8. One Vanderbilt Replaced a Historic Building in Terminal City
Photo by Max Touhey
When Grand Central Terminal opened in 1913, the station was surrounded by some of the city’s premier hotels whose designs were to complement that of the terminal. Terminal City, as the area was called, was home to some of the city’s oldest buildings. However, it was said that Grand Central Terminal became less visible because these towers block its views, and the historic station was walled off by Terminal City.
Five buildings were taken down so that One Vanderbilt could be built.” The New York Times attests that the demolition went largely unopposed but we did note the loss of one of our favorite coffee shops, which had a trippy decor where you felt like you entered the store upside down.