A Look at the Base of Towering 22 Thames

Left: Concept rendering of 22 Thames Street, near the World Trade Center site, which is allowed to rise as high as 85 stories. Right: The proposed base of the building at Greenwich and Thames streets, next to the former American Stock Exchange, would contain about 11,000 square feet of retail. The narrow, three-and-half-foot-wide sidewalk would be widened by 10 feet. Renderings by Rafael Viñoly Architects photographed by Tribeca Trib.

Developers of a proposed 70-story residential tower at 22 Thames St. revealed the design of its glass-enclosed base, which will house more than 11,000 square feet of retail. Wrapping the corner of Greenwich and Thames Streets, the five-level "podium," with two floors of retail topped by up to nearly 450 rental apartments, would stand next to the landmark former American Stock Exchange building, now set for conversion to a hotel.

Representatives for the developers, Fisher Brothers and The Witkoff Group, showed Rafael Viñoly Architects' new renderings to Community Board 1's Financial District Committee last week as part of the application process for a zoning variance. They are seeking approval to build shallower setbacks—stepped recesses from the building’s street front—than the current law allows. With the additional, rentable space, the developers would build up to 882 feet (70 stories), rather than the allowable 1,048 feet (85 stories), which they say is cost-prohibitive.

The committee voted to support the developers' variance application.

The sidewalk along Thames Street is a mere three-and-a-half feet wide. In order to accommodate the additional foot traffic and provide a sidewalk that is 10 feet wider, the building's ground floor would be set back and be covered by an overhanging second floor.

Alex Adams, a project executive for Fisher Brothers, said it was likely that a food-related business would occupy the bottom two floors.