Elegran Edge
The Real Estate Blog

From a pastoral lunch respite for Midtown workers to the majestic Reading Room of The New York Public Library, Bryant Park is a sublimely historic urban oasis.

With one of the most brutal winters on record slowly coming to an end and the sun setting a bit later on in the day, finally, spring is nigh in New York City. For all those days that you caught cabin fever while battling frigid temperatures, you probably can’t wait to feel the sun’s warm rays, take leisurely strolls in the park, and watch the flowers bloom.

Have you been to Tompkins Square Park lately? If you have then you’ve seen the life-sized silhouette of an outlined steel man, standing beneath a tree looking up towards the sky. The title of this Art in the Parks program exhibition piece is Serendipity, created by N.Y. based artist Fanny Allié. Recently, Elegran Edge had the chance to talk with Fanny about her artwork exhibited in Tompkins Square Park and learn more about the artist behind Serendipity.  

After learning earlier this month that 1 World Trade Center is the tallest building in the western hemisphere in addition to being the third tallest on earth, more good news has come out for the area where tragedy struck 12 years ago.

An underground park with natural sunlight? It seems too good to be true, but soon it enough it is sure to become a reality. The Low Line, which has been abuzz since it was first proposed in 2011, may be just that. After raising about $150,000 in an extremely successful Kickstarter campaign, the Lower East Side green space has been gaining both financial and celebrity support.

Although Manhattan has virtually no room left for new development, especially park development, this has not deterred creative thinkers looking to beautify the city and create new public spaces. The High Line, the famous and ever-expanding park initiative, has long been the poster child of repurposing unused land for a park since its proposal and opening in 2007.

In a city full of crowds, commuters, and stress, Central Park is a necessary sanctuary for those looking to take a break from the everyday hustle and bustle of Manhattan. You could expect to find joggers, sunbathers, and dog walkers in the park at any given time, but pups aren’t the only creatures roaming around.

In 1935, Virgil Gill known as the Duke, was serving a ten year sentence at Castle Williams.  Little did prison officials know,he was planning his great escape.  As if we were watching an episode of Prison Break, “The Duke” took a job in the prison as a waiter.  Armed with just his wits, a top hat and his tuxedo, he was ready to make his move.

New York City is getting greener every day thanks to Mayor Bloomberg’s project MillionTrees NYC. MillionTrees NYC is attempting to plant and care for one million new trees across all five boroughs within the next decade, the stated purpose being for New Yorkers to benefit from cleaner air, cooler streets, and, of course, their inherent beauty. While the goals of this project are a great example of sustainable development in New York City, the true allure of it lies in the volunteer opportunities to plant trees, take stewardship over them, and educate communities on environmental care.

It looks like Santa Claus came early to Central Park this year, and he came in the form of hedge fund manager John Paulson. On Monday, Paulson, along with the Paulson Family Foundation, announced that they would be giving a whopping $100 million as a gift to the Central Park Conservancy. Paulson, a hedge fund manager with an estimated net worth of $11 billion, called Central Park “the most deserving of all of New York’s cultural institutions,” and the donation was his way of showing his appreciation for one of the city’s most cherished landmarks.