Why New York’s Trump Tower is Totally Forbidden | Public Space Turned Inaccessible

Before Trump Tower rose on Fifth Avenue, the site was home to one of Manhattan’s most elegant landmarks: the Bonwit Teller Building. Designed by Warren & Wetmore—the same architects behind Grand Central Terminal—it stood as a testament to New York’s Art Deco age. When it was demolished in 1980, priceless architectural sculptures and details were lost forever.

In this episode, we explore how a single address at 725 Fifth Avenue tells the larger story of New York’s evolution—from private mansions to department stores to modern skyscrapers. We’ll trace how the city’s balance between preservation, profit, and public access has shifted across the 20th century, and what that says about urban life today.