Is Battery Park City coming to the Upper West Side of Manhattan?

I have been reading a few different articles and on-line postings regarding the development of a specific tract of land on the Upper West Side/Lincoln Square area near the Hudson River. Here are my findings.

Once known as Trump City, Extell Development Co. has finally unveiled their plans for Riverside Center. The plan is said to resemble Battery Park City rather than the West Side and stretches from 59th to 61st St.

The proposed area is currently a couple of parking lots. These parking lots would be transformed into a mega complex of 3.3 million-square-feet. The plan will involve 5 glass towers of residential condominiums, retail space, hotel space, possible movie theatre, possible auto showroom, possible elementary school, parking, and over 3 acres of privately owned open space. The glass towers ranging in heights of 45-59 stories will be designed by Pritzker-winning Christian de Portzamparc. An estimated completion of the project is in 2018.

The plan is still in a development stage needing approval of the City Council and City Planning Commission. When Extell Co gave the Upper West Side Community a preview of its plans there was considerable disapproval.

Being an Upper West Side resident myself and understanding the area involved in this massive project, I think this development would add considerably to the area. There isn't a whole lot going on in that part of the West Side, a lack of restaurants, entertainment, services, subway access. An area based on Battery Park City would be a huge improvement. Riverside Park is a terrific area and the open space of Riverside Center could really pull together that whole stretch.


A lot of the resistance has focused on what community services will be added to support the site. Will Extell develop the schools, community services to provide the needed infrastructure because of the growth of people and families that will be occupying the apartment towers?


Battery Park City is one of the most beautiful neighborhoods in New York City and if Riverside Park closely resembled it the aesthetic value of the West Side would improve. I do agree that the infrastructure of the area would also have to be considered and planned for because of the number of people moving into the neighborhood. If done correctly there would be considerable improvement to the Upper West Side neighborhood and would give a lot of first time apartment buyers an excellent place to live. This project still seems to be in the early stages and much back and forth between Extell, the city, and the neighborhood will occur. (photo source: provided by Extell via NYC DCP)

Let me know what you think of this development!

What Makes New York City Amazing! The Macy's Day Thanksgiving Parade!

So a few days ago I decided I wanted to go see the Macy's Day Parade for the first time. Living in New York City I called the parade hotline wanting to know the logistics of what time the parade started, finished and most importantly what time do people start lining up to see it. The gentlemen said that people start lining up around 5am for a 9am start and about an 11am finish. I didn't know how I was going to convince my girlfriend to wake up that early to see that parade. Luckily we live in the Upper West Side about two blocks from Central Park West, where the parade begins, and it wouldn't be much more than a five minute walk over to the parade route.


So starting yesterday afternoon the floats and balloons start to get blown up and organized outside of the Museum of Natural History. We walked up there around 5pm and it was already a mad-house. The streets were crowded; the police were already directing traffic, people lining up to see the balloons inflated. At that point I knew we would have to get to the parade route early to get a good spot.


So we arrived around 6:15am and already people had staked out most of the spots right next to the police barricades on the street. We found a great spot right at the corner of 68th and Central Park West, a prime spot as far as I was concerned. By 7am there was at least two rows of people lined up and by 8am it was officially packed. The stragglers start showing up and try to squirm their way in front of you, one of my pet peeves. Luckily the weather was great, a clear sunny morning, cold probably in the low 40s.
The parade started at 9am and the floats and balloons started coming down. The marching bands were terrific, saw a few celebrities, and watching the balloons navigate the streets was entertaining. I was entertained the whole way; it was worth waking up so early, and putting up with the cold and huge crowds. Definitely a lot more fun in person than on TV. Can't wait to see it again next year!

I hope you enjoy some of the pictures, Let me know which ones are your favorite!
The Macy's Day Thanksgiving Parade definitely makes New York City an amazing city to live in!