NYC
Salvaging a long lasting wood, and New York City’s Past
The New York Times profile by Vivian Yee on woods recovered from historical structures in the city. Here, old lumber at 443 Greenwich St. in lower Manhattan. Story link. photo: Sam Appleton, NY Times
Longleaf Pine at 443 Greenwich St., NYC
A large project on Greenwich St. is drawing to a close, with over 500,000 bf of grade A Longleaf Pine lumber reclaimed from the gutted warehouse which is being developed into one of the highest valued properties in Manhattan. The building, constructed in 1895, was home to the American Steel Wood Co. and a range of smaller companies, including the Novelty Toy Co., with claims to releasing the first ‘Teddy Bear’. In the late 20th c., 443 Greenwich serviced a long list of film companies, small manufacturers and artists that worked and lived out of an edgier Tribeca neighborhood.
It’s tropical on the Highline
The reclaimed boardwalk hardwoods are now installed on the newest stretch of the NYC Highline in the W 30’s. The locally sourced Angelique from the Coney Island Boardwalk required extensive selection and milling to meet the demanding specification. Naturally oiled to a deep amber tone with some hairline stress cracks, the stunning benches will eventually take on grey tints at this exposed shoreline area.
Winter Woodpecker
A Woodpecker sounds like an unlikely sighting in the city, considering the hazard of pecking buildings and street lights. But a small Woodpecker – a ‘Downy Woodpecker’ is our guess – was spotted in the back yard; and based on the pattern of holes running up the truck of the Pine tree, its been a long time visitor. It’s not an Ivory Billed in the Bayou, but a novelty nonetheless, in the city.
Castrucci Architect on WNYC’s ‘Net Zero City’
Paul Castrucci Architect (PCA) was featured on WNYC. The story was an intro to high energy efficiency, and it’s challenge for a city of high rises. Passive House design, nonetheless, is attainable for the understory (1-5 story bldgs) on the city’s skyline, as explained by Urban Green Council Director Russell Unger. Photo: (951 Pacific Bklyn, Paul Castrucci Architect). Online link to story.
