Concrete Jungle Giants: Unveiling the Iconic Buildings of New York
Roro and I arrived at JFK Airport. We were tired all over, probably because of the long flight. We squeezed through the crowd and got into a yellow taxi. As we were moving from the airport to Manhattan, the smell of marijuana wafted through the cracks in the window. In that moment, I realized that I had arrived in New York.
As you walk down the streets of Manhattan, you see white steam rising from manhole covers. It looks a little dangerous, and if you get close, you can feel the heat. I asked Lolo about the white steam.
The white steam coming out of the manhole is responsible for heating the Manhattan buildings. The pipes, which were installed in 1882, are old and are gradually cracking. So the hot steam escapes through the cracks and comes out of the manhole. It was a little surprising to hear that there are 105 miles (about 169 km) of pipes installed under Manhattan.
If you walk down the streets of Manhattan, you will often see old buildings.
Perhaps because of Manhattan’s interesting heating system, I was also curious about the interiors of old buildings.
We visited the historic house museum at 29 Fourth Avenue in NoHo East, Manhattan.
Built in 1831 by hat maker Joseph Brewster, the four-story house features a Federal-style brick exterior and a Greek Revival interior.
Brewster sold it to businessman Seabury Tredwell, and many years later his distant relative George Chapman bought the building and turned it into a museum.
It is said that many wealthy businessmen like Tredwell lived in the now-bustling but then-quiet 4th Avenue area.
We opened the heavy door and went inside the building. A docent greeted us. He told us many stories while we stored our bags.
He said he first learned in 2012 that a hotel would be built around the building.
After six hearings in 2014, the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) approved construction of the hotel.
After much litigation (at a cost of approximately $1.3 billion), in December 2023 the LPC finally voted to approve the proposed development despite overwhelming opposition from the community, preservation groups, officials, engineers and preservation architects.
Some people may question why so much effort is put into preserving old buildings.
The Merchant’s House is a federal, state, and city landmark. It was the first building designated by the first meeting of the LPC in 1965 and is one of 120 buildings designated as landmarks, both inside and out. The cultural and architectural significance of the building is therefore indisputable in the history of New York City.
The LPC is owned by the City of New York and is responsible to New Yorkers for ensuring the safety of their homes. “To protect the special places and buildings that bring the city’s incredible history and heritage to life, preserving them for future generations.”is the mission of LPC. To put a merchant’s home at risk is to abdicate LPC’s existential obligation.
If the Merchant’s Home is put at risk, so too are countless other landmark buildings in New York.
The Merchant House currently spends a lot of money on litigation and is struggling financially, so it is running various donations and tours. The proceeds from the items sold in the online store are used to preserve the landmark building.
I live in an old house. There are many factories around here, so cars pass by often, but not many people pass by, so I live a quiet and leisurely life. I am happy with my current life, simply growing plants in front of my house and cleaning up when snow and leaves fall. There are not many tall and large buildings, so the town I see from the rooftop at sunset is sometimes a comfort to my tired heart.
The city I live in is undergoing a lot of redevelopment. The government, people living in old buildings, construction companies, and surrounding business owners are all hoping for new apartments and buildings.
The surrounding villages around my house are preparing for redevelopment. Someday, when my house receives redevelopment approval, I will have to move.
My heart already aches at the thought of leaving behind the house where I shared so many happy and beautiful memories.
– Next episode –
Classic and vintage