1930

Manhattan: Lexington Avenue - 49th Street (East)

Lexington Avenue (center, view), at East 49th Street (intersection seen across clearance) showing the new Hotel Waldorf Astoria site, as viewed south eastward from the Columbia Broadcasting Company Building at No. 485 Madison Avenue (S.E. corner of 52nd Street). This will occupy the entire block from Park to Lexington Avenues, between 50th and 49th Streets and to the south of St. Bartholomews P.E. Church. Surrounding same are numerous hotels which from left to right are, the 30 storied Beverly; the 15 storied Montclair; the 31 storied Shelton; the 14 storied Barclay; and (across the roof of the latter) the 25 storied Lexington. Beyond these, in the same order, are the various printing and publishing buildings; Tudor City and the Daily News Building. The East River and its Brooklyn shore form a background for these Grand Central zone edifices. Note the absence of the present General Electric (originally the R.C.A.) Building which would appear over the Church roof and obstruct a view of the Hotel Beverly. March 4, 1930. Views 1 and 2 P.L. Sperr

Photo from the New York Public Library - Milstein Collection