The Flowerbox Building at 259 East 7th Street
Friendly faces in windows or on fire escapes make for kind, lovable neighborhoods, according to Jane Jacobs's brand of urban understanding. Just imagine what friendly faces admiring their blooming window flower boxes can do.
Flower boxes help soften the edges of our brick-and-mortar environment, and thanks to perennials, they can add visual warmth even in winter. Indeed, their pretty presence in even the most humble surroundings is a sign of optimism and of the indomitable power of beauty to make us smile, knowing that someone cares. Furthermore, plantings help cool our cities and apartments by offsetting the urban heat island effect and preventing heat gain.
Flower boxes help soften the edges of our brick-and-mortar environment, and thanks to perennials, they can add visual warmth even in winter. Indeed, their pretty presence in even the most humble surroundings is a sign of optimism and of the indomitable power of beauty to make us smile, knowing that someone cares. Furthermore, plantings help cool our cities and apartments by offsetting the urban heat island effect and preventing heat gain.
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Unfortunately, flower boxes and green walls are only now beginning to enter the official real estate agent's "amenity" blue book (or should we say "green book?"). They are occasionally found on elegant townhouses, accidentally on the sides of not-so-elegant tenement buildings, and act as trim for superstructures that stretch hundreds of feet in the air where they cannot be easily admired by passersby.
Flower boxes under windows at 305 Twenty Third by Marin Architects
However, with a wave of green and sustainable thinking sweeping across the city, a number of architects and developers have begun to incorporate greenery into their designs to trap heat, improve air quality, and bring a touch of nature to city streets. In early 2022, as part of its Penn District plan, Vornado Realty Trust unveiled renderings of office tower PENN15 with 37 landscaped terraces.
This project was placed on hold in February 2024; but The Spiral, an office tower with landscaped terraces winding their way up, is open. They are planted with drought- and wind-resistant plants species as well as trees that bloom in the wintertime, and serve as a nice perk for employees of Pfizer, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, HSBC, and AllianceBernstein.
This project was placed on hold in February 2024; but The Spiral, an office tower with landscaped terraces winding their way up, is open. They are planted with drought- and wind-resistant plants species as well as trees that bloom in the wintertime, and serve as a nice perk for employees of Pfizer, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, HSBC, and AllianceBernstein.
Beyond these skyscrapers, a more biophilic New York is taking shape. Nonprofit New York Restoration Project handed out its 75,000th free tree earlier this month, and its commitment to a greener city is going strong. At the residential level, buildings with flower boxes and vegetated facades are proving popular — while there is a number of buildings with this feature, there is only a small handful of availabilities inside.
Condo | Completed in 2023
No current availabilities
Will the greenery shown in this renderings become reality? 118 East 1st Street (Brown Harris Stevens)
Early renderings of this boutique condominium depicted lushly planted terraces on every floor. When sales launched in spring 2022, listing copy described them as “living balconies” that acted as a buffer between tranquil apartments and a bustling East Village/Lower East Side neighborhood.
In addition to the living balconies, all units feature high ceilings, expansive windows, top-of-the-line appliances and finishes, luxurious bedroom suites, and private outdoor spaces large enough to relax or entertain. The building’s exterior and interior insulation were based on Net Zero energy principles, and environmentally friendly features include high-performance doors and windows, an all-electric infrastructure, MERV-13 air filters, and low-VOC paints and floor finishes.
Condo | Completed in 2022
8 available listings from $3.45M - $28M
Flatiron House (COOKFOX)
Drawing upon the aesthetic of its majestic landmarked neighbors through a distinctly contemporary lens, Flatiron House comprises two buildings connected by a central garden. Rising above West 23rd Street with open views of lower Manhattan and "The Clocktower" to the east, the Tower is accentuated by a rhythmic grid of windows and planted loggias. The more intimate Loft building, situated on quiet West 24th Street, offers a collection of full-floor residences with historic Flatiron District views.
