The least-sexy, most revealing High Line photo ever.
We'd like to borrow a page from our friends at Eater and do a little Open House New York recap, hangover style. The city's great annual architecture and design dorkfest is now done, and while we didn't make it out to many sites, the ones we did ... woo boy.
1) Let's start with the High Line. Good lord, is this thing happening fast. Above you see the 30th Street Spur, the border of the city-owned Phase 2 (Chelsea) and the jeopardized, West Side Rail Yards-straddling Phase 3. As you can see, Phase 2's tracks have already been removed and the platform cleaned. Phase 1, down in the MePa, will open next fall. Friends of the High Line have kept this thing completely on schedule, which is probably why it's still floating under the radar. That, and the whole can't-see-it-from-the-street thing. Developers' bids for the Hudson Yards are due this week, so the future of High Line North may be revealed soon.
2) That Hudson view is from a fourth-floor, SW corner unit in the main tower of the Riverhouse, the eco-themed condo development springing to life in Battery Park City. Last time we checked in, it was just getting glassy, but progress has been a little slow. The tower is behind schedule, but residents should be moving into one of the smaller wing buildings by February. Stunning revelation: The Riverhouse will sport a branch of the City Bakery's Birdbath offshoot, so the sales office has a tub filled with buy-one-get-one-free tokens for City Bakery cookies. We grabbed eight.
3) Heading over to Brooklyn, here's a shot from the interior of 93 Nevins aka "Brooklyn Health House" in Boerum Hill. The structure, formerly home to a laundromat, is slowly being fashioned into two townhouses. And when we say slowly, we mean at a snail's pace: GreenStreet Construction has been working on the building for more than a year, but the exterior of has yet to be completed and tour-goers were only able to explore two unfinished floors. 93 Nevins was the first scheduled stop for a Brooklyn green building bike tour, which also included two private residences—an amazing residential conversion at 1024 Dean Street and a renovated Bed-Stuy brownstone at 234 Madison Street—and drinks at eco-friendly Fort Greene eatery Habana Outpost.
Elsewhere, NewYorkology dropped by the Woolworth Building, which is looking for a spa to renovate and operate the old swimming pool. If you've got some Open House NY observations, let's hear 'em. Otherwise, here's some pictures to gaze at.
High Line rails that have been removed from Phase 2. Don't worry, they'll be put back once the cleaning/planting is done.
It wouldn't be a trip to the High Line without an overgrown, urban wildernessy photo.
The Riverhouse, as seen from Teardrop Park just to the north.
Construction of the Riverhouse's tower has been slow-going.