CurbedWire: Green Harlem Roof, 'Potemkin' Chelsea Thing

HARLEM—We do love renderings, especially ones that come with shilly, relentlessly cheerful emails. This is the green roof of a condo called Observatory Place. The email says, "Today’s New Yorkers in search of fresh air and cool breezes can buy a condo at Observatory Place… We don’t want to brag or anything, but check out the funky rendering and great green rooftop...Historical maps of the area show that not far from Observatory Place was a park in Harlem called Observatory Place Park, a haven of peace and quiet at the turn of the century where busy New Yorkers could get away from the bustle of the city to enjoy the fresh air and river views. Things never change!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" We think the exclamation point key got stuckkkkkk. [CurbedWire Inbox]

CHELSEA—Something is up at the Sixth Ave. building housing Bed Bath and Beyond. Per an email: "Workers are constructing temporary scaffolding above the existing building to approximate a 20+ story addition. Since the site is in an historic district, I suspect that landmarks is requiring this 'Potemkin' structure as a way of analyzing the impact of a proposed future addition. Our offices look out over the site. It's facinating....I've never seen anything like this before." [CurbedWire Inbox]

Filed under CurbedWire, Manhattan: Chelsea, Manhattan: Harlem/Morningside Heights, Green Roof, Observatory Place

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