Apple abandons plans for third Manhattan store

Apple had signed a lease for a 2,500-square-foot space at 136 Fifth Avenue, between 18th and 19th Streets, but has since put the lease up for disposition, reports the NY Post.

The report says Apple has decided to instead focus on a 20,000-square-foot store under construction in the General Motors Building at Fifth Avenue, between 57th and 58th streets.

In a recent conference call, Apple for the first time acknowledged that it was building a massive flagship location in the underground concourse of the GM building and that it hoped to open the store in time for the holiday shopping season.

Although the NY Post did not go into details, previous reports indicate that Apple was met with opposition from a local community board over its retail design proposal aimed at transforming the historic 136 Fifth Avenue building into a glass enclosed two-story Apple retail store.

Since the building sits inside the Ladiesâ Mile Historic District, the board was not too thrilled with Apple's proposal, which went through several revisions.

Apple reportedly faces similar obstacles with a 9,000-square-foot location in Portland, Oregon's Historic Alphabet District . There, Apple hopes to demolish an existing building and replace it with two-story retail store also with a glass facade.

The company will first have to gain the approval of the local historic landmarks commission. Hearings were scheduled for this month.