540 West 49th Street, #306S | https://www.cityrealty.com/nyc/midtown-west/540west-540-west-49th-street/apartment-306S/FUvCnOCyV
New York City is best known for its tall buildings, but the streets are starting to look a little greener. In 2007, NYC Parks launched its MillionTreesNYC initiative; the Million More Trees initiative seeks to build on that. Most recently, the Urban Forest Plan seeks to expand tree cover equitably to cover 30% of New York City. It passed the City Council in late 2023 and officially kicked off at the end of 2024. At a state level, the goal is to reach 25 million new trees planted by 2033, and an online Tree Tracker allows individuals and organizations to record their progress.
In this article:
"Trees are an essential multitool in our city's future planning" - Meera Joshi, Deputy Mayor for Operations
In New York City, planting new trees is often easier said than done. At an event in June 2025, City Councilmember Erik Bottcher said that between the 18th Street subway stop and a Con Ed substation, planting trees directly in the ground on a certain stretch of Seventh Avenue wasn't possible. However, they got around the problem by installing potted trees to beautify and shade the street.
Such a solution could be embraced by other city streets with similar infrastructure concerns. But it is important to note that one can't simply plant a sapling and call it a day; the trees must be properly cared for to prevent them from damaging surrounding buildings and to allow them to flourish enough for the full benefits to take hold. Those interested in volunteering to help may find opportunities here.
Such a solution could be embraced by other city streets with similar infrastructure concerns. But it is important to note that one can't simply plant a sapling and call it a day; the trees must be properly cared for to prevent them from damaging surrounding buildings and to allow them to flourish enough for the full benefits to take hold. Those interested in volunteering to help may find opportunities here.
Fieldston Gardens
Maintenance is not the only potential drawback of having a tree on or near one's property, be it a townhouse or multi-family building. The city has been planting male trees because they don't produce fruit or seeds, which had the unintended consequence of pollen getting released into the air and making for miserable springs for allergy sufferers. In fall, while there are no laws requiring New Yorkers to rake their leaves, as compared to snow season, there are numerous regulations concerning proper disposal of yard waste.
Finally, if a tree falls in the city, it will definitely make a sound and cause damage to surrounding buildings and sidewalks, and the roots of still-standing trees can cause serious property damage. A memorable case in point is a tree on musician Sean Lennon's property that spread roots to his neighbors' townhouse, cracked their stoop, and came through the basement.
Finally, if a tree falls in the city, it will definitely make a sound and cause damage to surrounding buildings and sidewalks, and the roots of still-standing trees can cause serious property damage. A memorable case in point is a tree on musician Sean Lennon's property that spread roots to his neighbors' townhouse, cracked their stoop, and came through the basement.
782 Madison Street, #3B and its view of P.O. Reinaldo Salgado Playground | https://www.cityrealty.com/nyc/bedford-stuyvesant/782-madison-street/apartment-3B/avMplOdRwArqN
However, the benefits of trees on the streets far outnumber the drawbacks and are impossible to ignore. At the height of summer, it must be noted that they combat the "heat island effect" by shading paved streets; New York City neighborhoods with extensive tree canopies regularly report lower temperatures in summer than neighborhoods with sparse tree coverage. At any time of year, trees control storm runoff and improve air quality. Additionally, by reducing the demand for heating and air conditioning, trees cut carbon emissions associated with power production.
Impressive as the environmental benefits of trees are, they are by no means the only ones. In addition to literally helping people breathe easier by improving air quality, trees improve physical health by encouraging physical activity, which in turns leads to lower rates of obesity and associated health problems. The sight of trees has been proven to reduce blood pressure. Mental health benefits include lowered stress levels, reduced symptoms of anxiety and depression, and the pure pleasure of watching the seasons change through flowering trees and leaves changing color.
Photo by Peter Slattery, courtesy of the Brooklyn Botanic Garden
Earlier this week, the Brooklyn Botanic Garden announced the winner of its Greenest Block competition. In Crown Heights, Eastern Parkway between Franklin and Bedford Avenues took the title, making it the first residential category winner to be made primarily of apartment building. The judges praised the local block association for creating a lush green setting that invites visitors to linger and engage with the plants; this strengthens social ties in the process.
While it's true that several of New York City's highest-priced sales and contracts are for listings with panoramic views of Central Park, more intimate treetop views from apartments in all boroughs can still create a connection to nature and confer the same benefits of exposure to greenery. Such perks may be found in the listings below.
851 Carroll Street, #4 (Douglas Elliman) | https://cityrealty.com/n/I2779469
Leafy Listings
Fieldston Garden, #1L (Douglas Elliman Real Estate)
353 West 47th Street, #3FW (Sothebys International Realty)
72 Quincy Street, #3B (Corcoran Group)
Calvert House, #3D (Corcoran Group)
782 Madison Street, #3B
$849,000
Bedford-Stuyvesant | Condominium | 3 Bedrooms, 1.5 Baths | 1,047 ft2
782 Madison Street, #3B (Compass)
149 Clifton Place, #3 (Compass)
Spruce Ridge House, #3-F (Nest Seekers LLC)
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The Normandy, #6M (R New York)
540West, #306S (Compass)
309 West 103rd Street, #3
$1,075,000 (-17.3%)
Riverside Dr./West End Ave. | Cooperative | 1 Bedroom, 1 Bath | 1,190 ft2
309 West 103rd Street, #3 (Compass)
415 9th Street, #53 (Compass)
91 Douglass Street, #PH (Corcoran Group)
The Aurora, #2D (Nestapple Inc)
79 Perry Street, #3R (Douglas Elliman Real Estate)
110 Clinton Avenue, #1C (Compass)
349 16th Street, #5 (Realty De Tilly NY LLC)
103 Putnam Avenue, #3B (Corcoran Group)
Morningside Park, #3 (Brown Harris Stevens Residential Sales LLC)
157 Kane Street, #3 (Corcoran Group)
379 12th Street, #2B (Douglas Elliman Real Estate)
The Saint, #4 (Corcoran Group)
57 West 130th Street, #DUPLEX (Douglas Elliman Real Estate)
851 Carroll Street, #4 (Douglas Elliman Real Estate)
On Prospect Park, #3C (Compass)
344 Degraw Street, #6A (Douglas Elliman Real Estate)
8 Charles Lane, #C (Compass)
118 Ryerson Street, #TH (Corcoran Group)
One Prospect Park West, #3C (Brown Harris Stevens Residential Sales LLC)
Superior Ink, #3E (Douglas Elliman Real Estate)
The Orleans, #6B (Brown Harris Stevens Residential Sales LLC)
208 Vanderbilt Avenue, #TH (Corcoran Group)
Would you like to tour any of these properties?
Just complete the info below.
Or call us at (212) 755-5544
Would you like to tour any of these properties?
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