Endless River Views

By Linette Semino

When my parents- in-law visited from Boston during the holiday season, they wanted to see how much Battery Park City has developed since 9/11. When in Battery Park City, we forgot that were still in Manhattan and this enchanting community became more-and-more captivating. Unexpectedly, Tom and Paula fell in love with Battery Park City's supreme, yet understated, residential composition. Their strong enthusiasm for Battery Park City's architecture matched my favor for the thriving neighborhood.

Battery Park City has more to offer than most New Yorkers realize. With 36 acres of public parks and gardens, the community offers playgrounds for children of all ages, open lawns for quiet enjoyment, picnic tables and plenty of benches to enjoy the glimmer of the Hudson River. For the more active residents, there is a soccer, basketball, and baseball field and a bike lane that runs the entire length of the neighborhood along West Street. This flourishing community is also home to twenty acclaimed public sculptures and art installations which are perfectly place throughout The Esplanade. The Museum of Jewish Heritage, Skyscraper Museum, Irish Hunger Memorial and the Police Memorial are also in Battery Park City.

The North Cove Marina, which showcases Mega yachts and appeared in Martin Scorsese's movie The Wolf of Wall Street, is one of Battery Park City's main attractions. Gaining popularity, the recently renovated Brookfield Place currently offers fourteen chef-driven eateries, some of which have outdoor dining during the summer. According to its website, in the spring Brookfield Place will house forty world-class stores including Saks Fifth Avenue, Hermes, and Salvatore Ferrogamo, as well as a 25,000 square-foot French market and food court inspired by Mario Batali's Eataly. Battery Park City residents already enjoy many excellent restaurants like Danny Meyer's North End Grill and Blue Smoke, and The Ritz-Carlton Hotel's 2 West. Along The Esplanade, waterfront restaurants like Merchants River House and Gigino at Wagner Park feature magnificent views of the Hudson River, New Jersey Shoreline, Statue of Liberty and New York Harbor.

It's hard to believe that this fascinating neighborhood was developed in 1980 on landfill using soil and rock excavated during the construction of the World Trade Center, the New York City Water Tunnel, and from sand dredged from New York Harbor off Staten Island. This urban environment attracts people from all over the world looking to learn more about urban planning. Another interesting fact is that Battery Park City has the largest concentration of "land lease" buildings in Manhattan. Through the year 2069 all the buildings on Battery Park City lease the land under their structures and pay "ground rent" to The Battery Park City Authority which acts as landlord on behalf of the city and state.

Battery Park City is the largest "green" neighborhood in the world, according to Batteryparkcity.org. The Battery Park City Authority leads the way in setting standards for healthy and sustainable environments. "Green" buildings are generally constructed from recycled materials and incorporate "green roofs" and eco-friendly technologies for energy and water conservation. There are currently eight "green" buildings in Battery Park City including Liberty Green, Liberty Luxe, Millennium Tower Residences, Riverhouse, Tribeca Green, The Verdesian, The Visionaire and The Solaire, which is the first "green" high-rise residential building to be built in the United States. As the demand for "green" designs continues to grow in New York, environmentally conscious real estate developers use these eight "green" buildings as models.

Battery Park City is also known for its large number of condominium buildings. River & Warren, a luxury 192-unit condo conversion located at 212 Warren Street, is Battery Park City's newest condominium. Residences at River & Warren boasts the highest quality finishes and details, including oversized windows, wide plank oak flooring, and custom oak and stainless steel islands, floor-to-ceiling millwork cabinetry, white Italian Calacatta marble countertops and backsplashes, and a suite of Miele, Sub-Zero, and Bosch appliances. Sales launched in December and prices range from $1.3 million for a one-bedroom to $10 million for a five-bedroom apartment, according to Curbed.com. In December, my buyers and I viewed a dazzling corner three-bedroom with three and half baths residence on the market at the time for $4,695,000. With a focus on its endless river views, this C-line residence is glamorous, airy, and light-filled.

Battery Park City is dramatic, romantic, uplifting and brings you closer to nature. People move there for its environmentally friendly architecture, breathtaking waterfront views, 36 acres of public parks and gardens, children friendly amenities, and the superior quality of life this peaceful community offers.