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The ABC News headquarters at 77 West 66th Street, nestled between Columbus Avenue and Central Park West, appears to be in its death rattle. Staffers recently told Page Six that the building is plagued with numerous issues unlikely to see resolution.
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“It smells like crap,” one source told Page Six. Another lamented that ABC has been operating out of an “old and musty building” since the 1980s. If the smell doesn’t get you, then the temperature might. Staffers reported working in chilly conditions with no heat. “There’s no Wi-Fi, no heat, the antenna ripped off the building over the weekend and they’re not replacing it,” another employee fumed.
Disney acquired ABC in 1995. In 2018, the company sold the 1.7 million-square-foot campus to Silverstein Properties for $1.2 billion as plans for its new headquarters at 7 Hudson Square, were underway. While three parcels of the campus were sold a year later, Extell Development purchased the remaining portion in 2022 for approximately $930 million. According to one source, Extell plans to demolish the old complex and replace it with high-rises, noting, “There’s no incentive for upkeep.”
Things got hairy in 2023 when ABC’s fifth floor became infested with mice and fleas. Mickey Mouse didn’t approve—an urgent e-mail was sent to staff instructing them to avoid the floor effective immediately. Employees were told to either work from home or request to be relocated to another part of the building.
Broken elevators and escalators have also been an ongoing issue at ABC’s Upper West Side headquarters. “The building is falling apart. It’s going to get condemned. It’s been a slow burn, and they’re not going to fix anything. It’s getting torn down,” said a source.
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In August, the daytime talk show “The View” moved out of ABC’s Upper West Side campus, preparing to kick off its 28th season at Hudson Square on September 3. Rumors suggest that “Good Morning America” staffers and other remaining ABC teams expect to complete their transition downtown to Hudson Square by February.
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You can tell by the filthy windows. Disgraceful state of neglect.
What would Regis think?