UES in Uproar as Landlord Seeks to Demolish Socony Hall
Just over half of the apartment units inside 1221 York Ave. are currently occupied. Neighbors want to derail the Stahl Organization’s plan to demolish the building.
| 24 Feb 2025 | 01:29
The owner of 1221 York Ave., the Stahl Organization, plans to demolish the residential building. It has 82 units, 43 of which are occupied, and the pending loss of affordable housing has spurred local protest. (
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The owners of a block-long six-story Upper East Side apartment building are seeking to demolish it and replace it with a 30-story tower, which would displace the residents who currently occupy 43 of its 82 existing units.
Locals are up in arms as the demolition permits for 1221 York Ave., otherwise known as Socony Hall, undergo review. In addition to denouncing the possible displacement of the building’s tenants, they argue that the building’s destruction will add to the affordable housing crisis on the Upper East Side. Crain’s New York Business first reported on the demolition plans, noting that a majority of the building’s units are also reportedly rent-stabilized.
The six-story building was erected in 1925, acquired by Rockefeller University in the 1960s, and in 1977 sold to a real estate concern known as the Stahl Organization (formerly run by Stanley Stahl, who passed away 25 years ago). The Stahl Organization says that the prospective 30-story tower will contain both commercial and residential space.
According to Crain’s, the owners have “plans” to help relocate residents who would be affected by the demolition—or otherwise compensate them.
Opposition to the news broke out quite quickly. In a press release, the preservationist nonprofit Friends of the Upper East Side called the news the “latest in an alarming trend of diminishing affordable housing.”
“Like so many other projects . . . this development, fueled by unchecked growth, displaces existing affordable housing and the small businesses crucial to the neighborhood’s character and vibrancy, ultimately forcing out long-term residents who can no longer afford to live there,” the group said. “The urgent need is for genuinely affordable housing solutions, including Yorkville’s historic tenement-style buildings, not the proliferation of glitzy towers.”
At a Community Board 8 meeting held on Feb. 19, local residents made it known that they were also shocked by the news. One woman, who noted that she grew up in Socony Hall, called the building “iconic” and “worthy of note”: “It behooves us as a community to follow this very disturbing news. . . . The tenants who live in this building are at risk. They’re extremely vulnerable.”
This prompted Valerie Mason, the chair of CB8, to offer her two cents on the demolition. “While we hear what you’re saying, we can take it up at a future housing meeting. I would suggest as well that you contact your Council members, and the mayor, and City Planning.”
Arzu Kovanlikaya, who identified herself as a physician at the nearby New York-Presbyterian Hospital, also appeared rattled by the demolition plans. “In addition to lowering the affordable housing in this area, building a 30-story tower will definitely increase the crowds, the noise, the traffic, and cause parking issues,” Kovanlikaya said. She added that she believes it would cause issues for “patient access” at her hospital.
Lo Van Der Valk of Carnegie Hill Neighbors, another local group, simply described Socony Hall as an “awesome” sight. He said that it was his personal belief that Socony Hall could and should earn the designation of landmark status, which may hold some weight given his background as an expert on the subject.