Over a month later, and New York City (heck, the whole Northeastern coast) is still reeling from the effects of Hurricane Sandy. Remember the crane collapse at the construction site of the luxe One57 residence? Well the staff at the Le Parker Meridien Hotel sure do! The hotel, which is on the same block as the residential development, was closed for nearly a week after Sandy’s winds toppled the towering crane, including Le Parker Meridien. Now, in honor of the fourth-annual gingerbread benefit on display at the hotel until January 3, the staff of Le Parker Meridien have recreated the infamous disaster scene entirely out of delectable treats. Read more!

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Flooding in Atlantic City. Photo: Stan Honda, AFP/Getty Images

Today we here at Architizer, along with millions of our fellow residents in NYC and beyond, are dealing with the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. So far, the superstorm is responsible for the deaths of at least 11 people, seven of them in NYC. Roughly six million people are without power. Atlantic City is heavily flooded. The NYC public transportation system remains shut down, as do numerous bridges and tunnels. Schools and businesses are shuttered, and several hospitals have been evacuated due to power outages. More than 13,000 airline flights have been canceled. Even the Erie Canal is closed. “We expected an unprecedented storm here in New York City, and that’s what we got,” said Mayor Bloomberg today during an 11 a.m. press conference.

We’re grateful that Architizer is still up and running. Many of our homebound employees are without internet access, but we’ll do our best to continue delivering updates throughout the day. Click through to see photos that show the impact of this wicked storm.

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Spanning over a significant stretch of Midtown Manhattan, the Plaza District embodies the image of New York that has captivated the rest of the world. It is home to Fifth Avenue’s finest window displays, the most esteemed white tablecloth dining destinations, some of the most renowned art and design institutions, and the city’s pantheon of the fine arts (and architecture), Lincoln Center. Next year, it will also be home to a shiny new skyscraper, slated to change the city skyline with its daring height and polished minimalism. One57 is a graceful summation of the work of French architect, urbanist and Pritzer Prize winner Christian de Portzamparc. Climbing 1,000 feet above Midtown Manhattan, the mixed hotel and residential tower, in the words of the architect, “does more than stand out; it naturally belongs. It is not an absolute or final statement; it is an ongoing dialogue. This is what gives landmarks their relevance and meaning.” More after the jump.

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