Aleksandr Finkelshteyn bought the four-story bank building at 2160 Broadway at the end of 2024. A demolition application was filed in April 2025 for the building. Finkelshteyn filed plans on May 14, 2025, to replace it with a 12-story mixed-use tower.
Highlights
- In December 2024, the property was bought along with 13,280–17,700 square feet of unused air rights.
- On May 14, 2025, a permit application was submitted to construct a building that will be 149 feet high.
- The new building will have 10 apartments and approximately 1,000 square feet of retail space on the ground floor.
Ownership Transfer and Development Proposal
In December 2024, Brooklyn developer Aleksandr Finkelshteyn purchased the building at 2160 Broadway. The developer acquired the building for $8.5 million, according to reports, and borrowed $5.1 million from Emerald Creek Capital for the century-old Broadway building.
It occupies the northeast corner of West 76th Street. The listing at the time noted 13,280 to 17,700 square feet of unused air rights. That left the new owner free to construct higher than is typically permitted under zoning.
Finkelshteyn’s firm submitted a permit application on May 14, 2025 to the New York City Department of Buildings. Both 2160 Broadway and its alternate address, 215 West 76th Street, were listed on the application in order to correspond with city property records.
The applications listed both the demolition of the existing building and plans for the new one. This was the official start to the redevelopment project.
Demolition Plans for Existing Structure
In April of 2025, a demolition request was filed to tear down the four-story building. The building had most recently served as a branch of First Republic Bank, which is currently closed. The branch had shut down in September of 2023, shortly after the California-based financial group’s assets were seized by the FDIC.
The site sits close to Riverside Park and the American Museum of Natural History. No date has been released yet for when demolition will commence, and it is subject to objections.
Vision for a 12-Story Mixed-Use Building
Finkelstein plans to construct a 149-foot tall tower with twelve stories. The building is intended to modernize the site while aligning with the surrounding architecture.
The project will be designed to blend modern life with the surrounding neighborhood’s character. It will be at a comparable height to other new buildings in the area, reflecting a shift toward mid-rise buildings in this section of Broadway.
Proposed Building Design and Intended Use
The submission contains additional details regarding the utilization of the building. The tower will include ten apartments on floors two through twelve. These homes will occupy a total of approximately 22,000 square feet. Each apartment is expected to feature floor-to-ceiling windows to allow for more natural light.
The ground floor will be occupied by approximately 989 square feet of retail. It can house a small café or retail tenant. Spaces for equipment and maintenance will be in the basement and on the roof.
Architectural Legacy and Significance of 2160 Broadway
The four-story building at 2160 Broadway has been a mainstay of the neighborhood since 1907. The building, according to Crains, was originally built in 1920 and rehabilitated in 1989. Banks and professional offices occupied the building and gave the street an early 20th-century character.
Landmark West’s history page highlights the building’s Beaux-Arts façade and its significance in the development of the Upper West Side. As the building is replaced, community groups have noted the site’s historical value may be commemorated through interpretive plaques or restored design elements.
Redevelopment of 2160 Broadway is a major transformation for the Upper West Side. The new twelve-story tower will bring contemporary apartments to a corner with historic character.