Each residence is thoughtfully designed by COOKFOX Architects to maintain a palpable connection to nature while promoting wellness through filtered outside air, acoustic mitigation, and a reliance on natural materials. Many of the buildings' 44 one- to four-bedroom homes feature floor-to-ceiling windows, accented with planted loggias and Juliet balconies, perfectly framing views of ornate city landmarks, and the skyline beyond. The building is now open for immediate occupancy
Flatiron House, #9A (Corcoran Sunshine Marketing Group)
Condo | Completed in 2022
1 available listing for $35,000,000
100 Vandam Street (COOKFOX)
100 Vandam Street is a new 25-story condominium tower located near the West SoHo waterfront and a short distance to Disney and Google's Hudson Square headquarters. The hybrid design by COOKFOX Architects masterfully combines a beautiful pre-war loft building with a modern concrete and glass tower wrapped in garden terraces.
100 Vandam's 72 residences comprise 21 units in the base that are rich in old-world details, and 51 units in the new tower, which features floor-to-ceiling windows and private biophilic gardens designed to filter the light and frame views of the city skyline. All homes have expansive layouts, wide-plank oak flooring, Poliform kitchens, and custom millwork throughout.
100 Vandam Street, #20A (Nest Seekers LLC)
Condo | Completed in 2007
No current availabilities
The Flowerbox Building via Can Resources
Turning the tide toward increased flower boxes is the Flowerbox Building at 259 East 7th Street, between avenues C and D in the East Village, built anew in 2007.
Designed by Derek Sanders of CAN Resources, the building, with eight condominium apartments, has a glass-and-metal entrance marquee and large, multi-paned windows that recall some of the handsome pre-war industrial buildings in Soho and Tribeca. Its window planters are 18 inches deep and run the width of the lower floors.
Designed by Derek Sanders of CAN Resources, the building, with eight condominium apartments, has a glass-and-metal entrance marquee and large, multi-paned windows that recall some of the handsome pre-war industrial buildings in Soho and Tribeca. Its window planters are 18 inches deep and run the width of the lower floors.
The tree-lined block on East 7th Street is one of the nicest in the East Village, with several handsome townhouses and proximity to several of the area's very lush and impressive community gardens.
The Flowerbox Building is among the most attractive low-rise buildings in the city, and easily the most appealing in the East Village—even more so than the huge Lower East Side Consolidation II developments nearby that boast three-story red-brick buildings surrounding large communal gardens.
The Flowerbox Building is among the most attractive low-rise buildings in the city, and easily the most appealing in the East Village—even more so than the huge Lower East Side Consolidation II developments nearby that boast three-story red-brick buildings surrounding large communal gardens.
Co-op | Completed in 1930
8 available listings from $575K - $5.995M
Finished in 1930, London Terrace Towers offers the ultimate in pre-war architectural details and a level of amenities that distinguish it from most others. Amenities include a full-time doorman, numerous porters, and a resident manager. One of its most famed features is the half-Olympic-sized pool in a windowed room surrounded by the original Craftsman tiles. There are also steam rooms and saunas, a landscaped roof deck, a laundry room, a bike room, and a private gym accessible with a small annual fee.
London Terrace Towers, #18F (Compass)
Condo | Completed in 1901; converted in 2008
1 availability for $1.4M
Fake plants but at least they tried...
Carriage House is a landmarked building that was originally erected as a stable in 1901. The interiors have been masterfully converted to a highly modern boutique condominium, though not at the expense of such timeless touches as its light-colored facade, cornice, or flower boxes.
Carriage House, #1A (Douglas Elliman Real Estate)
Condo | Completed in 2012
3 available listings from $1.95M - $2.25M
New condo construction is few and far between in the Meatpacking District, but this is not the only reason 345 Meatpacking took the neighborhood by storm. The building presents a modern take on the traditional architecture of the Gansevoort Market Historic District and features a hand-laid brick facade and green entrance marquee.
345 Meatpacking entrance via CityRealty
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345 Meatpacking, #2A (Serhant LLC)
Condo | Completed in 2007
1 available listing for $5.85M
152 Elizabeth Street via Noe & Associates with The Boundary
152 Elizabeth Street is Pritzker Prize laureate Tadao Ando's first residential work outside of Asia, and brings a peaceful, Zen-inspired aesthetic to a bustling downtown block. Mr. Ando has said that he wanted this building to produce "a very tranquil feeling," and a living ivy wall can surely help with that. The organic design features several seasonal vines, and grows and changes according to the different seasons.
