Fully landscaped, “mini-High Line” is a $6.5 million, 2/3-acre roof garden that both enhances property values and adds stellar amenity for residents
NEW YORK — The Whitehall, a premier high-rise co-op in the Riverdale community of The Bronx, last month announced the completion of its new, fully landscaped green roof at 3333 Henry Hudson Parkway. The project represents one of New York City’s largest and most innovative apartment building amenities – a landscaped, park-like green rooftop encompassing more than two-thirds of an acre.
Green roof at 3333 Henry Hudson Parkway at The Whitehall, a high-rise co-op in the Riverdale community of The Bronx. Photo: Ronald L. Glassman
“We had this unbelievable asset that was severely underutilized,” explained Jeffrey Moerdler, president of The Whitehall’s Board of Directors, referring to the 30,000-square-foot deck that sits one story above street on the building’s health club and pool level. “There was potential to turn this neglected space into a tremendous amenity that would add value to the property and to individual units. We came up with a world-class design and received total buy-in from the Board and sponsors.”
The $6.5 million project was designed by Genie Masucci, principal of G. Masucci Architects, LLC, in consultation with Site Works, one of the landscape consultants to Manhattan’s renowned High Line. The Whitehall roof-top park sits above the Henry Hudson Parkway at almost the same height as the High Line’s right-of-way above Manhattan’s West Village streets.
Considerable thought and planning achieved the crucial balance between aesthetic design and programming. The green roof’s winding, tree lined walking path is long enough to wander and surrender one’s thoughts to the natural landscaping that comprises a variety of grasses, flowering shrubs and wildflowers indigenous to the Hudson Valley. Because of its large area and off-street location, the rooftop park can support a range of activities from quiet and personal to large active groups.
For the co-op owners (roughly half of the building’s 440 apartments), it’s much more than a first-class amenity. Financed with the proceeds of a major recapitalization of the building, the project is also a major boost in equity and cachet, increasing collective and individual property values.
The Whitehall opened in 1970 and has been home to television entertainment pioneer Ed Sullivan and baseball legend Willie Mays.
