An article in yesterday’s NY Sun takes a look at the wave of glass-sheathed high-rises under construction in the outer boroughs, with shout-outs to two of Brooklyn’s biggest new towers o’ transparency, Williamsburg’s Northside Piers and Prospect Heights’ On Prospect Park. The article notes that developers say the contemporary aesthetic of glass towers does not detract from typical brownstone neighborhoods’ charm. Done correctly, we’d agree. On Prospect Park’s developers believe the condo will enhance its surroundings because Richard Meier’s design is an opportunity to have an impact on the urban landscape. A spokesman for Toll Brothers, meanwhile, says 20 percent of Northside Piers buyers are from Brooklyn, suggesting that Brooklynites are hungry for translucent architecture. Of course, the Williamsburg waterfront is hardly a typical brownstone ‘hood like Prospect Heights, so it’s difficult to compare how Northside Piers and OPP gel with their respective surroundings. Where do you come down on the great glass debate?
Glass Towers on the Rise Outside of Manhattan [Sun]