152 Elizabeth Street, #3E
$5,850,000
NoLiTa/Little Italy | Condominium | 2 Bedrooms, 2.5 Baths | 1,968 ft2
152 Elizabeth Street, #3E (Compass)
Condo | Completed in 2015
2 available listings from $6.45M - $6.95M
XOCO 325 via DDG
Fresh off its successes at 41 Bond Street and 345 Meatpacking, DDG turned its attention to Soho with XOCO 325, a LEED-certified boutique condominium inspired by the 19th-century cast iron buildings around it. The cast aluminum facade features vertical gardens, and the amenities package includes a private garden, fitness studio under a green roof, and landscaped roof.
XOCO 325, #TH (Serhant LLC)
Co-op | Completed in 1920
2 available listings from $895K - $2.45M
Astor Court courtyard (Douglas Elliman)
One of the Upper West Side's original grand apartment houses, Astor Court's residents-only courtyard can be glimpsed through side street entrances. This spans a full block and features flowering plants, shade trees, and seating areas.
Astor Court, #8L
$2,450,000 (-5.6%)
Broadway Corridor | Cooperative | 3 Bedrooms, 3 Baths | 1,550 ft2
Astor Court, #8L (Douglas Elliman Real Estate)
Condo | Completed in 2022
1 available listing for $3.6M
Rendering of Saint Marks Place via Grain London
In a stretch of Brooklyn best known for its historic brownstones and rowhouses, Saint Marks Place stands out as a full-block, amenity-rich condominium. The landscaped entrance gives it a more congruous appearance on its tree-lined block. This was designed by Terrain, as was the building's central courtyard and roof deck with seating, lounging, grilling, and screening areas.
Saint Marks Place, #PH1001 (TIM SIMMONS PROPERTIES LLC)
Condo | Completed in 2020
No current availabilities
305 Twenty Third via Marin Architects
Across the street from the historic Greenwood Cemetery, a new boutique condominium is a green oasis in and of itself. Its stately brick facade is punctuated by windows with flower boxes, and the building is topped with a leafy roof deck. All apartments have private outdoor space, and the building's lounge opens up to a landscaped garden.
Condo | Completed in 2011
No current availabilities
41 Bond Street via CityRealty
41 Bond Street livens up its bluestone facade with matching planters integrated into the stone of the deep-set windows. The importance of nature extends to the full-floor apartments inside, all of which have private outdoor space.
Condo | Completed in 1913
No current availabilities
640 West End Avenue via CityRealty
On the Upper West Side, 640 West End Avenue brings a touch of greenery to its block with lush landscaping on the majority of the building. Residents enjoy high ceilings, gracious hallways, rich architectural details, and convenient access to Riverside Park.
Unbuilt/Unrealized
Condominium
Rendering of 89 Schenectady Avenue via YossiG Design
On the border of Stuyvesant Heights and Crown Heights, work is underway on a highly nature-oriented new boutique condominium. Renderings show a facade bedecked with greenery, and the building is set to feature private balconies, a lobby with a green wall, and a roof terrace.
Monarch Sanctuary, 23-25 Cleveland Place, Nolita
Commercial | Proposed
At the beginning of March 2020, non-profit Terreform ONE presented a proposal for a commercial building that would feature a butterfly sanctuary as its facade and the lining of its atrium. Open plantings of milkweed and nectar flowers on the roof, rear facade, and terrace would provide a natural breeding ground and habitat for monarch butterflies, while semi-enclosed colonies in the atrium and facade would foster population growth. LED screens at street level would provide magnified live views of the caterpillars and butterflies, and a lushly planted facade would bring new greenery to its downtown block. It is unclear how such a project would fit in on this block in a landmarked district, but we can say that this would be an incredible opportunity to help save the monarch butterfly and bring a pioneering building to the city. The project is currently navigating city approvals.
Rendering via Terreform ONE, Mitchell Joaquim, PhD
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