What exactly is 161 Maiden Lane, the so-called Leaning Tower of New York?
Posted on Mar 02, 2026 / Travel
161 Maiden Lane is a 670-foot-tall residential skyscraper project in the Financial District of Manhattan that has become famous for leaning slightly to the north. Locals and media sometimes call it the “Leaning Tower of New York” because of that tilt, even though the lean is only about three inches and not as dramatic as other famous leaning buildings. The tower was designed by Hill West Architects and was supposed to hold luxury condos, a spa, a gym, and other high-end amenities before the project stalled. Construction started back in the mid-2010s, and the building topped out around 2018, but work has been paused for years. Legal battles between the developer, contractors, and lenders have kept it in limbo, so there’s no official completion date yet. The site sits near the South Street Seaport and overlooks the East River, which makes its unfinished state even more noticeable in the skyline. Its story has made it a weird sort of New York City curiosity because it stands there unfinished and tilted despite being designed as a high-end residence.
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