East River

+ POOL, designed by Family New York & PLAYLAB, INC. Rendering by Luxigon

May 11, 2021

A self-filtering floating pool is officially coming to the East River

A plan to build a swimming pool on the East River is finally moving forward after being in the works for over a decade. In an Instagram post published on Saturday, the nonprofit +POOL announced the group had received confirmation from the city to proceed with due diligence on their project: a floating, self-filtering pool on the south side of Pier 35 on the Lower East Side.
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The city wants to put a self-filtering floating swimming pool on the East River

Rendering by Family New York, Courtesy of Friends of +POOL

September 19, 2019

The city wants to put a self-filtering floating swimming pool on the East River

By Devin Gannon

Swimming in the East River may once again become a reality. The city's Economic Development Corporation is seeking ideas for a floating pool that would filter the water of the East River to allow for safe swimming, according to a request for expressions of interest (RFEI) released Wednesday. A similar idea was first announced in 2010 by the nonprofit +POOL, which has been working with the city for years, as THE CITY first reported. The pool would likely be built between the north side of Brooklyn Bridge and the south side of Pier 35 on the Lower East Side, according to the request.
Get the details

Architecture And Design

Did you know the country’s only floating pool is in the Bronx?

Photo by Danny Avila for NYC Parks

August 2, 2019

Did you know the country’s only floating pool is in the Bronx?

By Nicole Mondrus

Although it's technically safe, you may not want to swim in the East River. Swimming on the East River, however, is an entirely different story. The Floating Pool Lady is not just a pool. It’s a floating pool located in a retrofitted barge that’s currently docked in Barretto Point Park in the Hunts Point neighborhood of the Bronx. Best of all, it's the only floating pool in the country.
Jump in

Architecture And Design

Winters during 19th century New York were so cold, the East River froze over

Crossing the East River on the ice bridge (1871) via NYPL

December 26, 2017

Winters during 19th century New York were so cold, the East River froze over

By Devin Gannon

While New York City is getting hit by a blast of arctic temperatures this week, New Yorkers of the mid- and late-1800s experienced even colder conditions. During the 19th century, the East River froze over at least seven times, shutting down the Brooklyn Bridge and preventing any ferries from crossing over. But, like today’s New Yorkers, the frozen river never stopped commuters from reaching their destinations. Instead of staying home, people would walk across the frozen East River, skating and slipping along their way.
More this way

History

In the 19th century, sailors prayed on floating churches in the East River

Chapel of the Holy Comforter (1846-1856), courtesy of NYCago

October 10, 2017

In the 19th century, sailors prayed on floating churches in the East River

By Devin Gannon

While New York City’s waterways have featured both floating pools and floating parks, they also once held floating churches. The Seamen’s Church Institute of New York and New Jersey (SCI) first built a floating house of worship in 1844, designed for sailors. According to Untapped Cities, the group’s first big project included building the Church of Our Savior, which floated in the East River off of Pike Street in downtown Manhattan.
Find out more

History

December 17, 2015

A 1924 Proposal Would Have Drained the Entire East River to Reduce Congestion

By Dana Schulz

Remember 6sqft's post about a madcap engineer who wanted to pave over the East River in 1911 in order to create a "Mega-Manhattan?" Well, 13 years later, John A. Harris, deputy police commissioner in charge of traffic, came up with his own proposal for incorporating the river into the streetscape of the city: draining it entirely. Published in Popular Science, the never-realized scheme addressed New York's growing traffic congestion problem, said to have been costing the city $1.5 million a day. It would have transformed the waterway into "a five-mile system of automobile and motor-truck highways, subway lines, parking spaces, and city centers." Two concrete dams were to be erected, one near the Williamsburg Bridge and one near Hell Gate, and the riverbed would be "bridged with levels supported by steel uprights," thereby connecting the four boroughs.
More on the idea and the full drawing

October 2, 2014

Historic Henderson Place Townhouse Asks $7.5 Million

By Aisha Carter

Oh, how the times change. In the late 19th century, developer John C. Henderson began constructing an enclave of townhouses, designed by architectural firm Lamb & Rich, and intended for “persons of moderate means”. Today, one of those Yorkville homes is available for rent, asking $25,900 per month… or if you’d like to purchase it outright, $7.495 million. If you’re looking for remnants of 146 East End Avenue’s low-income housing past, you’re in for a disappointment. The result of a “painstaking” two-year gut renovation, this desirable dwelling only speaks the language of luxury. However, if there’s any city that knows how to preserve its history while providing modern amenities, it’s New York. The final result is a beautifully updated home that pays homage to its honorable past.
Take a look inside this historic home, here

Distinctive Homes

August 15, 2014

Jed Johnson-Designed Prewar Stunner Sells for $10.3 Million to Hedge Funder David Steinhardt

By Aisha Carter

Dune Realty CEO Daniel Neidich has just sold his gorgeous six-bedroom, five-and-a-half-bath Yorkville apartment for $10.25 million to David Steinhardt, the son of "Wall Street's greatest trader", Michael Steinhardt, according to city records filed yesterday. This Austere apartment is certainly a sight to behold with its spectacular finishes and expansive views. Designed by such notable names as Jed Johnson, along with Alan Wanzenberg and Thad Hayes, its no wonder this home is the perfect blend of formal entertaining and luxurious living.
Trust us. You want to take a look inside this home...

May 27, 2014

Condo at 149 Skillman Avenue Lets Its Light Shine!

By Aisha Carter

What kind of apartment needs custom blinds from the Shade Store? The kind with floor-to-ceiling windows flooding the unit with light! And we’re not talking any standard floor-to-ceiling windows. Architect Michael Muroff decided to throw us a beautiful curve ball by designing a wall-sized window in the living room accented with a giant, skylight – or more appropriately, an angled ceiling of windows. The result is a living space you could practically sunbathe in. An abundance of light isn’t the only thing 149 Skillman Avenue #4B has to offer. The 1,070-square-foot, 2BR/2BA unit has a few other surprises, including a steam shower and a private roof deck with a gorgeous view of the Manhattan skyline. That means a spectacular show for the apartment’s residents when the 4th of July fireworks return to the East River for summer 2014.
See what else this beautiful condo has to offer here

Distinctive Homes

May 5, 2014

This Gorgeous Apartment at the Mandarin Oriental Gives New Meaning to “Movin’ On Up”

By Aisha Carter

Wouldn't it be nice to live on top of the world? Well, somebody is in luck because a spacious 3BR/3BA apartment just opened up at the Residences at Mandarin Oriental. This luxurious Columbus Circle pad rests on the 71st floor, with gigantic windows that overlook Central Park, as well as both the East River and the Hudson. The 3,168-square-foot apartment has ebonized oak floors and black granite accents. It also features a large eat-in kitchen with stainless steel appliances, a sub-zero refrigerator, and a wine cave. Whoever purchases this impressive, recently renovated home will not only have bragging rights, but access to all of the amenities of the Mandarin Hotel. So yeah, this person will basically be living in a hotel. Jealous yet?
See photos of the lavish pad here

Distinctive Homes

“Plus Pool” Will Let You Safely Swim in the East River

By Jason Carpenter

Last year, a Kickstarter crowd funding project for an ambitious public pool in the East River passed its $250,000 goal. This month, the project entered its first phase by dropping a miniature version of the pool called Float Lab into the river, testing the water quality and concept of the pool. If all goes according to plan, Gothamites will be splashing in this river pool in 2016!
See more renderings of this amazing design here

Architecture And Design

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