Though New York is a place of neverending upheaval, the loss of century-old buildings can still be hard to bear. At a time when so many of the city's intangible attributes appear up in the air, witnessing physical dismantling during uncertain times naturally draws apprehension. However, as Col. William A Starrett, puts it, "construction is the nearest peacetime equivalent to war." The commitment to drive forward and skyward signals confidence for a victorious future ahead.

In Long Island City, Midtown's eastern adjunct now large enough to have its own center of gravity, Tavros Capital Partners and Charney Companies are clearing a seven-building Court Square site to erect a 48-story mixed-use tower of approximately 350,000 square feet. We'll lose a huddle of humble rowhouses that would be forgettable in Brooklyn but are a rare surprise in industrial-chic LIC. The 13,500-square-foot L-shaped parcel, near the corner of 45th Avenue and 23rd Street, is just outside the neighborhood's only historic district, which protects a two-block stretch of 18th-century brownstones more elaborate than these.

As is apparent throughout the Upper West and East Sides, these low-rise rows in high-density districts are poachable pickings to developers and as-of-right zoning leaves neighbors little room to nag. The envisioned tower is actually shorter than what is allowed and the developer sought public approvals to alter bulk and setback zoning regulations to generate a more efficient and economical design. The zoning in Court Square is rightfully lenient thanks to a tangle of subway lines providing one- or two-stop service to Midtown Manhattan. This site is just a stone's throw from the 7 train's Court Square elevated subway station from which the photos below were taken.

Hot on the heels of the newly-launched Williamsburg rental called The Dime, Tavros' latest endeavor more confidently takes to the skies—544 feet high to be exact. The new building is being designed by the reliable Fogarty Finger Architects who conceived a design of understated grace and elegance that will lead the unharmonious Court Square skyline.

Strong vertical lines best suit skyscrapers, and the handful of horizontal bands here do not distract from this building's upward thrust. The design is softened with curving elements and a pale-grey facade that will mediate the garish green color of Long Island City's long-time tallest One Court Square.

The project will rise close to Queens' new tallest building Skyline Tower, and like that 778-foot spire, it will offer front-and-center views of Midtown Manhattan. The views between the project and the waterfront are protected by zoning and the historic district nearby. The tower will contain approximately 285 condominium residences as well as some Class A commercial space and a community facility. Some of the residential amenities listed in building permits include a fitness center, communal lounges, and bicycle storage. The developers purchased the low-rise buildings for between $3.75 million to $6.8 million each, according to LIC Post. The tower is expected to finish in two to three years.