New York City Landmarks Commission approves St. Vincent's Hospital condo tower

After nearly 19 months of controversy, the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission voted to approve a luxury condominium tower that is the financial linchpin of a two-tower, $1.63 billion reconstruction proposal by St. Vincent's Hospital Manhattan. Originally, the hospital, in conjunction with the Rudin Management Company, proposed a 266-foot-tall condominium, but after repeated objections from the commissioners over its size and architectural features, the tower was whittled to 233 feet last year and to 218 feet in June, and is now an additional 15 feet shorter. The hospital had said it needed some $300 million from the Rudin company to help pay for its own hospital tower.