Council presses contractor, owner on long-delayed Old Sheridan renovation on East 70th Street

Councilman Casimir Butcher pressed a contractor and the project manager on the status of the long-delayed renovation of the Old Sheridan hotel on East 70th Street, telling them the unfinished site has become an eyesore for nearby neighborhoods and businesses.

The dispute matters because the unfinished building sits on a visible corridor adjacent to Whole Foods and multiple mixed-use developments and, residents and council members said, has attracted complaints and safety concerns.

Butcher asked project representatives to explain recent activity at the site and what the city could do to speed completion. A project representative identified in the meeting as Mister Morgan, project manager, said interior work has progressed in places — "we swung most all the doors. A lot of carpets gone in. A lot of…