ownership reverted to the City of New York. In 2017, Governor Andrew Cuomo proposed selling the 170,000-square-foot property as part of a broader effort to offset state funding reductions for CUNY.

A sale could have potentially contributed up to $60 million toward senior colleges. Yet, despite these plans, the property has remained untouched, and the sidewalk sheds have only further contributed to its decay.

In 2017, during the Garment District rezoning discussions, the site was considered as a potential innovation hub for manufacturing. Conversations between City officials and industry advocates suggested repurposing the building as an incubator space for garment and fashion-related manufacturing.

The concept involved dedicating the lower floors to manufacturing while allowing residential development above, creating a mixed-use development that could support both industry and housing. However, before plans could advance, the site was instead designated for affordable housing under a broader development plan, and the conversation faded. It was identified in Manhattan Community Board 4’s Affordable Housing Plan in 2022 as a publicly owned site that could provide 239 permanently affordable apartments.

Senator Hoylman-Sigal recalled being part of those discussions, with then Borough President Gale Brewer, noting an interest in rekindling that proposal to revive the neglected building and do something with the existing structure so it is not lost to demolition.

Today, the building stands as a testament to stalled plans and missed opportunities. Its deteriorating facade and the long-standing sidewalk shed serve as a constant reminder of the City’s failure to address the property’s future.

The inclusion of 450 West 41st Street in the recent Sheddies awards has again brought it into the spotlight. “I would love to put it on my agenda,” said Hoylman-Sigal Senator. “No scaffolding project needs to be up for that long — which is why Assembly Member Micah Lasher and I are introducing the RESTORE (Reducing Excess Scaffolding and Timely Ongoing Repair Efforts) Act to establish financial incentives to quickly take down scaffolding as well as penalties for failing to do so.

“It’s a great proof of concept as to whether we can get scaffolding down and, you know, do something with the existing structures.”

As a Hell's Kitchen resident since 2005, I have lived in both the W30s and W50s. After a 15 year career in the luxury fashion industry, I made a pivot to community advocacy in 2020. In addition to my role as Deputy Editor at W42ST, I am founder of the local non-profit cleanup group Litter Legion, co-chair of HK49-54 Block Alliance and a member of Manhattan Community Board 4. I’m deeply committed to improving my neighborhood and serving the people who call it home.